Hottest Neighborhoods in Austin 2026 — What Redfin’s Report Shows

The hottest neighborhoods in Austin at a glance — fall 2026

Redfin compared July and August 2026 sales with the same months in 2025. Here is how the five hottest neighborhoods in Austin stack up against the metro as a whole.

Source: Redfin, Austin Hottest Neighborhoods 2026, published October 21, 2026. Every neighborhood on the list sells faster than the metro. In addition, each one sees a larger share of homes go over asking.

Inside each of the hottest neighborhoods in Austin

1. Tanglewood Forest (78748)

Tanglewood Forest sits on both sides of Slaughter Lane, between West Gate Boulevard and Menchaca Road. Most homes are ranch houses from the 1970s and ’80s. Because of that, buyers here often trade a condo for a house with a real yard. Also, MoPac and I-35 are both close. Southpark Meadows covers everyday shopping, and Manchaca Road adds local spots with live music. For seller-side detail, see our 78748 seller guide.

2. Buttercup Creek (78613)

Buttercup Creek in Cedar Park is known for newer homes, strong schools, and a close community feel. It also offers pools, parks, and trails. According to Redfin, many buyers work in tech or healthcare. In addition, the new Dell Children’s Medical Center and an Austin Community College campus are nearby. Homes range from about $300,000 to $750,000.

3. Behrens Ranch (78681)

Behrens Ranch is a planned Round Rock community near Dell’s global headquarters. For example, residents get a pool, tennis courts, and trails. Williamson County Regional Park is also close by. Most homes date to the early 2000s, and many have been updated. Typical homes run 3,000 to 4,000+ square feet, priced from about $600,000 to over $900,000.

4. Milwood (78727)

Milwood wins on location. It is a short drive to Apple’s North Austin campus, Dell, and IBM. Similarly, The Domain is nearby. The neighborhood spans Round Rock ISD and Austin ISD, and most homes were built in the ’80s and ’90s. As a result, average prices sit in the $400,000s.

5. Johnston Terrace (78721)

Johnston Terrace in East Austin offers mid-century ranches and bungalows. Lots often run a quarter to half an acre. Moreover, downtown is 15 minutes away or less. The airport and the Southern Walnut Creek Trail are close as well. For that reason, many buyers here work in aviation or tech.

What the hottest neighborhoods in Austin have in common

Look past the names, and a clear pattern shows up. In fact, the same four traits appear in every neighborhood on the list:

• Strong schools. All five sit in well-regarded school districts.
• New places to eat and shop. Fresh restaurants and retail signal momentum.
• Easy commutes. Dell, Apple, IBM, downtown, and the airport are all close.
• Well-kept homes. Move-in-ready homes draw the most offers.

Price matters, too. Four of the five have medians just under $500,000. Meanwhile, Tanglewood Forest comes in at $405,000, about $10,000 below the metro median. For more options in that range, see our guide to affordable neighborhoods in Austin.

What the hottest neighborhoods in Austin mean for buyers

Across most of Austin, buyers have the upper hand. Redfin’s Austin sales manager, Scott Gustafson, called this “the prime time to be a buyer.” In fact, homes in the metro take 74 days to sell. So there is room to negotiate on price, repairs, and closing costs.

The hottest neighborhoods are different, though. In contrast, good homes here still draw several offers. If you want one of these areas, plan ahead:

• Get fully pre-approved before you tour.
• Set your top price ahead of time.
• Be ready to move fast on the right home.
• Learn how to write a competitive offer.

In short, the leverage you have elsewhere in Austin may not carry over here.

What the hottest neighborhoods in Austin mean for sellers

Even in hot areas, most homes still sell at or below list. The sellers who win price well from day one. Redfin’s advice matches what we see: finish repairs before you list. Then price for the home’s true condition, not last year’s market.

On the other hand, overpricing tends to backfire. That is because a home that sits gets lower offers. Often, it ends up selling for less than it would have at the right price. To start, find out what your home is worth. Then read our tips on selling a home fast in Austin.

A buyer’s market with pockets of competition

Overall, Austin is a buyer’s market. The metro median fell 6% to $415,000. Likewise, only 11% of homes sold over asking. Still, demand has not vanished. Instead, it has moved into a few areas with strong schools, short commutes, and good value.

Here is how Redfin built the list. First, it looked at Austin-area ZIP codes with at least 50 sales from July 1 to August 31. Next, it ranked them by growth in Redfin listing views. Finally, it used the Redfin Compete Score, which shows how hard it is to win a home. For the bigger picture, see our Austin market trends for 2026.

Hottest neighborhoods in Austin — common questions