Northwest Austin · TX

Living in Northwest Hills

Westover Hills, Northwest Hills and Cat Mountain along Mesa Drive: 1960s and 70s homes, steady rebuilding, and big views toward 360.

Living in Northwest Hills

When people say Northwest Hills, they usually mean three neighborhoods: Westover Hills, Northwest Hills and Cat Mountain. Mesa Drive runs through all three as the main residential road. It's fairly level until it nears 2222, where it drops sharply, and that's a good way to picture the whole area: the main parts of the neighborhood run off Mesa, and the farther you get from it, especially west toward 360, the more dramatic the terrain becomes.

The Domain is a short drive up MoPac, which makes this one of the closest-in hillside areas in Northwest Austin.

How I serve Northwest Hills

I've sold homes here at very different points in the market's range, and the biggest part of the job is pricing. Two homes of about the same size recently sold for $2.55 million and $1.45 million, and the difference came down to the lot, the view, the age of the house and the street. Getting that right is what I bring to every sale here.

See selling in Northwest Hills, what your Northwest Hills home is worth and buying in Northwest Hills.

Westover Hills, Northwest Hills and Cat Mountain

The first homes here went up in the 1960s and 70s, and building has never really stopped. Older homes that lack the space and function buyers want today are often torn down and rebuilt, and new homes go onto lots that take serious engineering. Renovation is common too, but the cast-iron plumbing in many original homes often makes starting new the easier path.

The result is a wide variety of homes side by side: a 1960s ranch, a 2000s custom home and a brand-new build can share a block.

Homes and what drives their value

Three things matter most here:

  • How usable the lot is. An acre you can use beats an acre of slope.
  • The view from the house. Canyon, preserve and downtown views all carry a premium. What's behind the fence, like power lines, works the other way.
  • How recent the construction is. A newer or rebuilt home avoids the systems that come up in older-home inspections.

The street matters too. Homes on Mesa itself sit on a busier road than homes a few turns in.

Schools are Austin ISD only. Most of the area feeds Doss or Hill Elementary, then Murchison Middle and Anderson High. Toward 2222 the assignments change to Highland Park Elementary, Lamar Middle and McCallum High, so check the address.

Getting around and everyday life

MoPac, Loop 360 and 2222 put most of Austin within easy reach, and Spicewood Springs Road connects toward 360. The Domain is a short drive north. The Beverly S. Sheffield Northwest Municipal Pool is close, and many of the western lots back to canyon and preserve land.

The trade-off: the farther west you go toward 360, the bigger the views and the privacy, and the harder the lots.

Frequently Asked Questions

What schools serve Northwest Hills?

Austin ISD only. Most of the area feeds Doss or Hill Elementary, Murchison Middle and Anderson High. Toward 2222, assignments change to Highland Park Elementary, Lamar Middle and McCallum High.

Why do Northwest Hills home prices vary so much?

The lot, the view, how recently the home was built or rebuilt, and the street. Two similar-sized homes can sell more than a million dollars apart.

How far is Northwest Hills from the Domain?

A short drive north on MoPac.