Hot Real Estate Listings - Get Cleaver-iffic on a Middle Class Wage!

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For those of us who pine for a centrally-located Craftsman's-style bungalow, but refuse to pony up two fiddy per square foot or hold down an extreme job to bankroll it, this week's column focuses on the house that made America's heartland great - the ranch-style home of the 1950s and early 60s. A spate of home construction in Austin during this time--in areas that were then considered 'suburban'--provides creative and cost-concious house hunters with a centrally-located alternative to living in Hutto or Buda. Roll up your sleeves, get a subscription to ReadyMade, and laissez les bons temps roule!

1506 Villanova Drive - $169,999. 1,113 square feet. Built in 1958. A 3/2 with decent trees and yard, located right within 183 and Anderson Lane. Depending on where you fall on the kitsch vs. fugly scale, the pink-checkerboard tile backsplash in the master bath could be the centerpiece for your remodel project after move in. A little DIY juice and some conceptual creativity could make this a sweet freakin' pad with room to rehearse your band.

8002 Rockwood Ln. - $189,900. 912 square feet. Built in 1963. This 3/1 is located just off Anderson Ln. as well, with easy access to Mopac. Walk to Alamo North, Einstein's and (with some significant hoofing) YogaYoga. Downside: You might end up neighbors with the supposedly-urban Wal-Mart that will potentially replace Northcross Mall. Upside: A 7-minute bike ride will get you to the planned rail station at Justin and Lamar. This place has some nice Turtle chi, courtesy of the mature trees in back.

8603 Hathaway - $209,990. 1,851 square feet. Built in 1964. 3/2/2 located just off Lamar. Four sides of brick means this home will withstand a freak windstorm, as well as fairy tale sociopaths. The kitchen is nicely laid out for entertaining and the master bath seems fairly up-to-date, which would allow you focus on other areas for remodeling in the short term. We aren't professionals in this area, but would wager that--with a little negotiating chutzpah--that brown velvet La-Z-Boy would convey. Break out the cheeseball, June!

Photos from Justin Cox, 1% Realty, RE/MAX Heart of Texas Realty and J.B. Goodwin Realtors.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@austinist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By erikamay in Other on December 7, 2006 12:45 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

JTL

The 8002 Rockwood one will be really close to the new North Village Library branch when it opens. We'll have a neighborhood "library of the future" in Allandale Estates. http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/library/news/anv_pres.htm for a cool linky.

Also, you'll live within stumbling distance of the Trudy's/Pluckers/Sherlocks/Bagpipes mega-cheesy-bar complex.

Mike B

Anderson Lane area doesn't do much for me. Even if you live close to those spots, "walking" along Anderson Lane is about as fun as getting hit with a 2x4.

Let's face it folks, Austin is lacking in human size walkable town areas. Hyde Park, Clarksville, South Congress, south 1st parts of downtown... where else? That is about it about it and with the exception of South Congress, these areas don't really have that many business/restaurants to live up to the hype.

Kilgore Trout

Having just moved back in to town (right around the corner from the first two houses mentioned) after 5 long years in the suburban wastelands, I can say without hesitation that if you're at all considering doing the same, don't waste another minute. It's like I've rediscovered the magic that still exists in this town, hidden away under a grimy layer of Starbuck-and-Wal-Mart-ification.

Anon

I absolutely heart this column. A lot. It is seriously one of my favorite things about Thursday afternoons. Muchas gracias.

How does Austinist always know what I am thinking and caring about at any given point? Sigh.