The Westlake area is home to some of the priciest residences in the Austin area.  The convenient location with a close proximity to downtown coupled with the exemplary schools makes this area highly desirable for many families.  Unfortunately, many home buyers may find this neighborhood to be at the top of their budget.  Last year the median home sales price for residences in Eanes ISD was $860,000.  However, as prospective Westlake home buyers know, there are many homes that sell for far more in this neighborhood.  

​​Fortunately, now is a great time to buy in Eanes ISD.  Historically, home prices in Westlake tend to soar in the late spring/early summer.  Since this area is family oriented, most buyers prefer to move in the summer months when the kids are out of school.  However, if you are willing to move in the fall/winter, you can get a much better deal on a home in Eanes ISD.  Historically, the median home sales price tends to be the least in Westlake between September through January.  

​​That means now is a great time to be looking at homes if you want to get a fantastic deal on a home in Eanes ISD.  There are currently 69 homes under 1 M for sale in this great school district. There are two definitive clusters of moderately priced home in Eanes ISD; homes in Lost Creek and homes in Cuernavaca.  However, there are also homes at this price point scattered throughout Westlake.  

If you are willing to consider a condo for your residence, there are many great options including the new construction condos at the Walsh, the condos at Davenport Ranch and condos on Lake Austin off Westlake Dr.  There’s also this great modern condo in Lost Creek with beautiful views and a plethora of energy efficient upgrades.   
 
Thinking about purchasing a home in Westlake? I highly encourage you to consider buying in the “off-season”.  Click here to view all homes for sales in Eanes ISD for under one million.  
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​At the site of the old Cinemark movie theatre in Westlake Hills, across the street from the Barton Creek Mall, The Walsh community has recently sprouted.  The Walsh, aptly named for its location off Walsh Tarlton Lane, is a new home community of 55 townhome style residences in Eanes ISD. 
 
The modern style luxury residences start in the 600s, and all share a similar minimalistic Scandinavian inspired design with an emphasis on geometric details.  Inside, you will find finish-outs in line with a luxury product: wide plank oak floors, stainless steel Bosh appliances, oak cabinets, marble, quartz, or honed stone countertops just to name a few.
 
There are eight different floorplans at The Walsh, with homes ranging from 1,961-2,881 square feet.  All floorplans have a garage; the larger floor plans have two car garages while the smaller floorplans only have one.  The smallest floor plan at The Walsh, The Nils, has 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a one car garage, and a small patio.  The first floor is an open floor plan with dining, living and kitchen (something you will find in all units at The Walsh).  Upstairs you will find the master, two additional bedrooms and a second living room/bonus space dubbed “the landing”.
 
In comparison, the largest model, The Brit, has three levels, 4 bedrooms and 4.5 baths.  On the bottom floor of The Brit, you will find the two car garage, one bedroom, a full bath, and storage space.  The Brit also features an elevator that takes you to the second and third floors.  The second floor has the master, kitchen, living and dining spaces, and a patio.  On the top level, there are two additional bedrooms, another patio, and a large game room.
 
The Walsh is located in the acclaimed Eanes Independent School District.  Residences at The Walsh feed to Cedar Creek Elementary, Hill Country Middle School, and Westlake High School.  All three schools are less than a five-minute drive from The Walsh.  As I mentioned earlier, The Walsh is also conveniently located across the street from the Barton Creek Mall.  Here you will find all your big name department stores, including Nordstrom’s, a variety of dining options, and a movie theater. 
 
If you’re looking for a new home in Austin, and like the idea of a low-maintenance new construction home in south west Austin, I encourage you to take a look at The Walsh for yourself.  You can view more information on The Walsh website, or contact me today to see it in person.

Are you considering buying a home in Westlake?  If you are looking at houses for sale in Westlake, it is important to understand the Westlake housing market.  Most people refer to Westlake as all of the homes that feed to Westlake High School. In fact, there are many mini-neighborhoods that make up the greater Westlake area.

Houses in the Westlake area tend to be some of the most expensive houses for sale in the Austin area.  This is primarily due to the fact that houses for sale in Westlake allow access to one of the best school districts in Austin, EANES ISD. If you have kids and are looking for houses for sale in Westlake, it is important to know which areas feed to which middle schools.  There are two middle schools that feed to Westlake High School, Hill Country Middle School and Westridge Middle School.  Homes that are located east of Loop 360 are in the MLS area 8E and these Westlake houses feed to Hill Country.  Houses west of Loop 360 are in the MLS area 8W and these homes feed to Westridge. 

This is important to know.  If you are looking at homes for sale in Westlake Hills, you will find many affordable options in the Lost Creek neighborhood.  This neighborhood is way closer to Hill Country Middle School, but houses in Lost Creek feed to Westridge Middle School.  This means if you have younger kiddos and buy a house in Lost Creek or the Woods of Westlake, they will have a much longer commute during their middle school years.  

Westlake houses for sale in the 8E area tend to be a bit pricier than those in 8W since these houses are also closer to downtown Austin. In 2016, houses for sale in the 8E area of Westlake had a median sales price of  $1,031,750. Conversely, homes for sale in 8W sold for a median price of $725,000 in 2016.  When you are considering buying a home in Westlake it is important to understand these intricacies of the Westlake area.  You also want to look at the tax rate in different neighborhoods as these can vary substantially.

Take a look at this post on tax rates in the Austin area if you are looking at houses for sale in Westlake.  

Still wondering where the best house in Westlake for your family is located?  Give me a call today and we can discuss your exact needs and identify the best house for sale in Westlake for you and your family.  Ready to start looking at houses for sale in Westlake, click here to view homes for sale in Westlake's 78746 zip code. ​