1716 Karen Ave, Austin, TX 78757

Just one block from Brentwood Elementary, this single-family home carries the soul of classic Austin — from the era when Allandale and Brentwood were first drawn onto the map. It sits on a generous 0.28-acre (12,253 sq. ft.) corner lot, shaded by mature oaks and pecans that simply can't be planted overnight.

Today, this property stands at an exciting crossroads: a seasoned fixer-upper ready for a renovation that honors its mid-century bones, or a cleared slate for a custom-built dream home in one of Austin's most desirable in-town neighborhoods. Either way, what you're buying is irreplaceable — the corner lot, the location, the legacy of a street where neighbors still know each other by name.

Quiet, canopied streets surrounded by thoughtfully updated mid-century homes — this is what neighborhood feel actually looks like. And the Burnet Road corridor just steps away keeps getting better: new sidewalks, bike paths, and streetscape upgrades are underway as part of the city's multi-year Burnet Road corridor project, making the area increasingly walkable.

The neighborhood's commercial spine delivers it all — Mama Betty's for Tex-Mex, District Kitchen for a date-night New American menu, Boulevard Social for craft cocktails, and Pocha Is Back for late-night Korean pocha vibes, plus Sugarwolf Bakery for coffee and pastries. It's one of Austin's most authentic and evolving local dining corridors.

78757 sits close to the Domain's tech corridors, central Austin, and major thoroughfares like MoPac and US-183 — a location that works for commuters, remote workers, and everyone in between.

An incredible, level corner lot in Brentwood — 12,253 sq. ft. / 0.2813 acres.

Brentwood is one of Austin's original mid-century neighborhoods - built mostly between 1948 and 1955 when the city was expanding north of campus. The bones are good: 1,200-1,800 sqft brick and stone ranch homes on 7,500-10,000 sqft lots, mature pecan and oak trees, and a street grid that connects to everywhere without a single cul-de-sac.

The 78757 zip puts you 10 minutes from downtown via Lamar, 8 minutes from the Domain, and walking distance to Burnet Road - which has become one of Austin's best food corridors. Foreign & Domestic, Lala's Little Nugget, Top Notch Hamburgers, Tacodeli, and Soup Peddler are all within a mile. The Crown & Anchor on Burnet still serves the same burgers it did in 1980.

Original ranch homes start around $700K. Renovated and expanded properties run $1.1M-$1.6M. Tear-down and rebuild has accelerated over the past five years - new construction in the $1.8M-$2.5M range now mixes with the originals. The Brentwood Park area near Justin Lane holds value especially well.

Schools are Austin ISD: Brentwood Elementary, Lamar Middle, and McCallum High School - which feeds the Fine Arts Academy. Brentwood Park itself has tennis courts, a swimming pool, and the historic Brentwood Park Pool that families have used since the 1950s.

What makes Brentwood different from the bigger-name North Austin neighborhoods: it's still mostly its original housing stock. You can buy a real 1950s house with the post-war floor plan intact, then decide what to do with it. The neighborhood association is active, the streets are quiet, and the trees are tall enough to actually shade the sidewalks.

Best for buyers who want a true urban neighborhood with mid-century character, walkable food and coffee, and the McCallum Fine Arts Academy zoning.