Northwest Austin · Investment Property
Investment Property in Northwest Austin
Rentals judged on the numbers, the neighborhood and the condition of the house, not on the listing photos.
Investment Property in Northwest Austin: what's different here
A rental in Northwest Austin is a business decision that happens to come with a kitchen. Rentals in Northwest Austin range from condos and townhomes in Great Hills to 1970s and 80s homes in Anderson Mill and Oak Forest, where condition decides the numbers.
Texas has no state income tax, but property taxes are high, so the tax bill and insurance often decide whether a rental works.
Talk about Northwest Austin
Why Northwest Austin buyers work with me
I grew up in Northwest Austin, have lived here since 1976 and have lived on the Mountain in the Spicewood Estates area since 2004. My wife, Heather, and I own short-term rentals ourselves, in Spokane and Punta de Mita, so I look at a property the way an owner does. Northwest Austin gives you real land and mature trees close in, with schools split between Round Rock ISD and Austin ISD depending on the street.
How I handle it in Northwest Austin
- The numbers before the showing: rent against taxes, insurance, HOA dues and likely repairs.
- The rules: HOA leasing limits and short-term rental rules, checked before you commit.
- Condition: roofs, AC, water heaters and plumbing, judged by the home's era.
- 1031 timing: 45 days to identify and 180 days to close, planned with your exchange company and CPA. More on investing.
More about Northwest Austin
For the full picture of the neighborhood, see living in Northwest Austin. Questions about investment property here? Call me at (512) 698-3525.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rent out a home in Northwest Austin?
Often, but some HOAs limit leasing and short-term rentals have their own rules. We check before you make an offer.
What are the 1031 exchange deadlines?
Federal rules give you 45 days to identify a replacement property and 180 days to close.
Northwest Austin
What investment property looks like in Northwest Austin
The established hills west of MoPac and 183, from Northwest Hills up through Great Hills, Spicewood Estates, Jester and Anderson Mill.
- The homes
- Mostly 1960s through 1990s homes on larger, irregular lots under mature trees, with steady rebuilding in Northwest Hills. Hillside and view lots in Great Hills, Jester and parts of Northwest Hills; flatter streets in Oak Forest, Barrington Oaks and Anderson Mill.
- Schools people ask about
- Split between Round Rock ISD (Spicewood, Laurel Mountain, Caraway, Anderson Mill and Purple Sage elementaries into Canyon Vista or Grisham and Westwood) and Austin ISD (Doss, Hill or Davis into Murchison and Anderson). The line runs through neighborhoods, so check each address.
- Getting around
- 183, MoPac, Loop 360, 2222 and Spicewood Springs Road. The Arboretum and the Domain are close, and most trips never need I-35.
- Nearby
- Bull Creek, St. Edward's Park and Balcones Canyonlands Preserve land, Great Hills and Balcones country clubs (private), the Jester Club, Anderson Mill's own pools and parks, and City of Austin pools and parks.
- The trade-off
- Real land and established trees close in, in exchange for older homes that need their systems checked, and hills in many neighborhoods.
The method
How we do it in Northwest Austin
Investment Property: keep exploring
Ready to make your move with James Brinkman?