5201 Backtrail Dr, Austin, TX 78731

Are you looking for a unique home in highly-desired North Cat Mountain? This home was designed & built around the many beautiful trees adorning the property. Decks built around oak trees, a uniquely shaped Pergola situated in oak-tree grandeur. Create different outdoor experiences on any of the 3 covered decks. Inside brings much natural light - the living room designed with floor-to-ceiling windows, both front and back, skylights, & ample windows in every room. Soaring design in main living area is sure to please - gas fireplace with a built-in heat circulating blower – cozy! Open kitchen design with granite & stainless. Perfect mothing-in-law floorplan with bedroom, full bath and second living area on the main level (plumbed and ready for a kitchenette installation). Primary & guest baths have been updated. Do you need/want a he/she shed? From crafts to music to office work, this 200 sf separate structure has vaulted ceiling & upper windows, closet storage, finished interior and well insulated ready for AC. Other special features of this home & property include: Side-parking area behind double wide commercial grade bi-swing gate with 30/20 amp electrical hookup for RV/boat - Speaker system throughout the house that plays via Bluetooth connection - Floor safe built into the slab in the front entry closet – Whole-house attic fan at the top of the stairs for circulating fresh air on cool days - Wired POE security camera with tilt, pan, and zoom via free phone app, monitoring front door, driveway and side gate parking - Full yard automatic sprinkler system accessible via internet/phone. This prestigious North Cat Mountain location enables you to enjoy Central Austin while surrounded by nature in the scenic hillside. Austin Country Club, the iconic Pennybacker Bridge, Mount Bonnell, 360/Mopac/183, and the Arboretum & Domain are all within a convenient distance. located with easy access to Mopac, 2222 and 360. Situated within the highly-rated AISD schools.

Northwest Hills is a family neighborhood in 78731, built in the 1960s-80s on wooded half-acre lots between MoPac and Loop 360. Median home price $1.19M. Austin ISD schools — Doss Elementary and Murchison Middle rank among the district's best. 12 minutes to UT campus, 15 to downtown.

The housing stock is predominantly single-story ranch and split-level homes on lots averaging 0.3-0.5 acres with mature live oak and cedar canopy. Most original homes are 1,800-3,000 sq ft. A renovation wave has been updating kitchens and adding square footage without tearing down — the lot sizes accommodate additions well. Active listings typically number 15-25 at any given time.

Daily life revolves around the schools and the outdoors. Bull Creek for weekend wading, Mount Bonnell for sunset hikes (8 minutes from the neighborhood), Northwest District Park for soccer and the playground. Far West corridor handles weeknight dining — Saffron, 5280 Burger, Yamas. The Arboretum and Domain are 10 minutes north for shopping. HEB on Far West is the neighborhood grocery hub.

What makes Northwest Hills the family value play in Central Austin: Doss/Murchison school quality at roughly half the Eanes ISD price point, lot sizes that rival Westlake, and a 15-minute commute that beats the suburbs. The tradeoff is Austin ISD (good but not Eanes) and 1960s-80s housing stock that often needs updating.