Real Estate Articles

East Austin Neighborhood Profile – The University Hills and Vintage Hills Neighborhoods

The University Hills & Vintage Hills Neighborhoods

The neighborhoods of University Hills and Vintage Hills in East Austin are established neighborhoods with homes built mainly in the 1960’s-early 70’s, consisting of many 3/2’s around 1500 sqft and larger.  They usually have several east Austin homes for sale. These neighborhoods are further east than the Delwood neighborhood and are generally considered more affordable.  The dividing lines of these neighborhoods can be confusing but here are some general boundaries.  The neighborhood of University Hills is located between Highway 290 (North), 183 (North & East), and by Northeast Drive and Little Walnut Creek (South).  Vintage Hills is located in the northern section of University Hills by Highways 290 & 183.  These two neighborhoods are located in the 78723 zip code.  East Austin homes for sale in these neighborhoods are priced in the mid $100’s to mid $200’s.  These neighborhoods are quite hilly, hence their names, with lots of big trees and some decent parks.   It is possible to get a fairly large lot in this area.  The hills and the high clay soil can make for some foundation issues so it’s wise to be conscious of that when looking to purchase in this area.  Vintage Hills seems to be a bit cheaper than University Hills mainly because of its proximity to 290 & 183.  Winn Elementary is also in the Vintage Hills area, which sits on what used to be a small landfill…the school doesn’t seem to be holding up very well.  There are some streets in this neighborhood that have been built over the buffer zones of this old landfill so that’s another thing to check out regarding foundations in this area.  There have been quite a few remodels done in these neighborhoods so it’s possible to purchase an affordable home here that has been updated, or pick up a fixer upper for a low price and do it yourself.  These neighborhoods are conveniently located to 3 highways, 290, 183 and I35, making travel easy and quick.  They are also located just east of the Mueller development and in close proximity to downtown.  I think these neighborhoods represent a good value for east Austin homes for sale for anyone looking in the mid $100-mid $200 price range.  The overall area is in the process of revitalization, it is still a bit rough around the edges but definitely headed in the right direction.  This revitalization should make a house in this area a good investment, with a healthy rate of appreciation to come in the future.