Western Trails, Austin Real Estate

What is Western Trails like?

Western Trails is one of the neighborhoods people refer to in discussions of South Austin. For residents, the words “South Austin” have come to suggest a spirit of independence and laid back living in a comfortable setting.

Real estate in Western Trails is marked by well-kept, big lawns and large oak trees. It is also noteworthy, like many South Austin neighborhoods, for the variety of the type of residents there. Singles, couples, parents, university students, and married couples of all ages call Western Trails home.

What kind of houses and lots are in Western Trails?

Developed between the late 1950s and the early 1970s, Western Trails real estate is comprised mainly of oversized lots and one-story brick homes. The vast majority of houses in Western Trails are three bedroom floor plans, but two and four bedroom homes appear on the market from time to time.

Square footages in Western Trails can go as low as 1,300 square feet and as high as 2,500 square feet, but standard square footages hover between 1,500 and 1,600 square feet of living space.

What should I expect to spend for a house in Western Trails?

Real estate prices in Western Trails range from the high $100,000s to the mid $300,000s, with median prices in the $260,000s.

At the time of this writing (April 2008), the result of averaging Western Trails sales over the past twelve months yielded an average sales price of $265,700 for a three bedroom, two and a half bath house with two living areas, a two car garage, and 1,757 square feet of living space. That’s roughly $153 per square foot.

What's close to Western Trails? (Dining, shopping, entertainment, athletics)

In part because of its close proximity to downtown, a great deal of amenities are located near the Western Trails subdivision. The University of Texas is within a 20 minute drive, as are a number of movie theaters, museums, city parks, running trails, Town Lake, and a tremendous number of opportunities for dining, entertainment, and nightlife.

That said, residents of Western Trails needn’t roam even that far from home to find everything they need. The famous Austin greenbelt can be accessed just a short distance up Ben White Boulevard, and parks are accessible in all directions—including Joslin Park, Garrison Park, Gus Fruth Park, as well as the South Austin Park and Recreation Center.

The Westgate Shopping Center (which backs up to the Western Trails neighborhood) presents nearby residents with options for shopping. Westgate shopping center is home to revered home style maven, Mari Johnson’s Back Home Furniture. Western trails residents enjoy Borders Bookstore, a movie theatre, Yoga Studio and number of small shops and restaurants. Most important to many Austin residents, the Westgate Shopping Center is home to a large Central Market grocery store, a favorite spot for Austinites to purchase some of the best imported, gourmet, and organic food items in the city. It also contains a terrific restaurant of its own.

What about the schools in Western Trails?

Austin Independent School District schools are nearby for students living in Western Trails. They include: Joslin Elementary, Porter Middle School, and Crockett High School. In 2007 Texas Education Agency Accountability Ratings, Joslin Elementary was granted Recognized status, Porter Middle School received Academically Acceptable status, as did Crockett High.