Avalon Walnut Creek

Review based solely on leasing inquiry and leasing office experience.
Visiting this Avalon property was high on our list of places to explore for living in Walnut Creek. With its adjacent location next to BART, we knew we had to check it out. We began our apartment hunt on a Saturday and found that the majority of leasing offices were open until at least 6 PM on Saturday and 5 PM on Sunday. Unfortunately, this location is only open until 5:30 PM on Saturday and CLOSED on Sunday. Thinking this would be okay since it was only midday we decided to enter. Here is where the trouble began. The doors to the entryway which lead to the leasing office were locked. No huge deal, as the leasing office windows are right there for them to see potential clients wanting to enter … Well they were not paying attention and we couldn’t catch anyone’s eye to let us in. After a few minutes we were about to give up. Then a current resident who was walking by asked us if we needed to be let in. We were thankful for this kind resident! He informed us that these doors are always locked. I find this hard to believe since it seems counterproductive for possible new clients to inquire about the property. Upon entering the office, we we’re told to have a seat and wait. It seemed there were two couples ahead of us. Okay, no big deal. It’s Saturday and they are busy. When a leasing agent was finally available she asked if we were her next appointment. I said although we were next in line, we did not have a scheduled appointment. She quickly responded «too bad I can’t help you then, we see appointments only!» Quite taken aback, we asked if we could schedule an appointment for later in the day. She replied that they were all booked up and we would have to make an appointment for next week but next Saturday was already full and they are closed on Sunday. Basically we were helpless and out of options. We work during the week an hour away and we are scouring walnut creek on the weekends only as a possible place to live. With this property staying booked on Saturdays and their weird hours of availability compared to other, nicer properties, we decided to just leave. Never did the agent give us brochures or prices or floor plans or offer us a workaround for visiting the property or take our information for contact. Very discouraging not only for this property but perhaps all Avalon owned properties. I know for certain that location is NOT everything and customer service is essential for bringing in new clients. Perhaps we will not be re-​visiting this location in the near future when it comes time to move in a few months.

what’s a great place and an amazing staff. The neighbors are great.
The maintenance request are fulfilled quickly and efficiently. Especially Jose Tellez. He is always happy to help and very friendly and helpful. He is always on time with smile in his face.

It’s time for me to update my review. Previously, I mention the likelihood of an impending skyrocket rent increase at end of my lease. Well, everyone whom write reviews about this was correct. I received my notice a few weeks ago that my new rent will be about $ 600 more. Wow. But here’s a tip: What they don’t tell you is that you should go and talk with the leasing specialist (Melanie, Lisa, or even Matt the manager) about your concerns because they will work with you personally to find options. It’s like your own Realtors for Avalon.
Because of the convenience and the size of these apartments (and they are beautiful), I really didn’t won’t to move. I looked at several other apartments, including the Brio down the street. Okay, I will admit that Brio is really nice but you get much more at Avalon. First off, their largest apartment is 1065 sq feet for a two bedroom (that’s Avalon’s smallest). And, Brio cost more. I do love that they have hard flooring versus carpet (I hate carpet) but is that worth paying more for less. Not so much for me. I even looked at all the new apartments in Walnut creek and while most have more high-​end appliances and finishes, the are smaller but more expensive. It just depends on what you want. In the end, all worked out at Avalon and I was able to move into another apartment that was less than what I’m paying now. Yes, I had to move from 3 bedroom to 2 plus den, but it was worth. Once you live here, it’s hard to move.
You can’t go wrong renting here. You’ll love it.

Love the staff & neighbors! I’ve lived here 2.5years folks are friendly but not nosey. Maintenance is timely and super efficient. I feel a sense of sanctuary here while being only a few feet away from a Bart ride to all the action the Bay Area has to offer, not to mention food truck Friday nights. Great diversity, good for families and singles, old and young.

This place is quite nice. It is however way overpriced! This is the second year I’ve lived here. Two separate occasions for 2 – 3 months each time. I know short term leases cost more but $ 3500 a month without furnishings for a studio is outrageous! Having no choice I’ve had to bite the bullet and pay but if I had other options in the area for a short term lease I would take it.
The apartments are nice, fairly basic. The area is nice with the Bart just a hundred yards away and a Starbucks and a nice Peruvian restaurant (Parada) which is lovely. The people that live in the area seem to be young couples and families along with a few older people. They have food trucks come by every Thursday lunch and Friday evening which seems to be very popular amongst the locals. I am yet to see less that a few hundred people out there when the trucks visit.
If your looking for a nice place to live and are looking for a long term lease then I would recommend this place to you.
Great little town in the Bay Area, WC/​Pleasant Hill is a great spot to settle down

We have lived in many apartment complexes over the years, and though we have yet relocated again, we agreed without a doubt, that Avalon Walnut Creek was one of the best places we’d ever stayed, hands down. From the beautiful pool and jacuzzi, the fully-​appointed gym, closeness to the Pleasant Hill BART station (literally a stone’s throw away across the street), to the friendly and very helpful staff there, this was a lucky find for us when we searched for affordable housing outside the lovely and VERY expensive «City By The Bay.»
Our two bedroom/​two bath place was even right in a perfect spot on the fourth floor, right near the elevators — a must for me, since I’m disabled. Add to that the convenience of public transportation and Über, and no, we couldn’t have asked for a better place.
Employment opportunities and economic circumstances made it impossible for us to stay, and we have since had to relocate. But if we could have stayed, and should we ever find ourselves fortunate enough to return to Walnut Creek, we would easily pick Avalon as our place of residence, every time.

You will regret living here. Here’s why:
1) 30% rent increase after the first year
2) Frequent car break-​ins in the claimed secure and patrolled garage.
3) Frequent thefts from the bike room. When your bicycle gets stolen or vandalized, the office will tell you «These things happen, that’s why renters insurance is mandatory.»
4) The DEA raided my neighbor’s apartment with guns drawn. When I contacted the office their response was «We aren’t aware of this but I wouldn’t worry about it»
5) The hot tub is used by lots of toddlers in diapers and usually smells bad. It and the pool aren’t cleaned as frequently as they need to be.
6) Anything shorter than a 1 year lease costs an exorbitant amount, for example a 1 bdrm that rents at $ 2855/​month for a 1 year lease costs $ 4460/​month on a month-​to-​month lease.
7) If you need to move out before the end of your lease term be prepared to pay 2 times your monthly rent to break your lease. This is a major concern if you plan on buying a house as your purchase will most likely not coincide with the end of your lease term.
The convenience to BART is tempting but the crime, rent issues, and the unhelpful and indifferent office staff make living here a regretful choice.

Friendly and attentive leasing office, nice amenities, kind of a mixed group of renters.
Giving 1 star because of the atrocious rent increases. Nothing the leasing office can do about it (so they say and I believe them) because Avalon is run by a big corporation that doesn’t care at all about its tenants. It views you as a warm body that’s a source of income, nothing more.
If you’re looking for a place to live for 1 year, this could be for you. But if you’re expecting beyond that, be prepared for your rent to go up dramatically.
I’ll give you an example, I rented an apartment for $ 1870 a couple of years ago, I looked it up on their website, and it’s gone up nearly 50% in rent. Just outrageous.
Unfortunately not that many «luxury» complexes in Walnut Creek.

«You get what you pay for» absolutely applies here. If anyone complains about the price then there is a more price conscious Avalon Eves across the street. I am grateful that Avalon Walnut Creek is available for us, it has the WOW factor. You don’t need to own a home to live in convenience and luxury while being proud of your living space. Office staff are organized and professional, walking into the office is like walking onto the set of Charlie’s Angels, all smiles and professionalism. Not only do they keep their building updated, and very clean, but well managed staff as well who also seem to enjoy being at work, and they took carry a sense of pride in the property and tenants they care for. Any «issues» are immediately resolved. The gardens and streets are also well taken care of, not even a dent or dust on a garbage can, one scratch on a sign and it is replaced. The elevators are updated and fast. They have great lighting, large staffing, appliances work and are new and clean. Doors are new and open nicely which you may not notice until you deal with rusty unkept doors on a property. The garage door opener and keys and beeper to get into the buildings are all updated current. I think that all Avalon Bay Walnut Creek should be the model for all Avalon Bays. I have seen many other Avalon’s which are huge disappointments. I wonder if Avalon Bay Walnut Creek should be in a more luxurious category, as there is no resemblance to other Avalon Bay’s that I have seen which last almost all of these qualities.

I was very disappointed when I asked to sign up for an additional five months once my lease expires and was told the rental rate for the same apartment would double. I think Avalon would do well to review this disastrous policy. Someone who is already in an apartment and needs to extend should be able to continue at the same rate.

I’m so concerned about the safety in this place and the regulations they take to fix it, it seems like a habit that cars get broken in the garage and bikes gets stolen, during few months bikes stolen twice and cars broken twice as well in the secured garage, they don’t share what is going on and they claim they have videos that doesn’t turn out to be useful at all and they are hesitant to share any word about them, which makes me feel that they really have nothing to share and have no clue about what happened. They don’t pay any indemnification for the damage that can happen to you by anyhow, that means they are not responsible for anything that can happen in their community.
They actually expect the break-​ins activities in a regular time frame during the year, which is very questionable, that clearly says that this place is not safe and what they do to keep it safe it absolutely wrong, the only action they took is to change the patrol company which is pretty stupid idea. And many times I don’t see the patrol present at all. So, gangs still free to have fun in the garage without control or monitoring.

We have lived in two different units here over the past 2 ½ years and have loved every minute of it. The place is amazing, the neighbors are great, and the location can’t be beat. The staff is always nice and very helpful. Maintenance goes out of their way to take care of issues, and they are really quick about it too. Downtown Walnut Creek is a short drive (or walk down the adjacent Iron Horse Trail) away. You don’t need to own a car to live here. They have Zipcars in the garage, and are right next to the Pleasant Hill Bart station. Everyone who lives here is super friendly and courteous. I can’t recommend this place enough!

I absolutely recommend that you STAY AWAY from this complex unless: 1) You are okay with paying a 20−30% rent increase at the time of renewal or 2) You plan to live there for only 1 year.
Briefly, I moved out after deciding against the 20% increase ($ 700) required to renew my lease. Turns out my unit is now renting for the same amount that I was originally paying. With this, I am beyond words and can’t help but question the company’s ethics.
Although the complex itself is one of the nicest in Walnut Creek, it is just not worth it.

I have been there for only three months and I have been pretty satisfied with almost everything. I like that place and I am happy to be there.
Here are some pros:
— very dependable staff, they are listening to your requests and helping
— new building
— walking distance to BART
— amenities (fitness club, swimming pool)
— starbucks is nearby
And some cons:
— not enough elevators in the building (can get crowded during rush hours)
— huge kitchen, disproportional compared to the size of the apartment

One star is all anyone should ever give… and that’s only because the apartments and amenities, and proximity to things are great, otherwise it would be zero.
F-​ing greedy, bullshit corporate pieces of shit. But don’t take my word, let the numbers speak for themselves. This is how they’ve raised my rent in the few years I’ve been here. Keep in mind, I had to negotiate each of these contract rent raises down, or they would have been even higher:
One bedroom apt:
Initial rent: $ 1,734/mth
1^st year increase: $ 1,950/mth
2^nd year increase: $ 2,150/mth
3^rd year contract currently up for renewal: $ 2,547/mth (Really!!!)
Don’t forget, if you say F-​you, like many of us have, and decide to look for a home to purchase, instead of paying this exorbitantly high rent, prepare to be assaulted even more drastically; The rent goes up, each month less you sign on for:
12 mths: $ 2,547.00
11 mths: $ 2,662.00
an so on…
6 mths: $ 3,306.00
And if you need to go month-​to-​month, in order to pursue home purchase and escrow??? You’re looking at an insulting $ 4, 270.00 a month.
Can anyone say F-​You!!! Yup! Like many others… I have no choice. I’m out of here!

Expensive. Last year Avalon bought Archstone on Treat and the two complexes behind it saddling Santos Lane and raised the rents. They also own the large Avalon complexes beside BART where rents run from $ 2000 to $ 6000 a month. As a neighbor living in the community long before Avalon built their new buildings, and bought up the other complexes. They have shown disrespect for the neighbors. Their tenants leave cigarette butts just off their property that never get picked up, especially outside the gate towards BART. Worse they put up Avalon sandwich board signs on every sidewalk off their property. That property is paid for and maintained by the taxpayer’s not Avalon. That is public property. None of the other apartment complexes in the area of that disrespectful

We have lived in several Apartment Villages with lots of amenities throughout the bay area. We would have to say that AvalonBay Walnut Creek has been our favorite.
We got a great ²⁄₂ (1221 SF) for 2785 plus 121 for additional rent (parking, etc) — totaling $ 2906… at the time (July 2013) the complex was one of the more expensive in town — but did offer a lot of amenities.
We heard from others that AVB is notorious for rent hikes. and we just got notice of a 21%+ rent hike coming up of around $ 614 now our rent will be $ 3520.
Ouch… and we were told that even this was under market rate. I think our place is now renting (market rate) for $ 3,755ish plus the $ 121 for additional… did rents rise in WC by 35% in one year? Dang! For $ 3520 to $ 3876 I can get a house or something kickass somewhere else…
AVB WC is definitely at the top of the high end rent apartments now — they are competing with Mercer and YVR55 units. I would say their WC rents are second to San Francisco now… and just above San Jose.
I unfortunately need to move on. It is sad that we can’t stay here… because of their market-​rate rent increase policy. We stayed at an Irvine Apartment community for 5 years with no rent hikes in San Jose and it was great being part of the community for so long — but unfortunately we can’t call AVB WC home for more than our first year lease — kinda sad.
However, if you have the dough — its a great community. It will be even better when a few retail/​restaurants open up as it has been stated in their marketing.
–Erik

I’ve purposely waited a year to write this review.
Overall, I really enjoy living at Avalon, Walnut Creek. Here are the pros and cons.
Pros
— Proximity to BART
— Super friendly and helpful staff
— Maintenance is great
— Amenities are great, and are well maintained.
— Nice, open apartment layouts
— walk in closets
— I have never experienced garage theft, as some others have noted. There’s two gates to get through at night to even access the garage, and I have always felt safe in the garage.
— Cosmetically, the apartments are very nice
— Community events around holidays
Cons
— Your rent will increase 10% or more after one year.
— High turnover. There are always moving vans moving people in and out. I assume this is due to the aggressive rent increases year after year. More on this below.
— As another reviewer has noted, the paint used on the interior of the apartments is really low grade. You can scuff a wall just by looking at it. They will give you touch up paint, but this is a nuisance
— 2+ bedroom apartments only have 1 allowed parking space, and you will pay 100 $ a month for an additional spot.
— They do allow you to pay rent with a credit card, in case you want to rack up rewards points. Unfortunately, they charge 38 $ per 2500 $ transaction to do this, so you are basically looking at an 80 $ fee if you want to use credit cards. As someone who works with merchant accounts and credit card processors, this fee is ridiculously high.
Regarding the rent increase — it’s been noted by several other reviewers that your rent will increase dramatically after the first year. I can attest to this, as I just received my new lease and my rent will increase 358 $ this year, putting my 2BR apartment over 3100 $ a month. If you complain, you will get some schpleal about market factors, and a rental grid blah blah blah. When we were looking for apartments last year, I made sure to jot down prices. I have revisited these properties and none of them have increased their rent as dramatically as Avalon Walnut Creek does. This will be my last year here.
This would be a 4 or 5 star review if it were not for the rent increase, and I think as long as Avalon continues to raise their prices so aggressively year after year, they will continue to get these types of reviews.
If price is not a factor for you, this is a fantastic place to live.

I spent a year at Walnut Creek and my fiancé and I had a terrific time over here.
Aside from the extreme proximity to the BART station, luxurious facilities, the main core of this place was the friendly and timely service of the front office staffs, headed by Kurt and Holly. I come from Japan, a country which pays close attention to customer service, and even I thought these two were very professional with their approach not only to me but to the other tenants. Big ups to them.
Drawbacks:
–There were no designated parking space.
–Because our room was faced towards the streets, the sound/​siren coming from passing automobiles could sometimes be a distraction.
— Couple cases of random fire alarms going off at random time of the day.
— Couple misunderstanding about a delivery. The new staff thought there were no packages for us (because it wasn’t registered in the system), when there really was a package which after couple days got sent back to UPS.
All these minor drawback points, however, would be nullified if you spend your weekend afternoon grilling barbecue, sitting by the outdoor fireplace or jumping into the rather cozy jacuzzi. Great facility, great location, great staff = great experience.
Enjoy.

I should start my saying that I was a long time resident at Avalon Towers in SF and remained a couple of years after the building was sold to UDR (definitely a few steps down from Avalon’s management). I recently moved here to WC in part because I was impressed by Avalon in the City. I also impressed here.
I have to say that the complaints here I find to be ridiculous. As a large company with many properties, you are likely to find advantages of a large professional organization which are fundamentally different than renting from a smaller, private party.
I find the grounds perfectly maintained, the staff always helpful and friendly, and the build quality of the apartments above grade. However, for the guy complaining that the build is rental grade, DUH! These ARE rental units. You want a high end condo, go buy one.
Some of the people here like that its near BART and then complain that they can sometimes hear the trains. Again DUH, you’re next to a railroad! What do you expect?
As for annual rent increases, this amazes me. Of course you will get annual rent increases. This is a business! They make their money from rents and rents follow the overall market. Have you read the news lately. There is a shortage of rentals in the Bay Area. That said, I find the rent to be fair by any measure for the quality, amenities and overall experience of living here. I live in a 2 BR 2 BA unit and find it perfect.
Does anyone seriously not understand why some people pay different rents for the same apt? People rent at different times under different circumstances. That my sill friends is how the free market works. And for the woman who thinks that her kids tuition should be the concern of Avalon, well perhaps on your planet but not here on Earth and certainly not in Walnut Ca USA! That my dear is YOUR problem.
So for my 2 cents, this is a fine place to live, better than many other if not most places in the same price range. It’s not the Residences at the Ritz Carlton but its a fair value by any measurement.
I’m sure I will continue to enjoy living here but if at some point I don’t, I will just move!