Westchester Woods Apartments Austin Review: Tax Credit Pricing With a Catch You Need to Know

Here’s a number that stops most renters in their tracks: $752 a month for a one bedroom in the Austin metro after specials. As a licensed apartment locator (TX #679806) who tracks pricing across 1,000+ Austin area properties, I can tell you that’s not a typo. Westchester Woods Apartments in Pflugerville is a tax credit community, and the rent math here works differently than anything you’ll find on a standard listing site.

But here’s what those listing sites leave out. This is a 2003 building with a 2.3 rating on ApartmentRatings and a pest problem that shows up in reviews going back over a decade. On top of that, income caps mean you can earn too much to qualify. The new management team has pulled the Google rating up to 3.4, but cockroach complaints still show up in reviews from 2025 under the same team. That matters.

Quick Facts

That 3.4 on Google tells part of the story. A 2.3 on ApartmentRatings tells the rest. That gap matters because most of the Google reviews are from the last year or so and reflect new management, while the ApartmentRatings reviews go back much further. I’ll break down what’s driving both numbers below.

Best For

You’re on a housing voucher or need income restricted pricing. This is one of the few 250-unit LIHTC communities in Pflugerville that accepts Section 8 vouchers. If you’re working with a voucher and need a three bedroom at $1,300 or less, your options in the 78660 ZIP code are thin. Westchester Woods is one of them. The 2 months free special drops the effective rent even further, which helps when cash is tight. If you’re also dealing with a screening issue like a broken lease or eviction, check out our second chance apartments guide for other options.

You need space on a tight budget. The floor plans here are bigger than what you’d find at most newer properties at this price. A two bedroom B2 runs 1,058 square feet for $1,025 base rent. A three bedroom C2 is 1,201 square feet at $1,300. After the 2 months free special, that three bedroom drops to $1,086 effective. You’re not going to find that square footage at those numbers in newer construction anywhere in the Austin area.

You need to stay in the Pflugerville ISD zone. Hendrickson High School (GreatSchools 7/10) is the zoned high school. If keeping your kids in PISD matters more than building age, this is one of the more affordable ways to stay in the district.

Skip If

Roaches are a dealbreaker for you. I’m not being dramatic. Pest complaints appear in Google reviews, ApartmentRatings reviews, and ForRent reviews going back over ten years. A resident who lived here 10 years said they never went away no matter how clean you kept your unit. Someone touring the place saw a roach on the floor during a tour. This pattern keeps showing up, and new management hasn’t solved it yet.

You need reliable office communication. The office phone goes to voicemail constantly, and calls don’t get returned. One applicant waited over two weeks with no updates about their application. If you need a responsive front office, that’s a problem.

You earn too much. This is a tax credit property with income caps. If your income is over the LIHTC cap for your household size, you won’t qualify no matter how much you like the pricing. I’ll break down those caps in the screening section.

You’re sensitive to noise or work from home. The walls are thin. You’ll hear your neighbors. This is 2003 garden style construction with shared walls and floors, and there’s not much between you and the people next door. If quiet is a priority, this is going to be a problem.

Ready to See If Westchester Woods Fits Your Situation?

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Location Deep Dive

What’s Actually Nearby

Westchester Woods sits on North Heatherwilde Boulevard in east Pflugerville, about 14 miles northeast of downtown Austin. For a broader look at what’s available in this area, check our Pflugerville apartments page. You’ll need a car here. Walk Score is 40, which means you’re driving for most errands.

The Haven at Heatherwilde shopping strip is a 3 minute walk (0.2 miles) with a few small shops. Shops at Forest Commons is about a mile south on foot. Stone Hill Town Center has a bigger mix of retail and restaurants, about 1.7 miles and a 4 minute drive. H-E-B is about 2 miles south on Heatherwilde near the SH-45 interchange. That’s your closest full grocery store.

Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Pflugerville is 4.3 miles away (8 minute drive). Round Rock Medical Center is 8 miles out if you need something bigger.

For dining, the Stone Hill Town Center area has chain options like Chili’s, Panda Express, and Whataburger. There aren’t many walkable restaurant options from the property itself. This isn’t a “grab coffee on foot” location.

Commute Math

The commute south into Austin is the painful direction. SH-130 helps if you’re heading to the airport or south Austin, but I-35 into downtown during rush hour is rough. But anything north into Round Rock or to Dell? Easy.

Neighborhood Context

This stretch of Heatherwilde is pretty quiet. It’s not walkable in any real sense, but it’s also not next to a highway or bar district. Pflugerville ISD serves the area, and the zoned schools (Dearing Elementary, Park Crest Middle, Hendrickson High) all score 6-7 out of 10 on GreatSchools. The nearest Capital Metro rail station (Howard Station) is 8.8 miles away, so taking the train to work isn’t realistic from here.

Pricing and True Cost

Floor Plan Breakdown

Pricing verified August 2026 via Apartments.com and RentCafe. The C2 three bedroom at $1,300 is cheaper than the C1 at $1,500 despite being 50 square feet larger. That’s a layout difference, not a mistake. Always ask which units are available before assuming you’ll get the cheaper plan.

Net Effective Rent: The Math

The current special is 2 months free on a 12 month lease. Here’s how it breaks down:

• Lease term: 365 days
• Free days: 60 days (2 months × 30)
• Multiplier: (365 – 60) ÷ 365 = 0.8356

Example on the A1 (1BR/1BA): $925 × 0.8356 = $773/mo net effective rent Monthly savings: $925 – $773 = $152/mo

Example on the C2 (3BR/2BA): $1,300 × 0.8356 = $1,086/mo net effective rent Monthly savings: $1,300 – $1,086 = $214/mo

One thing to know: the income requirement at tax credit properties is based on income caps, not a rent multiplier. Your income needs to be under the LIHTC ceiling for your household size, not above a floor.

Fee Breakdown

Required Fees (Everyone Pays)

Optional Fees (If Applicable)

Included in Rent: Trash removal

Not Included: Water (billed separately, and this comes up in reviews), electric, internet

The fee structure here is simpler than most properties. $35 application fee is one of the lowest I see in the Austin market. Most charge $50-75. And the base deposit is $350, which the current special cuts to $175.

True Monthly Cost Scenario

A renter in the A1 one bedroom with one dog:

The gap between the advertised $925 rent and your actual monthly out of pocket with water and a pet is about $65-85. Not enormous, but worth knowing.

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

I track pricing at every Pflugerville apartment community. I can show you how Westchester Woods stacks up against Lakewood, Bluebonnet Preserve, and other options in the 78660 ZIP code, including which ones accept vouchers and which don’t.

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Screening Criteria

Westchester Woods doesn’t publish screening criteria anywhere online. Their listing just says “please contact us for income requirements.” That’s typical for tax credit properties. The screening works differently than a standard apartment, and here’s what you need to know.

Income Caps (Not Minimums)

This is the opposite of most apartment screening. Instead of needing to earn at least 3x rent, you can’t earn more than the LIHTC income ceiling for your household size. Most LIHTC properties in Texas use the 60% AMI level, and Westchester Woods is no different. Here are the approximate limits for the Austin area based on the most recent HUD numbers:

These numbers update every spring when HUD releases new figures. The limits above are from FY2025 data, so the current numbers might be a little higher. Confirm with the leasing office before applying.

If you earn above the ceiling for your household size, you won’t qualify. Period. This trips up people who assume low rent means easy approval. It doesn’t. It means fewer people qualify, not more.

What I Know About Tax Credit Screening

Tax credit properties have different screening rules than a regular apartment. Credit requirements are usually more flexible, but the income paperwork is heavier because the property has to prove you’re under the income cap to keep their tax credits. Expect to provide:

• Pay stubs (last 2-3 months for all household adults)
• Tax returns (especially if self-employed or receiving non-wage income)
• Social Security/disability award letters (if applicable)
• Housing voucher paperwork (if using Section 8)

The Section 8 Factor

Westchester Woods accepts Housing Choice Vouchers. If you’re working with a voucher, your housing authority handles the income check and figures out how much you pay versus what the voucher covers. I can help you figure out whether your voucher amount covers the rent at the unit size you need. And if you’re dealing with an eviction on your record alongside a voucher, our eviction friendly apartments guide covers which Austin area communities work with that combination.

Here’s what separates working with a locator from going in blind: I can tell you whether your income falls within the LIHTC caps, whether your voucher amount works for this property, and which other tax credit communities in Pflugerville have openings. That’s information you won’t get from a listing site.

Resident Reviews Decoded

Review Pattern Analysis

What’s Working

The new management team is the story here. Nicole (office manager), Aurora, and Syed get called out by name repeatedly. And not just generic praise. One resident who’s lived here several years called the current team “ALL-STARS” and said they handle issues quickly. Another who moved in recently said everything she asked for was taken care of. Brooks Porter, Carli Young, and Lorraine Perry all specifically praised Nicole during the leasing process.

That’s a real turnaround from the older reviews. Previous management got hammered for rudeness, no communication, and billing problems.

What’s Not

The pest complaints are the elephant in the room. Google, ApartmentRatings, ForRent, Facebook — roach complaints show up everywhere, from reviews going back years. A resident who lived here 10 years said the roaches never went away no matter how clean you were. One person touring the property saw a roach on the floor during the showing. Another current resident said pest control spraying stopped because “it was too much money.” These complaints appear under both old and new management.

Thin walls come up a lot too. One ApartmentRatings reviewer who lived here three years put it this way: the rooms are big, but the walls are thin. An older reviewer talked about upstairs neighbors’ kids stomping like a bowling alley until midnight. That’s typical of garden style construction from this era, but it’s worth knowing going in.

The billing issue goes deeper than just water. Several ApartmentRatings reviewers talk about mystery charges showing up on their accounts — balances they didn’t owe, fees they couldn’t explain, and notices claiming they were behind when they had receipts proving otherwise. One longtime reviewer warned that the property would “tell the apartment you have a balance and you’ll get denied” at your next place. Keep every receipt and every confirmation email.

On maintenance, several ApartmentRatings reviewers say repairs get patched rather than fixed, which means the same problems come back. One reviewer said a work order sat for two weeks and was “lost” when they followed up. Another said they couldn’t see their actual unit before moving in and found it dirty on move-in day.

The phone problem is real too. One reviewer said nobody answers and calls go to voicemail with no callback. That’s frustrating when you have a maintenance request or a billing question.

The application process has drawn complaints too. One renter waited over two weeks with no updates, no timeline, and no communication. They ended up going somewhere else. Another person scheduled a tour by phone, showed up the next day, and the office had no record of it. No availability either. So the leasing team is friendly, but the systems behind the scenes haven’t caught up yet.

Management Response Assessment

Shelter Corporation responds to most Google reviews. But the responses on negative reviews are nearly identical, copied and pasted. They all say some version of: “Thank you for bringing this to our attention and we would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you further.” Then they direct people to a Minnesota phone number (952 area code), not the local office. Corporate handles the responses, not the team on site.

The Uncomfortable Truth

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

The Pest Problem Is Structural

Roach complaints at Westchester Woods aren’t a one-off thing. They show up across every review platform, from reviews going back years, and from people who toured and never moved in. A 2003 garden style building with 250 units in Central Texas is going to attract bugs. That’s just what happens with older construction, Texas heat, and that many units sharing walls. The question is whether management controls it. From what I see in the reviews, the spraying hasn’t been consistent. One resident said the property stopped regular pest control spraying to save money. If you move in, budget for your own pest treatment and don’t rely on the property’s schedule.

The Water Bill Surprise

Water isn’t included in rent and is billed separately by the property. One ApartmentRatings reviewer (a resident from 2010 to 2025) said they got a bill claiming they were months behind when they’d just paid. Another said the charges didn’t add up. Water billing at tax credit properties can get messy because the property handles the billing instead of the utility company sending you a bill directly. Keep every receipt.

Corporate Management, Local Execution

Shelter Corporation is headquartered in Minnesota. The team on site (Nicole, Aurora, Syed) gets strong reviews, but corporate decisions on things like pest control budgets, building upgrades, and deposit returns happen out of state. When something big goes wrong, the people you talk to locally may not have the authority to fix it.

The Walls Don’t Block Sound

Here’s the thing about noise at this property. One longtime resident put it this way: the rooms are big, but the walls are thin. An older reviewer talked about upstairs neighbors’ kids stomping like a bowling alley until midnight. That’s 2003 garden style for you. Shared walls, shared floors. If you’re sensitive to noise or work from home, ask for a top floor end unit. It won’t eliminate the issue, but you’ll share fewer walls and won’t have anyone above you.

Renewal Pricing Might Sting

One ForRent reviewer said rent went up every year without exception, while new tenants got a lower rate. That’s not unusual at LIHTC properties, but it’s worth asking the leasing office during your tour what the typical renewal increase looks like. The 2 months free special is a first year incentive. Your second year is probably going to run higher.

Ready to Move Forward, or Want to See Alternatives?

If Westchester Woods works for your situation, I can walk you through the application process and what to expect with LIHTC screening. If the pest issue or income caps are a problem, I know every tax credit and affordable property in Pflugerville and the surrounding area.

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FAQ

Is Westchester Woods a Section 8 property?

Westchester Woods is an LIHTC (Low Income Housing Tax Credit) property that also accepts Section 8 vouchers. All 250 units are income restricted. It’s not public housing, but it is subsidized through the tax credit program.

What are the income limits for Westchester Woods?

Income limits depend on Area Median Income for Travis County and your household size. Limits update annually. Contact the leasing office at (737) 259-4958 for current caps, or text me at 512-865-4672 and I’ll find out for you.

Does Westchester Woods allow dogs?

Yes, with restrictions. Dogs are allowed with a $300 pet fee (non refundable) and $25 per month pet rent. The following breeds are restricted: Pit Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, German Shepherd, Doberman Pinscher, Chow Chow, Akita, and wolf-dog hybrids.

Does Westchester Woods have a roach problem?

Roach problems show up in reviews on Google, ApartmentRatings, and ForRent. This has been a complaint for years across multiple management teams. I’d recommend asking the leasing office directly about their current pest control schedule and how often they spray before signing.

What school district is Westchester Woods in?

Pflugerville Independent School District. Zoned schools are Dearing Elementary (GreatSchools 6/10), Park Crest Middle School (6/10), and Hendrickson High School (7/10).

Does Westchester Woods have in-unit washer and dryer?

No. Units have washer/dryer hookups (connections), but you bring your own machines or use the laundry room on site.

How much is the application fee at Westchester Woods?

$35 per applicant. That’s lower than the Austin area average of $50-75. If you’ve got a broken lease on your record, that low fee reduces your risk if the application doesn’t work out.

What’s the current special at Westchester Woods?

As of August 2026, the property is offering 2 months free rent plus half off the security deposit on a 12 month lease. Specials change frequently, so confirm with the office before applying.

Is Westchester Woods gated?

Older reviews mention gates that were broken and not repaired. I couldn’t find out whether they’re working now from anything online. Ask during your tour.

The Bottom Line

Westchester Woods gives you something rare in the Austin metro: real square footage at tax credit pricing. The 2 months free special pushes the effective rent into the $750s for a one bedroom. You don’t find that at conventional market rate properties.

The new management team is a genuine improvement. Nicole, Aurora, and Syed have turned around a property that was getting destroyed in reviews under previous leadership. Complaints about staff have dropped way off.

This property makes sense if you qualify under the LIHTC income caps, you’re working with a Section 8 voucher, you need a large floor plan on a tight budget, or you want to stay in the Pflugerville ISD zone without spending $1,400+ for a two bedroom.

This property doesn’t make sense if pest issues are something you can’t tolerate, you need a property with published screening criteria you can verify before applying, you want modern finishes and updated appliances, or you need weekend office hours. If screening challenges are part of your situation, read our guide on apartments that accept evictions in Austin for a broader view of what’s out there.

My honest take: Westchester Woods is a budget play with real trade-offs. The pricing is hard to beat. The space is generous. But you’re living in a building that’s 23 years old with a pest history that keeps showing up in reviews, and a corporate landlord based 1,200 miles away. If the math works and you can deal with the building age, tour it. Go in with your eyes open.

Need Help Finding the Right Pflugerville Apartment?

My service is free. The apartment community pays my referral fee from their advertising budget, so your rent is the same whether you work with me or apply on your own.

What I can do that a listing site can’t: tell you which Pflugerville properties accept vouchers, which ones fall within your income range for LIHTC qualification, and which ones have the screening flexibility your situation needs. I’ve been through these communities more times than I can count.