2801 Wooldridge Dr, Austin, TX 78703

Classic home in Austin's best neighborhood, Pemberton, high above Shoal Creek with views of the University tower. Well arranged, with formal dining room and fireplace in formal living. Two bedrooms and baths en suite down, with breakfast bar in kitchen, overlooking open dining and den, lit by east light through huge trees. Primary up. Outside lots of decks, screen porch and a gorgeous pool. Old brick saved from the original main building at the University adds to the elegant charm, while the privacy of the bluff and very deep lot guarantee peace and quiet. Many excellent restaurants nearby, while Pease Park offers beautiful walks.

Pemberton Heights has more homes on the National Register of Historic Places per block than any other neighborhood in Austin. This is where old Austin wealth put down roots in the 1930s, and the streetscape has changed less than you might expect. Walk down Harris Boulevard on a Tuesday morning and you will see original Tudor Revival homes next to recent glass-and-steel builds, separated by a shared property line and a very old live oak.

The neighborhood occupies a compact footprint in 78703, bounded by Shoal Creek east, MoPac west, 35th Street north, and Windsor Road south. Downtown is a ten-minute drive, and many residents bike. Jeffrey's has been the fine dining anchor since the 1970s. Josephine House does refined comfort food. Cipollina and Clark's Oyster Bar are walking distance. Uchi, Emmer and Rye, and Barley Swine are short drives away, putting Pemberton Heights at the center of Austin's culinary map.

Tudor Revival homes make up about a quarter of the stock, with deep-set windows and steep roof pitches. Colonial Revival homes account for another twenty percent. Craftsman bungalows, some original to the 1930s, are scattered throughout. Mediterranean-style homes add variety, and contemporary builds bring the architecture into the current decade. Prices start around $1.2 million for a smaller lot needing work and climb past $5 million for renovated estates. Lots generally run between a fifth and a third of an acre.

Casis Elementary is the neighborhood school with a reputation that has drawn families for generations. Students feed into O. Henry Middle School and Austin High School, one of the most centrally located high schools in any major Texas city. Parents are active, fundraising is robust, and there is shared investment in the public school system. Some families opt for St. Andrew's, St. Austin's, or Austin Montessori, all nearby.

Shoal Creek Trail runs along the eastern edge, providing a shaded corridor for runners heading toward Lady Bird Lake. Pease Park anchors the northeast corner and hosts weekend markets and community events. The trail from Pease Park connects into the broader Butler Trail system, making it possible to run from your front door to the lake without touching a major road. Red Bud Isle is a favorite for dog owners. Social life centers around the restaurants and coffee spots on West Lynn and Exposition.

Pemberton Heights sits at the top of the central Austin market alongside Tarrytown and Old West Austin. Tarrytown offers larger lots and a more suburban rhythm with less walkability to dining. Old West Austin has a more bohemian energy and tighter lots. Pemberton Heights splits the difference: architecturally significant homes on generous lots within walking distance of the best restaurants in the city. New construction is constrained by lot availability and neighborhood review, which limits supply.

Pemberton Heights is for buyers who want to live in the center of Austin's best neighborhood without compromise. It fits families who value Casis Elementary, professionals who want to bike downtown, and anyone who appreciates living in a 1939 Tudor next to a 2024 glass-and-steel build and having both feel like they belong.