Highwater - Redwood City, California

Krishna G

I lived at Highwater Apartments for two years, and my experience was nothing short of disappointing, frustrating, and, at times, downright discriminatory. From the very beginning, the management's handling of packages was a mess. I experienced multiple instances of lost or misplaced deliveries, which caused significant inconvenience. Package management was chaotic and clearly not a priority for the staff, making it a constant headache.

After moving out, I was never provided with an itemized statement, leaving me completely in the dark about what I was being charged for. This lack of transparency is not only frustrating but also raises serious concerns about how they handle residents' finances. On top of that, the fees added to my rent seemed arbitrary and unexplained. You won’t know about these extra charges until after you’ve already moved in and paid the first month’s bill, which feels like a bait-and-switch.

The accessibility of staff was another major issue. Over the two years I lived there, the complex went through about 8-10 different leasing agents, making it incredibly difficult to get any consistent help. Whether I had questions or needed assistance, the response time was poor, and I was often left waiting for weeks without resolution.

The parking situation was equally problematic. The garage regularly flooded, and in my case, it led to the destruction of two of my vehicles. The management’s response was beyond negligent—rather than taking immediate action, they suggested residents wade through knee-deep water to retrieve their cars, posing a serious safety risk. This is a clear example of how poorly the property is managed and maintained, with no regard for the safety or well-being of residents.

To make matters worse, it took me over 20 attempts to get the billing for my electric vehicle charging situation sorted out. The level of disorganization and lack of follow-through was astounding.

In conclusion, my time at Highwater Apartments was riddled with issues: disorganized management, arbitrary fees, unresponsive staff, and poor maintenance. For the price I paid, the experience was far below acceptable standards. I would not recommend Highwater to anyone and strongly urge the management to take these issues seriously for the sake of future tenants.

Tulsi Singh

I lived here from 2022 - 2023. Service was horrendous. There was mass flooding in the garage despite the building being newly built. The evacuation policies were poorly executed. We were asked to drive waterlogged cars out of the garage. See video and images attached. The fire department arrived and had to tell the complex not to drive water logged cars. No other apartment buildings experienced this level of flooding in the same downtown area.

Additionally, the management company is out to squeeze you for every dollar. My apartment was well maintained with hardly any wear and tear (one area of paint missing on the wall, that was 1x1 inch or less in size). I even spoke with the head of maintenance who inspected the apartment, and noted it was in excellent condition. However, the "final inspection" took place after I left, and the entire deposit was taken. The pet deposit was also taken, despite 0 pet damage. This was almost $1000. When I asked for receipts, a poorly documented receipt was sent to me (looked as if it had been created on microsoft word) stating it had cost them close to $1000 to clean the apartment...this does not add up.

Staff is largely not present and not helpful. They often do not know simple facts about the building: i.e. is there a loading elevator (there isn't), can areas be reserved (frequent errors in reservations of loading zone/common areas/etc), move in/move out protocols, etc.

This apartment is not luxury. When I first moved in, I had to ask for towel rods to be installed in the bathroom. They informed me I had to install these myself, and when I cited this is standard in both regular and luxury apartments, they sent someone in to install them. The electrical system was poorly done, and the fuse would blow if multiple devices were plugged in at the same time. The "high tech" app system to access the doors is incredibly faulty. There are 2 apps and 1 key card. None of them work uniformly on all doors. So you basically have to use a combination of all 3 to access the building.

There are far better apartments in the same price range in downtown Redwood City. Save your money and go somewhere else.

Elizabeth Rickey

I should have written this review sooner, but I feel it's important to share my experience at Highwater after six months of residency. From the very beginning, Katrina has been instrumental in making my transition smooth and enjoyable.
Her follow-up after my initial tour was consistent and thoughtful, guiding me through the decision-making process. The move-in guide she provided made settling in absolutely seamless. I was particularly impressed by her follow-up calls—checking in a few days after I moved in, then again a month later, and even calling to congratulate me on my six-month anniversary!
I haven’t encountered a single issue during my time here; I haven't even had to submit a work order!
Recently, I’ve noticed improvements like a revamped mail courier process that is 1000x better, and new doors have been installed, enhancing security.
I feel completely safe here, the location is fantastic, the staff is friendly, and the building is well-maintained. As I look forward to the rest of the year, I’m seriously considering renewing my lease. I highly recommend Highwater to anyone looking for a great place to live!

Lore Dp

I love living here, it’s a very nice building and well located in RWC. I really appreciate their effort to plan activities for the community and the opportunity to meet my neighbors. The amenities are also nice and they do a good job at keeping them clean. I’ve also had good experience with maintenance; recently had an issue with my sink and Joe came to fix it right away. Overall would recommend 🙂

F. K.

I've lived at Highwater for more than 3 years now. Great amenities and residents, as well as great parcel/mail/locker service. A few different management teams have come and go with the current one being the best so far. The maintenance has always been great, super quick response and efficient, special thanks to Joe and Moosa for their great work.

Hongjiang Lyu

Overall, the apartment is great—highly recommend! Living here has been very comfortable, and their maintenance team is fantastic, especially Joe! He was super professional, friendly, and efficient, fixing everything quickly and answering all my questions. I really appreciate his help!

Alvin Singh

I had some concerns about the security deposit when I was preparing to move out, especially after reading various reviews. However, when I submitted my notice to vacate, Katrina took the time to address my worries. She provided a clear overview of the move-out process, which really eased my mind.
I received my deposit back electronically, just as she had described. I genuinely enjoyed my time here and would have loved to stay, but I had to relocate for work. Highly recommend this place!

이하연

I have lived in this apartment for almost a year, from Sep. 2023 to Nov. 2024. Highwater is clean, and the maintenance service is quick and firendly. I’ve noticed many residents enjoying the gym, hot spa, and swimming pool. The leasing officer, Keana, is very kind and has always been supportive.