TX
Living in Northwest Austin
The established hills west of MoPac and 183, from Northwest Hills up through Great Hills, Spicewood Estates, Jester and Anderson Mill.
Living in Northwest Austin
Northwest Austin is the hill country edge of the city: the established neighborhoods west of MoPac and along 183, climbing toward Loop 360 and 2222 and the canyon lands beyond. It's where I grew up. My family moved here in 1976, when I was four, and I've lived here most of my life since, including on "the Mountain" in the Spicewood Estates area since 2004.
Most of the homes here were first built from the 1960s through the 1990s, on larger and more irregular lots than newer construction offers, under mature trees. The appeal is the same as it's always been: real land close in, quick access to the Arboretum, the Domain and the tech corridor, and neighborhoods that feel settled rather than new.
Talk with me about Northwest Austin
How I serve Northwest Austin
This is my home turf and the center of my business. I help longtime owners sell homes they've lived in for decades, often while planning a downsize, and I help buyers, many of them relocating for work, figure out which of these neighborhoods fits how they'll actually live.
I know these streets the way you only can after fifty years: which pockets back to preserve land, where the topography gets steep, which streets carry traffic, and where the school assignment changes from one block to the next. For how I sell and buy, see how I sell a home and how I help you buy.
Northwest Austin neighborhoods
- Spicewood Estates & Balcones: wooded hills west of 183, larger lots, and Balcones Country Club.
- Northwest Hills: Westover Hills, Northwest Hills and Cat Mountain along Mesa Drive, with constant rebuilding and big views to the west.
- Great Hills: the hilliest of the group, around Great Hills Country Club near the 183 and 360 interchange.
- Jester Estates: a wooded hillside neighborhood off 2222, backing to preserve land.
- Oak Forest & Barrington Oaks: two neighboring 1970s neighborhoods off Jollyville Road and Spicewood Springs Road.
- Anderson Mill: an early master-planned community between 183, 620 and Anderson Mill Road, with its own pools and parks.
Homes and housing types
Northwest Austin isn't one kind of house. In Northwest Hills you'll find 1960s and 70s ranch homes next to brand-new rebuilds. Spicewood Estates and Jester have larger lots and multi-level homes that follow the hills. Oak Forest, Barrington Oaks and Anderson Mill offer more of the 1970s and 80s single-story and two-story homes that were built for growing households, on flatter ground.
What decides value here is less about square footage and more about the lot, the view, how recently the home was built or rebuilt, and the street it's on. Two homes of the same size can sell far apart because of those four things. Many original homes are now old enough that roofs, AC systems, water heaters and older plumbing are part of every inspection conversation.
Schools are split between Round Rock ISD and Austin ISD, and the line runs through several neighborhoods. Always check the specific address.
Getting around and everyday life
Day to day, Northwest Austin runs on 183, MoPac, Loop 360 and 2222, with Spicewood Springs Road connecting much of it. The Arboretum and the Domain are close, and most work and errands never require I-35.
The green edges are part of daily life too. Bull Creek, St. Edward's Park and Balcones Canyonlands Preserve land wrap around several neighborhoods, and from Spicewood Springs Road you can take a trail through St. Edward's Park and a bird sanctuary up to the top of Jester Estates. Recreation comes through private clubs at Great Hills and Balcones, the Jester Club, Anderson Mill's own pools and parks, and City of Austin pools and parks elsewhere.
Popular next steps from here: selling in Great Hills, downsizing in Spicewood Estates & Balcones and buying in Northwest Hills.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which school district is Northwest Austin in?
Both. Parts are Round Rock ISD and parts are Austin ISD, and the line runs through several neighborhoods, so check the specific address.
Is Northwest Austin hilly?
Much of it is. Great Hills is the hilliest. Northwest Hills and Spicewood Estates have broader level areas with steeper streets toward the edges. Oak Forest, Barrington Oaks and Anderson Mill are flatter.
How long have you lived in Northwest Austin?
Since 1976. I grew up in Spicewood Estates and have lived on the Mountain since 2004.
Buying in Northwest Austin
The method
How we do it in Northwest Austin
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