On this site, “South Austin” refers to the 78704 zip code — the walkable, close-in stretch bordered by Lady Bird Lake, South Lamar, and Ben White, and home to some of Austin’s most recognized names: South Congress, Travis Heights, Bouldin Creek, Zilker, South Lamar, and Barton Hills. As of August 2026, there are 156 homes actively listed in South Austin, with a median list price of $1,221,000. Buyers are drawn here for the walkability, the restaurants and live music along South Congress Avenue, the proximity to Barton Springs and Zilker Park, and a mix of century-old bungalows alongside new construction. This page covers what’s actually happening in the South Austin market right now: pricing, a look at six of its best-known neighborhoods, and what buyers should expect at each price point, no pressure, just answers. For more on what it’s like to actually live here day to day, see our South Austin Neighborhood Guide, brought to you by Eleven Oaks Realty.
Quick Summary — For Busy Buyers
- 156 homes currently for sale in South Austin (78704)
- $1,110,000 median sale price over the past 12 months
- Homes are going under contract in a median of 39 days at 96% of asking price
- Zoned across several Austin ISD schools depending on neighborhood — Barton Hills, Becker, Dawson, and Travis Heights elementaries; Lively Middle; Austin High and Travis High
- Six flagship neighborhoods: South Congress, Travis Heights, Bouldin Creek, Zilker, South Lamar, and Barton Hills — each with its own distinct character
Seeing a home you’d like to tour? Text us at (512) 827-8323 or request a call back below — no pressure, just answers from local specialists.
South Austin Market — Last 12 Months
on Market
(12 Months)
With homes selling in a median of 39 days and at 96% of list price, South Austin remains a competitive, fast-moving market. But 156 active listings means today’s buyers have real selection compared to the razor-thin inventory of 2021 and 2022.
South Austin Neighborhoods
South Austin is really a collection of distinct pockets, each with its own character. Here’s a closer look at six of the best-known: South Congress, Travis Heights, Bouldin Creek, Zilker, South Lamar, and Barton Hills. For a deeper look at all twenty neighborhoods that make up South Austin, visit our South Austin Neighborhood Guide. Stats below reflect closed single-family sales from 8/16/2025 through 8/15/2026.
South Congress
Commercial corridor & residential enclave · walkable, eclectic, iconic
South Congress Avenue itself is a commercial strip, not a residential subdivision — the homes people mean when they say “SoCo” sit on the residential streets that flank the avenue, with Travis Heights to the east and Bouldin Creek to the west. It’s Austin’s most walkable stretch of restaurants, boutiques, and live music, and the fastest-moving of the six neighborhoods here, with a median of just 24 days on market over the past year.
Best for buyers who want to be in the middle of Austin’s food and culture scene and don’t mind paying a premium for it — 33 homes closed here in the past year at a median of $1,075,000.
See our full South Congress neighborhood guide →
Travis Heights
Established, tree-lined, walking distance to South Congress
One of Austin’s oldest and most storied neighborhoods, Travis Heights climbs the hills just east of South Congress with mature oak trees, original 1930s-1950s bungalows, and views back toward downtown from its higher streets. Many homes have been renovated or rebuilt over the past decade, though original cottages still turn up alongside larger modern remodels.
Best for buyers who want established character and walkability to South Congress without living directly on the avenue — 62 homes closed here in the past year, the most of any neighborhood on this page, at a median of $1,035,250.
See our full Travis Heights neighborhood guide →
Bouldin Creek
Artsy, eclectic, minutes from downtown and Lady Bird Lake
West of South Congress, Bouldin Creek has long been known for its creative, independent character — a mix of original cottages, artist studios, and increasingly, larger modern infill homes. It’s an easy walk or bike ride to Lady Bird Lake’s hike-and-bike trail and downtown, which keeps demand strong for anything move-in ready.
Best for buyers who want an artsy, walkable neighborhood close to the trail and downtown — 57 homes closed here in the past year at a median of $1,144,000, with home sizes ranging widely from small original cottages to large new builds.
See our full Bouldin Creek neighborhood guide →
Zilker
Zilker Park, Barton Springs, and some of Austin’s most sought-after streets
Zilker sits right against Zilker Park, Barton Springs Pool, and the Barton Creek greenbelt, and it commands the highest prices of the six neighborhoods on this page as a result — a median of $1,490,000 over the past year. Streets close to the park see some of the strongest demand in South Austin, especially from buyers who want green space and recreation within walking distance.
Best for buyers prioritizing proximity to the park and greenbelt over price — 68 homes closed here in the past year, more than any other neighborhood on this page.
See our full Zilker neighborhood guide →
South Lamar
Austin’s dining and entertainment corridor, increasingly residential
South Lamar has grown from a commercial strip into a genuine residential option, with new condos and townhomes alongside older single-family pockets tucked behind the restaurants, shops, and live music venues that line the corridor. It’s the most affordable of the six neighborhoods here, with a median sold price of $880,000.
Best for buyers who want walkable urban living and don’t want to sacrifice South Austin’s dining and entertainment scene for a lower price point — 33 homes closed here in the past year, with a median of 47 days on market, the longest of the six, meaning there’s more room to negotiate.
See our full South Lamar neighborhood guide →
Barton Hills
Quiet, established, close to Barton Springs and Zilker
Tucked between Zilker and Barton Springs Road, Barton Hills is quieter and more residential than its South Congress and Travis Heights neighbors, with mature trees, larger lots, and a mix of original ranch-style homes and recent remodels. It posted the highest median sold price of the six neighborhoods on this page at $1,562,500.
Best for buyers who want a quieter, more established street while staying close to Zilker Park, Barton Springs Pool, and downtown — 59 homes closed here in the past year, the largest median home size of the six at 2,450 sq ft.
See our full Barton Hills neighborhood guide →
More South Austin Neighborhoods
South Austin includes several smaller pockets beyond the six above, each with its own guide:
- Barton Skyline
- Bartons Bluff Spyglass
- Cinnamon SoLa
- Dawson
- Galindo
- Kinney
- Lightsey Ridge
- Low Theodore Heights
- Park at Del Curto
- Sherwood Oaks
- Skyway
- Solavera
- Villa Court
- Zilker Terrace
What Homes Look Like in South Austin
Under $900,000, most South Austin homes are original bungalows and cottages built mid-century, on smaller lots, with many still awaiting an update to the kitchen or baths. This is the most competitive price band — inventory is limited and well-priced homes here move quickly.
Between $900,000 and $1.5 million, the median band for the area, you’ll find a mix of fully remodeled originals and newer construction: open-concept layouts, updated kitchens, and larger lots, particularly in Travis Heights and Barton Hills.
Across all of South Austin, the typical home sold in the past year measured right around 2,000 square feet, reflecting the three-bedroom, two-to-three-bath layouts common across the area’s older housing stock, with sizes ranging anywhere from small original cottages under 900 sq ft up to large modern rebuilds over 4,500 sq ft depending on the neighborhood and lot.
Everyday Life in South Austin
South Austin’s day-to-day is built around a handful of standout coffee shops and coworking-friendly spots. Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden is a favorite for its outdoor seating and easy-going vibe, Radio Coffee & Beer pairs a spacious patio with some of the best brews in town, and Summer Moon Coffee is beloved for its signature Moon Milk — all solid options whether you’re catching up on emails or just meeting a friend.
Food and drink are central to life here. Matt’s El Rancho is a Tex-Mex institution known for its margaritas and queso, Uchi serves some of the city’s best upscale Japanese cuisine, and The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co. (ABGB) is a dog-friendly favorite for pizza and craft beer. For live music, Saxon Pub and The Continental Club remain two of Austin’s most iconic venues.
Staying active is easy with the Barton Creek Greenbelt for hiking, biking, or swimming, Zilker Park for ultimate frisbee and jogging with friends, and Yoga Vida for hot yoga classes at every level. Lady Bird Lake is also close by for kayaking or paddleboarding whenever the mood strikes.
Schools
Homes in South Austin are zoned to Austin ISD, and depending on the specific neighborhood will likely attend one of the following:
- Barton Hills Elementary - 7/10
- Galindo Elementary - 4/10
- Travis Heights Elementary - 6/10
- Lively Middle - 4/10
- O'Henry Middle - 6/10
- Austin High - 7/10
- Travis Early College High - 1/10
School ratings reflect Great Schools ratings as of October 2026. Ratings are subject to change at any time. Please verify ratings and boundaries with the school district.
School zoning varies block by block across South Austin’s six flagship neighborhoods, so confirm zoning and current ratings with Austin ISD before making an offer on any specific property.
The Last 4 Years in South Austin
Like the rest of Austin, South Austin saw prices climb sharply through 2021 and into early 2022, driven by historically low mortgage rates and buyers competing for a shrinking pool of listings. Homes routinely sold well above asking, often within days. That pace cooled through 2022 and 2023 as rates rose, and the market has since settled into a steadier, more balanced rhythm.
Looking back across the past four years, 1,272 homes have closed in South Austin at a median price of $1,150,000 — a market that has held remarkably steady given the swings seen elsewhere in Austin over the same period.
Buyers today are in a fundamentally different position than buyers were in 2021: more listings to choose from, more time to make a decision, and sellers who are, on average, accepting offers a few percentage points below list price rather than fielding bidding wars. For a broader look at how Austin’s market is trending right now, see our July 2026 Austin Real Estate Price Report.
What You’ll Find at Each Price Point
- Original bungalows and cottages, mid-century construction
- Smaller lots and square footage
- Most likely to need updating
- The most competitive band — expect multiple offers on move-in-ready homes
- Common in South Lamar and pockets of Dawson, Galindo, and Sherwood Oaks
- The median band for South Austin
- Fully remodeled originals and newer construction
- Open-concept layouts, updated kitchens and baths
- Larger lots more common here than below $900K
- Where most South Congress, Travis Heights, and Bouldin Creek sales land
- Largest lots and square footage
- Premium streets in Zilker and Barton Hills, park- and greenbelt-adjacent
- New construction and extensive remodels
- Where Barton Hills and Zilker’s medians land
Is Now a Good Time to Buy in South Austin?
How to Buy a Home in South Austin
Ready to find your South Austin home?
We work South Congress, Travis Heights, Bouldin Creek, Zilker, South Lamar, and Barton Hills every day — let’s put that to work for you.
Why Buy With Eleven Oaks Realty
We work with buyers the way we’d want to be worked with: patiently, honestly, and without pressure. If a home isn’t right for you, we’ll tell you — our job is to give you our honest read, not to close a deal that doesn’t serve you.
South Congress, Travis Heights, Bouldin Creek, Zilker, South Lamar, and Barton Hills each have their own rhythm, and we’ve spent years on the ground in this specific part of Austin — not just South Austin broadly, but these streets, these subdivisions, and how they actually trade. For more on the area day to day, see our South Austin Neighborhood Guide.
Working with a buyer’s agent starts with a written buyer representation agreement that spells out exactly how we’re compensated, so you know the terms upfront before touring a single home. Reach out below whenever you’re ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Over the past year, South Austin homes closed anywhere from about $370,000 up to $4.65 million, with a median of $1,110,000. The six flagship neighborhoods vary widely: South Lamar’s median sits around $880,000, while Barton Hills and Zilker run closer to $1.5 million.
The median across South Austin is 39 days, though it varies by neighborhood — South Congress moved fastest at a median of 24 days, while South Lamar took longer at 47 days.
It can be, particularly in the sub-$900,000 band where original bungalows and cottages are more common. It’s a competitive segment, so working with an agent who can move quickly on new listings matters more here than in a slower market.
Yes, though South Austin is largely an established, built-out area, so new construction usually means a rebuild or major remodel on an existing lot rather than a new subdivision. These tend to sell at the upper end of each neighborhood’s range.
Conventional loans are the most common fit given the median price point, though FHA and VA financing can work depending on the specific loan limits and the property. A local lender familiar with South Austin can advise on what fits your situation.
At South Austin’s roughly $1.1 million median, buyers are typically getting a 3-bedroom, 2-to-3-bath home around 2,000 square feet, often a renovated original or a smaller newer build, depending on the neighborhood.
With a median sale-to-list of 96%, most South Austin homes are selling close to asking price. A strong pre-approval, a responsive agent, and being ready to move quickly on well-priced, well-located listings all matter more here than in a slower market.
South Austin falls within Austin ISD. School assignment depends on the specific address, so confirm zoning for any property you’re considering — our South Austin Neighborhood Guide has more detail on schools serving the area.
Some South Austin subdivisions have an HOA and some don’t — it varies block by block in this older, built-out part of town. We’ll confirm HOA status for any specific property you’re interested in.
Yes. We often know about upcoming or off-market South Austin listings before they’re public. Reach out and let us know what you’re looking for.
