Lone Oak Apartments Austin Review: Below Market Rent in a Gated Greystar Community

When you look at enough Round Rock apartments, the same question keeps coming up: where does the math actually work? Lone Oak keeps landing on my client lists for one reason. A 304 unit gated community managed by Greystar, priced 16% below the Round Rock average, running 4 weeks free with waived application fees and waived deposits. I’ve tracked pricing across 1,000+ Austin area properties for years, and you don’t see that combo often at a property with two pools, a 24 hour gym, and private garages.

But here’s what the listing sites won’t tell you: Lone Oak was built in 2014. Some recent Google reviews call it “brand new.” It’s not. And Greystar doesn’t publish their screening criteria online, which means you won’t know if you qualify until after you apply. This review breaks down the real numbers, what 400+ ratings across five platforms actually say, and the trade-offs no listing site will mention.

Quick Facts

The 4.7 rating holds up on both Google and ApartmentRatings. ForRent pulls in another 300 ratings from Apartments.com. That’s over 400 total. I’ll break down what people are actually saying in the reviews section below.

Best For

You work at Baylor Scott & White or Seton Medical and want a short commute. Baylor Scott & White is less than a mile away. The property’s own marketing calls this out, and it checks out. If your shifts start early or run late, being a few minutes from the hospital instead of 30 matters. The gated community also means you’re coming home somewhere quieter after a long shift.

You have a pet and don’t want to pay a fortune in fees. The $20/month pet rent per pet is at or below the Austin average ($25–$50/month is typical). The community has a dog park and a pet wash station. Two pets allowed. The $325 nonrefundable fee for one pet is standard for the area. If you have two pets, it’s $425 total, not $325 each.

You want a gated property under $1,200/month. Most Round Rock apartments at the higher end that offer garages, two pools, and a 24 hour gym go for $1,300+ on a one bedroom. Lone Oak’s net effective rent on the cheapest one bedroom drops to $1,084/month with the current concession. That’s hard to beat in this part of Round Rock.

You’re relocating and need to lease remotely. At least one reviewer signed a lease sight unseen from Kentucky. Teresa and Toni on the leasing team keep getting called out by name for making the process easy.

Skip If

You need flexible screening for credit or rental history issues. Greystar runs standard screening through a third party provider. They don’t publish minimums, and they don’t advertise flexibility for broken leases, evictions, or low credit. If you have screening challenges, this probably isn’t the right fit. I cover properties with more flexible criteria in my broken lease apartments guide.

You expect brand new construction. Despite what some Google reviews say, Lone Oak was built in 2014. The finishes are solid for the price. Granite counters, stainless appliances, wood plank floors. But you’re moving into a 12 year old building, not a new one. If that matters to you, there are newer builds on the same street.

You depend on public transit. The closest MetroRail station (Howard) is over 11 miles away. Capital Metro bus service in this part of Round Rock is limited. You’ll need a car.

Ready to See If Lone Oak Fits Your Situation?

I can tell you if you’d pass their screening before you spend the $125 application fee. If it doesn’t, I know which nearby properties will work better.

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Location Deep Dive

What’s Actually Nearby

Lone Oak sits on Hidden Valley Drive in the 78665 ZIP code, on a quiet street off I-35 in Round Rock. The closest grocery store is HEB Plus, about half a mile away. That’s a two minute drive or a reasonable walk if you don’t mind the Texas heat.

For dining, the stretch of I-35 running through here has the usual chain options: Chick-fil-A, Whataburger, Torchy’s Tacos, and a handful of local spots. IKEA is close by, and University Commons shopping center is about a mile away. Downtown Round Rock is about 3 miles south, where you’ll find more independent restaurants and the Main Street area.

Two other apartment communities share Hidden Valley Drive: Bartz Ranch (built 2017, 278 units) and Las Brisas (built 2008, 414 units). That makes this stretch basically an apartment row. You’ll see leasing traffic, but you’re also close to the retail and restaurants that come with it.

Dell Diamond, home of the Round Rock Express, is about 4 miles south. Old Settlers Park (sports fields, trails, the Rockin’ River aquatic center) is roughly the same distance. Austin Community College’s Round Rock campus is 2 miles away, about a 6 minute drive.

Schools around here are Round Rock ISD: Caldwell Heights Elementary (0.5 miles), Hopewell Middle (1.0 mile), and Stony Point High School.

Commute Math

The I-35 commute south toward Austin is the painful one. Morning rush into downtown can push past an hour. Dell employees have the easiest commute from here. If your job is south of the river, the math on this location breaks down fast. For a breakdown of what’s closest to Dell’s Round Rock campus, check out the Dell apartments ranking I put together.

The Neighborhood

This part of Round Rock is suburban and quiet. That’s the whole point. You’re not walking to bars or coffee shops. You’re getting HEB, easy highway access, and a residential feel. People on ApartmentRatings talk about how quiet it is. One longtime resident said they hear “lots of birds” instead of traffic.

The catch is that everything requires driving. There’s no getting around that in this location.

Pricing and True Cost

Floor Plans

I’m seeing five one bedroom layouts available right now. The property website lists 1, 2, and 3 bedroom options, though 2BR and 3BR availability comes and goes. The full range across all plans is 768–1,594 square feet.

One Bedroom Floor Plans (available units as of August 2026):

Two Bedroom Floor Plans:

Three Bedroom: One C2 plan (3BR/2BA, 1,594 sq ft) at $2,053 total monthly price. Single unit available October 2026.

One thing to know: the 2BR and 3BR prices above are “total monthly” from ForRent, so they already include the ~$35 in mandatory fees. Subtract about $35 to get the base rent.

Net Effective Rent Calculation

Here’s the math on the current special: 4 weeks free off base rent on a 12 month lease.

Using the most common floor plan (A1X at $1,196/month):

• Lease term: 12 months = 365 days
• Free rent: 4 weeks = 28 days
• Days you’re paying: 365 – 28 = 337 days
• Daily multiplier: 337 ÷ 365 = 0.9233
• Net effective rent: $1,196 × 0.9233 = $1,104/month
• Monthly savings: $1,196 – $1,104 = $92/month
• Annual savings: $92 × 12 = $1,104 over the lease

On top of that, the current special waives the $125 application fee and the $500 security deposit. That’s $625 you don’t pay upfront. For two applicants, the app fee savings alone is $250.

Fee Breakdown

Required Monthly Fees (everyone pays these):

Variable Monthly Fees (usage based):

Optional/Situational Fees:

True Monthly Cost Scenario

Here’s what a typical one bedroom renter at Lone Oak actually pays. I’ll use the A1X plan at $1,196 base rent with one pet:

With the 4 weeks free concession, your net effective base rent drops to $1,104. Add the $35 in required fees and $20 in pet rent, and you’re at $1,159/month before utilities. Add in water and electric and you’re looking at roughly $1,199–$1,219/month all in.

So the difference between what they advertise ($1,196) and what you’ll actually pay ($1,291–$1,311 without the concession) is $95–$115 a month. That’s $1,140–$1,380 per year that won’t show up on Apartments.com or Zillow.

Want to Compare This Property’s True Cost to Nearby Options?

I track fees and concessions across hundreds of communities in the Round Rock area. I can show you how Lone Oak’s total cost stacks up against Bartz Ranch, Las Brisas, 401 Teravista, and other nearby properties before you tour.

Compare options here

Screening Criteria

Greystar uses third party screening and doesn’t publish credit score minimums or background check policies. That’s frustrating if you’re trying to figure out whether you’ll qualify before applying.

Here’s what I can tell you based on how Greystar properties screen around Austin:

Income Requirement

Greystar’s paperwork says income needs to be “no less than 2.5 to 3 times the rental rate,” depending on the property. Most Greystar communities in Austin run 3x. Lone Oak could be at 2.5x. I’m using 3x for this table since that’s the most common. Call the leasing office or reach out to me and I’ll confirm before you apply.

Here’s what 3x looks like for each one bedroom plan:

If you’re earning under $20/hour full time, the cheapest one bedroom here is a stretch at 3x income. If you get a roommate on a two or three bedroom, the income requirement splits between you, but you’ll both need to qualify on your own. If you’re a first time renter with no credit history, Greystar may require a cosigner or guarantor. Guarantors need to earn at least 5x the rent, per their paperwork.

Credit Expectations

Greystar doesn’t publish a credit score floor. Their paperwork just says a “credit reporting agency evaluates credit and rental history.” From what I’ve seen, Greystar properties around Austin follow standard Class B screening. Here’s how that breaks down:

• 650+ credit: Smooth approval. Lowest deposits. Most flexibility on other factors.
• 600–649: Should be fine at most Greystar properties. May see a slightly higher deposit.
• 570–599: Gets tighter. Could go either way depending on rental history and income.
• Below 570: Expect pushback. A third party guarantee service might be needed, and Greystar doesn’t always accept those.

What Gets You Denied

Greystar’s screening usually catches:

• Active property debt (money owed to a previous landlord)
• Evictions on record, especially within the last 3–5 years
• Insufficient income documentation
• Fraudulent application information
• Certain criminal history (specifics vary by property and jurisdiction)

If any of those apply, contact me before you apply. I can tell you whether Lone Oak is worth the attempt or if we should look at communities with more flexible screening.

Application Process

1. Apply online through Lone Oak’s website or in person at the leasing office
2. Screening runs through Greystar’s third party provider (typically 24–72 hours)
3. Decision issued: approved, conditionally approved (higher deposit), or denied
4. Move in once approved, with the lease signed and any required deposits paid

The current special waives the $125 application fee and the $500 security deposit, which makes this a low risk time to apply. That won’t last.

Here’s what separates working with a locator from applying blind: I can tell you whether your income, credit, and rental history are likely to pass Lone Oak’s screening before you spend time on the application. If Lone Oak looks tight for your situation, I know which nearby communities have more flexibility.

Resident Reviews Decoded

I went through reviews on Google (23, 4.7 stars), ApartmentRatings (88, 4.7 stars), ForRent/Apartments.com (300 ratings), ApartmentHomeLiving, and ModernMsg. Over 400 ratings total. Here’s what they tell you.

Review Pattern Analysis

What Residents Like

The leasing team gets named over and over. Teresa and Toni come up in 10+ Google reviews. Ty and Stephanie show up across older ApartmentRatings reviews. One reviewer mentioned a “noise test” during the tour where Teresa showed how well the walls block sound between units. That’s not something you see on most apartment tours, and it tells you the leasing team knows what renters worry about.

Maintenance and grounds get high marks. ApartmentRatings surveys give this property 5 out of 5 for grounds, maintenance, noise, and safety. That’s across 88 reviews, so it’s not a fluke. One resident from Iowa said a light bulb went out in their kitchen one morning and they had a new one by that afternoon. Someone who has lived here 9 years called the grounds “beautifully landscaped.” August 2026 reviews on ForRent say the same thing.

Resident events and food trucks. People mention taco bars, food trucks, and community events. This property invests in community beyond collecting rent checks.

Remote leasing works here. At least three people on different review sites moved here from other states: Iowa, Kentucky, and another relocation in August 2026. All of them praised the leasing team for making it work from a distance.

What Residents Don’t Like

Noise between units is a real thing. One resident on ForRent says they can’t sleep because neighbors are “yelling, shouting and very loud” past midnight, and that complaints through the portal and courtesy patrol haven’t helped. Someone on ModernMsg mentions their downstairs neighbors “don’t seem to love us.” Another person said upper floors have carpet (not wood floors), which helps with noise. The noise test Teresa does on tours tells you management knows this comes up.

One leasing experience went wrong. Anthony Garza on Google (2 weeks ago) spent over a week trying to lease with roommates. One was denied. The lease terms didn’t match the deals shown. That’s a single data point, but if you’re applying with roommates, confirm every detail of the lease in writing before signing.

One serious management accusation. On ApartmentRatings, a resident claims a manager named Vivica followed her to her car and threatened her, leading to a lease break costing $2,000+. Management responded that they’d spoken to her directly. That’s one review out of 400+, and there’s no way to verify either side. But it’s there, and you should know it exists.

Management Response Pattern

On ApartmentRatings and ForRent, Lone Oak’s team writes back to reviews with actual personalized responses. Not templates. They respond to the negative ones too. That’s better than most Greystar properties I’ve seen.

The Uncomfortable Truth

No listing site will write this section.

I’m not trying to talk you out of Lone Oak. It’s a solid property for the price. But you should know what you’re signing up for, not just what the marketing says.

It’s Not Brand New

Several recent Google reviews call Lone Oak “brand new” and a “new build.” It’s not. The property was built in 2014. I checked Apartment Finder, Zillow, and county records. That makes it 12 years old. The finishes look good for the age, and Greystar has done a solid job maintaining the place. But “brand new” sets the wrong expectation. You’re getting a Class B property in good shape, not new construction. Bartz Ranch next door was built in 2017. Broadstone Frontera Ridge, another Greystar property in Round Rock, was built in 2023. If you genuinely want new, those are your comps.

Monthly Fees Add $35+ Before You Turn on the Lights

The advertised rent doesn’t include about $35 in mandatory monthly fees: $25 for doorstep trash, $5 for pest control, $3 for trash admin, and $2.25 for stormwater. Then add variable charges for water, sewer, electric, and renters insurance. By the time you add it all up, your actual monthly cost is $95–$115 higher than the number you saw on Apartments.com. Over a year, that’s $1,140–$1,380 in fees the listing sites didn’t show you.

Noise Between Units Is Real

Three residents on different sites mention noise between units. One person on ForRent says they can’t sleep because neighbors are “yelling, shouting and very loud” past midnight, and that complaints through the portal and courtesy patrol haven’t fixed it. A ModernMsg resident jokes about being the “stereotypical upstairs neighbors.” Upper floor units have carpet instead of wood floors, which helps with sound. The noise test Teresa does on tours tells you the leasing team knows this is a question renters have. If you’re sensitive to noise, ask for a top floor corner unit.

Greystar Won’t Tell You If You’ll Qualify Until You Apply

This is the biggest frustration with Greystar properties across the board. They don’t publish credit score minimums. They don’t advertise their eviction lookback period. Their application paperwork says things like “credit reporting agency evaluates credit and rental history against indicators.” That tells you nothing. Right now the application fee and deposit are waived, so there’s no money on the line. But once that special ends and you’re looking at $125 per applicant to find out, the stakes change. A locator can help you avoid that guessing game.

Ready to Move Forward, or Want to See Alternatives?

Whether Lone Oak fits your situation or not, I can tell you before you apply. If you need a property with more screening flexibility, I know which Round Rock communities work with challenging backgrounds.

Let’s figure it out

FAQ

Is Lone Oak Apartments in Round Rock or Pflugerville?

Round Rock. The address is 1201 Hidden Valley Dr, Round Rock, TX 78665. One Google reviewer called it “central Pflugerville,” but the ZIP code and mailing address are Round Rock.

Does Lone Oak allow dogs?

Yes. Two pets max. $325 nonrefundable pet fee for one pet, $425 for two. $20/month pet rent per pet. Greystar restricts Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Chows, Presa Canarios, Akitas, Alaskan Malamutes, and Wolf-hybrids. The community has a dog park and a pet grooming station.

What’s the income requirement at Lone Oak?

Greystar’s paperwork says income needs to be 2.5x to 3x monthly rent depending on the property. At 3x (the most common across their Austin portfolio), the cheapest one bedroom ($1,174) means earning at least $3,522/month or about $20.32/hour full time. Call the leasing office to confirm the exact number, or reach out to me and I’ll check.

Is Lone Oak a new apartment complex?

No. Lone Oak was built in 2014. Some recent reviews describe it as “brand new,” but it’s a 12 year old property. You get granite counters, stainless appliances, and wood plank floors. Greystar has maintained it well, but it’s not new construction.

Does Lone Oak have a washer and dryer in the unit?

Yes. Lone Oak’s floor plans page says units include “a washer and dryer set,” and a resident on ApartmentRatings confirms “washer/dryer/dishwasher all included.” The locator platform listing says “W/D Connections,” but that’s outdated. The machines come with your unit.

What school district is Lone Oak in?

Round Rock ISD. Zoned schools are Caldwell Heights Elementary (0.5 miles), Hopewell Middle (1.0 mile), and Stony Point High School.

Is Lone Oak gated?

Yes. Security gates at the entrance and a perimeter fence around the community. Residents on ApartmentRatings call this out as a plus.

How far is Lone Oak from Dell headquarters?

Dell’s Round Rock headquarters is about 10 minutes from Lone Oak outside rush hour, 15–20 minutes in rush hour traffic. I put together a full ranking of apartments near Dell’s Round Rock campus that covers this commute in detail.

What is the pet policy at Lone Oak?

Two pets max. $325 nonrefundable pet fee for one pet, $425 for two. $20/month pet rent per pet, plus $24–$28/year for third party pet screening. Greystar restricts Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Chows, Presa Canarios, Akitas, Alaskan Malamutes, and Wolf-hybrids, and the property may add others. Dog park and pet wash on site. If you need pet friendly apartments in Austin with more relaxed breed policies, I can help.

The Bottom Line

Lone Oak is a Greystar property in Round Rock that punches above its weight for the price. Two pools, a 24 hour gym, gated access, private garages, and washers and dryers in the unit for under $1,200/month net effective on a one bedroom. ApartmentRatings gives it 5 out of 5 on both grounds and maintenance across 88 reviews. The leasing team, specifically Teresa and Toni, gets called out in most of the recent Google reviews.

The main catch: it’s 12 years old and Greystar’s screening is a black box.

This property makes sense if:

• You work at Baylor Scott & White, Seton Medical, or Dell and want a short commute
• You want a gated community with real amenities for under $1,200/month net effective
• You have a pet and want a dog park, pet wash, and reasonable pet fees
• You’re relocating and need a leasing team that can handle the process remotely
• Your credit and rental history are clean enough for typical Greystar screening

This property doesn’t make sense if:

• You have a broken lease, eviction, or credit below 580
• You need public transit access for daily commuting
• You want brand new construction from the last 2–3 years
• Your job is south of the river and you’d be commuting on I-35 daily

My take: Lone Oak is one of the better values in the 78665 ZIP code right now. The math works, the reviews back it up, and the current concession package makes the entry point low. If your record is clean and your commute keeps you in the Round Rock corridor, this should be on your short list.

Need Help?

Want to work with a locator? My service is free. The apartment community pays my referral fee from their advertising budget, and your rent stays the same whether you use me or apply directly. I can check if you’d qualify at Lone Oak, compare it to nearby options, and make sure you’re getting the best deal they’re running.

Going solo? You can apply directly through Lone Oak’s website or call the leasing office at (512) 812-8690. If you do, 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.