Posted: Sat, 11 Jun 2011 03:12 PM - 9,158 Readers

By: Nicole Villalpando

Lakeway and Bee Cave aren't the sleepy areas they once were.

In the past decade, housing developments have popped up in the area off Texas 71 between RM 620 and the Pedernales River. The Hill Country Galleria and neighboring shopping centers have brought much of the commerce residents once traveled to Austin to find.

Growth continues: Lakeway Regional Medical Center and a Whole Foods Market in Bee Cave are expected to open next year. And a new Lakeway library broke ground this spring.

The area, fed by the recreational hot spot of Lake Travis, experienced its first wave of growth in the late 1960s and early '70s, when retirees, including astronaut Alan Shepard, first began to build in Lakeway. And though retirees and vacationers still fuel some of the area's growth, families have helped this area explode more recently.

Lake Travis Independent School District is the big draw. The exemplary district has expanded to five elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school. And in a state where football is king, Lake Travis has won four straight state championships.

Susan Conti, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker United Realtors, first moved to Lakeway in 1978, when it was "a geriatric ward," she jokes. "It's now a family community."

She watched impressions of Lakeway and Bee Cave change from being considered "way out there" to now being seen as a quick half-hour drive from Austin.

Families are coming to the area looking for the high-rated schools, wanting all the amenities Lake Travis offers, and lower prices on some homes than in other parts of Central Texas, she says.

We looked at five recently developed neighborhoods off Texas 71 from RM 620 to the Pedernales River. All were very different in the amenities offered and their overall feel. Prices range from the mid-$200,000s to $4 million and up, allowing for diversity in the families moving into the area.



Rough Hollow

Spread out over more than 18,000 acres, Rough Hollow sits in an ideal location. Highlands Boulevard, which runs through Rough Hollow, connects the community both to RM 620 by way of Lakeway Boulevard and to Texas 71 by way of Bee Creek Road.

Rough Hollow's nine neighborhoods range in price from $280,000 to more than $4 million. All residents have access to the community amenities, which include a yacht club and marina, a fitness center and pool, the Grille at Rough Hollow restaurant, an event center and 22 miles of hike-and-bike trails. Next summer the development expects to open Highland Village water park with a lazy river, water slide, grottoes, toddler splash area, junior Olympic-size pool and beach-entry pool.

Ten builders — six custom and four production — are working in Rough Hollow. We looked at a home under construction by Scott Felder Homes. (Note: This home has sold.)

Address: 102 Curacao Court

Price: $529,990

Square feet: 3,225

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 41/2

Features: The stone-and-stucco two-story home sits on a hill overlooking Lake Travis. Visitors enter the archway to a guest casita with full bathroom. A landscaped courtyard sits between the casita and the house.

The home's entryway leads to a great room with stone fireplace and wood floors. On one side of the great room is the kitchen with granite counters and travertine floors and the breakfast area. The pantry and utility room flow from the kitchen to the garage.

The master suite sits on the other side of the home and offers a large walk-in closet, two-vanity master bathroom and access to the covered patio from the bedroom.

The first floor also offers a study at the front of the house.

Upstairs, a game room rests between the two bedrooms.



Falconhead West

Three miles from RM 620, Falconhead West sits right off Texas 71. The three neighborhoods within this community range in price from the low $300,000s to the $800,000s. Three builders are working in the neighborhood.

Amenities include a neighborhood playscape, park and jogging area.

Address: 16032 Zagros Way

Price: $478,500

Square feet: 3,672

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 31/2

Features: The stone, stucco and brick home offers a gated courtyard with grill hookup and outdoor fireplace. Once inside, the floor plan offers flexibility with a study that could double as a guest room, a living room, dining room and family room/breakfast nook near the kitchen. The large kitchen features granite counters, tile floors and a breakfast bar/island, large pantry and wine refrigerator.

Four bedrooms, including the master, are upstairs. The master suite includes a two-sided fireplace that divides the space into bed area and sitting room. The master bathroom includes a huge walk-in closet, double vanities, a walk-in shower and a large tub. The master suite also offers access to the balcony overlooking the greenbelt behind the house.

One of the remaining bedrooms has its own bathroom, the other two share one.

The home has a three-car garage and covered patio.



Spanish Oaks

Spanish Oaks offers two entrances off Texas 71, one just east of RM 620, the other just west of RM 620. The high-end golf-course community has gone through multiple owners and foreclosure, but was bought back by the original developer this spring. Custom builders are developing the lots here; existing homes range from the mid-$500,000s to $4 million.

Amenities include the 18-hole golf course, club house, pool, sports court, hike-and-bike trails and a fishing area.

Address: 5015 Calabria Court

Price: $1,975,000

Square feet: 7,117

Bedrooms: 6

Bathrooms: 71/2

Features: On almost two acres, this estate off a quiet courtyard offers a main house as well as a garage apartment/office with full kitchen and bathroom and a guest house with living room, kitchen, full bathroom and bedroom.

Entering the glass-and-wrought-iron front doors, guests step through a large archway to the barrel-vaulted living room with carved-limestone fireplace and wood floors.

On one side of the house is the master suite. The bathroom features two large vanities with a large tub in the middle and a walk-in shower with double shower heads and bench. A large closet and dressing area offers many built-ins. The master suite provides access to the large covered patio with a fireplace leading to the pool and spa area.

On the other side of the house is the dining room, kitchen and family room. The family room features a wall of stone with the fireplace and bookshelves tucked inside. Large glass doors lead to the patio. The dining room sits across from the family room and near the kitchen, with its granite counters and large island/breakfast bar. The breakfast room offers views of the patio.

Another wing presents the other bedrooms, which also can be used as office space. The home provides a three-car garage.



West Cypress Hills

Located directly off Texas 71, about 10 minutes from RM 620, West Cypress Hills is among the more affordable of these newer communities. Homes range from the mid-$200,000s to the low $400,000s. Two production builders now build in the community.

Amenities include a pool and lap pool, playground, sports court and basketball court, pavilion and nature trails.

Address: 5204 Cypress Ranch Blvd.

Price: $406,999

Square feet: 4,078

Bedrooms: 5

Bathrooms: 31/2

Features: This former model home offers high-end finishes. A study with a wall of built-in shelving is on one side of the foyer, the dining room on the other. The foyer opens up to the great room, which includes a two-story living room with large windows and marble-surround fireplace. Wood floors run throughout this room. The kitchen offers granite counters and an island and a pass-through to the living room.

A raised deck leads to the fenced-in yard that overlooks the greenbelt behind the home.

The master suite features large windows with views of the greenbelt, a large master bathroom with marble walk-in shower, an exercise nook or nursery, and a large walk-in closet.

Upstairs, a game room is at one end with a balcony looking down to the living room. A media room is next to it. The first two bedrooms share a Jack-and-Jill bathroom. Both have large walk-in closets. The next two bedrooms also share a bathroom.

The home has a three-car garage. One of the bays has been converted into an office.



The Reserve at Lake Travis

Located off Bee Creek Road to Thurman Bend Road, this community of custom-built homes is in the early stages. The 118 homesites range from one to 11 acres. The community also offers 22 villas — three-story townhomes.

Most of the amenities are finished. The lodge open-air pavilion features a bar, grill, fire pit, and weekend and holiday programs. The pool area offers a swim-up bar, waterfall and spa, water slide and lazy river. Steps lead to the marina, with some boat slips offering patios. Golf carts shuttle boaters down to their slips, and concierge service also is available. An equestrian center features a covered arena, two round pens, a 13-stall stable and pastures.

Many of the homes on the sold lots are under construction or waiting to break ground. Completed homes include the personal estates of developers Red McCombs and Hal Jones. Lot prices range from $199,000 to $3.9 million. Villa homes go for $600,000 to $1.9 million.

Address: 2217 Seabiscuit, No. 100

Price: $940,000

Square feet: 2,446

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 31/2

Features: One of the villas, this home features a large open second-story living space with kitchen, dining area and living room. Two of the bedrooms sit on one side of the living space and share a bathroom. The master suite sits on the other side of this floor. The second floor also offers a large outdoor living space overlooking the community's pool.

The first floor is all storage and garage.

The third floor is an open space with a full bathroom that can be used as a bunk house, a game room or an office