The Westsider: field notes from the west side of Austin, by Diana Roberts
Cover story · No. 05 · October 2026
The 70-page report. How to survive the inspection.
What Austin inspection reports really say, and how buyers, sellers and agents get through the repair negotiation.
By Diana Roberts · Austin Real Estate Advisor · Compass
All issues
Every issue. Newest first.
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 Never Reach 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.