1400 Drake Ave, Austin, TX 78704

The Drake – by Moore-Tate Trailblazing urban housemakers Moore-Tate Projects+Design surprise again with an unexpected expression of what a joyful home in a dream location can be. Near Music Lane @ South Congress, The Drake is selling as completely furnished and ready for immediate move-in, down to fine linens and complete kitchen and dining serving already in place. This dream location is a steps along what locals’ know as the “back trail” over to the eats and drinks of the Hotel St Cecilia and Magdalena on Music Lane. The imaginative interior by So Spiffy Design is a one-of-a-kind complement to easy and colorfully South Austin yet, inspired by the sophistication of our city’s own Proper and Commodore Perry. This corner lot in the coveted Travis Heights neighborhood is a two-block walk west to the best of South Congress Avenue dining, music and shopping and/or a two-block walk east to a greenbelt walking trail to neighborhood parks and Lady Bird Lake. For buyers longing for penthouse luxury near downtown sans elevators, HOA dues, and valet parking, this private urban oasis is a must-see. The Drake includes a cocktail pool, roomy courtyards front and back for private dining and entertainment and a private parking garage surrounded by handsome neighborhood-friendly, modern white-picket fencing. The Drake is a sweet nod to past and present—in step with the vibrant new energy of South Congress now yet, also in keeping with familiar forms of homes found throughout this historic neighborhood. BTW: downtown is 5 minutes and airport 15 minutes away. Shown by appointment only. Call Clayton—the Realtor representing Moore-Tate for a decade and 100-plus home buyers willing to share the experience of living in a Moore-Tate home.

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.