Westdale Parke Apartments Austin Review: What 237 Google Reviews and a 3.1 Rating Actually Tell You

Here’s a pattern I keep seeing with Westdale Parke. A renter searches “cheap apartments in Northwest Hills,” finds 1BR rents starting at $844, and thinks they’ve cracked the code. Sub-$900 rent in 78731? That’s one of Austin’s most desirable zip codes. After touring more than 500 Austin communities as a licensed Texas REALTOR®, I can tell you the price is real. But 237 Google reviews averaging 3.1 stars are telling you something the listing photos won’t.

This is a 1976 property with a 2022 facelift, and those two dates explain almost everything you need to know. The renovation gave you vinyl flooring, USB outlets, and walk-in showers. It didn’t fix the plumbing that shuts your water off multiple times a week, or the pest issues that show up in review after review. So here’s the real math, the real screening process, and the real trade-offs. You decide if the price tag is worth what comes with it.

Quick Facts

The missing detail here: no published credit score minimum. That matters because you won’t know the screening requirements until you ask. More on that in the screening section below.

Best For / Skip If

This property makes sense if you’re in one of these situations:

• You need to stay in 78731 on a budget under $1,200/month. Westdale Parke is one of the only options in Northwest Hills at this price point. Neighboring properties like Greystone Flats start at $1,125 and Juniper Springs at $1,004, both smaller with fewer units open.
• You commute to UT Austin and want shuttle access. The UT shuttle (Far West route) stops directly in front of the complex. Residents call it the single biggest perk.
• You need a 508-unit complex with high availability. Bigger communities mean more floor plans to choose from and faster leasing. At 89% occupancy, there are roughly 55 vacant units at any given time.
• Your screening history has some bumps. Reviews mention staff working through “tricky” applications. Yolanda gets called out by name for finding ways to help borderline applicants. Yelp categorizes Westdale Parke under “Second Chance Apartments” and “No Credit Check Apartments,” which tells you something about who this property is willing to work with.

Skip this property if:

• You need reliable water service every day. At least 5 Google reviews specifically call out frequent water shutoffs, sometimes multiple times per week. Management’s own response says these are “generally out of our control.”
• Pest sensitivity is a dealbreaker. Google tags 10 reviews under “rats,” and roaches come up on every review site. One ApartmentRatings reviewer moved into a unit with a German roach infestation. The property is heavily wooded, which residents love for the shade but hate for the bugs it brings in. If you’re looking at a fireplace unit, residents on ForRent say raccoons and possums have gotten in through unprotected chimneys.
• You need in-unit laundry. No units have washer/dryer connections. Five shared laundry centers serve 508 units, and reviewers complain about broken machines and stolen laundry.
• You plan to fight charges when you leave. This comes up more than anything else in the reviews. Year after year, residents report surprise charges for damage that was already there when they moved in.

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Location Deep Dive

What’s Actually Nearby

Westdale Parke sits on Greystone Drive, just south of Far West Boulevard in the Northwest Hills neighborhood. Groceries are a 5 minute walk. H-E-B at Village Center is 0.3 miles away, and there are three shopping centers within half a mile. Austin’s Pizza is on Greystone Drive, basically across the street. The U.S. Post Office and Old Quarry Library? Both within walking distance.

Outdoor access is solid. Beverly S. Sheffield Northwest District Park is nearby, Bull Creek Greenbelt is about 2 miles out, and Bright Leaf Preserve is close enough for weekend hikes. Dog owners use the onsite agility dog park, but Bull Creek is the real draw if you want longer trails.

The UT shuttle stops right in front of the property. Capital Metro bus service runs along Far West Boulevard. Nearest MetroRail station is Crestview, about 3.4 miles east.

Commute Math

MoPac is your main highway from here. You’re about a mile from the northbound entrance, which connects to both US-183 and Loop 360. Rush hour heading south on MoPac toward downtown gets heavy between 4:30 and 6:30 PM. Morning commutes north toward the tech corridor are lighter.

Neighborhood Honest Take

orthwest Hills is a suburban neighborhood that’s been around since the 1970s. It’s quiet. Very quiet. If you want walkable nightlife or a “scene,” this isn’t it. What you get instead: good AISD schools (Doss Elementary, Murchison Middle, Anderson High), oak-lined streets, and the kind of neighborhood where people jog at 6 AM. Traffic backs up on Far West Boulevard during school drop-off hours and evening commute. North Austin has a broader breakdown of what each corridor offers if you’re weighing areas.

Pricing and True Cost

Floor Plans

The 480 sq ft 1BR is the smallest, and at $862 starting rent, it’s tight. Here’s what most people miss: the 570 sq ft floor plan actually starts lower at $844, and the 725 sq ft plan starts at just $866. You can get 50% more space for the same money or less. The loft at 700 sq ft is the standout layout if you want height and character.

No units include a washer/dryer. That’s a real cost factor: you’re either using the shared laundry centers or heading to a laundromat.

About That “Special”

The current offer isn’t a rent concession. There are no free months being offered right now. The special is:

• Waived admin fee: saves $100
• 50% off security deposit: savings depend on what the full deposit would be (not published, likely $200–$500 savings)
• Requirement: Apply within 48 hours of touring. Approved credit required. Expires 10/6/2026.

Because there’s no rent concession, the net effective rent equals the base rent. No monthly savings to calculate here. In a market where many Austin communities are throwing out 6–12 weeks free on annual leases, the fact that Westdale Parke isn’t offering free months stands out. That $844 1BR? It’s $844 every month. No discount spreading across the lease.

Fee Breakdown

Required Fees (everyone pays these):

Recurring Monthly Fees:

The property doesn’t publish a full fee breakdown, which is frustrating. But here’s what I can confirm: utilities aren’t included in rent. Residents pay separately for electricity (Austin Energy) and water/sewer, which gets added to your rent bill. They charge a monthly pest control fee, though the exact amount isn’t published. You have to carry renter’s insurance — $100,000 liability minimum. If you don’t have your own policy, they’ll sign you up for their plan and add a monthly charge to your rent. Ask the leasing office for the exact fee schedule before you apply.

Optional Fees (if applicable):

What You’ll Actually Pay Each Month

Here’s a realistic scenario for a 1BR at $900/month with one dog:

Upfront costs for this scenario: $75 application fee + $0 admin (waived) + reduced deposit + $400 pet fee = roughly $475–$700 out of pocket at signing, depending on the deposit amount.

What Specials Are Running Right Now?

Specials change. What I 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 today, reach out.

Get Current Pricing

Screening Criteria

Income Requirement

Westdale Parke requires gross income of 3x monthly rent, which is standard at this price point. Here’s what that looks like in real numbers:

If you don’t hit the 3x income requirement, they accept guarantors. The guarantor must earn 5x the monthly rent amount. On a $900 unit, that’s $4,500/month gross income. One thing to know from the property’s FAQ: guarantors are “for people who do not qualify for income only.” A guarantor won’t help you with credit or background issues.

Credit Expectations

Westdale Parke doesn’t publish a credit score minimum. They use ScreeningWorks, a third-party screening company that looks at more than just your credit number. Their system checks your credit history, rental history, and background all together.

Yelp categorizes Westdale Parke under “Second Chance Apartments” and “No Credit Check Apartments.” That label plus a screening system that looks beyond credit score alone tells me this property works with renters who’d get denied at newer luxury communities. Here’s what I can tell you based on how similar properties typically screen:

• 620+: Likely smooth approval, lowest deposit
• 570–619: Approval possible, expect a higher deposit
• Below 570: Gets harder. The guarantor option may not apply if the issue is credit rather than income

The review where Yolanda helped a resident through a “tricky” application tells me there’s some flexibility here, but don’t count on it as a policy. It may depend on who reviews your file and when. If your credit is below 580, I’d recommend having a backup property lined up. Second chance apartments in Austin walks you through which communities are more upfront about what they’ll work with.

What Gets You Denied

Here’s what I can piece together from what’s public:

• Gross income below 3x rent with no guarantor
• Every applicant over 18 has to pass screening on their own
• Money you owe Westdale or any of their other properties
• ScreeningWorks flags on background, rental history, or credit that don’t pass their scoring system

The property doesn’t publish specific lookback periods for evictions or felonies. I searched the property website, FAQ, and every apartment listing site. Nothing. Their screening page just points to ScreeningWorks and their scoring system. If you have an eviction or felony on your record and want to know where you stand before paying $75, reach out and I’ll pre-screen your situation for free.

Application Process

1. Tour the property (you need to tour within 48 hours to get the current special)
2. Apply online. You apply first, then invite everyone else going on the lease by email. Everyone over 18 fills out a separate application. $75 per applicant, non-refundable.
3. ScreeningWorks runs your background, credit, and rental history
4. Approval or denial. If approved, you’ll get an email to review and e-sign the lease.

Here’s what working with a locator gets you at this property: I can pre-screen your situation before you spend $75 finding out the hard way. If Westdale Parke’s screening looks tight for your profile, I know which nearby communities on Greystone Drive have more flexibility. And if you do apply, I stay on your application so it doesn’t sit in someone’s inbox.

Resident Reviews Decoded

I read through reviews on Google (237 reviews, 3.1 stars), Yelp (66 reviews, 1.5 stars), ApartmentRatings (313 reviews), VeryApt (6 reviews), ForRent, and the property’s own resident surveys. That’s over 620 reviews across those platforms alone. The 1.5 on Yelp tells a much harsher story than Google’s 3.1. The patterns? Hard to miss.

Review Pattern Analysis

What Residents Like

The price. A resident who stayed three years rated it 4 stars and said the rating “weighed heavy on the rental price.” Reviewers call it affordable for the area. In 78731, most comparable properties on Greystone Drive start $100–$300 higher, and that math checks out.

Specific staff members. Yolanda comes up again and again. Residents say she goes above and beyond during the application process. Erik Castillo gets called out for giving a solid tour. Hassani and John on the maintenance team get shoutouts by name. Aracely in the leasing office gets praise for being kind.

The neighborhood. “Nice area,” “quiet,” and “good location” come up a lot. Residents love the trees and the suburban feel.

What Residents Don’t Like

Pests are the number one complaint. Not close. Google itself tags 10 reviews under “rats.” Roaches come up on every review site. On ApartmentRatings, one reviewer moved into a unit with a German roach infestation in 2021 and spent their own money fighting it with no help from management. On ForRent, residents report raccoons and possums entering through unprotected chimneys in fireplace units.

The heavy tree canopy that makes the property look great is also what lets the pests in. And for a building from 1976, gaps around pipes are common ways bugs travel between units. What makes this worse: residents report paying a monthly pest control fee that doesn’t fix the problem.

Water shutoffs are the number two complaint. Across platforms, at least 15 reviews mention this. A ForRent reviewer laid out the pattern: shutoffs on Tuesdays and Thursdays. One Yelp reviewer says half the complex went without hot water for an entire month. On ApartmentRatings, a resident caught management lying about plumber availability to avoid paying weekend rates during a freeze. Management’s own Google response? “Generally out of our control.” For a building that’s 50 years old, that likely means aging plumbing that can’t be fixed without serious money.

Charges when you leave come up repeatedly. A resident moves out, gets charged for damage they say was already there, and the property doesn’t show proof. Same story, different reviewer, year after year.

Management Response Pattern

Management responds to most Google reviews, both positive and negative. The style is template-heavy. Phrases like “Thank you for choosing Westdale Parke as your home!” repeat almost word for word across dozens of responses. One response to a negative review actually thanked the reviewer for being happy. The review was a warning to avoid the property. That copy-paste approach tells you the responses are a corporate checkbox, not real conversation.

Worth knowing: this property was formerly called Greystone Park Apartments before Westdale took over. A former employee on ApartmentRatings said the previous management company (Dalcor) wouldn’t pay for fixes, and staff did their best with what they had. Westdale brought the 2022 renovation, but many of the structural complaints go back further than either company and haven’t gone away.

The Uncomfortable Truth

No listing site will write this section. But you need to read it before you sign anything.

The Renovation Was Cosmetic, Not Structural

The 2022 renovation gave Westdale Parke modern finishes: vinyl flooring, USB outlets, walk-in showers, smart technology. The listing photos look updated. But the plumbing, the windows, the doors, the foundation? Those are still from 1976. The water shutoffs, the pest issues, the thin walls: those all come from a building that got new makeup, not new bones. What that means for you: the apartment will look nice when you tour it. The issues won’t show up until you’re living there.

Charges When You Leave Are a Pattern, Not Isolated Incidents

At least 5 reviewers across different years report the same experience: charged for damage that was already there, or charged fees they weren’t told about. One reviewer says they “broke several tenant laws.” Another hired a cleaning crew specifically to leave the unit spotless and still didn’t get a deposit refund. When this many people report the same thing year after year, it’s a system, not a mistake. The practical advice: photograph and video every inch of your unit the day you get your keys, email those photos to the leasing office, and keep the confirmation. Under Texas Property Code, the landlord has to give you a breakdown of what they took out of your deposit within 30 days.

89% Occupancy Means 55 Empty Units

In Austin’s current market, 89% occupancy at a 508-unit property means roughly 55 vacant units. That’s a lot of empty apartments for a community advertising sub-$900 rents.

The reviews tell you why people leave. The price brings them in. The water shutoffs, pest issues, and deposit fights push them out. If the property were running at 95%+ occupancy, I’d call the issues manageable. At 89%, they’re losing residents faster than they can replace them.

The Amenity List Doesn’t Match Reality

The listing advertises a fitness center, tennis court, and two pools. Here’s what residents actually say: on ForRent and Google, they call the fitness center a storage closet with a broken treadmill, a bike, and some free weights. One of the original tennis courts was converted into a dog park. The property has since built a new one, but ApartmentRatings reviewers report getting $120 fines for dogs on the old court surface. One of the two pools sits under heavy tree cover and is always full of leaves. The amenities look good on paper. Tour them in person before signing.

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FAQ

Does Westdale Parke have in-unit laundry?

No. There are five shared laundry centers for 508 units. Machines accept credit cards only. Reviewers complain about broken washers and dryers sitting unrepaired for months.

What is the income requirement at Westdale Parke?

Gross income must be 3x the monthly rent. A guarantor (5x rent income) works if you’re short on income only.

Does Westdale Parke accept dogs?

Yes. Up to 2 pets, 60 lbs max per pet, breed restrictions apply. The pet fee is $400 per pet (you don’t get it back) plus $20/month pet rent. There’s an onsite dog park.

How far is Westdale Parke from UT Austin?

About 12 minutes by car off-peak, 20–30 minutes during rush hour. The UT shuttle stops directly in front of the property, which makes this one of the easiest bus rides to campus in Northwest Hills.

Is there a credit score minimum at Westdale Parke?

No published minimum. Screening runs through ScreeningWorks, which looks at more than just your credit number. Based on how similar properties screen, I’d estimate 570+ gives you a reasonable shot with clean rental history.

Are the water shutoffs at Westdale Parke still happening?

Based on reviews as recent as 2026, yes. Residents say the water still goes off regularly, sometimes for a full day. Management has responded to these complaints in reviews but hasn’t announced a fix.

What parking options does Westdale Parke offer?

Open parking is free, first come first served. Covered parking and carports cost extra every month, but the price isn’t published. Call the leasing office for availability and pricing. There’s no reserved parking. Guests have to register their vehicles through a QR code at each entrance.

Can you break your lease at Westdale Parke?

Yes, with early termination fees. The exact fee is in your lease. Get that number before signing.

The Bottom Line

Westdale Parke gives you sub-$900 rent in Austin’s 78731 zip code and a UT shuttle stop at your front door. It’s a 508-unit complex with a 2022 renovation that makes the units look decent on a tour. Those are real advantages, and in this neighborhood, no other property matches that price point.

The trade-off is equally real. You’re living in a building from 1976 with persistent pest issues, frequent water shutoffs, and a pattern of surprise charges when you leave that former residents keep warning about.

This property makes sense if:

• Your budget ceiling is firm and 78731 matters to you
• You commute to UT and want that shuttle stop
• You’re willing to photograph everything at move-in and keep records
• You prioritize neighborhood quality over unit quality

This property doesn’t make sense if:

• Reliable daily water service is non-negotiable
• You have any level of pest sensitivity
• You want your own washer/dryer
• You expect your deposit back without a fight

My honest take: Westdale Parke is a budget play in a premium zip code. Go in with your eyes open and it can work. Go in expecting the listing photos to tell the whole story and the reviews will catch up with you. And if the trade-offs here don’t fit, similar pricing exists in South Austin and East Austin with different pros and cons. I can help you sort through those too.

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If you want to apply on your own, go to westdale-parke.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.