By Havilah Crider, Broker and Owner of Crider Realty | November 12, 2026
You have $1.5 million to buy a home in the Austin area. Would you spend it on a location that keeps you close to the city, a Hill Country view you can enjoy from the living room, or enough yard for a pool and a proper outdoor dining space?
I’d start there before opening a single listing. A four-bedroom home in Westlake, a single-story home in Barton Creek, and a newer custom home in Driftwood can all catch your eye for very different reasons. The right one depends on what you want your life to look like on an ordinary Tuesday.
Westlake | Start here if location drives the search
If your week revolves around central Austin, put Westlake on your first tour. I’d pick two or three addresses and drive from each one to the places you go most often. Do it at the time you’d actually leave home. A route that feels easy on a Saturday can feel very different when you’re trying to get somewhere by eight.
A little above budget: In the greater Westlake area, 6604 Liveoak Drive was publicly listed as active at $1,625,000, with four bedrooms, approximately 3,297 square feet and a roughly 0.40-acre lot. The listing describes access to a neighborhood recreation area on Lake Austin through an association membership, subject to board approval and bylaws. View the listing
What I’d look at on tour: If lake access is part of why you’d stretch the budget, walk the route from the house to the water and ask for the membership terms in writing. In a renovated home, I’d also look closely at the cabinet installation, tile work and window condition, then ask which major systems were updated and when.
Barton Creek | Start here if you want a view you’ll use every day
In Barton Creek, I’d pay attention to where the view shows up in the floor plan. Can you see it from the kitchen or where you’ll sit with your coffee? Does the patio get afternoon shade? Those details will tell you how much time you’ll actually spend outside.
At the $1.5 million mark: 9008 Thickwoods Cove was offered at $1,500,000. The single-story home has four bedrooms and approximately 3,086 square feet, and the listing describes Hill Country views. Public listing data shows it under contract. View the listing
What I’d look at on tour: Stand on the patio and look toward the neighboring lots. Ask what the survey and recorded documents say about the land behind the home. If club access is part of the draw, get the membership category, fees and transfer terms in writing for that specific property.
Driftwood | Start here if you want more room outdoors
If you picture long dinners outside, a bigger garden or a pool someday, I’d include Driftwood on your list. Bring a rough idea of what you want to do with the yard. Two lots of the same size can feel completely different once you account for slope, drainage and where you can build.
At the $1.5 million mark: 668 Cypress Springs Drive in Howard Ranch was publicly listed as active at $1,500,000, with five bedrooms, approximately 3,334 square feet and a 0.76-acre lot. The home was built in 2021. View the listing
What I’d look at on tour: Walk the yard with the survey. If you’re picturing a pool, check where the easements, setbacks and any septic components fall before you get attached to a spot. I’d also confirm the water and wastewater setup and drive your most frequent route back into Austin.
How I’d narrow your first tour
Pick the one thing you’d pay more for and the one thing you’d happily give up. If you’d trade a guest room for an easier weekday drive, start in Westlake. If a shaded patio and a view would change how you use your home, start in Barton Creek. If your plans revolve around what you can do with the land, start in Driftwood. When two areas are close, tour them on the same day so the differences are fresh.
Buying a luxury home in the Austin area? Tell me your target budget, the places you need to reach during the week, and your three must-haves. I’m Havilah Crider, broker and owner of Crider Realty. I’ll help you narrow the search and build a private tour around the homes that fit.
Listing prices and statuses reflect public listing information reviewed November 12, 2026, and may change. Asking prices are shown.
