Tom Bates

Updated Open House Planner for Eanes ISD
There is now a dedicated webpage for all open houses in the Eanes ISD area of Austin:
http://www.austinmodernliving.com/open-house-austin-eanes-isd-schedule.htm

The webpage will be updated by Saturday every week. This will be a great way to keep up with prices and get to know the area. Bookmark the page!

Quick 2008 Year End Overview of Eanes ISD Stats
Just a quick post to show some stats for Eanes ISD homes in the Austin area. Sellers on average are still trying to push higher priced homes even while the market prefers lower priced homes. The current average list price for homes in the Eanes ISD is $1,390,863 for a 4 bed 4 bath 4,340 sf house. The market is absorbing smaller less expensive homes...the average sold price this year in Eanes ISD (so far) is $773,641 for an average 4 bed 3 bath 3,326 sf home. And the average Pending (taking backups) home is $667,297 4 bed 3 bath 3,358 sf.

Homes Off Cuernavaca Still Offer the Best Value in Eanes ISD
The neighborhood I focus on (and live in) still offers the absolute best values in the Eanes ISD. Tucked between good neighbors like Seven Oaks, Senna Hills, Rob Roy and Barton Creek to ensure continued appreciation a la great location and the best school district in central Texas (Eanes ISD), the homes off Cuernavaca Road offer superior value, cozy living and excellent heavily treed lots. The average sold year to date house in the area is $475,046 for a 2664 3 bed 2 bath house. There are plenty of larger homes on larger lots in the area as well. There are even a few speculation builders putting up some great, affordable homes.

Open houses in Eanes ISD
We update our website every Saturday with all the open houses in the Eanes ISD area: Eanes ISD open house schedule.

-tom bates
512-413-0870
http://www.austinmodernliving.com/index.htm

I've seen a lot of great architecture, but nothing like this.
Last night the AIA held their annual Premier Party for this year's AIA Austin Homes Tour. The house chosen for the party was maybe the perfect house. It was flawless. Our small entourage spent most of the evening searching for the smallest of imperfections, looking for off-scale dimensions, looking for tacky material choices, looking for typical lazy-Austin-but-still-luxury-home-craftsmanship, looking for even a tiny mis-directed grout line behind a toilet...but we were left empty handed...this was the perfect house. Saddend by our disappointment, we put away our rulers and levels and humbly returned for more artichoke dip and lamb chops. Designed by Patrick Ousey, AIA of FAB Architecture this houses is truly...perfect. Most 8500 square foot homes in West Austin lack the right scale and massing to make the home feel inviting, elegant, gracious, austere and comfy all at the same time. From material choice, to scale, to execution, this house is as perfect as I've ever ever seen...and I want to to live there. (Will someone please loosen the lending guidelines.) Will the rest of the AIA Austin Home Tour live up to this magical home? We'll see...

I was recently asked why Tarrytown home values are so high compared to essentially the same 3000 square foot house just north of there in the Beverly Hills / Highland Park area north of Camp Mabry. Great question, here are my thoughts:

I think it's mostly a matter of prestige and luxury brand recognition first, then proximity to downtown second. The schools are essentially neck and neck. Highland Park area is Highland Park Elementary and Tarrytown is Casis Elementary - both rated Exemplary by the Texas Education Agency. The two high schools, Austin High School and McCallum High School are both equally ranked as Academically Acceptable.

Tarrytown is just higher cost real estate...the average listing in Tarrytown is about $900k and the average listing in Highland/Beverly is $725k, like you said, for about the same sized properties (avg 3000 sf). If you look even further north, the area between 2222, Spicewood Springs, Mopac and 360, the average property listing goes down to $585k. When you get over to areas like Davenport, Eanes, etc you start getting significantly larger homes (avg 4000 sf) plus the rock star status Eanes school district, newer homes, etc and so the real estate goes back to about Tarrytown prices per square foot (+$300/sf).

Again, I think it's mostly the Tarrytown luxury brand name recognition...the majority of the people who call me to look for a house start with a popular neighborhood in mind: Travis Heights, Hyde Park, Spanish Oaks, Bouldin, Zilker, Eanes ISD, Rollingwood, Barton Creek....I think there are just fewer people specifically looking in Beverly Hills / Highland Park. Too bad since you can get so much more for your money there!

The fact that there are 5 active listings on Lucas Lane right now is an unfortunate coincidence for those trying to sell there.

I was contacted by a TV commercial producer today who is going to shoot a nationally televised commercial and needs a killer modern Austin area kitchen to shoot it in. It's a one day shoot to showcase a new kitchen product. They will film on October 2nd and could pay up to $1500 fee for the use of the house and they will list the owner as an additional insured. Send me photos and your contact info if you're interested.