The Westsider: field notes from the west side of Austin, by Diana Roberts
Cover story · No. 07 · October 2026
Full again. What the lake level means for lakefront homes.
Lake Travis filled in July for the first time since 2019. How to read 681, the flood pool and a lakefront lot in any year.
By Diana Roberts · Austin Real Estate Advisor · Compass
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Amansanu: Aman’s Private Texas Ranch, for Guests and Owners Only
Aman is planning Amansanu, its first ranch retreat, on 1,600 acres between Llano and Fredericksburg, with a limited collection of homes on 10+ acre lots. What’s announced, what isn’t, and why it is a place for guests and owners only.
Full Again: What Lake Travis Water Levels Mean for Lakefront Homes
Lake Travis filled in July for the first time since 2019. What 681 feet and the flood pool mean, and what to check on a lakefront home before the lake drops again.
Your Appraisal Notice: How to Read It and When to Protest, From an Appraiser
Your notice of appraised value isn’t a bill. How to read the three numbers on it, when a protest is worth your time, and the evidence that actually moves the value, from a Certified General Appraiser.
The 70-Page Report: How to Survive a Home Inspection in Austin
A good house can come back from inspection with a seventy-page report. What Austin inspection reports really say, what to repair and what to let go, and how to keep the deal together.
Austin’s Second Market: The Homes That Sell Before the Big Websites
The full Austin market is not on one website anymore. How private and Compass-first homes work, how to see them first, and what it means if you are buying or selling on the west side of Austin.
Inside 78738: One ZIP Code, Seven Different Markets
Bee Cave, Serene Hills, Rough Hollow, Lake Pointe, Falconhead, Sweetwater and Spanish Oaks share one ZIP code and very little else when it comes to value. How Diana reads each one.
What Highway 71’s Next Growth Wave Means for West Austin
Private golf, a wellness resort, a planned town and conservation land are all arriving along Highway 71. What is being built west of Austin, where things stand in October 2026, and what it means if you own or are buying on the west side.
What Makes a Home Great, and Why It Doesn’t Have to Be New
A great home is defined by proportion, flow, light, function and a sense of place, not by its finishes or the year it was built. The qualities that make a house feel right can keep working for generations.