701 Josephine St, Austin, TX 78704

Perfectly positioned in Zilker's desirable northern pocket just minutes from downtown Austin, this exceptional 2016-built residence offers a rare combination of space, flexibility, and modern design on a 10,250-square-foot corner lot. With 3,516 square feet of total living space, a detached guest apartment, multiple living areas, and a highly functional floor plan, this home offers a level of versatility rarely found in 78704. The 2,975-square-foot main residence is designed for both everyday living and entertaining. The first floor features an open kitchen, dining, and living area with fireplace, dedicated office, sitting area with wet bar, and a spacious primary suite with its own fireplace, built-in storage, and convenient access from the walk-in closet to the laundry room. Upstairs, three additional bedrooms include a private guest suite with full bath and two bedrooms connected by a Jack-and-Jill bath. A second living area with built-in wet bar opens to a balcony with sweeping downtown views, and a second laundry hookup adds exceptional convenience. Above the detached two-car garage, the 541-square-foot guest apartment features its own private entrance from the side street, full kitchen, full bath, laundry closet, built-in storage, and screened balcony. Ideal for guests, multigenerational living, a private office, or rental income, the apartment has a proven history of successful rental use. The private courtyard-style backyard is designed for entertaining with an expansive deck, built-in fire pit, low-maintenance turf, and room to add a pool. Additional features include solar panels, standing-seam metal roof, natural gas generator, and EV charger. Located near Zilker Park, Barton Springs, the Hike-and-Bike Trail, S. Lamar's acclaimed restaurants, and downtown Austin, and zoned to Zilker Elementary, O. Henry Middle School, and Austin High, this is a rare opportunity to own a spacious, flexible home in one of Austin's most coveted neighborhoods!

Zilker is the only neighborhood in Austin where you can complete an entire day - morning run, afternoon swim, evening dinner - without ever sitting in a car. The Butler Trail starts at your doorstep. Barton Springs Pool is a walk across the park. Barton Springs Road has enough restaurants to fill a week. That car-free possibility is not a marketing pitch. People here actually live that way.

The neighborhood sits south of Lady Bird Lake, bounded by MoPac west, Lamar east, Barton Skyway south, and the lake north. Zilker Park, the 351-acre green space, occupies the northeast corner where Barton Creek meets the lake. Downtown is across the Lamar or First Street bridge, five to ten minutes and entirely bikeable. Terry Black's serves competition-grade barbecue. Odd Duck does seasonal small plates. Uchi is widely considered one of the best Japanese restaurants in the country. Juliet Italian Kitchen handles the neighborhood spot role. Loro does Thai-inspired barbecue. Tiki Tatsu-Ya turns a strip mall into an immersive experience. Nido at The Loren brings hotel-level dining to the south end.

Craftsman bungalows from the 1930s anchor many streets with covered porches and mature pecans. Mid-Century Ranch homes fill blocks closer to Barton Skyway. Contemporary builds have replaced many originals, especially near the park and trail. A block might have three bungalows, a Ranch, and two new contemporaries side by side. Prices start around $800,000 for a small bungalow needing work and climb past $3 million for new construction with park proximity. The median hovers around $1.3 million. Lots are modest, typically 5,000 to 8,000 square feet.

Zilker Elementary has a devoted parent community that has invested through fundraising and advocacy, with a strong arts program. Students feed into O. Henry Middle School and Austin High School, located directly on Lady Bird Lake with an unusual campus setting for an urban school. Families who choose Zilker schools value walkability, diversity, and community engagement over the metrics-driven approach of some suburban districts.

A typical weekday starts with a morning run on the Butler Trail, which loops around Lady Bird Lake. Midday might include Barton Springs Pool, the three-acre spring-fed pool that stays 68 degrees year-round. The Barton Creek Greenbelt is accessible from multiple trailheads. The Violet Crown Trail pushes south into the Hill Country. Zilker Park hosts ACL in October and Trail of Lights in December, but the rest of the year it is a neighborhood park: soccer games, picnics, paddleboard launches, and a botanical garden.

Zilker competes with Travis Heights, Bouldin Creek, and Barton Hills. Travis Heights has similar character but sits farther from the park and trail system. Bouldin Creek is quieter with lower prices but lacks direct park adjacency. Barton Hills offers more space but requires driving to dining. Zilker's advantage is the combination of park access, trail access, restaurant walkability, and downtown proximity that no other neighborhood matches simultaneously.

Zilker is for buyers who want a car-optional lifestyle in the center of Austin's best outdoor amenities. It works for active couples, families who want kids growing up at Barton Springs, and anyone who measures quality of life in trail miles and walkable restaurants rather than square footage and garage bays.