About Highland Lake Estates Homes for Sale
Neighborhoods & Subdivisions in Highland Lake Estates
Highland Lake Estates is not a single subdivision but a large planned community made up of dozens of numbered sections, each with its own character and price range. The sections spread across the hills and valleys above Lake Travis, giving buyers a wide range of options depending on their priorities, whether that is a buildable lot, a finished home with views, or something in between.
Some of the more active sections include Highland Lake Estates Sec 02, Sec 05, and Sec 12 A, which tend to have a good mix of established homes and available land. Sec 24, Sec 26 A, and Sec 29 are well-represented in the market as well, offering buyers options across a range of lot sizes and home configurations. Sec 31, Sec 32, and Sec 33 round out some of the newer activity in the community, with land parcels attracting buyers who want to design and build from the ground up. The original Highland Lake Estates sections closer to the lake tend to command more attention for their proximity to the water and the mature landscaping that comes with age.
Buyers also explore options in nearby Lago Vista and Leander for additional Hill Country and lakeside listings. And for those casting a wider net across the region, browsing Austin area homes for sale can surface everything from lakefront retreats to suburban builds across Travis County.
Schools in Highland Lake Estates
All of Highland Lake Estates falls within Lago Vista Independent School District, a smaller district with a tight-knit community feel that serves the Lago Vista area along Lake Travis. Students attend Lago Vista Elementary, Lago Vista Middle School, and Lago Vista High School, all located in the Lago Vista city proper just a short drive from most sections of the community.
Lago Vista ISD is known for its strong athletics programs and competitive academics in a setting that does not feel like a large suburban district. With smaller class sizes and a community where teachers and families tend to know each other, the district offers a different educational environment than what you find in the larger Austin-area ISDs. For buyers with school-age children, the proximity of all three campus levels to each other makes logistics considerably easier.
Real Estate Market Overview
The Highland Lake Estates market is one of the more nuanced in the greater Neuhaus Realty Group service area, primarily because of the sheer volume of land listings alongside residential homes. Land makes up the majority of active listings, which creates opportunity for buyers who want to purchase a lot and build custom rather than compete for finished inventory.
Residential homes in the community tend to be single-story ranch-style builds, with some newer two-story construction on larger lots. The range runs from modest three-bedroom homes on smaller sections of the community to more substantial four and five-bedroom estates on acreage with Hill Country views or lake access. Because Highland Lake Estates covers such a large geographic footprint, buyers should think carefully about which section appeals to them most, as proximity to the lake, road access, and lot topography vary considerably from one section to another.
The land market here is particularly active for buyers who want to secure a site before building. Several of the smaller custom builders active in the area, including Casalago Construction and Charles Williams Custom Homes, have recent work in various sections of the community, which speaks to ongoing interest in new builds here.
Lifestyle & Amenities
Living in Highland Lake Estates means committing to a Hill Country lifestyle, in the best possible way. The community sits in the Lake Travis corridor, which gives residents access to all the water recreation that comes with one of Texas's most beloved Highland Lakes. Boating, kayaking, swimming, and fishing are part of everyday life here for those who want them.
The Lago Vista community maintains several park areas and public boat ramps along Lake Travis, giving residents access to the water without requiring private waterfront property. Lago Vista also has a nine-hole golf course and a handful of local dining spots that give the area a genuine small-town character rather than the chain-heavy suburban feel you find closer to Austin.
The surrounding Hill Country terrain offers hiking and wildlife viewing, and the open skies out here are a sharp contrast to anything inside the Austin metro. If you value space, quiet evenings, and proximity to the water over urban walkability, Highland Lake Estates delivers that consistently.
Getting Around Highland Lake Estates
Highland Lake Estates sits in the Lago Vista area along FM 1431, the main corridor that connects this part of Travis County to the rest of the Austin metro. From most sections of the community, reaching Cedar Park or Leander takes roughly 30 to 40 minutes depending on traffic, and downtown Austin is approximately 45 to 55 minutes under normal conditions.
FM 1431 is the primary artery, connecting west toward Marble Falls and east toward Cedar Park, where buyers can access major retail, medical facilities, and the MetroRail station. There is no direct highway access from Highland Lake Estates, so the daily drive is a two-lane Hill Country road through scenic terrain. Buyers who work remotely or commute only occasionally find the trade-off well worth it. Those making the drive to Austin daily should test the route at peak hours before committing.
The nearby city of Leander serves as the closest major hub for shopping, dining, and services, with the Cedar Park-Leander area growing rapidly and adding more options every year.
New Construction in Highland Lake Estates
New construction activity in Highland Lake Estates is driven largely by the availability of raw land throughout the community's many sections. With a significant number of undeveloped lots spread across sections like Sec 32, Sec 33, and others, buyers have the opportunity to purchase land and bring their own builder or work with one of the custom builders already active in the area.
Builders like Betterway Construction LLC and AGH Residential Co have active projects in Highland Lake Estates, and firms like Casalago Construction and Charles Williams Custom Homes bring a custom approach to the area's more estate-scale lots. The result is new construction that tends to feel custom or semi-custom rather than the production-style builds common in larger suburban communities. Buyers interested in new construction here should work with an agent who knows the specific sections with available lots and who understands the utility infrastructure considerations that come with building in a community that spans this much terrain.
For Sale
15 photos
