Cimarron Crossing

Stay away! This is a very old complex and has nothing good about it other than its location. In the winter We had rats in our apartment and they damaged the dishwasher and the office did not replace the dishwasher until we caught the rat. After a month, I was able to catch the rat and then they replaced the dishwasher. Maintenance people are really nice but there is not much they can do for you when the complex is old and falling apart and the office has strict rules. Also expect to pay really high amounts for water and trash, it will probably compete with your electricity bill. They charge per person, so if you have a baby, they will charge another $ 50 for the water the baby uses. And you will not find out about this until you move in.

I recently moved in here and have really loved the community. They bent over backwards to make sure my apartment was in the best condition before my move in date. I understand they were under a bit of a time crunch, but my apartment looked awesome!
Upon move in I had a slight AC issue and a few ants in the bathroom, I sent an e-​mail expressing my concerns and within 5 minutes (literally) someone was at my door working to fix the problem.
The staff is super nice, the community is quiet and feels safe. The location really rules, very easy to jump onto any highway. The complex is kind of tucked away which is cool.
My only complaint is that because the units are a little older, if the AC is 76 or below it runs a fair amount of the time. I’ve been told to keep the AC at about 83 or above to insure you don’t have an outrageous electric bill. We will see!

This was the very first apartment that i moved into when i first came to Austin back in 2010. I lived in a town home 2b/​2b with washer dryer hookups. Its a safe and small complex with great access to shops, major roads and is pretty quiet. During my time there we had very minimal issues that were addressed by maintenance in a reasonable amount of time. I have no complaints about the staff, apartment quality or location (in fact i loved the location) The only reason we left was because the rent went up and we found a larger home. the only negative i can think of is that the complex is in front of a church and its crowded on sundays before and after mass.

This is a follow-​up from an earlier review. Upon moving in, the apartment was not extremely clean — not filthy, but you could tell that it hadn’t been thoroughly cleaned. We had to spend a full day cleaning the cabinets, shelves, floors, and bath. Then after moving out, we took quite a bit of time to clean the entire apartment, leaving it spotless. We scrubbed the refrigerator and oven, and went over the rest of the apartment with a fine toothed comb to make sure that it was in great shape for the walk-​through and for the next renter.
When we called the office, they stated that they don’t do walk-​throughs, but not to worry — the deposit would be in the mail promptly. So I was quite surprised to find that, upon receiving the deposit a month later, the management deducted considerably for cleaning the carpet and oven. The carpet is very old, but we did clean it well — the only blemishes were paint globs that were there when we moved in and were documented at move-​in. The oven was spotless — I don’t know anything that could have been done to make it cleaner.
When I got the statement showing the deductions, I called the office to inquire, but leasing agent Dana W told me that they don’t discuss security deposit refunds and directed me to call their corporate customer service at 512−329−8480, option 5. In theory, this sounds acceptable, but the only problem is that this number is never answered, instead instructing callers to leave a message.
So at this point I’ve called parent company Sandalwood Property Management three times over three days and left the same message three times and they’ve not called back.
My problem with this is that if the complex is going to make automatic deductions from your deposit on move-​out, they should be up front about it. During the stay there, we found the management to be pleasant, but generally incompetent and inefficient. Maintenance issues had to be called in repeatedly, and when they finally addressed issues, it took a long time and generally the maintenance folks left quite a mess for us to attend to.
For a complex that is supposedly vying for «property of the year», they’ve got a long way to go in the way of professionalism, integrity, and competence.

Small complex. Very quiet. Location is great when heading South, a bit of a pain to go North. Convenient to places like Costco, Target, Trader Joe’s, Spec’s, Anderson Village, Whole Foods.
No pointless gate that most people can bypass (as is the norm w/​apt complexes). Potholes in the parking lot, but were fixed within a few months. Big rain can cause water to pool hence pothole creation. Pool is by the front /​leasing office. It’s small but appropriately sized with a neat little island. Hot tub attached.
Another review mention that when it’s hot outside, it’s hot inside, and vice versa. I can confirm this. I keep my AC at 76 to sleep, 79 daytime. If you have it set that way, the AC unit will be on nearly constantly mid-​summer. The insulation must be terrible and the unit must be old. Factor in a $ 150 summer electric bill (1300 kWH) for 1000 sq ft. into your budget. Worse, my Jan heating bill was nearly $ 300. Granted I have the largest size unit and last winter was cold for Austin, but sweet Jesus. The AC unit for my apt looks ancient and underpowered to combat the sq footage and weak insulation.
In Houston we had choices for electricity. Here, all I can choose is, apparently, Austin electric.
Another renter and I were wondering if this used to be an old folks home. There’s some ancient looking «emergency» button in the bedroom by the wall outlet.
Fridge, oven, dishwasher, and laundry units (latter not in all apts) are decent. I’ve definitely seen worse. No microwave. My unit had a fireplace! That’s cool, and the gated back patio is nice. On another apt review site, someone complained about no direct sunlight on patio. I *don’t* want direct sunlight on my patio. Someone you can please no one.
Bedroom and living room fans can spin fast without wobbling. Dining room light fixture is updated. Kitchen faucet has a nice arc so you can actually clean dishes under it. A lot of this really depends on your individual unit though.
Revised units may get faux wood floors, which would be a huge improvement over the usual crappy apartment carpeting.
Rent is paid online through a checking account transfer (or credit card with a fee). If applicable, they will want to charge you «pet rent», which I have never encountered in my life. A pet deposit is stupid enough (does it matter if I broke something or an animal did?) But «pet rent» (never encountered this in my life) is just to screw more money out of you. Speaking of that, the «valet trash» service is mandatory. I’d rather have $ 10 more each month because I can walk 30 feet to the dumpster. It’s not like you can leave the trash out the night before, since it’s outdoors and local animals will tear into it.
They require renter’s insurance (which I always have) but I had never encountered a situation where they must be listed «as an interest» so that they are alerted by the insurer if you cancel. Never seen that before.
Office workers are always pleasant. Service guy Antonio is very nice. Maybe it’s because my type of unit is the least connected to other units, but I hear pretty much zero ruckus or late-​night partying.

RENTER BEWARE: I’M ABOUT TO INVOLVE TENANT ASSOCIATION: I have lived here for 3 years. Last month I moved to a larger unit. My rent went up $ 160 for only 30 extra sq ft. We agreed to it because we love the neighborhood and until then we’d had no real issue. What I didn’t know is I’d also have to budget an extra $ 100+ per month for my electric bill. In one month our AC has gone out 3 times. Always after hours and always on a Friday or Saturday. Maintenance just calls and says they’ll check it out next day. Of course, by then it’s defrosted and restarted itself, so they just say it’s working and move on with their business. It’s infuriating because I feel like they’re calling me a liar. They were hesitant to replace the freon because it was at 65%, but they finally did that the 2^nd time it went out. It started to blow cooler air, but still was incredibly inefficient. It runs all the time and doesn’t cool the unit. They have never offered to provide us with a wall unit or come out to observe the issue when it’s happening. It looks like a 15 or 20 year old unit that is on it’s last leg, but they refuse to admit it. It’s constantly running, and never cools below 80 degrees until the sun goes down — whether we have it at 73 or 78. In my last unit, 750 sq ft, we kept the unit at 73 degrees day in and day out, even the summer it got up to 110 degrees and was record breaking heat all summer. We never had usage above 1400 KWH. We have been here for a month and it’s only started to get to the low hundreds the last couple of days. We were billed for 1650 KWH. It was set to 73 degrees all day, when I got home it was 80 degrees and continued to rise. By the time I got home from dinner, it was 86 degrees and no air was blowing. The maintenance guy finally mentioned maybe replacing the unit if management approves. My guess is, as usual, they will not, and I feel like he was telling me what I wanted to hear.

I viewed an apartment with Jenny the leasing agent this week. While I was waiting someone came in and complained about the hot tub being broken for a week. I also noticed the pool was closed. Jenny said it was being «shocked.» I liked the apt even though it was a little old and outdated. They charge extra for «updated» units but Jenny was really vague on what updated meant because one apt we saw had old cabinets but newish appliances and the other had new cabinets but old appliances. Also some units have cheap «wood paneling» floors.
Jenny informed me the next step was to fill out an application, pay a $ 50 application fee, $ 150 admin fee, and $ 200 deposit. I asked to see a copy of the lease and she said she couldn’t do it because the computer wouldn’t allow her too. She asked me what my concern was and I told her I wanted to review the lease to make sure I could comply with it and make sure it was reasonable and legal. I’ve seen a lot of Judge Judy’s, also have been screwed in leases and heard lots of horror stories. She kept blaming the computer for not allowing her to show me a copy of the lease. I asked if she could put in a fake name and she said she couldn’t because it’s a legal document. I asked if she could black out and copy someone else’s lease and she said no. I asked if there was a manager I could speak to and she said no, she was the manager. Obviously Jenny did not own Cimarron Crossing. She again asked me if I would like to fill out an application and I kept saying no, I can’t put money down without seeing a contract. I can’t believe people actually do this. Although Jenny was always upbeat and polite to me in a fake way, she would often take a long pause and give vague answers to basic questions.
Cimarron Crossing is owned by Sandlewood Living Corporation, who owns many complexes around the country but is based in Austin Texas not but a few blocks from Cimarron Crossing. I contacted them by e-​mail and again, politely asked for a copy of a lease and never heard a response. It appears they have a policy that leasing agents are to never allow to the people they’re making millions off to contact them directly.
Other red flags. Pet deposit: $ 500 per pet, pet rent: $ 10/​month, water/​trash: divided among all units: approx $ 30/​month. Jenny told me the lease was NINETY PAGES long including all the addendum and rules. You might think you’re getting a good deal but with all the add ons you’re paying just as much as the more expensive places.
Bottom Line: ALL RENTERS NEED TO DEMAND A LEASE CONTRACT IN FULL BEFORE PUTTING DOWN A DEPOSIT. Protect yourselves. No one thinks twice about renters being subjected to a criminal and credit background check, previous landlord check, employment check. You have the obligation to check out who you’re renting from.

I’m going on five years of living in this complex now. A couple days ago (a Saturday), I hesitated to submit a maintenance request because I had other things to do… knowing that they’d likely show up four minutes after the request… or at least the same day. Fast, responsive maintenance (almost to a fault)? Check.
As Colin T. mentioned in his review… valet trash. You set your trash bags on the curb area on Monday and Thursday mornings and they are magically whisked away. Disappearing trash? Check.
The water issues I mentioned in my previous review seem to have been taken care of. Also? You can pay your rent online. I’ve never lived in a place where that was an option, so I was very excited to see that when I moved in.
The location is a bit awkward and most GPS make it a slightly more difficult location in which to navigate. Don’t really mind that, either. If I’ve invited someone to my place, I don’t mind an «I’m fucking lost» phone call.
Other than the aforementioned things, everything else in my previous review still stands.
I’m happy. The gatos are happy. WTF else matters?
Nothing.

I like the apartment and community, though I have mild to moderate concerns about the office staff.
For a complex built in the 80’s, they are doing a very nice job of keeping appliances updated and carpets cleaned. I love the maintenance crew — they are friendly, approachable, and always wanting to make sure you’re comfortable.
The office staff is… hmm…how can I put this? I’ve heard a few anecdotes from people I know about bad experiences they had (one friend lost their reserved apartment when the old tenant decided to stay, even though deposits had been made and application approved — ah, but no lease signed!). Though I reserved my apartment months in advance, the staff wanted me to wait until the day before move-​in to sign the lease. Yeah, right. I was treated like a trouble-​maker for doing so, but I insisted on signing the paperwork immediately, and now I’m glad I did.
I don’t think the issue has to do with outright deception as much as something else I have picked up on. As much as I’m sure she’s a very nice person, I think the Manager (a woman with dark brown hair) is acting like a space-​cadet these days, which is really too bad because I think she has truly poured her heart & soul into making a difference for this community. Recently, though, she seems very «off». I’ve been speaking with her, to have UPS or FedEx walk in, and watch her just kind of stare blankly at them like she doesn’t know what to do. When we resumed our conversation each time, she stared blankly at me like she didn’t realize I was standing there, and didn’t know what we were talking about. I don’t know what’s going on in her life, but I think she has a lot on her mind, and it may be an impact on her job. The man who works the front desk puts on a big smile, but you can tell he is having a really negative experience with life right now.
The office hours sincerely tick me off. They’re not reliably open during business hours. For example, their office sign reads that they’re open until 6, but the website says 5:30. I have raced through traffic more than once to make it by 5:30, only to have a sign up saying «back at 5:40». I have asked if they’re actually open until 6, to be told no, 5:30. I just wish they would communicate better. Inform residents if you’ll be working odd hours so we can plan around it; maybe fix the website, or change the sign out front. Twice, the office was closed, but the guy who works the front desk was sitting at his desk (i.e. not showing the property), so I suspect he was taking a break. On a Saturday, I went by during normal business hours to find that they were closed for an hour (lunch?). On a different Saturday, they closed for the day at 3 PM. There haven’t been any notices or anything in the newsletters, so go figure.
My only complaint about the location itself is that you can’t hop right onto 360 or 183 Northbound, but if you’re heading Southbound, it’s a dream for a morning commute because you can jog down Jollyville, parallel to MoPac’s stop-​and-​go.
The community itself feels very safe. I have no qualms walking around at night. There seems to be a mix of young and old alike, and it’s generally quiet — a perfect place for a student who needs a reliable place to study. Oh, and the place is COVERED in cats, so you’d better like them, and not mind cat fights in the middle of the night. I happen to love the critters, but the screaming at night can be disconcerting.
In the big picture, there’s pros and cons — in the end, I’m leaning towards feeling that this has been a positive experience, as I learn to shrug off the things that frustrate or confound me.

I’ve had a very good experience at Cimarron Crossing for four years now; it’s the best complex I’ve been in so far. There are a few amenities, «valet trash» chief among them for me; what that means to me is «no matter what it is, figure out how to bag it and it’s gone.» I could probably saw up furniture and get rid of it that way. Someday I’ll do a mattress in bags.
Moving within the complex (to a larger unit) was very easy; the deposit transferred, and as for the damage my cat did to the blinds and the various carpet spots from an ill-​considered furniture-​gluing project: never heard a word about them. When I asked, it was called «acceptable wear» or something. Apparently I’m a valued resident.
Since I’ve lived only in the efficiency and 1BR units, I’ve never lived near any children, which is a charmed life, but there are some around. The only noise I can think of is the guy next door’s band, which practices in his apartment, but not that often or at outrageous hours or volume, so I’m fine with it – support your local musicians and all. And anyway, without that it’d be TOO quiet. One song in particular drones on a bit, and the bass player can get self-​indulgent, but everyone’s a critic.
Maintenance has been fast, same or next-​day. A few necessary repairs and an occasional reminder are par for the course for apartment-​living, as far as I’m concerned, but I haven’t had to do a lot of either. The issues I’ve had have mostly been with the junior leasing agents, who have a moderate rate of turnover (~4 in the nearly three years). Processes like getting the alarm set up founder if that employee is new or not one of the better ones for the role. The manager herself is excellent, and I’m sure the property will do well while she’s here. The rent has been stable, so I have no reason to leave; I’d like to stay until it’s house or condo time.
Last, the location is outstanding: at the juncture of 360, 183, and Mopac, but screened from any highways, in the Mesa/​Spicewood neighborhood, with a supermarket, Molca’s, Mesa Ranch steak house, Triumph Café, Brooklyn Pie Co, Mangia, Twin Liquors, and Torchy’s Tacos a few blocks away (I don’t like that place, but I know there rest of you go apeshit for it) and Far West, Anderson and Burnet within easy reach.
For four years, the track record’s been very good.

Used to live in this place. As Snuggly mentioned, it is a non bells and whistles complex. I didn’t really mind that, though. Most of the luxury apt places have things that I normally wouldn’t use anyway. This place had a decent rent, especially considering the great location. However, said location is a bit awkward because of the one way streets in the area. It is a bit of a struggle to get onto N183 from there.
The complex is old, and feels as such. There wasn’t much insulation in the units. When it is cold outside, it is COLD inside a unit. When it is hot outside, it is VERY HOT inside a unit. Our unit (two-​story condo floor plan) wasn’t even wired for freakin’ cable! The outlets on the walls were blank inside. Only one worked. So we have to have splitters coming from that outlet going to every other TV in the townhouse. Cable wires were going everywhere. The countertops, walls, appliances … everything was from the 80’s. If price is a necessity, this place is cheap for the area. However, you definitely only get what you pay for.

Upon trying to help someone relocate last year, I met with a representative from a local rental agency (who was wonderful by the way). I could tell the agent was hesitant to show Cimarron Crossing, but I thought it was probably because CC is an older, non bells and whistles apartment complex … if only that was all there is to it.
The agent and myself met with CC, requesting a specific floor-​plan and emphasizing an exact date of move-​in. With a smile the CC leasing agent accepted a deposit based on what I needed for the person relocating. Once CC was contacted by the party who was relocating, their responses were NEVER (and I mean never without exaggeration) consistent.
CC repeatedly made excuses for not being able to show the actual apartment. CC would not ever put anything in writing — not even a receipt for the deposit — even though they were asked to on numerous occasions.
When relocation time came closer, CC accused the person relocating of changing their move-​in date — a blatant lie, so they said the original apartment the deposit was paid for was no longer available. When I went to look at the alternative apartment the very same day, CC claimed it was no longer available either.
At this point, the person re-​locating was so concerned with CC’s dishonesty that they looked for somewhere else to live. They asked for their deposit back and in keeping with the unprofessional, unreliable and shady way of doing business, CC refused to return it.
You can report them to the Texas Real Estate Commission at
(click on complaints, consumer info tab).