West Lake Hills, Texas

West Lake Hills, or MLS area 8E, or zip code 78746, is often touted as the most desirable neighborhood in Austin. With its waterfront and downtown views almost rivaling Mt. Bonnell across Lake Austin in altitude, its short commute to downtown and its celebrated Eanes School district, West Lake Hills is the destination for those who can afford it.

Bounded by Lake Austin to the north and east, Capitol of Texas Highway/360 to the west, and Bee Caves Road and Barton Creek Mall to the south, Westlake is often, mistakenly, considered part of a larger area due to its equally tony neighborhoods: Davenport Ranch to the north, Barton Creek and Lost Creek to the west and Rollingwood to the south.

The City of West Lake Hills was founded and incorporated as a village in 1953, and is currently comprised of 2,560 acres (four square miles), approximately 1,000 homes and 200 businesses. Driving from downtown, through Tarrytown via Lake Austin Boulevard, and taking the left turn on Redbud (past Redbud Isle, the crowning leash-free water park for dogs), the mood turns from city to waterfront community, to meandering drives circling Texas Tuscan to modern compounds rivaling those of the Hollywood Hills.

What grounds the area is the highly-acclaimed Eanes School District, considered to be the best school district in the Austin area, if not Central Texas. Every elementary school has achieved an Elemplary rating, including the three that serve the Westlake region: Bridgepointe, Cedar Creek, and Eanes. Hill Country Middle School, a Recognized school houses a 17,000 volume library collection, rare for a Middle School of just 850 students.

Rivaling the best private schools in town is Recognized Westlake High, with its national accolades (Newsweek Magazine rated it the 97th best high school in the country in 2007), Blue Ribbon status and 95% enrollment rate. In addition to excelling in academics and arts, the Westlake Chaparrals possess a highly competitive athletic program, especially in tennis, volleyball, football and swimming.

The Village of Westlake Hills contains the retail and services hub of the area at the intersection of Bee Caves and Capitol of Texas Highway/ 360, hosting retail chains like Barnes and Noble and Macaroni Grill, as well as grocery and drug stores.

This idyllic neighborhood, with its short commute to downtown and celebrated school district comes with a significant price tag. With a median asking price in the $800s for condos and houses, Westlake is not accessible to all. Even those wanting to build will find lots ranging from 1/3rd an acre to just over 4 acres with a median price in the upper $500s.

Condo living, especially with lake views, has just started to erupt in Westlake with just a few recent builds. For those going the condo route, prices range from the mid $100s on the outskirts of the region (yet still benefiting from city proximity and great schools) to the mid $2 million range.

This article was written on behalf of Regent Property Group, Austin Real Estate specialist's and top Austin Realtors helping professionals secure Austin Office Space helping client's purchase Austin homes for sale, and helping client's sell Austin Texas real estate and homes.