Extremely overpriced apartment complex!!!!! You're only making Jerry Jones, who owns Riata, richer if you decide to sign a lease at this hell hole.
The staff in the village where I resided are complete ditzes, got my lease screwed up and unapologetic about their error. For what I paid in rent, I would have expected better craftsmanship of the building structure. If you run the water faucets or flush the toilet, you can hear the clank of the pipes behind the walls. If you suspect any water damage, you must notify to management immediately, else they'll blame you. And you would have to pay for the water damage repair. I could hear the people upstairs elephant stampede across the living room and music bass thumping, vibrating the walls. . Yes, it's apartment living but still...You can complain to management, but what are they really going to do but give notice to the offenders, who of course, will retaliate by making louder noises. Some residents just have no consideration for others who live in the other units. The amenities are there and they're okay, nothing to rave about. Although, I do give Riata credit for the 11,000 sqft athletic facility. The gates are almost always broken and takes management freaking foooorever to get them fixed. So much for safety!! Since half the time, the gates are broken it's pointless to even carry with you the gate key. But if you do lose that key, it will cost you to replace it somewhere around $60 or $70. I didn't lose mine but just stating what they charge for one of those things.Who knows, they can charge higher by the time you move in. Parking sucks; if you can find a space to park near your building -GREAT - else you end up parking in Pflugerville and having to walk to back to your building. Parking spaces are narrow and there are inconsiderate residents who hog more than one spot. And unless you have covered parking, the complex is in HAIL ALLEY, so be prepared to have your automobile pummeled should a hailstorm passes by. The basketball court and volleyball court are situated too close to the buildings thus the noise resonating from residents using the courts disturb the rest of those who want some peace and quiet. After 10pm, it is supposed to be QUIET according to the lease. However, Riata does not enforce this rule. If you're in your 20's and still want to party like a rock star, hey this place is for you with all the parties/functions they have going on from happy hour of cheap beer, overcrowded main pool, and party bus !!!!! The HVAC units are extremely loud so buy a few pairs of ear plugs to protect your eardrums. I have sensitive hearing so it was bad for my ears. There are infestations of millipedes and rollie pollies due to over-watering of the landscape. No one goes the speed limit of 15 mph that is posted by the massive speed bumps. If you must call maintenance to come fix whatever is on the fritz, MAKE SURE YOU PUT plastic sheets down, else maintenance will track dirt/mud onto your carpet and guess who has to clean that up---YOU. And if you can't get that dirt stain out, you'll lose your deposit because they have to clean it. If you have any valuables in your place, hide them. Hell, get a safe deposit box.

I should have stayed with friends instead of being so impulsive of finding a place of my own so soon for my job transition or done further research. *sigh* I would have saved so much money and avoided being woken up each day at 3am by the elephant stampede from people who don't know how to walk but stomp. I regret living at Riata.

If you are going to reside at Riata, take precaution so you get your deposit (which is pretty steep and if you have pets, even steeper) back unless you just have money to burn. When you move in, document thoroughly your "move-in inspection". Take digital photos with date and time stamp of your findings and make two copies ---one for you and the village management. PROTECT YOURSELF AND GOOD LUCK.

User Responses
From: pdentremont	Date: 10/31/2009
well I haven't lived in Riata since 2004 but I can say this person is off her rocker. First I take it they lived in the cheapest of the apartments like arrowwood, Woodtrail or mylesmark. Well these were dirt cheap when i was living at riata and sure attracted young people like college students(They were the most fun people.) I lived in Buenavista and it was definitely more young professionals(quiet) and the apartments were way nicer. The Amenities rocked it was like living on a resort especially if you are a social person. I remember one day going to work and they handed all cars going through the gates boxes of krispy kreme donuts and said "take these to work thank you for living at riata". It was a little gesture but it said volumes. The reviewer above picked the wrong community for what she was looking for. Also she is blaming riata for hail on her car? really? Yea they can be rough on deposits but when i moved it the apartment had all new carpets. I never heard a neighbour in Buenavista but they are better built. Regarding the gates? well they aren't really all that secure anyway and using the badge was a pain anyway I mean the walking trails have open sections to go through. I have heard crime particularly car break-ins are up since I lived there and that is probably cause criminals go where the money is. I mis living there everyday. I had a blast. If i ever move back to Austin I will definitely live at riata.
From: rkf8440	Date: 10/31/2009
Things have changed A LOT between 2004 and now. I moved out in 2007 and it was already the pits there - and I also lived in Buena Vista. The noise from the (local - not clubhouse) pool was awful - like they were blasting their music and talking on their phones right in my apartment. I had 6 a/c units below my bedroom window, so noise was constant. I will say that my neighbors were no trouble - but I made sure to get the 2nd floor of a 2-story building for just that reason - hence the pool location. When I moved in 2 years earlier (to a different building - not near any pools or other facilities) the management was great, maintenance was awesome and I loved it there, but there were many management changes that resulted in a "couldn't care less" attitude and I eventually left. I agree with the original writer that unless you are the type who likes to party non-stop, this was NOT the place to live. And the rent kept going up by HUGE amounts. Many members of my family are in real estate and they say a "normal" rent increase for a sitting tenant is 5%; Riata would jack up the price as much as 20% once they had you in there and the "specials" that got you there expired. While the "promotional" rents seemed ok for all the amenities, if you don't use them and/or you've experience one of their exorbitant rent increases, it was definitely overpriced. I'd never go back.
From: Anonymous	Date: 10/31/2009
wow i almost thought i wrote this! i agree with this reviewer almost 100%. the hail is not riata's fault, but my car has been hit TWICE with hail storms in about 3 months (once it caused $7500 worth of damage), so it really is on hail alley! never had problems finding he parking, but i know a lot of other people who have. i have a compact car and it's hard to squeeze in the tiny spots. wanna party all night and not be disturbed by management? MOVE TO RIATA! they will just tell you to call the cops of that they will send out a courtesy officer(if they are on duty and nobody ever knows if they are..)--WHY DON'T THEY LOCK THE POOL? never had problems with bugs or noise from other residents who are IN their apartments, but i live on the 3rd floor.

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