Opinions of the Rough Hollow area in Lakeway (Austin, Sweetwater: sales, HOA)

[billmarland]

My wife and I are empty-nesters and looking to re-locate from Virginia to Texas in approximately three years. We have been to Austin several times and try and look at different areas each time we come down. We both liked the Lakeway area. The curb appeal and amenities as well as the marina at Rough Hollow make it her favorite place for building our retirement home. I am more of a lone wolf and I could easily see myself living in more "remote" regions like Marble Falls or Lago Vista. I value all opinions, but I'm only hearing the good ones when I talk to the sales staff at Rough Hollow. I would appreciate hearing more about the development from other sources without a dog in the hunt, so to say, as well as other well-planned communities with access to Lake Travis. Thank you.

[hoffdano]

Please take this with a grain of salt.....from someone who has lived in the Lake Travis area since the 80s. I drive through the area weekly. I would never spend $500K or more to live in Rough Hollow. Reasons why:

- they have everything that is bad about HOAs in Texas. They even restrict you to propane appliances.
- they bald the hills and remove all plant life while they develop. The terrain is beautiful but the ruin it.
- It has the McMansion look
- property taxes are higher than most areas around Austin

If you like expensive homes in a superclean, super controlled area, it might be for you.

[scm53]

We seriously considered RH when we were looking to build five years ago. Much to love there - the Grille, the Marina. But they didn't have a lot that worked for us and we built elsewhere. In the perfect clarity of 20/20 hindsight, I thank the heavens that we didn't. Why?

1. The community propane system. I won't go into details - you can search this forum, as it is well documented here. The practical effects - higher than necessary gas bills - would be painful. The underhanded way it would have been forced on me would have been perpetually enraging.

2. The amount of clear cutting that went on there. I don't know if every lot in RH that doesn't have a single native tree was that way forever. But I doubt it. It's enough that the result is unattractive.

3. It is a long way to anywhere. It is tough to get in and out of. I know more things are headed that way. It is still an arduous way in and out - on Bee Creek or out to 620 on Lakeway Blvd.

[Aquitaine]

My in-laws live in Rough Hollow. It's pretty but very sanitized. I can't stand the radio ads ('roughing it in rough hollow') though they aren't as bad as Sweetwater.

The in-laws like it. Tons of activities for retired folks. It is super clean and super controlled. Your taxes will be high and you won't come into Austin proper much, but you do have the lake right there.

It's not for me but I can see the appeal.

[DMChicago]

When we house hunted last October. we were shown a beautiful home in RH. In some ways, the best house we had seen.

We passed for several reasons already mentioned. The lack of any natural trees and that it's a hundred miles just to get to 620.

We bought in Villa Montana, just west of 620/2222.

Incredibly happy here.

[billmarland]

We will be in Austin within the month and Villa Montana is on the bucket list this trip. There's not at ton of info on the website. Does the community have quick access to Lake Travis and a marina? If I recall my geography from online searching, the Oasis isn't too far away. Is that a touristy area, or one that more locals enjoy? Thanks!

[billmarland]

I'm into clean, but not sterile. I abhor micromanaging someone's life, but I don't want hammocks in my neighbor's front yard. I absolutely want a lake view with access to a marina, but it doesn't have to be waterfront. My wife just likes to be close to shopping and a Whole Foods store---let's say 15 minutes tops. I'm like anyone else who likes good value, but I don't mind paying for quality. I know there's a place in Austin that fits the bill.....trouble is, I don't have the time right now to live the Austin City Limits experience. Thanks for your help!

[janejanejanejanejane]

You could look for empty land to build a house on somewhere overlooking LT, even if from a distance.

[scm53]

Happy to help, with some details.

1. "Lake view" means what? Unobstructed, lake front, or you can see it in the distance?

2. I too, am willing to pay for quality. What it the high end? If you can go up around $1M, Vineyard Bay is a fantastic location. We looked in there, and wished there would have been a place that worked for us. When we were looking, there were no lots left, and we'd have to take an existing home. Private marina, right on 620. But the lake view from the house might be tough unless you are a) patient, and b) have a big checkbook.

Google it, and take a look around.

[austin-steve]

I stringently talked a buyer out of Rough Hollow a while back. There is an older thread about RH and its pros/cons. My people bought new in another area of Lakeway and are so happy they did not buy in RH.

For some it may be paradise, but it deserves careful, cautious consideration and financial awareness of the true costs of living there, including the value of your drive time and whether or not you'll actually consume/use the amenities/goodies you are paying for with your HOA dues. Propane threads abound in CD so I won't rehash that, but do some searches about the costs of community propane.

Resorts are nice to visit, but "resort lifestyle" is something entirely different. I think it's one of those things that sound good at first, but you have to do a deeper assessment than that to determine what exactly you want your everyday, daily living to look like.

Steve