810 Ethel St, Austin, TX 78704

Tucked into one of Austin’s most sought-after neighborhoods, 810 Ethel Street is a thoughtfully renovated Zilker bungalow that blends classic charm and character with modern updates. This 832 square foot two bedroom, one bath home was taken down to the studs in 2012 and rebuilt with care, including all new plumbing, electrical, roof, drywall, kitchen, bathroom, refinished original hardwood floors, added tankless water heater, and replaced sewer line—giving you the feel of a much newer home while keeping the character that makes Zilker so special.

Set on a generous lot just shy of 5,800 square feet, the property offers plenty of room to expand, create an outdoor retreat, or simply enjoy the space and privacy that’s becoming harder to find this close to downtown.

The location is hard to beat. Just minutes from Zilker Park, Barton Springs, downtown Austin, and some of the city’s best restaurants, coffee shops, and local favorites, you’ll be right in the middle of everything that makes Austin… Austin. Whether you’re looking for a move-in ready home, a long-term investment, fantastic rental revenue or a prime lot in an unbeatable neighborhood, 810 Ethel delivers that opportunity in the heart of Zilker.

The 1950 board and batten bungalow at 810 Ethel Street in Zilker carries the DNA of Austin's mid-century character while running on entirely modern bones, rebuilt to the studs in 2012 with fresh plumbing, electrical, and roofing that give you peace of mind beneath vintage charm. Priced at $999,000 on the 0.1346-acre lot, this 832-square-foot two-bedroom, one-bath home sits in one of Austin's most stable neighborhoods, walking distance to Zilker Park and Barton Springs Pool on the south side of downtown.

The exterior reveals what drew buyers to this corner of 78704 fifty years ago: original hardwood flooring indoors, refined moldings throughout, and a restored front porch where you can watch Ethel Street's tree-lined character unfold. The covered front and rear porches frame a private backyard anchored by mature trees over 40 feet tall, creating the kind of outdoor sanctuary that defines South Austin living. Native plants and a level lot give you genuine privacy without the renovation headache.

Inside, the home respects its era while answering modern expectations. The kitchen features stainless steel appliances and a dishwasher. The bathroom was entirely rebuilt. Walk-in closets and ceiling fans manage daily life. Hardwood and tile flooring runs through the spaces. A tankless water heater and new sewer line mean you're not carrying forward anyone else's deferred maintenance. High-speed internet reaches the home, and stacked washer/dryer tucked into the layout keeps daily rhythms efficient.

The Zilker Elementary and O Henry Middle School attendance zones serve Austin ISD, feeding into Austin High School. The South Congress retail corridor lies three blocks north. Barton Springs sits roughly a mile southwest. Downtown Austin is under fifteen minutes by car. The tech corridor along Lady Bird Lake and the Domain in North Austin are accessible for commuters, though the 78704 ZIP code exists precisely because people here value walkability over sprawl.

At $1,201 per square foot, the home reflects Zilker's persistent desirability and the reality that few undivided lots remain this close to Barton Springs and downtown. One day on market signals how the neighborhood remains: buyers still recognize what's become scarce. Whether you're drawn to the finished move-in option, the expansion potential on a generous lot, or the long-term stability of this address, 810 Ethel Street delivers what Zilker always has: proximity, character, and roots.

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.