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The Studio at ThinkEast

Updated 2026-07-17 · 2,441 reviewed · 809 listed · Scored from 167 Google reviews · How we rank ›

3.6(167) 60 composite score See reviews on Google ✓ Google-verified
Affordable & Section 8 Housing
The Studio at ThinkEast
Service
Affordable & Section 8 Housing
Reviews
167

What we found

Long-term residents praise the maintenance crew's speed and the leasing office staff's friendliness, especially Janell and Raul who handle requests same-day. The studios offer genuine space for the price in an affordable Austin market. However, the property suffers from stark inconsistency. Common areas remain filthy with cigarette butts, trash, and feces in stairwells. The security gate promised to stay closed has remained broken for months, nightly patrols never materialized, and packages get stolen regularly. Inside units, installation is sloppy: door gaps let drafts and pests in, vinyl flooring gaps are visible, and roaches appeared day one for some residents. Management responds to maintenance requests but stonewalls residents on serious concerns, security deposit disputes, and billing errors.

The business is in visible transition. Reviewers note newer management trying to course-correct after years of complaints, and recent work like pool renovations shows intent. Yet the core tension remains: affordability attracts residents, but underfunded upkeep and lax oversight breed anger among those who chose this place for security and stability. Success depends on whether management can sustain fixes beyond cosmetic updates.

Praised for
  • responsive maintenance crew
  • friendly and helpful office staff
  • affordable pricing
  • spacious units for the cost
Watch-outs
  • filthy common areas and stairwells
  • broken security gate and missing patrols
  • package theft and unsupervised entry
  • poor unit quality and installation gaps
  • unresponsive management on critical issues
  • slow security deposit refunds and billing disputes
poor-communicationwell-maintainedunresponsive-maintenanceclean-common-areaspest-problemssafe-securepackage-theft
Best for: Budget-conscious renters who prioritize quick maintenance and can overlook common area cleanliness lapses.
Think twice if: Security concerns (gate repeatedly broken, patrols absent), stairwells and common areas frequently filthy, unit quality inconsistent (roaches, installation gaps, water damage), management unresponsive to billing disputes.

What this place gets right

  • Same-day maintenance response
  • Friendly, responsive leasing staff like Janell
  • Genuinely spacious units for the price
  • Pet-friendly policy

Before you tour or apply

  • Maintenance team members named Raul and Erudis complete repairs same-day and right the first time
  • Janell in leasing office consistently praised for responsiveness and helpfulness
  • Marcia handles some administrative tasks but also staff turnover complaints
  • Security gate promised to remain closed; has been broken and left open for extended periods
  • Nightly security patrols promised but never observed by residents
  • Pool area and common spaces recently renovated with new chairs and gate entry box
  • Online resident portal and email setup available for maintenance requests and payments

Resident ratings

Affordable & Section 8 Housing
Studios and one-bedrooms offer surprising space for the price; significant disconnect between advertised amenities (security, cleanliness) and residents' lived experience.

How it stacks up

  • Rated 3.6 against a 3.93 average across the 213 affordable & section 8 housing businesses listed here.
  • Has more Google reviews than 60% of the businesses in this directory.

What keeps coming up

low income housingstudio apartmentsemail setupfront office stafftax credit propertywelcoming atmospherekind staffpoolsafetycleanliness

How we scored this

How We Score
Star rating 10
Review volume 97
Review recency 100
Review sentiment 43
Profile completeness 100
Verification 30

Rating breakdown

5
99
4
9
3
3
2
6
1
50

FAQ

What is the maintenance response time?
Residents report same-day repairs for work orders submitted through the online portal or in person. The maintenance crew, including Raul and Erudis, handles requests promptly.
Is the security gate actually working?
One resident noted the gate was promised to remain closed but has been broken and left open for most of their seven-month stay. Another recent resident reported it functional for only about two weeks of their year there.
Are there nightly security patrols?
Residents state patrols were promised but they have never observed any during their time at the property.

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Affordable & Section 8 Housing

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Last updated 2026-07-17