Garden Home, Villa, Free-Standing Condo Recommendations? (Austin, Spring: real estate, HOA, condos)

[drippingspringsgal]

Hello All,

My husband and I just sold our large house on a large lot and we're interested in downsizing to a freestanding home but in a condo regime with all landscaping being handled by the HOA. Here's what we've seen so far:

The Hillside (on 2222), attractive, modern design homes but the complex feels dead for some reason (bad vibe). There are still TONS of empty lots so I don't find it to be a wise investment. I could be totally wrong but for some reason the place has bad feng shui for me.

Spicewood Vistas (off Spicewood Springs Rd near 360), really nice, small subdivision built around 2004 within an older, established neighborhood surrounding it. Would be perfect for us but the only unit currently available is 3 stories, which I think hurts resale value. (We're perfectly healthy but you never know when you might twist your ankle or throw your knee out and then you'd be stuck on the main floor without a bed or a shower.)

Escondera (Southwest Pkwy), nice looking homes but there's so much empty land over there as far as the eye can see, so they can just keep adding phases into eternity if the market allows. Please don't get your feelings hurt if you live there...it's just my opinion and I could be totally wrong.

Villas at Flintrock (Lakeway), pretty little condo homes, some with golf course views. Very nice but kind of far out of town and I think I'd get sick of driving on 620 every day. Also, as soon as one phase filled up they started another phase, which is not good for resale.

Davenport Ranch (Westlake), nice but my husband refuses to live there because he doesn't want to see those giant radio towers every day. Yes, he's quirky but if you're gonna spend that much on a home you have a right to be quirky.

All of you real estate mavens out there...please let me know what I'm missing. There's got to be a perfect place out there for me that I have not found yet. Budget range is $350K - $500K. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TheyCallMeDerek]

Waterstone Condos (Ivean Pearson Rd)
Villas On Travis
Las Colinas At Lake Austin (Westlake Dr)

It just depends on what you guys want as far as Condo's are concerned. The loook, convenience, age etc. Most times finding the "Perfect" place may come down to finding the perfect "compromise".

[drippingspringsgal]

Thanks for the suggestions, Derek. I appreciate it. I looked at all three but, unfortunately, none of them are garden homes (free-standing condos). They are all condo buildings. We don't want any adjoining walls; we just want a condo structure so that all the landscaping is maintained by the HOA so we don't have to worry about doing it ourselves. We're open to any parts of town. Thanks, all you brilliant city-data people!!

[AustinGuy]

These are below your price range, but they might be interesting to you:

Arboretum Park
Ash Creek Homes - Austin area homebuilder for over 25 years

This builder does mostly garden homes, so if this project doesn't seem to be your style, you might want to look through their past communities some of which are higher end to find potential resales.

[drippingspringsgal]

Originally Posted by AustinGuy

These are below your price range, but they might be interesting to you:

Arboretum Park
Ash Creek Homes - Austin area homebuilder for over 25 years

This builder does mostly garden homes, so if this project doesn't seem to be your style, you might want to look through their past communities some of which are higher end to find potential resales.

Thanks! I'll check it out. I appreciate the advice.