Central allandale By Jackie Potts

Wells Branch

Special sections staff

A large part of the appeal of the Wells Branch neighborhood is its excellent location. Situated in north Austin, halfway between MoPac and Interstate 35, Wells Branch is a vibrant community in its prime.

Mike Baker, a residential real estate agent with the Allen-Lancaster team of Keller Williams, notes that in addition to its central location, a substantial component of the allure of Wells Branch is the "broad price range" of the homes.

Baker notes that Wells Branch buyers can find a home in the "$90,000 range" - no mean feat in Austin's hot real estate market.

Starting in the $90s, homes in Wells Branch are priced up into the $250s. The varied prices reflect the age of homes in the community - from 1982, the year Wells Branch opened, until 2003 - and a size range of about 800 to 3,000 square feet.

In addition to I-35 to the west and MoPac to the east, Wells Branch also counts Grand Avenue Parkway to the north and Wells Branch Parkway to the south as its boundaries. This puts this established community an easy distance from the shopping, dining and recreational facilities of the La Frontera, Gateway and Arboretum shopping centers.

Major north Austin employers, including many in the high-tech arena, are also within a comfortable distance.

As Baker points out, depending on traffic, Wells Branch residents are "only about 10 minutes from downtown." The area in and around the sprawling, 3,000-plus-home community has its own share of amusements, however, many of which are provided by the Wells Branch Municipal Utility District (MUD).

"One of the reasons for (Wells Branch's) success is the MUD," Baker says.

In addition to providing water and wastewater services, the MUD provides residents with numerous recreation opportunities, including a rec center, community center, parks pool and more.

The Wells Branch Recreation Center features a full-size basketball court, a workout room with exercise machines and free weights, and multi-purpose rooms for fitness classes and meetings. Wells Branch is home to two swimming pools, the junior-Olympic sized Willow Bend pool and the Katherine Fleischer pool at the park of the same name. Also at Katherine Fleischer Park is the Homestead, an 1850s-era cabin complex available for tours and festivals in the community. North Mills Park is the second park in the community.

In addition to the Wells Branch Community Garden, which gives residents a chance to exercise their green thumbs and enjoy the great outdoors, Baker mentions another opportunity to enjoy nature, the hike-and-bike trails. Several miles of trails, complete with Frisbee golf, wind through the community.

Most of the kids in Wells Branch attend the schools of the Round Rock Independent School District, but a few attend Pflugerville ISD schools. The majority of children attend Wells Branch or Northwest elementary schools, Deerpark Middle and McNeil High schools. In addition to the utilities the MUD is responsible for, TXU Gas provides gas. TXU Energy and The City of Austin share in providing electricity. The tax rate is 2.956 percent.

Wells Branch is a community with much to offer anyone looking for a warm, inviting place to call home.

"When you drive through the neighborhood, it has appeal," says Baker. "It looks like someplace you'd want to live."

Zone: N
MLS Area: N

Zip Code 78728

Wells Branch has much to offer its residents. In addition to be 10 minutes from downtown, this neighborhood is close to the La Frontera, Gateway and Arboretum shopping areas. The Wells Branch Recreation center also offers a basketball court and exercise equipment. Two parks, Katherine Fleischer Park and North Mills Park are located within the community.