The Baxter at Westwood Apartments Austin Reviews: 8 Weeks Free on a $844/Mo 1BR — Here’s What You’re Trading For That Price

When you look at as many Austin apartments as I do, patterns jump out. The Baxter at Westwood keeps showing up in client searches for one reason: the math. Eight weeks free, a legitimate Northwest Austin address in the 78750 ZIP code, and a one bedroom starting at $844/month before the concession even kicks in. As a licensed Texas REALTOR (TX #679806) who tracks pricing across 1,000+ Austin communities, I’ve learned to ask the follow-up question: what’s the catch?

It starts with a number: 1984.

That’s the year this building was built. And what that year means for your daily life is the whole reason this review exists. Listing sites show you photos and a price. I’m talking about pest control, AC reliability, and plumbing. The 2008 renovation gave The Baxter updated finishes, but renovations don’t replace plumbing or soundproof walls built before the first Macintosh hit shelves. Here’s what listing sites won’t tell you about The Baxter at Westwood.

Quick Facts

That 4.2 Google rating looks solid on paper. Then you look at ApartmentRatings, where every subcategory, grounds, maintenance, noise, safety, and staff, sits at 1 out of 5. Two very different pictures of the same property.

That split makes more sense once you know management changed in January 2026. The wave of recent Google five-star reviews? That’s the new team. But the older reviews across ApartmentRatings, Birdeye, and ForRent tell a different story: pests, mold, and water line breaks under previous management. I’ll break down what’s driving both sides below.

Best For / Skip If

Best For

You need a one bedroom under $900/month net effective in a 78750 ZIP code. The A1 plan at $1,030/month base with 8 weeks free on a 12 month lease drops to about $872/month net effective. That’s hard to find in Anderson Mill, where most competing properties charge $900+ even after their own specials. If you’re working near Lakeline, 183, or FM 620, the commute math works too.

You have a large dog. The Baxter has no breed restrictions and no weight limit on pets. Most Austin apartments cap at 50 to 75 pounds. If you own a German Shepherd, a Rottweiler, a Great Dane, or any other large breed, your options just got wider. The property has a split dog park with separate areas for large and small dogs. That’s more than you’ll find at most places in this price range. If pet restrictions are blocking you at other communities, call me and I’ll find you places that’ll take your dog.

You need a washer and dryer in your unit and can’t afford the properties that usually include them. W/D included is standard here across all floor plans. At most Austin apartments in this price range, you’re either hauling clothes to a shared laundry room or paying $50 to $75/month extra for a W/D rental.

You’re near Round Rock ISD schools. Anderson Mill Elementary is across the street. Grisham Middle School and Westwood High School are both close by. A lot of reviews mention the schools as a big reason they picked this place.

Skip If

You have a low tolerance for pest issues. Across Google, ApartmentRatings, and Birdeye, I counted pest complaints (roaches, wood roaches, rats) in at least 8 to 10 reviews. One ApartmentRatings reviewer who lived here 2020 to 2025 describes both roaches and rats. A Birdeye reviewer who toured the property describes “wood roach infestations” and “stale cigarette smoke damage” in available units. This is a 1984 garden style building. Pest problems in a building this old come from the building itself, not just how well it’s managed. New management may spray more often, but the gaps between units where bugs travel don’t change without tearing walls open.

You can’t tolerate AC downtime in summer. At least 3 reviews talk about their AC going out for days during Texas summers. One reviewer mentioned the AC unit sits in the kitchen ceiling, which is an older setup that’s harder to fix fast. If AC reliability is a dealbreaker, newer construction is worth the premium.

You need modern finishes and spacious layouts. Several reviews mention tiny kitchens with barely any cabinet space. The 2008 renovation updated surfaces, but it didn’t change the floor plan dimensions. These are 615 to 1,064 square foot units designed in 1984.

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Location Deep Dive

What’s Actually Nearby

The Baxter sits on Lake Creek Parkway in the Anderson Mill area of Northwest Austin. It’s car dependent. The Walk Score is 34, which means you’re driving for groceries and errands. That said, the basics are close enough. H-E-B on Anderson Mill Road is about 1.5 miles south. Williamson Square shopping center is roughly a mile away. Lake Creek Retail is within a short drive for restaurants and quick stops.

For bigger shopping, Lakeline Mall is about 3 miles north. The Austin Aquarium and Alamo Drafthouse are both in the area. Access to 183 and FM 620 is fast, which matters when everything requires a car.

Parks are a plus. And this is one thing Anderson Mill actually does well. Multiple reviews mention morning walks on nearby trails. Lake Creek Greenway is close. Great Hills Park is about 5.5 miles away if you want more space.

Commute Math

The MetroRail at Lakeline Station is 3.4 miles away. If you commute downtown, the train is an option, but you’d need to drive to the station first. The 183 corridor heading south gets heavy during rush hour. FM 620 gets backed up too, but not as badly going north toward Cedar Park.

Neighborhood Vibe

Anderson Mill is a family oriented suburb. That’s not marketing. Reviews mention kids playing outside, schools across the street, churches nearby, and a general sense that this is a community where people stay for years. Several reviewers mention living here 3, 5, 6, even 9 years. This isn’t a place people use as a stepping stone for a year and leave.

The honest downside: it’s quiet, but it’s not walkable. There’s no nightlife, no coffee shop within walking distance, and no bar scene. If you want urban energy, this isn’t it. If you want to let your kids ride bikes to school and walk your dog without crossing a highway, Anderson Mill delivers on that.

Pricing and True Cost

Floor Plans

Pricing pulled from Apartment Finder in August 2026. These change by unit and availability, so confirm with the leasing office.

Net Effective Rent Calculation

Let me walk through the math on the most common one bedroom, the A1 at $1,030/month base rent.

The special: 8 weeks free on a 12 month lease

8 weeks = 56 days free 12 month lease = 365 days

Daily multiplier: (365 – 56) ÷ 365 = 0.8466

Net effective rent: $1,030 × 0.8466 = $872/month (you can run your own numbers with our net effective rent calculator)

Monthly savings: $1,030 – $872 = $158/month

Total savings over the lease: $158 × 12 = $1,896

That’s real money. But remember: income qualification uses the base rent of $1,030, not the net effective of $872. At 3x income, you’d need to earn $3,090/month gross to qualify for this unit.

Fee Breakdown

Required Fees (Everyone Pays)

Optional Fees (If Applicable)

No pet deposit. No breed restrictions. No weight limit. Pet interview required.

True Monthly Cost Scenario

Here’s what a real month looks like for a renter in the A1 one bedroom with one dog:

The gap between the advertised $844 starting rent and what you’ll actually pay is real, but it won’t shock you. The $200 admin fee, $400 pet fee, and $500 security deposit (minimum) are all due when you sign. That’s $1,100 out of pocket before your first month’s rent. Ask the leasing office for the full cost breakdown before you apply.

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

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Screening Criteria

I don’t have The Baxter’s screening criteria posted anywhere on their site. But I found RPM Living’s Resident Selection Criteria document (revised July 2025), which covers their properties across the board. Here’s what it says.

Income Requirements

Income qualification always uses base rent, not net effective rent. You need 6 weeks of verifiable income (pay stubs, tax returns, or bank statements showing 10x monthly rent). If you can’t meet the income requirement on your own, a guarantor needs to make 5x the rent.

Credit and Deposit Tiers

RPM Living uses what they call an “empirical system” that looks at more than just your credit score. Here’s the general breakdown:

• Credit score 550+: Approved. $500 security deposit (or $19/month deposit alternative).
• Credit score below 550: Conditionally approved. $1,500 security deposit (or $38/month deposit alternative).
• Less than 2 years of credit history: Conditionally approved.
• Utility debt over $250: Denied.

What Gets You Denied

From RPM Living’s published criteria:

• Felony violent crimes (murder, injury to a child), felony sex crimes, felony property crimes (burglary, arson), or felony drug manufacturing/distribution: denied regardless of how long ago
• Other felonies: denied if incarceration or probation ended within the last 10 years
• Misdemeanor theft or misdemeanor violent crimes: denied if they wrapped up within the last 5 years
• Eviction records within the past 5 years: denied
• Two eviction filings within the past 2 years: denied
• Landlord debt under $250 in the last 5 years: conditionally approved. If you’re dealing with a broken lease or property debt over that amount, I can tell you which properties work with your situation.
• Lying on your application

If your credit is below 550 or you have background concerns, check out our guide to apartments that work with bad credit in Austin.

Application Process

1. Apply online or in the office ($75 per applicant, non-refundable, plus $200 admin fee)
2. They check your background, credit, and rental history
3. You usually hear back within 72 hours
4. If approved, sign lease and pay upfront costs

Here’s what separates working with a locator from applying blind: I can tell you if your income, credit, and rental history would pass The Baxter’s screening before you spend $75 finding out. If The Baxter looks tight for your situation, I know which nearby communities have more flexibility.

Resident Reviews Decoded

Pattern Analysis

What People Like

Here’s what stands out: the staff gets praised by name. Not just “the staff was nice.” Actual names, over and over. Jessica (Ponce), Ulises (Cornejo), Ale/Alejandra, and Eddie (maintenance) show up across dozens of reviews. Eddie in particular gets called “MVP” and “awesome” by multiple residents for fast, reliable repairs. One resident says the office staff saved their life. CPR during a heart attack, right on the property. I’ve read thousands of apartment reviews. I’ve never seen that one before.

The long-term residents say a lot too. Sofia Portillo has been here 9 years. Mercy Porth: 6 years. Tanya Sadler: almost 4. Sofia Granados: over 6. When people stay that long and still leave positive reviews, something’s working.

What People Don’t Like

The negative reviews tell a different story. They cluster before 2026, under previous management, and they show up across every platform: Google, ApartmentRatings, Birdeye, ForRent. Three themes keep coming back.

Pests and mold. Nathan Price’s Google review describes fighting a “SEVERE black mold issue” for 2 years with previous management, including mold in the ventilation system. A Birdeye reviewer who toured the property found “wood roach infestations” and “stale cigarette smoke damage” in available units. The most detailed ApartmentRatings review (from a resident who lived here 2020 to 2025) describes roaches, rats, and mold painted over rather than fixed. One ApartmentRatings reviewer called it “the most unsafe and mold infested apartment complex” they’d ever lived in.

Infrastructure breakdowns. AC outages lasting days or weeks in summer appear across Google, ApartmentRatings, and Birdeye. Water lines breaking and leaving the whole property without water for a day shows up on ApartmentRatings. One Birdeye reviewer who lived here 6+ years writes: “Maintenance issues are constant: water leaks, broken A/C units that take months to repair, appliances that aren’t” fixed. On ApartmentRatings, one reviewer describes a unit in Building 6 that burned. It took 6 months to rebuild. The windows were left uncovered the whole time, leaving the unit open to weather, insects, and animals.

Unit condition at handoff. On multiple platforms, people talk about getting apartments that weren’t cleaned or checked before they moved in. Derrick’s recent Google review says the unit “was not ready” when he moved in. That matches older reviews on ApartmentRatings and Birdeye where residents describe broken fixtures, stains, and missing items on Day 1.

Management Response Pattern

Management responds to almost every review, positive and negative. They respond fast, usually within a day or two. But the responses are copy-paste. The phrase “thriving community” shows up in a lot of them. When someone leaves a negative review, the response usually asks them to call the office instead of actually answering the complaint in public.

The Review Pattern Worth Watching

A large batch of short five-star reviews appeared within the same window, roughly 20+ reviews posted in 4 to 5 days. That looks like a review collection push from the leasing office. The reviews themselves are genuine residents (they reference specific staff by name), but the clustering tells you the leasing office is asking residents to leave reviews. That doesn’t mean the reviews are fake. It does mean the 4.2 Google average didn’t get there on its own.

The Uncomfortable Truth

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

The Building is 42 Years Old, and That Shows Up Where It Matters

The 2008 renovation updated counters and cabinets. It didn’t replace the plumbing, the HVAC ductwork, or the seals between units. The pest complaints in the reviews aren’t random. Garden style buildings from 1984 have gaps between units that bugs and rodents use to travel. One reviewer describes a “big hole in the closet” that wasn’t properly repaired. Another says the AC unit sits in the kitchen ceiling. That’s an older setup that leaks water and is harder to get to when it breaks. That’s the building, not the management. New management can spray more often and respond faster to work orders, but they can’t change how a 42 year old building was built.

New Management Is Unproven on the Hard Stuff

RPM Living took over in January 2026. That’s roughly 7 months ago. The office reviews have been overwhelmingly positive since the changeover. People love Ulises, Jessica, and the rest of the current team. But the serious complaints, getting rid of mold, fixing the pest problem at its source, making the AC systems reliable, those take longer than 7 months to prove out. The previous management had years of complaints piling up in these areas. Whether RPM Living is fixing the root causes or just answering work orders faster is something that needs another 6 to 12 months to shake out.

The Concession Tells a Story

Eight weeks free is aggressive. It’s not the most aggressive in Austin right now (check current Austin move-in specials for comparison), but at a 350 unit Class C property, it tells you occupancy isn’t where they want it. When a property changes management and has a review history like this one, 8 weeks free is how you fill units fast. That can be great for you if you’re signing now. The risk is what happens at renewal. If occupancy recovers, expect the renewal offer to jump well above your net effective rent.

Your Unit May Not Be Ready on Day 1

Here’s something that shows up across Google, ApartmentRatings, and Birdeye but never on a listing site: apartments that weren’t cleaned or inspected before residents moved in. Derrick’s recent Google review describes exactly this. Older reviews mention broken toilet seats, stains ground into carpet, missing doors, and appliances not working on Day 1. A Birdeye reviewer writes: “our apartment was not inspected by management before we moved in, nor was it cleaned. Yet somehow they will take your money when you move out for cleaning.” If you sign here, walk every room before you accept the keys and take photos of everything. Get the leasing office to put any issues in writing before your first night.

Ready to Move Forward, or Want to See Alternatives?

If The Baxter’s trade-offs work for your situation, I can help you apply. If they don’t, I know every property in the 78750 ZIP code and I’ll find one that fits better.

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FAQ

Does The Baxter at Westwood allow large dogs?

Yes. There are no breed restrictions and no weight limit. You can have up to 2 pets with a $400 one-time fee and $25/month pet rent per pet. A pet interview is required.

What is the income requirement at The Baxter?

The standard is 3x monthly rent. For the cheapest one bedroom at $844/month base, that means earning at least $2,532/month gross. Check with the leasing office to make sure that’s still current.

Does The Baxter at Westwood have washer and dryer in unit?

Yes. W/D is included in all units at no extra monthly charge.

Is The Baxter at Westwood safe?

A lot of reviews call it quiet and safe, with schools and churches nearby. The property is in the Anderson Mill area of Northwest Austin (78750). For actual crime stats, check the Austin Police Department crime map.

What school district is The Baxter at Westwood in?

Round Rock ISD. Anderson Mill Elementary, Grisham Middle School, and Westwood High School serve this address.

Did The Baxter at Westwood change management?

Yes. RPM Living took over in January 2026. Reviews from before that date reflect the previous management company. Recent reviews since the changeover have been overwhelmingly positive.

Does The Baxter at Westwood have roaches?

Multiple reviews mention roaches. That’s common in 1984 garden style buildings, and it’s more about the building age than the management. Ask the leasing office what pest control schedule they follow and whether they treat individual units or the entire property. If you’re touring, here’s how to check an apartment dishwasher for roach signs before you sign.

How far is The Baxter at Westwood from downtown Austin?

About 13 miles. Off-peak drive time is roughly 20 to 25 minutes. During rush hour, expect 35 to 50 minutes depending on the route.

What are the lease terms at The Baxter?

The property offers 6 to 12 month leases. The 8 weeks free special may require a specific lease term. Ask the leasing office what’s required right now.

The Bottom Line

The Baxter at Westwood makes mathematical sense. A one bedroom at $872/month net effective with W/D included and no pet restrictions is a strong budget play in 78750. Direct access to 183 and 620 doesn’t hurt either. The new team under RPM Living is earning real praise from residents. Jessica, Ulises, and Eddie keep getting called out by name, and that kind of consistency from staff tells you something real is happening in the leasing office.

The main trade-off is the building itself. This is a 42 year old garden style property where pest, mold, water line, and AC complaints show up across Google, ApartmentRatings, Birdeye, and ForRent. Those problems come from the construction era, not from who’s running the leasing office. The new team might fix them. Or they might just be faster at picking up the phone. Give it another year before you trust the trend.

This property makes sense if:

• You’re optimizing for price per square foot in Northwest Austin
• You have a large dog that’s been rejected at other properties
• You value community atmosphere and responsive staff over modern finishes
• You’re near Round Rock ISD schools and need walkable access

This property doesn’t make sense if:

• You have respiratory sensitivities or a low tolerance for pest issues
• AC reliability during Austin summers is non-negotiable
• You need a modern kitchen with real counter and cabinet space
• You plan to renew and expect the same net effective rent in Year 2

Here’s what I tell clients who ask about this property: The Baxter is a solid choice if you understand what a 1984 building means and you’re OK with the trade-offs that come with the price. The staff is the best thing about this property right now. The building is the risk. If you can live with older infrastructure in exchange for saving $150+ per month over comparable properties, it’s worth touring.

Need Help Deciding?

Path 1: Work with me. My service is free. The property pays a referral fee from their marketing budget, so your rent stays the same whether you use me or apply directly. I can check your application against The Baxter’s criteria before you spend the $75 fee. If this property isn’t the right fit, I’ll match you with ones that are.

Path 2: Apply directly. If you’d rather go solo, call the leasing office at (737) 347-1949 or visit The Baxter at Westwood’s website. 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.