1304 Folts Ave, Austin, TX 78704

This property offers a version of Austin life that doesn't require a car, a compromise, or a reason to leave. 1304 Folts embodies that version.

Step out the front door and the city meets you: the South Lamar and Barton Springs corridors are a short walk away, leading you toward Uchi on a Tuesday night, a Sunday night at the Alamo Drafthouse, or a morning workout at Life Time without the usual commute. Downtown Austin is under two miles away, close enough to feel connected, far enough to feel removed. When you return, the house earns its place in the story.

Floor-to-ceiling glass dissolves the boundary between the living space and the pool deck, where a built-in grill station and open patio create the natural setting for evenings that don't require a reservation. Inside, stacked limestone—the same material defining the exterior—reappears in the living room and primary suite, grounding the home in something tactile and warm. The primary bath slows you down further: Venetian plaster walls and large marble tile throughout are composed with the intention that makes a room feel designed rather than decorated.

Two living spaces across 3,413 square feet give the home room to breathe and the flexibility to accommodate how life actually unfolds, not how it was planned. The detached guest suite extends that logic outward: it serves as a private retreat for guests, a focused workspace, a wellness room, or simply a door you can close on the rest of the world.

Four bedrooms and a detached guest suite. Four full baths. A pool. And a city that starts at your doorstep.

1304 Folts doesn't ask you to choose between a home worth living in and a location worth being at. It's already both.

The grand entrance to 1304 Folts Ave in Zilker announces itself through floor-to-ceiling glass and stacked limestone that immediately signals this is not a typical Austin home. Built in 2024, this 3,665 square foot residence demonstrates architectural conviction rarely found in new construction, where every material choice reinforces a philosophy of timeless design rather than trend-chasing.

The main residence spans 3,413 square feet across four bedrooms and three full baths, with a detached guest suite adding another 252 square feet of fully conditioned, permitted space. The primary entertaining zones dissolve the boundary between interior and exterior through expansive glass walls that open onto the pool deck. The built-in grill station and open patio frame the private pool as the natural heart of the home, designed for entertaining without formality. Inside, stacked limestone reappears on interior walls, creating visual continuity that grounds the home in tactile warmth rather than sterile minimalism. Stone counters throughout the kitchen support the cedar, HardiPlank, and stucco exterior in communicating material honesty.

The primary suite occupies its own sanctuary within the home, where Venetian plaster walls meet large-format marble tile in the adjoining bath. This composition demonstrates the difference between decoration and design. Every surface contributes to a unified sensibility. Marble and wood flooring throughout the main spaces support the limestone elements without competing for attention.

The 0.1746-acre lot includes automatic irrigation and professional landscaping that frames rather than overwhelms the architectural statement. A two-car garage serves the practical needs while the home's true entry experience unfolds on foot into the living spaces.

Location elevates the property beyond its physical footprint. Zilker positions residents within walking distance of Barton Springs Road and South Lamar Boulevard, corridors connecting directly to downtown Austin under two miles away. The Austin ISD schools serving the address include Zilker Elementary, O Henry Middle, and Austin High School. The property sits in the 78704 zip code, close enough to downtown energy but far enough to maintain genuine privacy. The detached guest suite transforms entertaining into something manageable, serving equally as workspace, wellness retreat, or guest accommodation depending on how life unfolds.

At $894 per square foot, this 2024 construction represents the rare instance where contemporary quality and neighborhood context align entirely. After only six days on market, the home has already attracted serious attention. This is the kind of residence that doesn't ask for compromise between location and architecture.

Zilker is the only neighborhood in Austin where you can complete an entire day - morning run, afternoon swim, evening dinner - without ever sitting in a car. The Butler Trail starts at your doorstep. Barton Springs Pool is a walk across the park. Barton Springs Road has enough restaurants to fill a week. That car-free possibility is not a marketing pitch. People here actually live that way.

The neighborhood sits south of Lady Bird Lake, bounded by MoPac west, Lamar east, Barton Skyway south, and the lake north. Zilker Park, the 351-acre green space, occupies the northeast corner where Barton Creek meets the lake. Downtown is across the Lamar or First Street bridge, five to ten minutes and entirely bikeable. Terry Black's serves competition-grade barbecue. Odd Duck does seasonal small plates. Uchi is widely considered one of the best Japanese restaurants in the country. Juliet Italian Kitchen handles the neighborhood spot role. Loro does Thai-inspired barbecue. Tiki Tatsu-Ya turns a strip mall into an immersive experience. Nido at The Loren brings hotel-level dining to the south end.

Craftsman bungalows from the 1930s anchor many streets with covered porches and mature pecans. Mid-Century Ranch homes fill blocks closer to Barton Skyway. Contemporary builds have replaced many originals, especially near the park and trail. A block might have three bungalows, a Ranch, and two new contemporaries side by side. Prices start around $800,000 for a small bungalow needing work and climb past $3 million for new construction with park proximity. The median hovers around $1.3 million. Lots are modest, typically 5,000 to 8,000 square feet.

Zilker Elementary has a devoted parent community that has invested through fundraising and advocacy, with a strong arts program. Students feed into O. Henry Middle School and Austin High School, located directly on Lady Bird Lake with an unusual campus setting for an urban school. Families who choose Zilker schools value walkability, diversity, and community engagement over the metrics-driven approach of some suburban districts.

A typical weekday starts with a morning run on the Butler Trail, which loops around Lady Bird Lake. Midday might include Barton Springs Pool, the three-acre spring-fed pool that stays 68 degrees year-round. The Barton Creek Greenbelt is accessible from multiple trailheads. The Violet Crown Trail pushes south into the Hill Country. Zilker Park hosts ACL in October and Trail of Lights in December, but the rest of the year it is a neighborhood park: soccer games, picnics, paddleboard launches, and a botanical garden.

Zilker competes with Travis Heights, Bouldin Creek, and Barton Hills. Travis Heights has similar character but sits farther from the park and trail system. Bouldin Creek is quieter with lower prices but lacks direct park adjacency. Barton Hills offers more space but requires driving to dining. Zilker's advantage is the combination of park access, trail access, restaurant walkability, and downtown proximity that no other neighborhood matches simultaneously.

Zilker is for buyers who want a car-optional lifestyle in the center of Austin's best outdoor amenities. It works for active couples, families who want kids growing up at Barton Springs, and anyone who measures quality of life in trail miles and walkable restaurants rather than square footage and garage bays.