Commercial Property Austin Texas Property Austin Commercial

Cedar Park
Sometimes in Cedar Park, when traffic is low and the kids are inside taking afternoon naps. It is so quiet; all you can hear is the hammering of construction crews. In some parts of town, the sounds of homebuilding seem constant. In some parts of town, they are constant. For Cedar Park, it is in the numbers:

1960 population: 100
1990 census: 5161
Current city limits sign: 18,400

The town is booming, and there ís still room to grow in this Williamson County planned community. People consider living in Cedar Park because it isn't Austin Compared to its big neighbor to the southeast, housing is more affordable, crime is minimal, environmental preservation isn't quite as picky, and taxes are lower, even after the $24 million bond issue that is expected to bring municipal facilities expansion and improved roads. Since Lakeline Mall opened in 1995 on the south end of town, most folks save their trips into Austin for special occasions ... and work. Because, you see, Cedar Park remains a bedroom community to Austin: Proof is in the heavy commuter traffic on U.S. 183 and the absence of a strong local industrial base. Unlike neighboring Round Rock, which aggressively courted and won Dell Computers and Power Computing (to name two), Cedar Park hasn't brought in the big businesses to keep its folks closer to home during the workday.

Copperfield
In the late 1980s Mike Correll and his family wanted to move away from an Austin urban neighborhood. They wanted affordability, accessibility to major roadways and good schools. They found what they wanted in Copperfield. “It’s very convenient,” said Correll. “When we moved out it was relatively far from town. Now we’re in the middle of it. But it’s convenient to get around. And we liked being able to get a big house for our money. And we liked the schools. The schools were definitely a factor.” Copperfield is bordered by Interstate 35 on the west, Yager Lane on the north, Dessau Road on the east and Walnut Creek to the south. The neighborhood's affordability has increased its popularity as Austin has grown, Homes range from $85,000 for a two bedroom, one-bath to $180,000 for a three-bedroom, two-bath. Median price is about $117,000, Carlson said. They range in size from 1,350 square feet to 1,800 square feet. All homes are on slab. Older ones are frame on slab while newer ones are brick, stone or masonry on slab. Construction in Copperfield began in 1982 but came to a standstill during the real estate bust of the mid-1980s, Carlson said. Construction resumed toward the end of 1990.

Crestview
The diversity of people and proximity to downtown is what attracted Chip Harris to Crestview 20 years ago. Affordability also was a big factor. “You can go west of here where prices are $150,000 plus,” said Harris, president of the Crestview NeighborhoodAssociation. “For people starting out, that's unattainable.” Crestview is bound by Koenig Lane (RM 2222) on the south, Burnet Road on the west, Anderson Lane on the north and Lamar Boulevard on the east. Homes range from $80,000 to $140,000, with homes averaging $107,000, according to Carol Dochen of Carol Dochen Realtors. Dochen said that according to information from the Travis County Appraisal District, homes in Crestview typically have two bedrooms and a bath. They range in size from 700 to 1,100 square feet. Because of the sizes of the homes, they attract small families and couples just starting out or empty-nesters looking for affordability and smaller homes to care for. Harris said he likes having neighbors who are retired. “They spend a lot of time in their gardens and it gives us an extra set of eyes about what's going on around here,” he said. “In the suburbs, almost everyone works and no one is around during the day.” Gracey Woods Margaret Mejía saw the large oaks and beautiful curbed streets in Gracy Woods more than 12 years ago and decided this was where her family would call home. And she’s planning on staying put. “This is the best kept real estate secret,” said Mejía, better known to her friends as Cookie. “People who come here for the first time say ‘I can’t believe this’. We're well hidden. The homes are well kept and are tree lined. It’s just beautiful.” It’s alsoaffordable. Homes have been selling from $77,000 to $188,000, with the median price about $120,000. Homes range in size from 1,100 square feet to 2,700 square feet. Median size is 1,900 square feet. Most homes have three bedrooms and two baths, although homes with four bedrooms and two or three baths are not uncommon. Many homes have vaulted ceilings, fireplaces and large master bedrooms and wet bars. Larger homes have game rooms and are one to three side masonry. The neighborhood of 900 homes was built in the early 1980s by the now-defunct Nash Philips/Copus. Boundaries are Braker Lane on the south, Metric Boulevard on the west, Lamar Boulevard on the east and Bittern Hollow and Lincolnshire Drive on the north. These streets are direct routes to major thoroughfares such as MoPac Boulevard, U.S. 183 or Interstate 35.

Leander
Leander started out somewhere else with a different name. Other than that, though, it’s the same ol’ town. But even that could change. To make sense of the previous paragraph, you should spend a little time in Leander. Head out to the Leander Municipal Golf Course west of town or get lost on the wooded country roads east of U.S. 183. (Don’t worry; the roads all lead somewhere eventually, although at times they seem to go on for miles without sign of driveway or intersection.) Chat up the locals, the townies and those who appreciate the affordable acreage nearby - they’re an interesting bunch (but they don’t like to be quoted). They might even give you a history lesson, like this one: In 1881, the town fathers of Bagdad, Texas, steadfastly refused invasion by the newfangled railroad line going in between Burnet and Austin - not even for the $1000 the railroad offered - so the tracks were laid about a mile to the east. Before long, the potential boon to local commerce became apparent, so most businesses relocated along
the tracks and named their new community after one of the railroad officials, Leander “Catfish” Brown. By the turn of the century, most of Bagdad had gone to Leander. Nowdays, the old cemetary and the oldest house in town, just down Bagdad Road and across from the park, comprise most of Bagdad’s memories.

Milwood
When the IBM Corp. moved Samuel Isokpunwu from Boca Raton, Fla., to Austin late last year he knew he wanted a neighborhood close to work, with good schools and good neighbors. He found all three in Milwood. “It was also affordable,” Isokpunwu said. “That’s important.” Isokpunwu noted that he knows four other Boca Raton IBMers who also moved into Milwood. Isokpunwu, who has two small children, liked the parks, pools and quiet neighborhood. He also liked the easy access to Parmer Lane, about a minute from his house, which carries him quickly to MOPAC and to work each day. Parmer Lane can connect him with RM 620 for any quick trips to Lakeline Mall at the intersection of RM 620 and U.S. 183. Milwoodwas started in the 1970s by developer Bill Milburn. The development straddles northernTravis and southern Williamson counties. Its boundaries are roughly defined by Parmer Lane, Amherst Drive, the county line and northwest toward RM 620 where new homes are being constructed on the last of the undeveloped.
Parts of the subdivision are within the City of Austin. The subdivision has about 30 sections.Milwood attracts many first-time buyers looking for a family neighborhood and easy access to Parmer and MOPAC. Most are lower white-collar or blue collar workers. Affordability is a big factor. As is the case in suburban areas, buyers get more square footage for the dollar.

Round Rock West
This established subdivision in the rapidly-growing city of Round Rock in Williamson County just north of Austin was the place Kay DeChene chose as her home. The reason? “It was a good investment,” said DeChene. “It’s a nice, stable neighborhood with big yards and lots of trees. It’s a closed-in location with easy access to I-35. It’s got all the things everybody looks for in a neighborhood.” And though DeChene and her partner don’t have children, good schools were also important. “People always want to be near schools in a good school district,” she said. Round Rock West has three schools within its boundaries: Deep Wood Elementary, Chisholm Trail Middle School and Round Rock High School. In 1996, of the students at Deep Wood, taking the Texas Education Agency’s Texas Assessment of Academic Skills test, 87.8 percent passed all portions. At Chisholm Trail, a 1997 Blue Ribbon School, 78.7 percent of students taking the test passed all portions. Round Rock High School students scored an average of 935 on their SAT tests in 1995-96. Round Rock West has remained popular despite the boom in new home construction in Round Rock because of its location. The neighborhood is west of the interstate and bordered by Deepwood Drive, Deer Run, RM 620 and McNeil Road.

Wells Branch
When Brenda Oliver moved her family into Wells Branch 13 years ago, there was no easy access to Interstate 35. “You had to go out Merrilltown (Drive) to Burnet and (U.S.) 183,” Oliver recalls. But she believed in the vision the developers had for the planned community, the first of its kind in Travis County. So did Mary Mealy. “I remember standing on top of a hill and pointing toward a lot with trees and saying, ‘That’s the one I want,’” said Mealy, who moved to Wells Branch in 1984. “There was no street to get us to the lot we wanted.” Then came the real estate bust of the mid-1980s and it looked as if Wells Branch would never reach its full potential. But in 1989, Wells Branch Parkway was built. “It’s been gangbusters since then,” said Oliver. Today, Wells Branch is home to 2,000 families, and new homes are selling before they’re even built. A third elementary school is being built, and the neighborhood is raising money for a community library. The subdivision, whose boundaries include Interstate 35 to the east, Wells Branch Parkway to the south and Burnet Road to the west, is growing north toward Grand Avenue Parkway as more new homes are being built. People are moving in for different reasons. Home prices, easy access to roadways, good schools and
a sense of community are cited factors.

NORTHEAST

East Austin
Eddie Arocha was born and raised in East Austin. And though he can afford to live elsewhere, he is raising his family in the house next to the one where he grew up. “I believe in East Austin,” said Arocha. “I see a lot of potential and room for growth and improvement. It’s all positive.” Arocha is such a believer that he has purchased several rental properties and is shopping for a building to open an upscale coffee shop.
French Place Virginia Raymond and her husband bought a house in French Place long before they had children for three reasons: Maplewood Elementary School, the ethnic diversity and the central location. “Maplewood was the number one reason,” Raymond said. “It’s small – about 400 students. It has great faculty - very dedicated and caring. And the ethnic diversity was very important to us.” Raymond also likes being able to take advantage of cultural events at the University of Texas, which is across Interstate 35, or at the Paramount Theater on Congress Avenue. The family makes frequent trips to the Carver, Terrazas or University Hills libraries or the Austin History Center downtown. Her husband’s office is a few minutes away. So is shopping at Fiesta Mart. On top of that, the neighborhood is pretty, with lots of large trees and cute bungalows. Fifteen years ago, few people had high praise for French Place, which is east of Interstate 35 and bounded by the interstate, Cherrywood Road, 38th1/2 Street and Manor Road. Families and professionals started moving in and renovating long-neglected houses. French Place has attracted lots of artists, writers, University of Texas professors and musicians, including members of some well-known area bands. Lots of same-sex couples as
well as singles also call French Place home, Kittel said. But it has retained its ethnic mixed as renovated homes continue to exist next to the modest homes of long-time residents.

Harris Branch
Joyce Best and her family wanted a bigger home but wanted to remain in Northeast Austin where they had lived for so many years. In 1990, they found what they wanted in Harris Branch, which was an up and coming neighborhood. “It was spring and the bluebonnets were blooming,” said Best. “There were 40 or 50 homes at the time. We liked the feel of it. And we liked the idea of growing up with a neighborhood with our boys, who were teens then.” The boys are now grown men and out of the house. But Best and her husband have remained in Harris Branch as empty nesters. “It’s an interesting and diverse neighborhood,” said Best, who is on the board of directors of the Harris Branch Residential Property Owners Association and also edits the association’s monthly newsletter. “People for the most part get along and work together well.” Harris Branch is a Northeast Austin neighborhood of about 420 homes off U.S. 290 East
just west of Manor. The neighborhood is bisected by Harris Branch Parkway and bordered by Applied Materials on the west, Parmer Lane on the north, Boyce Lane on the east and U.S. 290 East on the south. Homes in Harris Branch range from $139,000 to $200,000, with the median priced at $149,500 within the last three months. Square footage is 2,022 square feet, although square footage ranges from 1,354 square feet to 4,000 square feet in newer homes. Homes are at least three sides masonry composite, although some are all brick or stone. They feature double-paned windows, solar screens and gas, and electric hook-ups in most homes. All have at least two-car garages. Homes have either three or four bedrooms and two or three baths. Plans for a few of the new homes being built include six bedrooms and three baths.

North Oaks
When Julia Johnson and her family moved into North Oaks in 1963, the development was attractive to young families who wanted to raise their children in a stable neighborhood while enjoying the beauty and cool waters of Walnut Creek. It’s deja-vu as families again are discovering this quiet and stable neighborhood with easy access to several major thoroughfares. “This neighborhood is regenerating itself,” said Johnson, newsletter editor of the Northeast Walnut Creek Neighborhood Association. “A lot of original owners are now grandparents. But a lot more young people are moving in with small children. That’s the reason Graham Elementary is full.”Students also attend Dobie Middle School and Reagan High School. Johnson estimated about a third of the 800 families are original home owners. A small number are middle-aged couples while the rest are young families. “It’s a stable neighborhood,” Johnson said. “There are lots of pretty big oak trees. It’s great for walking. It’s very pleasant here.” North Oaks, started in the 1950s, is in northern Travis County east of Interstate 35. Neighborhood boundaries are the interstate to the west, Braker Lane to the south, Walnut Creek to the north and Dessau Road to the east.

Pflugerville
Pat McCord and his wife wanted to live in a small town where people got involved in community activities, their daughter could walk to school and the schools had a good reputation. He found that in Pflugerville nine years ago. “We were living in North Austin, but attended church in Pflugerville so we knew a lot of people,” said McCord, past president of the Meadow Park South Neighborhood Association. “We wanted to move into the community. We have been very pleased with Pflugerville.” The McCords aren’t the only ones to “Get That Pflugerville feeling,” which is the city’s motto. This Travis County community just north of the Austin city limits is growing rapidly. According to the City of Pflugerville, the population grew from 10,000 in 1990 to an estimated 14,000 this year. Growth means affordable houses under $100,000 are scarce this year. Higher priced homes are readily available. And why are so many people flocking to Pflugerville? The proximity to Austin and Round Rock is a major reason. Interstate 35 can get you in either direction quickly. Others use Dessau Road to Parmer Lane. Still others take RM 1825 to Wells Branch Parkway and Burnet Road/MoPac Boulevard.

NORTHWEST

Block House Creek
Cecilia Roberts has deep roots in Block House Creek. “We were residents No. 6,” said Roberts, who moved in with her family in 1983. They are still there. They were initially attracted by the long-term plans for the community, the park system and amenities. But something else kept them there all these years. “We wanted a place that’s family-oriented and we wanted to know our neighbors,” said Roberts, who has served in countless capacities on the neighborhood association. “We wanted a place where we could drive in and feel comfortable, cozy and safe.” Block House Creek is a community of 1,500 homes located off U.S. 183 between Cedar Park and Leander in Southwest Williamson County. The neighborhood is about 70 percent built out, and new homes are priced from $105,000 to $180,000. Existing homes are priced from $110,000 to $220,000. Median prices range from $135,000 to $145,000.

Buttercup Creek
Letty Danielak enjoyed living in the Cedar Park area years before all the retail development was established along the U.S. 183/RM 620 corridor. So when the family returned two years ago after a business relocation, she knew where to look. And she found exactly what she wanted for her family in the Westside at Buttercup Creek neighborhood. “We wanted a good location where we could raise a family,” said Danielak, who has an 8-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son. “We like being close to Lake Travis, the mall and all the new restaurants. And the neighborhood is beautiful.” Westside at Buttercup Creek is a 4-year-old subdivision in Cedar Park, a Southwest Williamson County city about 20 miles northwest of Austin. The subdivision straddles Lakeline Boulevard and is bordered by Cypress Creek Road to the south, Buttercup Creek Boulevard to the north and undeveloped land to the west. About 60 percent of the subdivision has been developed. There are about 600 homes in Westside at Buttercup Creek, ranging from $175,000 to $290,000. Average price is $235,000.

Canyon Creek
Edwin Garcia and his family have been in their Canyon Creek home only since November but already feel like long-time members of the community. ‘We’ve had three block parties since we moved in,” said Garcia, recently elected president of the Canyon Creek Homeowners’ Association. It was that friendliness and sense of community that attracted the Garcias to this community in Northwest Travis County off RM 620 and Boulder Lane. The Williamson County line passes through the gated community section of Canyon Creek. This area is home to mainly retired people and is a small portion of the 780 homes in the neighborhood. Canyon Creek, nestled in the rolling hills of the Hill Country, has many homes with views of the preserve land surrounding the neighborhood. A creek runs through the woods next to the nature trail. Homes range from $189,000 to $300,000, with the average price at about $225,000. Development began 10 years ago, although new homes are still being built. Homes are mostly two stories and from 2,500 square feet to 3,500 square feet, Podlipny said. The average house has four bedrooms, although larger ones have five. They tend to have two or three living areas, a study or game room and 2 1/2 to three baths.

Great Hills
Good schools, proximity to a major high-tech employer and a scenic terrain are the three reasons Sumit and Debasree Dasgupta chose to live in Great Hills. “We love the neighborhood and the house,” Debasree Dasgupta said. “It’s so close to everything. We love the view of the hills.” The family enjoys going for long walks in the hills. “This neighborhood is just ideal for that,” she said. “It’s so beautiful.” The Dasguptas moved into their home in June after renting in South Austin while Sumit Dasgupta worked at Sematech. After he started working at IBM, they decided they wanted to move north. However, they wanted to remain in the Austin school district because their middle daughter is at the Science Academy at LBJ High School. Another daughter is in elementary school, and will attend Hill Elementary in the fall. An older daughter is in college. Debasree Dasgupta said it would take her husband 45 minutes to an hour to drive from South Austin to IBM. Now it takes 15 minutes or so. “It’s nice to have him so close,” she said. Jester Estates Neill Gruver has seen a lot of changes to Jester Estates since he built the first house in the subdivision back in 1981. “We settled here when I retired from the Air Force - that was when Bergstrom was still an active air base,” Gruver says. “In fact, we settled out here before the 360 bridge had even been completed. We felt we were building way out in the country, and were trying to get away from the hustle and bustle of Austin as much as we could, but still be in close enough to enjoy the city. As it is, the city spread out to meet us here. We now feel as though we’re in the middle of Austin.” Currently serving as vice president of the Jester Homeowners Association, Inc., Gruver says that the changes brought about by the influx of people to the neighborhood have been mostly for the good. “We have some nice places nearby now, a small shopping center with restaurants, a new grocery store off 620, and a sports center. The only downside has been the increase of traffic on 2222. The developers didn’t look ahead to the traffic problems that would happen when more people moved out here. But people are moving out here for the same reasons my wife and I moved out here – everyone else likes the hill country and the wide open spaces.”

Northwest Hills
Cindy and Nathan Thane had lived in Austin before. But when they relocated to Austin last summer, they chose to buy a home in Northwest Hills. “It was a combination of schools and location,” Cindy Thane said. “The things we love about Austin are central, such as the river and cultural events. But my husband works for Samsung. So this was a wonderful compromise.” With easy access to MOPAC Boulevard, U.S. 183 and Loop 360, getting anywhere in Austin is easy, Cindy Thane said. “You can go anywhere in 20 or 30 minutes,” she said. Shopping is only a few minutes away in the Arboretum or the new shopping centers springing up in thetriangle bound by MOPAC, U.S. 183 and Loop 360. Major employers such as IBM, Dell Computers and Samsung are easily reached. Restaurants, dry cleaners and grocery stores line a portion of Mesa Drive within the neighborhood. With five-year-old twins, Thane wanted good schools in a good neighborhood. Doss and Hill, the Austin school district’s top performing elementary schools feed into Murchison Middle School. Anderson High School, the district’s top high school, is in the neighborhood. “This is our raise-the-kids house,” Thane said. Steiner Ranch Rich Frazier was always attracted to the Hill Country. So when he and his family purchased a home in 1993, they chose Steiner Ranch. This master planned community, started in 1988, is part of a 4,500-acre working ranch, is home to about 600 families. Steiner Ranch is nestled in the rolling hills of western Travis County off RM 620 and Steiner Ranch Boulevard just north of the Mansfield Dam. On the north are scenic views of Lake Travis; on the south is access to Lake Austin. And to the southeast is the Cortana Tract, part of the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve. “The Hill Country has always been a draw for us and Steiner Ranch is kind of the beginning of the Hill Country west of Austin,” said Frazier, one of two resident members of the Steiner Ranch Residential Owners Association. The rest of the board is made up of developer representatives. SRROA members are mainly in the older sections of Steiner Ranch. The Steiner Ranch Master Association, controlled by the developer, represents the rest of the neighborhood. Homes in Steiner Ranch range from $170,000 to $400,000 with the median price at $223,000. They range in size from 1,800 square feet to 4,000 square feet. The average size is 2,500 square feet. Most are two-story and have four bedrooms and three baths. Most have at least two living areas, although some have a formal living area, a family room or game room. All have two-car garages, a deck or patio. “Open areas with lots of big windows to let in lots of light are the standard”, Butterfield said. So are huge master bathrooms with separate showers. All homes are masonry on at least three sides. And native Texas white limestone is an extremely popular exterior. About a quarter of the subdivision - 1,500 acres - is dedicated greenbelt, and many homes back up to the greenbelt.

CENTRAL

Aldridge Place
Remember Grandma’s house with the screened-in porch that allowed the breeze and the giant trees to cool you off during the summer? Several just like it can be found in Aldridge Place, a treasure trove of homes from the 1920s just north of the University of Texas at Austin. Aldridge Place is a small neighborhood of about 140 homes bordered roughly by 30th Street, 34th Street, Speedway and Guadalupe Street. The central feature of the neighborhood is Adams-Hemphill Park, located along the banks of Waller Creek. “It’s one of the few neighborhoods where you can walk or bicycle to a restaurant or shop for groceries,” said Roger Borgelt, president of the North University Neighborhood
Association, which includes Aldridge Place. “There’s a lot of pedestrian and bicycle activity. People run into each other on the street and stop to talk. It’s a friendly place.” Borgelt said there’s always activity around the park, with moms pushing little ones on strollers, joggers and walkers and university students riding bikes to and from classes.
Borgelt said the neighborhood is going through a transition, with more young families moving in. This has led to a nice mix of ages in the neighborhood, he said. The youngsters attend Lee Elementary, Kealing Junior High and McCallum High School in the Austin school district. Homes feature wood floors, high ceilings and woodwork done by quality craftsmen. Many homes have sleeping porches with screened-in windows. Many of those porches, used before the days of air conditioning, have now been closed in to be used as recreation or sun rooms.

Allendale
Forty years ago, Joan Crestly and her husband were looking for a safe neighborhood to raisea family - one that was close to downtown with good schools and easy access to shopping. They found it in Allandale. Their children are long gone, but the Crestlys are still in Allandale, which is bound by 45th Street on the south, Burnet Road on the east, MoPac Boulevard on the west and Anderson Lane on the north. Countless others are discovering what the Crestlys have known all along: Living in Central Austin is where it’s at. Today, it’s difficult to picture Allandale as the flat farmland it was when construction began in the 1960s. The majestic trees that provide respite from the sun were planted back then. Today, those trees provide shade for the ranch-style homes situated along wide streets that offer ample room for motorists, bicyclists and walkers. The houses are mostly one-story and range from $100,000 to $220,000. Median price is $160,000, although the scramble for houses in the neighborhood increases the median price in May and June.

Bryker Woods
It was the physical beauty of Bryker Woods - with its lovely old trees and charming old homes - that attracted Jim Nelson to the neighborhood. It was the family atmosphere that kept him there. Nelson and his wife are raising three children in the home they bought in 1984. And they are staying put - “I love being near downtown but still away from it,” Nelson said. “I can be at work downtown in 10 minutes. But because of its well- defined geography, Bryker Woods is confined. There are advantages to that.” That confinement makes him feel safe since there is little through traffic. However, some parts of the neighborhood - such as on 29th Street - are seeing more traffic as motorists attempt to find shortcuts between MOPAC Boulevard and Interstate 35 to downtown. Bryker Woods is bordered by Westover on the south, 35th on the north, Shoal Creek on the east and MOPAC Boulevard on the west. It was developed between the 1930s and 1950s,mostly with bungalows and a few larger homes surrounded by large, shady trees. At the end of May, houses with 1,200 square feet and three bedrooms and two baths sold for $205,000 in a day.

Clarksville
John Guffey looks at the youngsters playing in his Clarksville neighborhood and sees the Rainbow Coalition. “That’s what I call them,” said Guffey. “You see all kinds of kids on skateboards or bicycles. I don’t see kids anywhere else get such a mix of neighbors. We have all kinds of people with all kinds of lifestyles.” Guffey bought his house in the near West Austin neighborhood 20 years ago when many considered the area to be “seedy” and mortgage companies wouldn’t finance homes there. Today Clarksville, named after Charles Clark who led a group of freed slaves to settle in the area in 1871, is one of the hottest-selling markets. The neighborhood is listed in the National Register of Historic Homes. Doctors, lawyers, architects and restaurant owners and waiters call Clarksville home. The neighborhood boundaries recognized by the historical register are West Lynn Street on the east, MoPac Boulevard to the west, Ninth Street on the south and Waterston Avenue on the north. Most people, however, consider Clarksville to include all the area from Lamar Boulevard to MoPac Boulevard and Sixth Street to Enfield Road. A Clarksville address can cost prospective homeowners from $135,000 to $399,000 for a single-family home. Median price is $200,000. Some condos are available for around $55,000. Homes are all pier and beam, and built between 1910 and 1930. All homes have hardwood floors, with older ones boasting oak floors. Many homes are built from long leaf pine, a tree that was found locally back then, but is no longer available.

Old Enfield
For countless years, Wadene Harrison and her husband tried to fashion their ranch-style home into a colonial-type home. “We just couldn’t get there,” Harrison said. So 17 years ago, they bought their dream house in the Old Enfield neighborhood nestled in the hills just west of downtown Austin. The neighborhood, bordered by MoPac Boulevard on the west, Lamar Boulevard and Pease Park on the east, 24th Street on the north and Enfield Road on the south, is a treasure trove of colonial architecture and quiet streets canopied by the branches of majestic live oak trees reaching across the street. Add its history into the mix, and it’s the perfect neighborhood as far as Harrison is concerned. “The history is certainly part of the appeal,” said Harrison, who served six years as president of the Old Enfield Homeowners Association. “And the trees are incomparable.” Harrison credits the rich soil and nearby Shoal Creek for the girth and growth of the trees. The neighborhood, featured recently in Town and Country magazine as one of the 25 best neighborhoods in the country in which to live, is where Harrison wants to stay. She is selling her house on Woodlawn Avenue, which she considers to be perhaps the prettiest street in Austin, and is looking for a smaller home. “We are committed to Central Austin,” Harrison said. Downtown restaurants and grocery shopping are minutes away. And there is easy access to major thoroughfares such as MoPac Boulevard and Interstate 35 through Enfield Road. Nearby Lamar Boulevard also provides an outlet for those traveling north and south. Yet once within the neighborhood, the quiet streets offer respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. The neighborhood’s location is one of the reasons homes sell well in the vicinity. Home prices range from $200,000 to several million. The median is $550,000 to $1 million.

Hyde Park
The opportunity to live in a historic home, the convenience to downtown and the traditional neighborhood feeling to Hyde Park convinced John and Catherine Moore this is where they wanted their home to be. The Moores and their 11-year-old daughter moved in last August from suburban Rollingwood into a restored 1938 home, and “We just love it,” said Catherine Moore, who owned a home in Hyde Park while she attended the University of Texas in the 1970s. “It’s convenient to everything,” Catherine Moore said. “Our daughter can ride her bike. We feel relatively safe walking and riding. We walk to church three blocks away. We’re so near the university, where we go to a lot of events.” Catherine Moore said she also likes the diversity and tolerance of people in the neighborhood, which was entered into the National Registry of Historic Districts in 1990. “There’s an incredible mix of people,” she said. “The man next door is a retired coach. We have professors from UT. On certain blocks there lot of young children. My husband says people here are interested in the life of the mind.” Because of its proximity to the university, many residents are renters. Hyde Park was established as a streetcar subdivision just north of the University of Texas in 1897, and is a mix of Victorian homes and bungalows. The original boundaries were from 38th to 45th streets and Guadalupe and Duval Streets. The success of the neighborhood led to an expansion of the neighborhood a few years later, said Cecil Pennington, a former president of the neighborhood association. The boundaries were expanded to include areas up to 51st Street and Airport Boulevard., down the railroad tracks to 45th Street back into Duval Street. Among the best-known landmarks are Hyde Park Baptist Church, the Elisabet Ney Museum and Schipe Park. Some consider the Hyde Park Bar & Grill to be a landmark in itself.

Tarrytown
Location. Good schools. Charm. Those are the three reasons Paula and David Duke bought their home in Tarrytown. “Location was the number one reason,” Paula Duke said. “My husband works downtown. It takes 10 minutes to get to his office.” From where they live, Duke said she can quickly travel to North or South Austin on MOPAC. “We’re in the middle of everything,” she said. Duke said they like the charm of older homes - built in the 1930s and 1940s - found in Tarrytown. Real estate agents define as the area bound by Westover Road on the north, MOPAC Boulevard on the east, Enfield Road on the south and Lake Austin on the west. The Dukes looked for six months, each time coming back to Tarrytown. For the Dukes, who have a two-year-old child and are expecting another, good schools were very important. While still living in Alabama, they read the Texas Monthly article rating Texas schools, which gave nearby Casis Elementary four stars. .That was definitely a factor, Duke said.

SOUTH

Barton Hills
Nestled in the hills just above Zilker Park and Barton Springs lies a slice of gracious neighborhood living called Barton Hills. “It’s a hidden little gem,” said John Bell, treasurer of the Barton Hills Horseshoe Bend Neighborhood Association. “When I was looking for a house I accidentally stumbled onto it.” Because it’s off the beaten path, many people may not know about the neighborhood, bordered roughly by Rabb Road on the east, Barton Skyway and part of Zilker Park on the north and west, and the Barton Springs greenbelt on the south. Homes in the neighborhood, which was built in the 1960s and 1970s, range from $175,000 to $369,000. Median price is about $225,000. Most homes have three bedrooms and two baths, although some have four bedrooms and two baths. Homes range from 1,600 to 3,000 square feet. Median size is 2,300 square feet. Homes are solidly built and are masonry on three or four sides. Most have fireplaces. Cherry Creek When John Pembe’s daughter bought a house, she chose the West Gate area of Cherry Creek. So when Pembe and his wife moved from San Francisco 10 years ago, they moved in next door to their daughter. “It was a new area when we moved in,” said Pembe, president of the Neighborhood of Westgate Neighborhood Association. “It’s quiet, there’s little or no crime and prices are affordable.” Home prices are a major factor in the area’s popularity. The average listing price for a home is $114,999. The average sale price is $106,000. Prices range from $88,900 to $169,000. While older homes are brick and frame, newer homes are rock and masonry, and tend to be three-bedroom, two-bath houses. There are some four- and five-bedroom houses with 2 baths. Homes are selling briskly. The neighborhood began in the 1970s around West Gate and Stassney Lane. The extension of William Cannon has served as a catalyst for new construction in the area.

Shady Hollow
Debbie Peterson and her family have lived in South Austin since 1981. Five years ago, they decided to move into a neighborhood close to good schools, with large trees and a “smalltown feel to it.” They found it in Shady Hollow. “I love Shady Hollow,” said Peterson, president of the Shady Hollow Homeowners Association board. “We’ve got great neighbors, a good swim team and lots of opportunities for people to get involved in activities throughout the year.” Shady Hollow is in Southern Travis County and straddles Brodie Lane. Eldorado Trail marks the southern border, Kellywood Drive is the northern border and Gatling Gun Lane marks the eastern border. The west side of the subdivision borders a farm. Shady Hollow is an established neighborhood built in the early 1980s that remains popular because of its large lots, huge shady trees and proximity to good schools. Students in Shady Hollow attend the new Barinoff Elementary School, Bailey Middle School and Bowie High School. Homes in Shady Hollow range from $129,000 to $237,000. Median price is $150,000. They range in size from 1,800 square feet to 3,000 square feet.

SOUTHEAST

Onion Creek
Living in Onion Creek, according to Susan Boston, is like small-town living with a country club atmosphere. “I love it,” Boston said. “In other areas of the city everything is scattered. Because of the facilities at the club, the kids can swim or play tennis.” Boston said her family also likes the feeling of security. The community of 2,000 people off Interstate 35 in Southeast Austin has security gates and private security guards patroling the area. “There’s no violence here,” Boston said. “We don’t have drugs or gangs. The kids are free to walk on the streets.” While the idea of living in a country club environment may seem snooty to some, Boston said Onion Creek residents are not “uppity,” and proved downright friendly when she and her husband bought their house a year ago. “We’re a biracial family,” Boston said. “People accepted us quickly. When we moved in all our neighbors brought us gifts - cookies or a bottle of wine. Within two weeks my next-door neighbor had dropped off her key with us.” People who buy in the neighborhood tend to be older retirees whose lives revolve around tennis and golf at the country club. However, membership at the club is not a requirement for living in Onion Creek. The subdivision is on 1,000 acres bounded by Interstate 35 on the west, River Plantation on the east, Wild Dunes on the north and Pinenhurst on the south. The homes are built around the golf course and the country club is the center of social life.

SOUTHWEST

Lake Pointe
Hill Country living at a reasonable price had led hundreds of families to Lake Pointe off Lake Travis. The new development, about six miles off Loop 360 on Bee Cave Road, has builders trying to catch up with the demand for homes by developers such as Ryland Homes, Brighton Homes, Clark Wilson Homes and Highland Homes. Buyers are primarily families moving up to larger homes and wanting good schools in a country setting. Scott Williams, who moved from Arkansas in January, said he was relocated by his company in late 1998. He chose Lake Pointe because of the schools. Youngsters in Lake Pointe attend Lake Travis elementary, middle and high schools. Williams and his wife have a 10-year-old and a 2-year-old. “We looked a lot in Austin,” Williams said. “Our first concern was schools. We looked at West Lake Hills, but it wasn’t affordable for us.” Williams looked in other Austin areas, but found the yards too small. He found what he wanted in Lake Pointe. Lake Travis schools “are the best-kept secret in the area.” Many parents find the small 13- to-1 pupil-teacher ratio attractive and find the smaller school district attractive. Homeowners also like the extra space not found in smaller urban homes. Homes range from $200,000 to $600,000 with the median price about $225,000. Homes typically are two-story and have four-bedrooms, two baths and two-car garages. Most are between 1,700 and 4,000 square feet. The lots range from 50 feet to 80 feet in width and 130 to 175 feet in length. Oak Hill Allen Males knew there was one part of town he wanted to live in when his family purchased a home last December: Oak Hill. The family found their dream home in Legend Oaks, one of the fastest-growing areas in the rapidly-growing southwest area of Austin and Travis County generally known as Oak Hill. The boundaries are roughly north of Southwest Parkway on the north to the Travis County line on the south, and from Brodie Lane on the east to a line on the west running through the westernmost intersection of U.S. 290 West and Circle Drive. Males said the family enjoys relaxing at Lake Travis, and getting to the lake is quick and easy from their home. Because the family has two elementary school-age children, schools were an important, Males said. He and his wife have two at Patton Elementary. Under the current boundaries, students at Patton move up to Covington Middle School and Austin High School. The only drawback is that they have to either take the bus or be driven to school, he said. In 1996, of the students at Patton, taking the Texas Education Agency’s Texas Assessment of Academic Skills test, 88.8 percent passed all portions. At Covington, 66 percent of students taking the test passed all portions. Austin High School students scored an average of 1,031 on their SAT tests in 1995-96, the highest in the Austin school district. Oak Hill residents paid the Austin school district $1.31 per $100 property valuation to the district in property taxes in 1996-97.

Rob Roy
Stunning Hill Country views, luxurious homes and a quiet semi-rural neighborhood are just a few of the features that attract homebuyers to Rob Roy. University of Texas scientists, stockbrokers, software engineers, doctors and lawyers make their homes in this enclave bounded by Loop 360 on the east, St. Stephen’s School Road on the north, Bee Cave Road on the south and the Colorado River and undeveloped land to the west. “I like the layout, which gives you a country-type feeling,” said David Campbell, president of the Rob Roy Homeowners Association. “You don’t feel crowded by your neighbors.” Campbell said he enjoys seeing wildlife, which is abundant in the neighborhood. “I have two 8-point bucks living on my hill,” Campbell said. Homes in Rob Roy sell from $300,000 to $4.2 million and usually are located on one-acre lots, said Carol Dochen with Carol Dochen Realtors. The average house sells for about $520,000. “It was the first wealthy subdivision outside Loop 360,” Dochen said of the neighborhood, which was started in the early 1980s. “It was when Austin was beginning to spread its wings and build large, expensive homes. It was the first new premiere subdivision.” Dochen said people buying in Rob Roy like the prestige of the neighborhood as well as lots of space. And homeowners get plenty of space.

WestLake Hills
When Steve Darbin decided to move his family from Dallas, good schools were the overriding factor in choosing a home. The Darbins chose West Lake Hills so their two daughters could be in Eanes schools. “It best fit what we were looking for,” said Darbin, whose family moved into their Barton Creek West home in early June. “Once we knew what district we wanted to be in we started searching within the district.” They chose Barton Creek West so their daughters could be close to school and so they could be near the creek and the hike and bike trail. Many people who move into the West Lake Hills area do so because education is their top priority. It’s not easy for buyers to compromise on a house, which are among the highest priced in the Austin area. In 1996, the average sales price of a home in the area was $318,400. Prices range from $200,000 to $700,000. A few homes can be found in the $100,000 to $200,000 range. Even if buyers have to compromise on a house, they’re willing to do so in order to be in the district. It’s not easy to compromise on a house, which are among the highest in the Austin area. In 1996, the average sales price of a home in the area was $318,400. Prices range from $200,000 to $700,000. A few homes can be found in the $100,000 to $200,000 range.