Central allandale By Jackie Potts

Milwood

It's a typical Austin summer day. The fluffy white clouds meander slowly across the bright blue sky, vivid green trees wave gently in the breeze. Men and women leave the coolness of their air-conditioned home to stroll down symmetric sidewalks, bordered by perfectly manicured lawns, to check their mailboxes.

Very few homes display "For Sale" signs on their front lawns. An occasional "For Lease" sign sprouts up here and there, but it seems Milwood residents are happy right where they are.

Why wouldn't they be? With easy access to the rest of Austin, a gorgeous neighborhood and amenities of all sorts just within reach, Milwood seems to be a good choice to purchase a house in. Milwood is bordered to the North by Parmer Lane, to the South Duval, East Amherst and the Railroad tracks to the West.

The houses are generally modern one-story homes placed on small, grassy plots of land. Neighbors are just a stone's throw away, watering their lawns and taking care of small shrubs in their front yards.

Harvey Pikoff, a Realtor with Re/Max, says a lot of first-time homebuyers choose Milwood. "These are people who have lived in Austin for a year or two, and have been renting. They choose to buy a house in Milwood," he says.

It makes sense. Homes range from the $145s to the $160s, with an average range of 1,600 square feet of space. While they are modestly sized, they are well-maintained and boast an extremely reasonable price tag.

"One of the appeals is there's a lot of mature trees in the neighborhood, and it's a neighborhood where you can get a modestly priced house without having to really travel into Williamson County," he says. "With the prices these homes have, they're more affordable than buying brand-new houses."

If price alone isn't enough to lure potential homebuyers, Milwood's location is sure to reel them in. The neighborhood is bordered by Parmer Lane, Amherst Drive, the county line and northwest toward RM 620.

Convenient access to Interstate 35 and Loop 1 make Milwood an ideal location for those looking to ease their commute to and from work each day.

Several shopping centers and convenience stores are available for Milwood residents. A few highlights include the Cool River Café, the Balcones Park and Pool for residents of all ages and the Milwood Branch Austin Public Library.

Pikoff, having specialized in the Milwood area for 20 years, says another appeal of the area is the neighborhood's image. The picturesque landscape of Milwood makes it an ideal location to raise a family.

In addition to a nicely laid-out community, Milwood offers a strong and active neighborhood association. Membership is offered to all residents who pay annual dues.

The Milwood Neighborhood Association organizes several committees aimed to improve the community, including beautification, crime and safety, membership and social, newsletter, Web site and zoning information committees.

Each Fourth of July, the neighborhood association hosts a picnic and parade for the entire community. The group also organizes a neighborhood-wide garage sale, and publishes a newsletter for community members.

In addition to neighborhood-wide activities of this sort, the association also offers scholarships for graduating high school seniors.

Children in the area attend Summit Elementary, a school Pikoff says is highly rated, Murchison Middle School and Anderson High School. Utilities are provided by the city.

Schools Austin Independent School District Summit Elementary Murchison Middle School Anderson High School

Amenities Balcones District Park Milwood Neighborhood Association

Resources Search articles mentioning Milwood in the Austin American-Statesman's archives. Find area restaurants on Austin360

Zone: NC
MLS Area: N

Zip Code 78727