1303 Bonham Ter, Austin, TX 78704

BOM - buyer's job fell thru. House was under contract and appraised for more than the current list price. Start w/ the sweeping front porch, complete w/ beadboard ceiling & two ceiling fans, where you’ll picture yourself greeting neighbors. In fact, this 1940-built, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom home features beadboard, crown molding, built-ins, divided-light windows & numerous other appealing architectural features throughout its 2081 square feet. You’ll love the gleaming oak hardwoods, upstairs & down. Take note of the stylish, mid-century furnishings, which convey w/ this stunning home. Imagine evenings in the gorgeous step-down living room, which features a spectacular curved wall, built-in seating, built-in bookshelves & an enchanting beadboard-and-beam ceiling. High-end stainless-steel appliances in the kitchen complement a huge wall of cupboards begging to be filled w/ family treasures. The dry-stack Zellige backsplash tile adds an intriguing focal point to the space, which also features quartz countertops. Enjoy meals in the dining room that features a wonderful light fixture & a beadboard, trayed ceiling. Customize the downstairs flex room—complete w/ built-in cabinets & shelves—for a TV room, office, you name it. There’s also a spacious half bath downstairs offering tons of period touches, including pendant lights, beadboard wainscotting & an adorable sink. A laundry/utility room stands ready to handle wash-day chores. At day’s end, tuck your shoes into one of the several closets downstairs before heading up to your primary bedroom, where you’ll love the numerous windows, the sizable closet & the gorgeous ensuite w/ its period-perfect mini-hex tile. Two good-sized secondary bedrooms are connected via a well-appointed Jack & Jill bathroom. Outside, love the lush, multi-level backyard, w/ several seating areas, including a newly built deck w/ privacy screen. Plant a vegetable garden in the raised bed & appreciate native plants in a lovely planter on the side patio

Travis Heights is home to Big Stacy Pool, a free, spring-fed swimming hole that most Austinites have never visited because they are too busy fighting for space at Barton Springs. That hidden quality defines the entire neighborhood. Travis Heights has been here since the 1920s, sitting on the bluffs above Lady Bird Lake, and it has managed to stay more residential and quiet than the buzzing corridors on every side. South Congress is one block west. Rainey Street is a short walk across the bridge. And yet the interior streets still feel like the Austin people romanticize.

The neighborhood occupies the high ground east of South Congress and south of Lady Bird Lake, running from the lake to Oltorf Street, with I-35 on the east. The streets climb and wind along bluffs, creating a layered landscape of old trees and homes with views toward downtown. The Congress Avenue Bridge bats are a five-minute walk. Downtown is across the bridge, ten minutes on foot. Perla's and June's All Day anchor South Congress to the west. Elizabeth Street Cafe serves Vietnamese-French pastries. Lenoir offers a farmhouse wine garden. Odd Duck does farm-to-table small plates. Otoko is one of the most exclusive reservations in the city. Emmer and Rye rounds out with inventive tasting menus.

Craftsman bungalows from the 1920s and 1930s make up the largest category, with wide porches and original wood siding. Tudor homes add steep gabled rooflines. Contemporary builds appear on teardown lots. Mid-Century homes fill blocks farther from the lake. A bungalow needing work starts around $700,000, while renovated or new construction with lake views can exceed $2.5 million. Lots are modest - a tenth to a quarter acre - but tree coverage and topographic variation make them feel larger.

Travis Heights Elementary carries a reputation for strong community involvement and a diverse student body. Students feed into Fulmore Middle School and Travis High School. The schools attract families who actively choose an urban public school experience: diverse populations and neighborhood identity. Parent engagement runs high. Private options are plentiful nearby, including Austin Montessori.

Blunn Creek Greenbelt runs through the interior, providing a shaded corridor for walking and nature play. Big Stacy Park has both the spring-fed pool and a neighborhood gathering point. Lady Bird Lake's boardwalk connects the south side to the east side. The Congress Avenue Bridge bats are part of the nightly routine March through October. Weekend mornings might start with coffee on a front porch, a walk to the South Congress farmers market, or a jog along the Butler Trail.

Travis Heights sits between South Congress's commercial energy and the quieter feel of Bouldin Creek. South Congress properties near the avenue carry a premium but sacrifice residential calm. Bouldin Creek offers similar vintage stock on flatter terrain with less lake proximity. East Austin has seen rapid appreciation but lacks the established canopy and topographic character. Travis Heights benefits from being close to everything without being consumed by it.

Travis Heights is for buyers who want the real, historic Austin experience with a ten-minute walk to downtown and South Congress. It fits families who value Craftsman bungalows and front-porch living, couples who want to walk to world-class restaurants, and anyone who believes the best neighborhoods are the ones that have been quietly getting it right for a hundred years.