3005 S 4th St Unit #1, Austin, TX 78704

Designed by McEatheron Architecture and built by Urban ATX, this is a deliberate, design-forward home in one of South Austin's most walkable pockets. Cedar siding, board-formed concrete, and steel-edged landscaping set the tone before you're even through the door.

Inside, the main level is one open run of kitchen, dining, and living, built around a waterfall island, a built-in wine wall, and a walk-in pantry. Floor-to-ceiling sliders open the back wall completely, putting the pool in view from the kitchen, the dining table, and the couch. A steel-and-wood staircase anchors the center of the house and leads up to a vaulted loft — flexible space for a second living room, a media room, or a home office that doesn't feel like an afterthought.

The primary suite delivers on the rest of the house's promise: 11-foot ceilings, a skylight, a freestanding soaking tub, a separate walk-in shower, and hand-laid patterned tile. A second bedroom looks directly into a mature oak canopy, and a built-in bunk room adds real flexibility for guests, kids, or a home gym.

Outside, a covered deck with a fire bowl runs alongside a heated lap pool, bordered by turf and Corten steel planters that keep maintenance low. One more flight up, a rooftop deck looks out over the treeline to the downtown skyline — genuinely one of the better private views in 78704.

Mere minutes to South Congress and Bouldin Creek, with an easy run downtown when you need it.

South Congress is the only street in Austin where you can buy custom cowboy boots, eat handmade sushi at a ten-seat counter, and watch 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats take flight from a bridge - all within a half-mile walk. That density of experience makes this neighborhood different from every other part of the city. It is a real neighborhood where people live full lives, and the commercial strip at its center happens to be the most photographed street in Texas.

The corridor runs along Congress Avenue south of Lady Bird Lake, roughly from the bridge to Oltorf Street, with residential streets extending east and west. Downtown is a ten-minute walk across the Congress Avenue Bridge. The Texas Capitol is visible from the north end. Perla's does coastal seafood on a patio that becomes a scene on weekends. Home Slice Pizza has had a line since the day it opened. Aba serves Mediterranean with a rooftop view. June's All Day handles the all-day cafe role. Otoko is one of the most exclusive dining experiences in Texas. Magnolia Cafe remains a late-night institution. Jo's Coffee is where the famous mural lives, and Lenoir offers a prix fixe wine garden.

Craftsman bungalows from the 1920s through 1940s give the neighborhood its character, with front porches and mature pecan trees. Modern condominiums line the avenue itself. Contemporary townhomes fill spaces between. Bungalows on decent lots start around $700,000 and can exceed $1.5 million. Condos range from the mid-$400s to over $2 million for luxury high-rise units with downtown views. Lot sizes for single-family homes are small, often under a tenth of an acre, which keeps the density high and the walkability real.

Travis Heights Elementary serves many addresses and carries a loyal following among families wanting a diverse, walkable community. Fulmore Middle School and Travis High School are the secondary feeders. The schools are urban public schools in the truest sense: diverse student bodies, active parent organizations, and programs that benefit from a central location. Some families supplement with Austin Montessori and other private options nearby.

The street itself is a walking experience: vintage clothing, record shops, galleries, and restaurants on both sides of a wide sidewalk. Barton Springs Pool is a short walk west. Blunn Creek Greenbelt cuts through the residential streets. The Lady Bird Lake Boardwalk puts residents on the water trail system without driving. The Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony draws crowds March through October. Social energy peaks on weekend evenings when the avenue fills and patios at Perla's and Home Slice spill onto sidewalks.

South Congress is not directly comparable to suburban luxury neighborhoods because the product is fundamentally different. East Austin has more new construction and grittier energy. Travis Heights is quieter with larger lots. Rainey Street has been consumed by high-rises. South Congress maintains a balance between commercial energy and residential livability none of those can match. The bungalows have proven to be strong long-term holds.

South Congress is for buyers who want to live inside Austin's cultural heartbeat. It works for couples, creatives, and professionals who prioritize walkability and social energy over square footage. It works for investors who understand that a Craftsman bungalow on a South Congress side street is one of the scarcest asset classes in the city.