3205 Dolphin Dr, Austin, TX 78704

Gorgeous new construction designed by Etch Design Group, completed in 2024, blending elevated design with everyday livability in one of South Austin’s most desirable pockets. This thoughtfully designed five-bedroom home features two primary suites—one on the main level and one upstairs—offering exceptional flexibility for guests or multi-generational living.

Step inside to soaring 20-foot ceilings and an open-concept living space filled with natural light from expansive windows overlooking the pool and oversized backyard. The chef’s kitchen is a true centerpiece, showcasing dual islands, designer finishes, and seamless flow into the main living and dining areas—ideal for both entertaining and daily living.

The main-level primary suite is privately situated and features vaulted ceilings, a spa-inspired bath with a digitally programmable double shower, freestanding soaking tub, dual vanities, and an oversized walk-in closet. A secondary bedroom on the main floor doubles perfectly as a dedicated home office.

Upstairs, you’ll find a spacious second living area along with an additional primary suite, creating a versatile retreat for family or guests.

Designed for a true at-home wellness experience, the backyard is a standout with a large pool, covered patio, custom sauna by SaunaLife, and a fully equipped outdoor kitchen featuring a premium DCS built-in grill. The quarter-acre lot offers ample space to unwind, complete with modern landscaping and elevated steel garden beds.

Motorized Hunter Douglas shades throughout the main living areas and select bedrooms provide effortless light control, privacy, and smart home integration.

Located just a short walk to Del Curto Park and minutes from South Congress and downtown, this home offers the perfect balance of tranquility and urban convenience.

The grand entrance to 3205 Dolphin Dr in South Terrace announces itself with soaring 20-foot ceilings and natural light flooding through expansive windows, setting the tone for a 2024 new construction home designed by Etch Design Group that refuses to compromise on scale or refinement. The open-concept layout stretches across 4,049 square feet on a quarter-acre lot in the 78704 zip code, positioned in one of South Austin's most established neighborhoods while remaining walkable to Del Curto Park and minutes from South Congress.

The heart of this residence centers on a chef's kitchen with dual islands, designer quartz countertops, and a gas cooktop that anchors the flow between main living and dining spaces. Built-in appliances include a premium DCS grill, refrigerator, and dual wall ovens, supporting both formal entertaining and everyday family function. The kitchen opens seamlessly into the main living areas, where motorized Hunter Douglas shades provide smart home integration and precise light control.

The floor plan delivers exceptional flexibility through two distinct primary suites. The main-level primary features vaulted ceilings, a spa-inspired bath with a digitally programmable double shower, freestanding soaking tub, dual vanities, and an oversized walk-in closet. A secondary bedroom on the main floor serves equally well as dedicated home office space. Upstairs, a second primary suite pairs with additional living area, creating a versatile retreat for guests or multi-generational living arrangements.

Outside, the grounds showcase what serious entertaining demands. A custom SaunaLife sauna sits adjacent to the pool and fully equipped outdoor kitchen with covered patio, while the quarter-acre lot provides breathing room rarely found this close to urban Austin. Modern landscaping, elevated steel garden beds, and automatic sprinklers define the private yard, accessible only through the cul-de-sac location on Dolphin Drive.

This home sits within Austin ISD, with Zilker Elementary, O Henry Middle, and Austin High School serving the South Terrace area. Construction includes HardiPlank siding, spray foam insulation, and full gutters designed for durability. At $469 per square foot, the property reflects the quality of new construction in an established neighborhood that values both privacy and proximity to South Austin's cultural and commercial corridors.

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.