Austin Luxury Buyers Splurge on Unique Amenities

Agents scored nine luxury contracts last asking a combined $28 million last week, according to the Eklund Gomes Austin Luxury Report, which tracks deals last asking $2 million or more. While the same number of contracts crossed the finish line the previous week, this batch totaled $5 million more, a 22 percent increase.

The deals averaged a last ask of $666 per square foot, and days on market jumped from 94 last week to 109, meaning these houses took significantly longer to come off the board.

The top contract came at 7901 Dadiva Court, a Barton Creek mansion last asking $5.95 million or $771 per square foot. Situated in the Escala gated neighborhood, the property sits on 2 acres, a larger parcel than many other high-end homes to the west of downtown. It is a two-story, white stone home with red slate roofing. It has five bedrooms and five and a half bathrooms.

Kent Redding of Berkshire Hathaway had the listing.

If the buyers are casual athletes, they are in luck: the grounds include a half basketball court, tennis court and putting green. There’s also an infinity pool to cool off after some practice. While the average home spent longer on the market this week, the Dadiva house broke that trend, sitting for just under two weeks.

Taking silver this week is 709 Rio Grande Street, a bright orange historic gem in downtown Austin last asking just a smidge under $4 million. While it lies just a few blocks from some of the city’s tallest skyscrapers, this is a traditional mansion that has been subdivided into apartments.

Formerly the home of Governor Joseph Sayers, the house is 118 years old. With seven bedrooms and six bathrooms, it is zoned-mixed use, so other futures are possible.

The 6,800-square-foot home sits on just 0.18 of an acre. It spent more than seven months on the market, undergoing two price cuts and dropping more than 15 percent from its initial listing price of $4.75 million. Justine Smith of Allure Real Estate had the listing.

Rounding out the top three is 8 Beecher Lane, a nature-forward home in the Rob Roy neighborhood, at a bend in the Colorado River. Sitting on 2.5 acres, the 3,900-square-foot house last asked $2.98 million.

A highlight is the home’s backyard view, where the cliffs of west Austin drop off to a view of the river. It also includes an artificial waterfall. Indoors, the house has four bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms.

Dara Allen of @properties Christie’s International Real Estate had the listing. After going on the market in April for $3.4 million, the property saw monthly price cuts.