3308 Dolphin Dr, Austin, TX 78704

Gorgeous new construction designed by Etch Design Group. Five bedrooms with two on the main level. Large primary bedroom with spacious bath and closet and private access to the covered porch and pool. The outdoor space has a covered area to escape the sun and a stone pool deck around the pool for when you are looking to have some fun in the sun. The pool deck also has a built in grill, cabinets and fridge to keep your beverages cold while you are enjoying the pool. Custom finishes and fixtures throughout with a gorgeous kitchen and island open to the the large living room and separate dining area. The second bedroom downstairs is a perfect space for a home office. Large windows throughout the overlooking the pool and providing plenty of natural light. This almost quarter acre lot has plenty of room to roam with elevated steal flower beds, clean landscaping and modern design that still feels homey. With a 5 minute walk to del curto park, 2.5 miles from SOCO and 3.5 miles from downtown, it’s easy to see why this pocket of south Austin is so popular. This floorplan has it all with the master suite on the main level as well as a stand-alone home office downstairs that could be used as a bedroom. High ceilings and an open floorplan make this house inviting from the moment you walk in the front door. The gourmet kitchen boasts an island and all the designer finishes you would expect from a luxury home in south Austin. The downstairs living space is open to the kitchen and easy access to the covered back patio and pool, perfect for barbecues with friends and family. The master bedroom is tucked away off of the living room and kitchen with a spa-like master bath with a freestanding tub, separate walk in shower, double vanity and extra large walk-in closet. When you walk upstairs, you’ll find another large living space with plenty of space for the whole family and a built in desk space for homework or just a place to relax with family after a long day.

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.