REAL ESTATE

BAT CITY COMMANDS TOP DOLLAR

The historic sale of Willow Beach, a nine-acre estate in Austin, Texas, is now the city's most expensive residential sale to date.

JESSICA HALL

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In a recent pocket deal, listing agents Michele Turnquist and Kathryn Scarborough of Engel & Völkers Austin made history with the sale of Willow Beach. Undoubtedly, one of Austin, Texas's most spectacular homes, the jaw-dropping, contemporary masterpiece, has recently changed ownership. The final sales price remains a mystery due to Texas's non-disclosure laws, which state that final sales prices are not part of public government records. The agents said the deal marks the priciest home sale ever recorded in Austin, and considering if the home sold close to the original sales price of $38.9 million, it is truly a historic event.

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Designed by internationally acclaimed Austin-based Miró Rivera Architects, built by Don Crowell, with interiors crafted by Fern Santini, Willow Beach, named for the many willow trees on the grounds, sits prominently on nine acres with 665-feet of water frontage. Taking over 11 years to build, the estate completed in 2010 now consists of an 11,405-squarefoot, glass-walled main house and a 3,320-squarefoot-guesthouse with a total of seven bedrooms, eight-and-half bathrooms, a pedestrian bridge, a boat dock, and a negative-edge swimming pool, a private lagoon, and boat canal.

"Miró Rivera did an amazing job designing the home to encompass the surroundings and has won many international design awards and featured in Architectural Digest," says Scarborough. "The architecture embraces the natural beauty of Austin and the water that surrounds it."

Austin's real estate market is on fire. It has seen an influx of new residents, mainly from California. Inevitably agents explain that Willow Beach would have commanded a high price regardless of the influx. "We see a lot of migration. However, we feel it's one of the most iconic properties in Austin and would have caught the eye of someone locally or abroad," Ms. Turnquist explained. "Being on such a large parcel of land on Lake Austin, with a private lagoon, is one of the many reasons why this estate is irreplaceable."

For more information on Austin's fast-growing real estate market, please visit https://micheleturnquist.evrealestate.com/