The Westsider: field notes from the west side of Austin, by Diana Roberts
Cover story · No. 09 · October 2026
Rock solid. A head start, west of Austin.
Austin’s fault line has been quiet for about 20 million years, and it left the west side of Austin up on limestone. Why that gives a home a head start, and what I still check on every address.
By Diana Roberts · Austin Real Estate Advisor · Compass
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Every issue. Newest first.
Rock Solid: Why the Ground West of Austin Gives a Home a Head Start
Yes, Austin has a fault line, and it has been quiet for about 20 million years. It is also why the west side of Austin sits on limestone, which gives a home a head start. What I still check on every lot: slope, drainage, rock and the flood map.
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.
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.