Austin Real Estate District Spotlight: Austin's Southtown, Lower Congress Area

By DeeinAustin™

Today's spotlight is on SouthTown Austin, a growing area of South Austin that lacked the media attention of it's popular cousins in the SoCo (South Congress) and SoLa (South Lamar) Districts.

SouthTown Austin has been quietly booming for the past few years. Home prices steadily rose. The area is affordable, ripe for rehabs, and ready for new construction. The latest Austin real estate update showed South Austin homes selling in 30 days, SouthTown included.

SouthTown may share the same fate as SoCo, which now has too many condos coming. The Austin Statesman published an article entitled, "It's called LoCo and it's getting a redo".

WHERE IS THE SOUTHTOWN DISTRICT(aka SOUTH SOCO, SOUTH SOLA, LOCO, LOWER CONGRESS)?

Let's first admit that "LoCo" is a silly name and no neighborhood wants to be known as the "crazy" district. SouthTown, South Soco, South Sola are better references to this area. Click the picture to enlarge.

SouthTown is bound by:

• Ben White Boulevard on the North.
• Manchaca to the West.
• Interstate Highway 35 on the East.
• William Cannon (but preferably Stassney Lane) to the South.
• MORE: SouthTown is Austin's MLS Area 10N, Zip Code 78745, Mapsco Page 644.

CAUTION TO SOUTH AUSTIN HOME BUYERS, INVESTORS
SouthTown agents, home owners, buyers, and investors should avoid falsely inflating home prices by paying more than the home is worth. Real estate speculators and their agents ruined the promise that Soco and East Central Austin showed in 2005 and 2006. I've already seen homes in South Austin areas such as East Travis Heights sell for $20 more per square foot than they should have.

SouthTown also has some drawbacks. Some schools struggle and, unlike East Central Austin and South Congress (SoCo), South Lamar (SoLa), Southtown isn't close to downtown. There aren't as many retail, grocery or restaurants within walking or biking distance and there's limited demand for condo living.

With that said, check out SouthTown home prices...SEARCH SOUTHTOWN AUSTIN HOMES (Zip 78745).

INTERESTED IN SOUTHTOWN DISTRICT AUSTIN? SEE RELATED LINKS...

• Austin Statesman Article about the Southtown Austin Area
• South Austin rocks the latest Austin real estate market update!
• Luxury condos on East Riverside drive coming in 2008.
• Upcoming condo projects in SouthTown, Skybridge Austin.

Comments

[Terry Polston]

This is an interesting perspective on some of the finer details when buying a home here in Austin. Great advise.