Solomon Apartments Austin Review: The Mueller Address That Looks Better on Paper Than Through the Walls

Solomon keeps showing up in my Mueller apartment searches. The reasons are obvious: built in 2023, Greystar managed, rooftop pool, podcast studio, and a price point that undercuts the AMLI properties next door. A 4.4 Google rating across 130 reviews. It checks every box. I’ve tracked this property since it opened in 2024 and watched it go through the growing pains that every new build goes through. As a licensed apartment locator (TX #679806), I can tell you what the listing photos and amenity lists don’t show. This is 369 units of brand new construction where you can hear your neighbor’s alarm clock through the wall.

That gap between what Solomon promises and what the walls actually deliver is what this review is about.

Quick Facts: Solomon at a Glance

That 4.4 Google rating is strong for a property this size. Only two years old and already at 4.4? That’s better than most. But a single ApartmentRatings review tells you almost nothing. The real patterns live in the Google reviews, and I’ll break those down below.

Best For / Skip If

Solomon Makes Sense If…

You want Mueller walkability without AMLI pricing. AMLI on Aldrich, AMLI North Park, and AMLI Branch Park all sit within half a mile of Solomon and charge $1,578-$4,667. Solomon’s net effective rent on a 1BR starts around $1,932 after the 1 month free special. That’s real savings with the same access to Mueller Lake Park, the farmers market, and Alamo Drafthouse.

You qualify for the income restricted units. This is the part most people miss. Solomon has affordable units at 60% of area median family income. If your household income is under $56,460 (single person) or $64,560 (two person), studios start at $1,443. Same finishes as the market rate units. Same amenities. Most renters don’t even know these exist because they aren’t advertised on listing sites.

You have pets that get turned away at other properties. No weight limit at Solomon. Most Mueller properties cap at 50 to 75 pounds. If you have a larger dog, your options in this part of Austin drop fast. The $300 pet fee (which you won’t get back) plus $25 to $30 per month in pet rent is standard. Breed restrictions still apply, but the weight limit policy opens doors.

You want new construction amenities and you can grab a unit on the highest floor. Multiple reviews say residents up top have a quieter experience. Lock that down and you avoid the noise complaints that dominate the 1 and 2 star reviews.

Skip Solomon If…

Noise sensitivity is a dealbreaker. This is the single biggest complaint across all review platforms. People say they hear footsteps, alarm clocks, showers, and toilets through the walls and ceilings. One reviewer called the walls “paper thin.” Another said the footsteps from above were “so loud and forceful that it literally shakes my mirror on the wall.” For a 2023 build at this price point, that’s a real problem.

You need transparent screening criteria before you apply. Solomon doesn’t publish credit score minimums or income details on their site. Greystar runs screening through their corporate system and won’t tell you the cutoffs upfront. That $125 application fee doesn’t come back if you’re denied. You don’t want to find out the hard way.

You’re on a ground or mid floor unit during storm season. Several reviews describe flooding during heavy rain, with water leaking into units and hallways. One person said their unit flooded twice. And this isn’t old plumbing. It’s a 2023 build. That tells you something about how the building was put together.

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Location Deep Dive

What’s Actually Nearby

Solomon sits at the corner of East 51st Street and Mueller Boulevard. That’s the northwest entrance to the Mueller development, and it puts you in one of the most walkable pockets of East Austin.

Within a 10 minute walk: Mueller Lake Park and trails, H-E-B Mueller (0.6 miles), Alamo Drafthouse Mueller, Torchy’s Tacos, Colleen’s Kitchen, P. Terry’s Burger Stand, and the Sunday Farmers Market at Mueller. There’s also a Thinkery children’s museum and a Blue Starlite Drive-In in Mueller.

You’ll need to drive for: downtown nightlife (4 miles south), most major grocery alternatives beyond H-E-B, and any big box retail. Target at Capital Plaza is about 1.5 miles west.

Solomon is technically across the street from Mueller proper, not inside it. Small distinction, but worth knowing. You’re on the Mueller side of 51st Street, so the walkability still applies.

Commute Math

Route notes: I-35 is your fastest path south to downtown, but it’s also the most unpredictable corridor in Austin during rush hour. Airport Boulevard runs parallel and is a solid backup. Highland Station on the MetroRail Red Line is 2.2 miles away if you commute to Kramer Lane or Lakeline. If your job is near The Domain, North Austin apartments might make more sense for your daily commute.

The Real Neighborhood

Mueller has earned its reputation. The whole development was built on the old Robert Mueller Municipal Airport site, and the planning shows. Tree lined streets, mixed use retail, trails that connect to Bartholomew District Park (57 acres, with a pool, disc golf, and playgrounds). You can walk to a grocery store, a movie theater, and a lake without touching your car keys. Not many places in Austin can say that. If you work from home, Mueller also ranks as one of the best spots in East Austin for remote workers.

But here’s the thing. 51st Street carries real traffic noise, and Solomon sits right on it. Inside the building you’re fine, but if your unit faces south toward 51st, you’ll hear it on your balcony.

Pricing and True Cost

Floor Plan Overview

Solomon runs studios, one bedrooms, and two bedrooms. What you pay depends on which floor plan you pick and whether you’re going market rate or income restricted (affordable). Here’s a sample of what’s on the board right now:

*Net effective calculated with 1 month free on a 12 month lease.

There are 40+ active floor plan variations. This table covers the main ones. If you see “Affordable” or “AFF” in the floor plan name, that’s an income restricted unit, and they all run $1,443 regardless of square footage.

Net Effective Rent: The Real Math

Solomon’s current special is 1 month free on a 12 month lease. Here’s what that actually saves you, using the Balance 1BR at $2,346 as an example:

Daily multiplier method:

• 12-month lease = 365 days
• 1 month free = 30 days off
• Multiplier: (365 – 30) / 365 = 0.9178
• $2,346 x 0.9178 = $2,153/month net effective
• Monthly savings: $193

That $193/month is real savings spread across 12 months. It’s not the full month of rent listing sites will claim you’re “saving.” The daily multiplier gives you the honest number.

And here’s something else those sites won’t tell you: the fees.

All the Fees

The base rent you see on listing sites isn’t what you’ll pay each month. Not even close. I pulled the fee breakdown from ApartmentHomeLiving.com, and it shows $131.75 in fixed mandatory monthly fees on top of base rent, plus variable utility charges on top of that.

Required Monthly Fees (everyone pays these):

Plus variable charges for water/sewer, electric, and gas. Those are metered to your unit, so what you pay depends on what you use.

One-Time Fees:

Optional Fees:

Penalties worth knowing: Break your lease early and you owe 200% of your base rent. On top of that, there’s an 85% fee for them to find a new tenant. Late fees run 9.99% of base rent. These are steep, even by Austin standards.

True Monthly Cost: A Realistic Scenario

Here’s what a 1BR renter with one dog actually pays monthly:

That’s $337 to $377 more per month than the rent number you see on listing sites. Over 12 months, that’s $4,044 to $4,524 that wasn’t in the ad. This is why I break down fees: the “base rent” is never the real number.

Move in costs: $125 application fee + $500 security deposit + $300 pet fee + first month’s rent + first month’s required charges = roughly $3,400 for the Balance 1BR with a dog.

Want to know what specials are actually available right now?

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Screening Criteria

Income Requirements

Solomon is a mixed income community. Market rate units and income restricted (affordable) units play by completely different rules.

Market Rate Units:

Greystar typically requires 3x monthly rent. Here’s what that looks like:

Income Restricted (Affordable) Units:

Your household income has to be under 60% of the area median. For 2024, that’s $56,460/year for one person and $64,560/year for two. These units require a lot of paperwork: 6 months of bank statements, 6 consecutive pay stubs, and potentially more. The application process takes longer than market rate.

Credit Expectations

Solomon doesn’t publish a credit minimum. Greystar’s screening looks at credit, rental history, income, and background all at once, and they don’t share the exact cutoffs. But based on what I’ve seen across their Austin portfolio:

• 650+ credit: Smooth approval, lowest deposit
• 600-649: Likely approved, may see a higher deposit
• Below 600: It gets harder to predict. If you’re in this range, talk to me before you apply.

What Gets You Denied

Let me be direct about what gets you denied at a Greystar property:

• Active property debt (money owed to a previous landlord)
• Eviction judgments within the past 3 to 5 years
• Felony convictions (how far back they look depends on the charge)
• Not enough income documentation
• ID that doesn’t check out

The Application Process

1. Apply online (every adult 18+ needs a separate application at $125 each)
2. Greystar screens you (credit, background, rental history, income)
3. Approval or denial, typically within 2 to 3 business days
4. If approved, sign the lease and pay move in costs

That $125 application fee doesn’t come back. That’s higher than average for Austin, where $50 to $75 is more common.

Here’s what working with a locator gets you at Solomon: I can tell you whether you’re likely to get approved before you spend $125 finding out. If Solomon doesn’t look like a fit for your situation, I know which East Austin apartments have more flexibility. And if Solomon is the right call, I can set up your tour, confirm current specials, and make sure you’re not missing a better deal at a comparable Mueller property.

Resident Reviews Decoded

Listing sites show you a 4.4 star rating and call it a day. That number is useless without context. I went through 130 Google reviews, 27 on ApartmentHomeLiving, 14 on Yelp, 1 on ApartmentRatings, and checked those against ModernMsg and AptAmigo. One person’s bad experience doesn’t tell you much. But when 20+ people say the same thing? That’s a pattern.

Review Pattern Analysis

What People Like

The staff at Solomon gets praised at a level I don’t see often. Esperanza from the housekeeping team comes up by name 15+ times. People love how clean she keeps the common areas and hallways. Jonathan and Cesar on the maintenance team get praised for being fast and friendly. Eddie from the leasing team comes up in 10+ reviews for knowing the property inside and out. Nirosha shows up across 5 Yelp reviews for genuinely caring about the people who live there. Kenneth (Kenny), the property manager, gets credit for tightening up communication and day to day operations since he took over.

The amenities hold up to the marketing. The rooftop pool with a jumbotron, the two story gym, the podcast studio, coworking spaces, and outdoor kitchen all get good marks from people who actually live there. Community events organized by the Apartment Life team (Jenny and Ana are the names that keep coming up) help make a 369 unit building feel like a place where people actually know each other.

What Keeps Coming Up as Problems

Noise between units. This is the #1 issue, and it runs through reviews from opening day through the most recent posts. “Paper thin” and “cheaply built” come up over and over. One resident wrote that footsteps from upstairs “literally shakes my mirror on the wall.” Another could hear their neighbor’s shower and toilet. This isn’t something management can fix. It’s how the building was built. New paint won’t change it. A staff change won’t change it. It’s in the walls.

Water getting in during storms. Several reviews describe flooding in units and hallways during heavy rain. One resident said their unit flooded twice. Another mentioned about 100 units hit by a single storm. That’s not something you expect from a building that’s barely two years old. Somebody missed something during construction.

Humidity and mold. At least one reviewer measured humidity above 70% inside their unit even with a personal dehumidifier running, and found mold growing on bathroom walls. Austin is humid, sure. But 70%+ inside a 2023 build means something isn’t working right.

How Management Responds

Greystar responds to almost every Google review, positive or negative. The positive responses are mostly cookie cutter (“we strive for 100% satisfaction”). The negative responses vary: some offer direct phone numbers, others feel dismissive. One pattern worth noting: management has claimed at least two negative reviewers don’t exist in their system. Make of that what you will.

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 Walls Don’t Match the Price Tag

Solomon charges $2,000+ for a one bedroom and markets itself as luxury. The finishes are nice: quartz counters, smart tech, stainless appliances, vinyl plank flooring. But the walls don’t block noise the way you’d expect at this price point.

One resident on ApartmentHomeLiving called himself “an extremely heavy sleeper” and said he’d never had noise issues in any apartment until this one. That’s not a personality issue. That’s the building.

If you’re on any floor below the top, you will hear your neighbors. Ask the leasing team what floor and position they’d recommend for the least noise, and push for a top floor unit if one is available.

Storm Damage Revealed Construction Gaps

A major storm hit Austin and Solomon didn’t hold up the way a new building should. Reviews from that period mention flooding across roughly 100 units. Water coming through roofs. Hallway flooding. Some of it was covered under the builder’s warranty, which meant slower repairs because outside contractors were involved. Look, new builds have issues. That’s normal. But when a hundred units flood at once, the scale tells you something. Ask about the current status of warranty repairs, and ask whether your specific unit was one of the ones affected.

$131.75/Month in Fees You Won’t See on Zillow

This is the one that changes the math. Solomon charges $131.75 per month in fixed mandatory fees on top of base rent. Internet: $60. Doorstep trash: $25. Amenity fee: $20. Boiler management: $13.75. Pest control: $7. Trash admin: $3. Stormwater admin: $3. Add variable utility charges and your real monthly payment is $200+ higher than what you saw on Zillow. A 1BR listed at $2,346 on Apartments.com actually costs closer to $2,490 to $2,530 once you add in everything you’re required to pay. That’s over $4,000 a year in charges that don’t show up in the rent number.

The Garage Door and Package Room

Two smaller issues show up across multiple review platforms. The parking garage door breaks regularly (one reviewer said at least once a month), and there’s been at least one car break-in. The package room gets called “a constant mess” with reports of lost packages. Neither of these is a dealbreaker on its own. But at $2,500+ per month in real costs, you expect your car to be secure and your packages to arrive.

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

You’ve seen the full picture now. If Solomon still fits, I can help you lock in the best available unit and confirm current specials. If the noise concerns give you pause, I know every Mueller alternative and can show you which ones do a better job blocking sound between units.

Let’s Figure This Out

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Solomon allow pets?

Yes. Up to 2 pets, no weight limit, but breed restrictions apply: Rottweiler, Doberman, Pit Bull, Staffordshire Terrier, Chow, Presa Canarias, Akita, Alaskan Malamute, and Wolf Hybrid (or any mix) are prohibited. The $300 pet fee per pet doesn’t come back. Pet rent is $25/mo. They make you do pet screening through a third party service.

What credit score do I need for Solomon?

Solomon doesn’t publish a minimum credit score. Greystar screens through their corporate system. Based on patterns across their Austin portfolio, 650+ gets the smoothest approval. Below 600, it’s a coin flip. A locator can help you figure out where you stand before spending the $125 application fee.

What is parking like at Solomon?

Solomon has surface lot parking, covered spots ($100-$250/mo), and garage spaces ($100-$125/mo). Reviews say parking gets tight during busy hours. Factor that cost into your budget.

Does Solomon have income restricted apartments?

Yes. Solomon is a mixed income property with affordable units at 60% of median family income. Single person households earning up to $56,460/year and two person households up to $64,560/year may qualify. Same finishes and amenities as market rate units.

Are the walls at Solomon really that thin?

This is the most common complaint across all review platforms. People on lower and mid floors keep saying they hear footsteps, voices, and plumbing sounds from neighbors above and next door. If noise is a concern, ask for the highest available floor and ask the leasing team how much sound carries between units during your tour.

What utilities are included at Solomon?

No utilities are included. You pay for electricity, water, gas, and internet separately. The $131.75 in mandatory monthly fees does cover internet. Get the full breakdown from the leasing office.

When was Solomon built?

Solomon was built in 2023 and opened in 2024. It’s one of the newest in the Mueller area, and there’s not much else coming in terms of new apartment construction nearby. Smart home tech comes standard.

What are the biggest complaints about Solomon?

Noise carrying between units is the most frequent complaint. Water getting into units during heavy storms is second. A handful of reviews mention humidity issues. The flip side: people really like the staff, and the common areas stay clean.

The Bottom Line: Is Solomon Worth It?

Here’s where I land on Solomon. The amenities are real. The rooftop pool, podcast studio, two story gym, and coworking spaces aren’t just marketing photos. The Mueller location gives you walkability that most East Austin properties can’t touch. If you want to compare the broader area, check out our Central Austin apartment guide for other walkable options. The staff gets praised by name across dozens of reviews, and that tells you something about how the place is run. The 1 month free concession brings a 1BR net effective down to around $2,153 in base rent, but the required monthly charges push the real cost to around $2,490.

The trade-off is the construction. The walls don’t match the price tag. And when a building floods during its first major storm, that raises a question about what else might come up in year two or three that marketing photos can’t answer.

This property makes sense if:

• You can get a top floor unit to cut down on noise from neighbors
• You qualify for the income restricted units (the value is hard to beat)
• Mueller walkability is a priority and you want to save vs. AMLI pricing
• You have a larger dog that gets turned away at other Mueller properties

This property doesn’t make sense if:

• You’re noise sensitive and can’t get a top floor unit
• You need full transparency on screening criteria before applying
• You’re concerned about water getting in during storms and want a proven track record
• Your budget can’t cover $131.75/mo in required charges on top of base rent

My verdict: Solomon is a strong first year deal in a great location with real growing pains. The math works. The amenities and staff are genuine strengths. But you need to go in knowing what the walls do and don’t block. Top floor unit? Good bet. Mid floor unit at $2,500/month with thin walls? That’s a harder sell.

If you want help figuring out whether Solomon fits your situation, or if you’d rather look at similar Mueller properties without the noise concerns, fill out the form and I’ll text you within a few hours.

Need Help Deciding?

You’ve got everything you need to decide on Solomon yourself. 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 coordinate next steps. You’ll talk to me directly, not an AI phone system.

Going solo? No problem. 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.