2003 Kenwood Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Your quintessential 1940's Travis Heights bungalow awaits! From the moment you enter, this private oasis beckons you in. Step through the vine covered gate, and the front porch invites you to stay and sit a while. Inside, the airy living room is accented by a decorative artistic fireplace, true hardwood floors, tall ceilings and room for ample seating. The living room is open to a light filled dining room or possible office which flows easily into the updated kitchen. The previous owner employed DSLV Studios, the design team behind the St. Cecelia Hotel to reimagine and update much in the home including the fabulous kitchen. With gleaming marble countertops, a new chef grade Miele stainless induction cooktop, Miiele dishwasher plus storage galore, this kitchen is the heart of the home. A full sized washer/dryer is tucked in a nook within the kitchen. A hall leads to 2 nicely sized bedrooms, one with a murphy bed flanked by bookshelves, 2 closets, extra storage and built in desk. The primary bedroom is enhanced with custom window treatments for the 6 windows with views of the lush backyard, ample closet space. The luxurious bath boasts a vintage tile floor, shower/tub combo and a Toto washlet for a true spa experience. A paradise awaits in the newly landscaped backyard perfect for intimate or large gatherings. The stone terrace invites al fresco dining with banquette seating and cafe lights overhead. A 3 hole putting green, fire pit and a large bubbling hot tub complete the luxurious outdoor space. Privacy and security are enhanced by the front and rear cameras, fully fenced lot and mechanized gate for driveway access. This house is ideal as a comfortable cozy home or as an STR with it's amenities and close-in location. Take a walk to South Congress, the nearby Big Stacy Park and Pool or the new HEB just down the street. The neighborhood and charm of this home must be seen to be believed.

This 1941 Travis Heights bungalow at 2003 Kenwood Ave commands immediate presence with its vine-covered gate and deep front porch, the kind of architectural detail that defines a neighborhood built in that era. The home sits on a gently sloping 0.167-acre lot in one of Austin's most established residential neighborhoods, priced at $925,000 or $754 per square foot for 1,226 square feet of lived-in space.

Inside, the formal living spaces anchor the home's character. The living room features a decorative fireplace, true hardwood floors, and tall ceilings that carry original proportions from 1941 construction. This room opens naturally into a light-filled dining area, which flows to the kitchen without the compartmentalization that dates many homes of this era. The kitchen received thoughtful restoration work by DSLV Studios, the design team responsible for the St. Cecelia Hotel, and now features marble countertops, a Miele induction cooktop, Miele dishwasher, and integrated storage that respects the home's original footprint rather than overwhelming it.

The enduring construction quality appears throughout. Load-bearing walls run straight. Crown molding and natural woodwork survive intact. The primary bedroom occupies the main floor with six window exposures onto the backyard and custom window treatments that manage both light and privacy. The second bedroom, similarly generous in proportion, includes a Murphy bed flanked by custom bookshelves and a built-in desk, maximizing functionality without sacrificing the open feeling characteristic of well-designed 1940s homes. The single full bathroom contains vintage tile flooring and a modern Toto washlet integrated with the original shower-tub configuration.

The heritage of Travis Heights neighborhood shows in every direction from this address. South Congress Avenue lies immediately accessible for dining and retail. Big Stacy Park and Pool sits within walking distance. The newly completed HEB occupies the corner of South Congress. This location serves Austin ISD students at Travis Heights Elementary, Lively Middle School, and Travis High School.

The backyard represents the home's contemporary evolution. A newly landscaped space includes a stone terrace with integrated banquette seating, a three-hole putting green, fire pit, and hot tub. Irrigation systems serve both front and rear yards, with mature trees over 40 feet tall providing established canopy. The fully fenced private yard and mechanized gate address security while maintaining the openness that traditional lots of this size allow.

This property bridges two distinct markets: buyers seeking authentic 1940s character in an established neighborhood, and those valuing the close-in Travis Heights location and walkable South Congress proximity for flexibility in how they use the space.

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.