Highgrove Apartments Austin Review: Honest Review, True Cost, and What 261 Google Reviews Actually Say

Highgrove keeps landing in my client searches for East Austin apartments, and I keep seeing the same thing. A 2022 build, 1 month free on a 12-month lease, and one bedroom rents starting at $1,167. On paper, that’s newer construction at prices you’d expect at a building twice its age. As a licensed apartment locator (TX #679806) who’s tracked pricing across 1,000+ Austin communities, I’ve learned to ask: what’s the catch?

It starts with a number: 4.3.

That’s Highgrove’s Google rating across 261 reviews. Solid, right? But that 4.3 hides a lot. The positive reviews are heavy on staff praise. The negative reviews keep hitting the same three things: the elevator goes out, cars get broken into in the garage, and the towing company doesn’t play around. I’m going to break down what you’ll actually pay, who gets approved, and whether this property fits your situation.

Quick Facts: Highgrove at a Glance

The 4.3 tells part of the story. Pay attention to that $99/month in required fees too. That’s real money that doesn’t show up in the advertised rent. I’ll get into both.

Best For

You want 2022 construction without Class A luxury pricing. Highgrove was built the same year as properties charging $1,800+ for a one bedroom across the Mueller area. One bedrooms here start at $1,167 before concessions. That gap is real. And it’s not because the finishes are cheap. Quartz countertops, vinyl plank flooring, stainless appliances, in-unit washer/dryer (most floor plans). Same spec sheet as properties charging 30% more a mile south in Mueller proper.

You work from home and need a coworking setup. The property has a dedicated coworking area with wifi, a conference room, and a business center. People actually use them, too. If your apartment doubles as your office, that coworking space matters more than a pool you’ll use six months a year.

You have a larger dog. There’s no weight limit on pets. That’s rare. Most Austin apartments cap at 50 to 75 pounds. If you have a German Shepherd, a Lab, or a Husky, your options open up a lot here. Two pets max, and aggressive breeds are restricted, so check with the leasing office on your specific breed.

You’re commuting to the UT campus or North Austin employers. Cameron Road connects to I-35, Airport Blvd, and US 290. UT Austin is about 3.4 miles southwest. The Domain is a straight shot up I-35. If you’re comparing nearby areas, our North Austin apartment guide covers the Metric and Burnet Road corridors.

Skip If

You can’t handle elevator outages. This is the biggest recurring complaint. Period. The elevator goes down for days or weeks at a time. If you’re on the 4th floor with mobility concerns or hauling groceries up four flights, that’s a problem.

Vehicle security is your top priority. Cars get broken into in the garage. The garage door doesn’t always work. They’ve added nighttime security guards (who get good feedback), but it keeps happening. Worth knowing before you sign.

You’re noise sensitive. You can hear your neighbors. Walls and floors both. One reviewer rated it 4 out of 10 on a loudness scale. For a 2022 build, that’s not great. If you work nights and sleep during the day, ask about top floor units.

You need predictable parking. The towing policy here is aggressive. People have been towed for expired registration or parking violations. Guest parking is limited, and the pool guest cap (only 2 people) has ticked off more than a few residents.

Wondering if Highgrove fits your situation?

Fill out a quick form and I’ll reach out to go over your specifics: income, credit, pets, timeline. I can check whether you’ll likely qualify before you spend $75 on an application, and I’ll share any current specials that might not be listed online. You’ll hear from a real person (me), not an automated system.

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Location Deep Dive

What’s Actually Nearby

Highgrove sits at 5900 Cameron Rd in the Windsor Park neighborhood, right at the edge of the Mueller development. You’re close to Mueller’s retail and restaurants without paying Mueller rent.

Walking distance (under 10 minutes): P. Terry’s, a few fast casual spots along Cameron, and the shopping centers at Reagan Square (0.5 miles). Mueller Lake Park is about a mile south. That’s a 20-minute walk or a 3-minute drive. H-E-B at Mueller is 1.2 miles. It’s one of the better H-E-Bs in Austin, honestly. Thinkery and Alamo Drafthouse Mueller are both in that same radius.

You’ll need to drive for the good restaurants. Sour Duck Market, Suerte, the Manor Road corridor: all 1.5 to 2.5 miles south. Quick drive. Not a walk.

The Walk Score is 60 (Moderately Walkable) and the Transit Score is 50 (Some Transit). Translation: you can walk to a few things, but you’re driving for most errands. Cameron Road is strip malls and drive-throughs, not the kind of street you’d walk for fun. For a deeper look at the East Austin apartment landscape, including how Mueller compares to 78702 and East Riverside, check out our full guide.

The Commute Math

I-35 is your main route out here, and the Capital Express Central project (a $4.5 billion reconstruction) is still going. Construction cuts right through this part of I-35 and won’t wrap up until at least 2027. US 290 East gives you a second option heading northeast. Cameron Road to Airport Blvd gets you to UT and downtown without touching I-35 most days. Highland Station (MetroRail) is 1.6 miles away if you want transit downtown.

Neighborhood Vibe

Windsor Park has been around a while. Ranch style homes from the 1950s mixed with newer construction like Highgrove. It doesn’t have the “cool East Austin” energy of 78702 or the polished suburban feel of Mueller proper. It’s more residential and practical. If you’re comparing this to Central Austin apartments or downtown, the vibe here is quieter and more suburban.

The area has seen investment lately. Several new apartment communities have gone up within a half mile. But don’t confuse new buildings with neighborhood personality. It’s not a nightlife district. It’s not a walkable urban block. It’s a solid, practical location with good access to the rest of Austin.

Pricing and the True Cost

Floor Plans Overview

Highgrove offers 1, 2, and 3 bedroom layouts across dozens of floor plans. Here’s the range for each:

*With current 1 month free special on 12-month lease

Note on washer/dryer: Most units come with a fullsize washer/dryer already in the apartment. Some floor plans (A4, A4a, A5, B6, B10, B15, B14, B16, C1) only have hookups, so you’d need to buy or rent your own machines. Big difference. Ask about your specific floor plan before you sign.

Net Effective Rent: The Actual Math

Here’s how the 1 month free special actually shakes out on a 12-month lease:

Example: 1 BR A9 floor plan at $1,167/month

• Lease term: 365 days
• Free rent: 30 days (1 month)
• Daily multiplier: (365 – 30) ÷ 365 = 0.9178
• Net effective rent: $1,167 × 0.9178 = $1,071/month
• Monthly savings: $96/month vs. listed rent

That’s real savings. But only on a 12-month lease. Sign a shorter term (3 months is the minimum), and you don’t get the concession at all.

For comparison, here’s how the math works on a mid-range 2 BR:

Example: 2 BR B2 floor plan at $1,682/month

• Net effective rent: $1,682 × 0.9178 = $1,544/month
• Monthly savings: $138/month

All the Fees

Required Monthly Fees (everyone pays these):

Read that number again. $99/month on top of your rent.

That’s $1,188/year in fees that don’t show up anywhere in the advertised price. Every single one of these is required. The property’s marketing says “property pays trash,” but you’re paying $25/month for valet trash plus a $3 trash admin fee. There’s also a $15 parking fee that’s separate from garage or reserved spots. These aren’t optional.

One-Time Fees:

Optional Fees:

True Monthly Cost: A Realistic Scenario

One bedroom (A9 floor plan, 786 sq ft) with one dog and garage parking:

• Net effective rent: $1,071
• Required monthly fees: $99
• Pet rent: $25
• Garage parking: $20
• Total monthly cost: $1,215

That’s $144/month more than the net effective rent alone. And $1,215 is the real number you should budget against, not the $1,071 that looks so good on the listing.

Move-in costs for that same scenario:

• First month’s rent: $0 (1 month free)
• Admin fee: $150
• Application fee: $75
• Pet deposit (not refunded): $400
• Security deposit: $150 (for a 1BR)
• Estimated move-in: $775

Specials change. What’s listed above was accurate as of July 2026. I talk to leasing teams regularly, and offers shift. If you want to know what’s actually available right now, reach out.

Want to know what specials are actually available right now?

I talk to the Highgrove leasing team and can tell you if there are unadvertised deals, fee waivers, or better concessions than what’s posted online. Fill out a quick form and I’ll text you within a few hours.

Check Current Specials →

Screening Criteria

Income Requirement

Kairoi properties typically want you making 3x your monthly rent in gross income [VERIFY with property]. Here’s what that looks like at different price points:

One thing people miss: they qualify you based on the listed rent, not the net effective number. So even with the month free, your income still has to clear the threshold for the full rent amount.

Credit Expectations

Highgrove doesn’t publish a specific credit minimum on their listing [VERIFY]. But this is a 2022 Class A building run by Kairoi. Here’s what I’d expect based on how properties like this typically screen:

• 650+ credit: Smooth approval, standard deposit
• 600–649: Probably approved, but expect a higher deposit
• Below 600: Your options shrink fast. You’ll likely need a co-signer or third-party guarantee

If your credit is below 600 and you’re looking at this price range, reach out to me first. I can tell you whether Highgrove is realistic for your situation or if there are better options where you won’t burn a $75 application fee.

What Gets You Denied

Let me be direct about what gets you denied at a Class A property like this:

• Active property debt owed to a previous landlord
• Eviction on record within the last 2 to 3 years
• Felony convictions (how far back they look depends on the charge, but figure 7+ years for a property like this)
• Not enough income or income that can’t be verified
• Identity issues (can’t verify who you are)

Something to know if you’re moving from outside the U.S.: one reviewer was denied because Highgrove wanted an “international credit score.” If you’re relocating internationally, ask the leasing office about their documentation requirements before you apply.

The Application Process

1. Apply online or in person. $75 per applicant (non-refundable).
2. They run your credit, criminal background, and rental history through a screening service.
3. Approval or denial, typically within 1 to 3 business days.
4. If approved, sign your lease and pay move-in costs.

Here’s what separates working with a locator from applying blind. I can tell you if you’re likely to qualify before you spend $75 finding out. If Highgrove’s screening looks tight for your situation, I know which nearby properties have more flexibility. And which ones will definitely deny you. My service is free. I’m paid a referral fee from the property’s marketing budget. Your rent is the same with or without me.

Resident Reviews Decoded

Review Pattern Analysis

I read through 284 reviews across Google (261), Birdeye, Apartments.com (7), and ForRent looking for patterns. A 4.3 rating means nothing without context.

What Residents Praise

The staff gets called out by name more than at almost any property I’ve reviewed. Fabian shows up in 30+ reviews. JC (Juan Carlos), Blake, Lashawn, Sujeiry, Alex, Justin, Delaney. All named repeatedly. That’s not random. When that many different people independently call out specific staff by name, the leasing and maintenance teams are doing something right.

Maintenance speed is the second big theme. “Same day” and “within 24 hours” come up over and over. Blake on the maintenance team gets his own shoutouts for being quick and professional. And the community events (wine and cheese nights, movies by the pool, holiday stuff) keep residents talking. People actually show up. That matters.

What Residents Criticize

The elevator is the single biggest pain point. One resident said it worked “maybe 6 of the 18 months” they lived there. Other reviews describe it being down for days. If you’re on the 4th floor, that’s not a minor annoyance. Management says outages are short and get fixed fast, but the reviews say something else.

Vehicle security is the second cluster. Cars get broken into in the parking garage and the garage door frequently breaks. Nighttime security guards get solid praise, but the door keeps failing and cars keep getting hit.

People have been towed for expired registration or minor parking violations, sometimes without a heads-up first. That’s an aggressive enforcement policy that catches people off guard. One Apartments.com reviewer put it bluntly: your car can get towed because your state registration expired, and you’re capped at 2 pool guests. That pool guest cap has been a sore spot on more than one review site.

Apartments.com reviews tell a story the Google reviews only touch on. Back when the property was newer, things were worse: a company called Vivant Stays was renting units as short-term rentals without the property’s permission, storage units got broken into, and random people who didn’t live there were using the pool and common areas. Management says Vivant was operating without their permission and they’ve shut it down since. Things have gotten better under Kairoi, but the history explains some of the older negative reviews.

How Management Responds

Kairoi responds to nearly every Google review, positive and negative. The positive review responses are pretty copy-paste (“We’re thrilled to hear…”), but the negative review responses get more personal, often with a phone number for follow-up. That’s better than most management companies I track. They’re paying attention, even if some of the problems keep coming back.

The property opened in 2022 under RPM Living. Kairoi took over after that. The switch matters. Reviews from mid-2024 forward are noticeably more positive. One resident summed it up: “After new management took over, I have been very pleased with all the improvements they have been making.” But here’s the thing. The elevator and garage problems predate Kairoi and haven’t gone away under them either.

The Uncomfortable Truth

No listing site will write this section. I’m not trying to kill the deal. I just want you to know exactly what you’re signing up for.

The Elevator Problem Isn’t Going Away

This is a 2022 building. The elevator shouldn’t be a topic of conversation. But it is. The complaint pattern stretches from opening day through 2026. Nobody seems to know why it keeps breaking, but it does. If you’re on floors 3 or 4, you need to be okay with stairs sometimes. Mobility concerns? Request a ground floor unit.

The Garage Isn’t as Secure as You’d Think

Vehicles getting broken into at a gated garage property with security guards sounds contradictory. But it’s in the reviews. The garage door keeps breaking, and when it’s broken, anyone can walk in. They’ve beefed up security since, and the nighttime guards get good feedback. But it keeps happening. Don’t leave valuables in your car. That advice applies everywhere in Austin, but it’s especially worth hearing here.

The Towing Policy Will Surprise You

Getting your own car towed from your own apartment complex because your registration expired feels extreme. But it happens here. They have a towing company patrolling the lot looking for violations. Your sticker expired by a day? You might walk outside to an empty space and a tow lot across town. Fair warning: read the parking rules in your lease before you move in. And keep that registration current.

Ready to move forward, or want to look at alternatives?

You’ve seen the full picture now. If Highgrove fits, I can help you lock in the best available deal and make sure your application is solid before you spend $75. If the elevator situation or garage concerns are dealbreakers, I know other East Austin properties that might work better. Either way, fill out the form and I’ll text you.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Highgrove allow pets?

Yes. Two pets maximum, cats and dogs. No published weight limit, but aggressive breeds and exotic pets aren’t allowed. Expect to pay $400 per pet (not refunded) plus $25/month in pet rent per animal. You’ll also need to go through a pet screening service.

What’s the income requirement at Highgrove?

Kairoi properties typically want combined gross monthly income of at least 3x the monthly rent [VERIFY]. For a one bedroom at $1,167, that means $3,501/month or about $42,000/year. They qualify you based on the base rent, not the discounted net effective number.

What utilities are included at Highgrove?

No utilities are fully included. You’ll pay electricity (varies), water/sewer (usage based), and internet on your own. On top of that, there’s $99/month in required fees: $30 amenity fee, $25 valet trash, $15 parking, $15 damage waiver, $5 pest control, plus $9 spread across three separate admin charges. That’s money that doesn’t show up in the rent number.

How much is parking at Highgrove?

Surface lot parking is available, but there’s a $15/month required parking fee everyone pays regardless. Garage spots are $20/month on top of that. Reserved spaces are $50/month. And fair warning: they tow aggressively. Keep your registration current and read the parking section of your lease before you move in.

What’s the current special at Highgrove?

As of July 2026, they’re offering 1 month free on a 12-month lease. That drops your net effective rent by about 8.2%. But specials shift all the time. Contact me if you want to know what’s actually running right now.

Is Highgrove a good location for commuting?

It depends where you’re going. Downtown is 5 miles (12 to 15 minutes off-peak, 25 to 40 in rush hour). UT Austin is 3.4 miles. The Domain is about 15 to 18 minutes off-peak. Highland MetroRail station is 1.6 miles away for transit access. I-35 construction makes commute times less predictable than usual right now.

When was Highgrove built?

2022. It’s one of the newer apartments on Cameron Road. No renovations needed since it’s only a few years old. Elevators, parking garage, quartz countertops, vinyl plank flooring, stainless appliances, in-unit washer/dryer in most units.

What are the biggest complaints about Highgrove?

The biggest complaints across 284 reviews: the elevator goes down and stays down, cars get broken into in the garage, towing is aggressive, you can hear your neighbors, and packages go missing. Staff reviews pull the 4.3 rating up. Building problems pull it down.

The Bottom Line: Is Highgrove Worth It?

Highgrove gives you a lot for the money. 2022 build. Quartz counters. In-unit washer/dryer. Coworking space. One bedrooms from $1,167/month ($1,071 net effective with the current special). Staff that people actually call out by name. Maintenance that shows up the same day. And a location that puts Mueller, downtown, and North Austin employers within easy reach without charging what those areas charge.

The trade-off is that the building doesn’t always work the way a 2022 property should. Chronic elevator problems and cars getting broken into in the garage are things you’d be dealing with. Those aren’t dealbreakers for everyone. But they matter.

This property makes sense if:

• You want 2022 construction with modern finishes for less than what East Austin usually costs
• You work remotely and value the coworking space and wifi
• You have a larger dog and need a property without weight limits
• You’re comfortable on a lower floor (avoiding elevator dependence)

This property doesn’t make sense if:

• You need reliable elevator access daily
• Vehicle security is a major concern and you park in the garage
• You’re very noise sensitive, especially between floors
• You have credit or rental history issues (this is a newer property with tighter screening)

The first-year math still works, but you need to look at the whole picture. Net effective rent at $1,071 for a one bedroom sounds great. Add $99/month in required fees and you’re at $1,170 before pets or parking. That’s still competitive for 2022 East Austin construction. Whether the daily trade-offs work depends on what matters most to you.

Want help figuring out whether Highgrove fits? Or would you rather look at similar properties without the elevator and garage issues? Fill out the form and I’ll text you within a few hours.

Need Help?

You’ve got everything you need to decide on Highgrove. But if you want help:

Fill out the form above and I’ll text you to answer questions, check your application situation, share current specials, and get things moving. You’ll talk to me directly. Not an AI phone system.

Going solo? Just tell them “Ross Quade from Austin Apartment Team” referred you on your tour and application. Text me at 512-360-0852 when you apply so I can make sure everything’s on track.