Ed Neuhaus 
Falconhead Bee Cave Hits a Sweet Spot Most Communities Miss
There’s a gap in the market that most people don’t talk about. On one side, you’ve got the ultra-luxury gated communities where the initiation fee alone could be a down payment on a house. On the other side, you’ve got the standard suburban subdivisions that feel like they were designed by the same algorithm. Falconhead in Bee Cave sits right in that gap, and it’s been quietly attracting families who want golf course living, solid schools, and a real sense of community without the seven-figure country club price tag.
I’ve shown dozens of families through Falconhead over the years, and the reaction is almost always the same. They drive through the entrance, see the golf course rolling through mature trees, and say something like “wait, this is still Bee Cave?” Yes. It is. And the home prices here are a lot more accessible than people expect for what you get.
The Golf Course Changes Everything
The Falconhead Golf Club is a championship-caliber course designed by PGA Tour Design Services. It plays around 7,100 yards from the back tees and features the kind of elevation changes and Hill Country views that make you forget you’re 19 miles from downtown Austin. The course weaves through the community’s neighborhoods, which means many homes back up to fairways with long views across manicured turf and native terrain.
But here’s what makes Falconhead different from Spanish Oaks or Barton Creek: the golf course is public-fee, not private. That means anyone can play it. You don’t need an invitation, a sponsorship, or a six-figure initiation fee. Residents get preferred tee times and discounted rates, but the course is open to the public. This creates a more relaxed, less exclusive atmosphere while still giving homeowners the aesthetic and lifestyle benefits of living on a golf course.
For families, this model is ideal. You get the beautiful views and open green space of a golf community without the financial overhead of a private club membership. And if you do want to play regularly, annual memberships for Falconhead residents are very reasonable compared to private alternatives.
Neighborhoods and Home Prices
Falconhead encompasses several neighborhoods, and the naming can be a little confusing because you’ll see listings referencing Falconhead, Falconhead West, and Falconhead at Spillman Ranch as if they’re different communities. They’re all part of the broader Falconhead area, just different sections with different builders and vintages.
Falconhead (the original section) features homes built primarily in the mid-2000s to 2010s. These are well-established neighborhoods with mature landscaping, ranging from about $650,000 to $1 million. Floor plans run 2,500 to 4,500 square feet, with 3 to 5 bedrooms, and most include covered patios overlooking either the golf course, green belts, or the community’s natural terrain.
Falconhead West is the newer section with homes built from the mid-2010s forward. Prices here range from $750,000 to $1.5 million, with larger lots and more contemporary floor plans. Several of these homes back directly to the golf course with premium views.
The community also includes a handful of custom estates on larger lots that push past $1.5 million, though these come to market infrequently. Overall, Falconhead offers a broad price band that accommodates everyone from first-time move-up buyers to established families upgrading from smaller homes in the area. You can browse current Falconhead listings here.
Why Families Keep Choosing Falconhead
Schools are the number one reason families land in Falconhead. The community feeds into Lake Travis ISD, with elementary students attending Lake Pointe Elementary or Bee Cave Elementary depending on their address. Middle school is Hudson Bend Middle School, and high school is Lake Travis High School. The full breakdown is in our Bee Cave schools guide.
Beyond schools, Falconhead is genuinely family-oriented in a way that you can feel when you drive through. Kids ride bikes in the streets. Neighbors know each other. The HOA maintains common areas, pools, and playgrounds that actually get used. There’s a community pool and pavilion area that becomes the social hub during summer, and the trail system connects neighborhoods to each other and to the broader Bee Cave trail network.
The location is also family-friendly from a practical standpoint. You’re right off RR 620, which gives you quick access to Lakeway, the 71 corridor, and the commercial development along Bee Cave Parkway. The Hill Country Galleria is about 5 to 10 minutes away, and the H-E-B at 620 and Bee Caves Road handles most of the weekly grocery run.
The Tax Advantage Applies Here Too
Falconhead benefits from Bee Cave’s remarkably low city property tax rate of $0.02 per $100 of assessed value. On a $900,000 home, that’s about $180 per year in city taxes. Your neighbors in Austin are paying roughly $3,960 in city taxes on the same value home. That’s not a small difference. Over a 10-year hold, you’re looking at nearly $38,000 in savings on the city tax portion alone.
The total tax picture includes Travis County, Lake Travis ISD, and any applicable MUD or water district assessments. But even with all layers combined, Falconhead homeowners typically pay less in total property taxes than comparable homes inside Austin city limits. Our cost of living comparison breaks this down in detail.
Commute and Daily Life
From Falconhead, downtown Austin is about 19 miles and 25 to 35 minutes depending on traffic. If you’re commuting to the Domain area or northwest Austin tech corridor, you’re looking at a similar drive via 620 to 2222 or MoPac. The commute is manageable but real. If you work remotely most days and go into an office occasionally, it’s a non-issue. If you’re making the drive five days a week, budget accordingly and consider the time savings of off-peak scheduling.
Daily life in Falconhead centers around the golf course, the community pool, and the proximity to Bee Cave’s commercial amenities. Weekend mornings might mean a round of golf, a walk on the trails, or a drive to Lake Travis for a few hours on the water. Saturday evenings might mean dinner at the Galleria or grilling out with neighbors. It’s a lifestyle that balances outdoor recreation with suburban convenience, and it works particularly well for families with kids in the 5 to 18 range.
How Falconhead Compares
If you’re weighing Falconhead against other Bee Cave neighborhoods, here’s how I’d frame it. Spanish Oaks is the luxury tier with private membership and significantly higher price points. Lake Pointe and Sweetwater offer similar family appeal but without the golf course. Provence gives you new construction and master-planned amenities but in a larger, newer development still finding its identity.
Falconhead’s niche is the intersection of golf course living and family accessibility. You get the views, the green space, the lifestyle, and the resale appeal of a golf community, but at a price point and with a culture that doesn’t require you to be in the ultra-high-net-worth bracket. For the complete picture of Bee Cave living, check out our ultimate guide to living in Bee Cave or get in touch and I’ll show you around.
