2003 Ford St, Austin, TX 78704

Location! Location! Rare opportunity in desirable Zilker, on one of Zilker's favorite blocks, one block from well-loved Zilker Elementary School and adjacent Little Zilker Park. Charming, updated two bedroom, one bath 840SF house with a 608SF accessory dwelling unit (that could be converted back into a one bedroom). Each unit has their own yard which could be joined fairly easily. Owner/agent has rented both units furnished month-to-month for years. Live or lease long term, live or lease now and build later, or build now. Charming front unit (updated 2010?) with metal roof, Hardie sheet siding, and tile flooring with an aim of keeping the property low maintenance. Also-updated back unit feels like a private getaway, calm and peaceful. Owner/Agent can't think of tenants who haven't been charmed by the fantastic location and neighbors. Reside in both units or generate rental income in one while living in the other. One block from a neighborhood-commercial zone which currently includes the long-established/loved Bluebonnet Market (great for coffee, snacks, wine, emergency supplies, etc.) and more recent Thoroughbread bakery. Austin gems Barton Springs Pool and Zilker Park just down the hill. Also walkable to restaurants and services along both Barton Springs Rd. and S. Lamar. Easy access to all things in hip zip code 78704, Austin's Hike and Bike Trail, downtown Austin, Westlake, many grocery stores, and the airport. Flat, good-sized lot with shade-producing pecan tree between the two units. Both units need a a few updates (putting together a list shortly) but rarely will you find an opportunity like this where the units are so lovely for live and rent options. Furniture and existing supplies negotiable. Estimated taxes and tax rate to be confirmed by buyer.

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.