Finished homes get most of the attention in Austin, but some of the best opportunities in the urban core are still dirt. A well-located lot lets you decide the floor plan, the finishes and, in the right spot, which way the windows face. It also comes with homework that a finished house does not. Here is what we walk buyers through before they write an offer on land in East Austin.
Start with what the City of Austin allows
Zoning decides what you can build, how many homes fit on the site, how tall they can be and how far they have to sit from the property lines. Two lots on the same street can carry different rules. Before you fall in love with a concept plan, have your builder or architect confirm zoning, permitted use, setbacks and height with the City of Austin. A concept drawing is a starting point, not an approval.
Get a current survey
A survey shows the real boundaries, easements and anything that crosses the lot. Older surveys are useful for a first look, but your title company will tell you what it needs to close. Ask early so it does not hold up your timeline.
Check access and utilities
Street frontage matters. A lot that touches two streets gives a builder more options for driveways and for how homes face. Ask where water, wastewater and electric service are and what it takes to connect.
Look at the trees and the slope
Mature trees are part of what makes East Austin feel like East Austin, and the City regulates the removal of larger ones. Walk the lot with your builder, note which trees shape the buildable area, and look at how water moves across the site.
Think about the view from the second floor
On a flat street the ground-level view is often a fence. Thirty feet up it can be the downtown skyline. If a view is part of why you are buying, find out what it looks like from the height you would actually live at, and remember that what any home sees depends on its design, height limits and what gets built nearby.
An example: the Rosewood Lots in 78702
We are currently offering two adjoining lots in East Austin, 1173 San Bernard St and 1172 Angelina St. They meet back to back and run a full block, with frontage on both streets and 0.4845 acres combined. Both have been cleared and are ready for a builder's plan. We photographed the view from about 30 feet above each lot so buyers can see what a rooftop deck or upper floor could frame.
You can see the photos, the concept site plan and the details on the Rosewood Lots page.
Talk to us before you write the offer
Vince Young Realty has helped Austin buyers and sellers since 2004. If you are weighing a lot purchase, call us at (512) 785-7489 or send us a note and we will walk the site with you.