Future South Austin: 78748 vs 78744 by 2030 | Buyer Guide
The Future of South Austin: What's Coming to 78748 and 78744 by 2030
Quick Answer: The future South Austin map is splitting 78748 and 78744 into two completely different markets by 2030. 78744 is being reshaped by Easton Park, Goodnight Ranch, Marble Creek Crossing, the Southwest Airlines crew base, and Concourse B at Austin Bergstrom. 78748 is growing into itself with mature oaks, smaller infill projects, and a booming South Menchaca dining scene.
By Brandon Holley, Broker/Owner, Holley Homes Realty
If you would rather watch than read, the full video is right above.
After working with relocation buyers from California, Colorado, and the Pacific Northwest for years now, the question I get more than any other in 2026 is which is the smarter buy between 78748 and 78744 in South Austin. The answer is changing right now, and most relocators have no idea what is actually being built. The future South Austin story is not one story. It is two.
What does South Austin look like right now in 78748 vs 78744?
Both zips are sellers markets in 2026, but they are behaving very differently.
Metric | 78748 | 78744 |
|---|---|---|
Median sold price | $399,000 | $400,000 |
Average days on market | 21 days | 70 days |
Market personality | Tight, established, limited inventory | Active transformation, new construction wave |
Tree coverage | Mature 30+ year oaks | Mostly new plantings |
Typical tax rate | Under 2% | 2.6% to just under 3% in MUD sections |
That gap in days on market tells the whole story. 78748 is a tight, established market where homes move quickly because there isn't much for sale. 78744 is a market undergoing active transformation, with thousands of new-construction homes coming online at the same time, which softens the timeline even though demand is real.
What is actually being built in 78744 right now?
78744 is the zip code with the most visible change happening in South Austin.
Easton Park is the anchor. It is a 2,700-acre master planned community by Brookfield Residential. At full buildout, it will hold over 14,000 homes and more than 5 million square feet of commercial space. Right now, it is roughly halfway built, with multiple parks, a large amenity center, miles of trails, an on-site Chick-fil-A, and a second amenity center planned in the next few years. Seven of the most active builders in Austin are selling there: Perry Homes, Highland, David Weekley, Brookfield, Newmark, Pacesetter, and Taylor Morrison. New construction runs roughly $258 per square foot for homes in the 2,750 to 3,700-square-foot range, which works out to about $693,000 to $935,000. Smaller floor plans start in the low $300s.
Goodnight Ranch and Marble Creek Crossing are adding more inventory in the same zip code right now. And the biggest job-creation news of the decade is sitting right inside 78744. Southwest Airlines just landed a deal that brings 2,000 new jobs with an average salary of around $180,000 per year, including a full crew base, a command center, and a training facility, all at Austin-Bergstrom.
If you would like to see a related video on this topic, the one I built on living inside Easton Park is a great next watch.
(Watch here - https://youtu.be/wwDrt87K3gQ)
What is changing the South Austin commute by 2026?
The Oak Hill Parkway project is the quiet move that actually shifts property values. It is a $677 million reconstruction of the US 290 and SH 71 interchange, and it is scheduled to finish in 2026. By the end of this year, you will be able to drive from southwest Austin into downtown without stopping at a single light. That changes the entire western edge of South Austin.
At the same time, Austin Bergstrom is building Concourse B with at least 20 new gates, expandable to 40 more. Combine that with the Southwest crew base, and 78744 is sitting next to one of the biggest job creation engines in Central Texas for the next decade.
How is 78748 evolving differently?
While 78744 is getting attention for new construction, 78748 is moving in a different direction. It is not starting from scratch. It is growing into itself.
South Menchaca has quietly become one of the more interesting pockets in all of Austin, with spots like Armadillo Den, Leroy and Lewis, and Drifter Social anchoring a real food-and-entertainment corridor. A new pickleball concept is coming in, and Slaughter Lane is expanding to support the growth around it.
Instead of large master planned communities, 78748 is filling in the gaps with smaller, more intentional projects. Novel and Drew Lane are walkable infill developments tucked into established neighborhoods with mature trees. Not thousands of homes at once. A few dozen at a time, usually in the $400,000 to $450,000 range. That is the personality difference. 78744 is building something new from the ground up. 78748 is taking what is already there and making it better.
Which ZIP would I actually buy in today?
If I am buying new construction, I am leaning toward Easton Park. The amenity centers are open, the parks are active, and a massive HEB is under construction. The price per square foot on new builds is typically lower than what you see in 78748.
If I want established character, settled streets, and mature trees, I am choosing 78748. Trees take time to grow, and those 30+-year-old oaks cannot be replicated.
The one detail I make sure every California buyer understands with Easton Park is the tax rate. Because it is a newer community with a MUD, you are generally looking at 2.6% to just under 3%, depending on the section. Most of 78748 sits under 2%. On a $600,000 home, that difference can be several thousand dollars a year. Before you fall in love with a model, ask for the exact tax rate on that specific lot. That single detail can quietly change the entire monthly picture, and it is the thing that catches almost every relocator off guard.
What about Brodie Oaks?
You might be wondering about Brodie Oaks, sometimes called the Domain of the South. Honest answer: it got final approval in 2023, but as of last year the developer publicly said they are pumping the brakes. Rates stayed high, the market shifted, and there is no clear timeline for when construction will actually start. Projects like that usually get built eventually, but if someone is using Brodie Oaks as a near-term reason to buy in South Austin, the data does not yet support that. Oak Hill Parkway is being built. Easton Park is selling and growing. The airport expansion is funded. Brodie Oaks is one you file under "could happen."
Who fits best in each ZIP?
78744 fits best if you want:
- Brand new construction with builder warranties
- Active amenity centers, trails, and resort-style pools out of the gate
- Lower price per square foot
- Proximity to airport jobs and the Southwest crew base
- A neighborhood that is still being shaped
78748 fits best if you want:
- Mature 30+ year old oaks and tree-lined streets
- Established neighborhoods with character
- A walkable food and entertainment corridor on South Menchaca
- Lower property tax rate in most pockets
- Smaller, slower growth
Who should look elsewhere? If you want hill country views, large lots, or top-rated schools as the top priority, both zips can fall short of what you would find further west in 78736 or south in Buda and Kyle. That is worth a separate conversation.
Where does the future South Austin story go from here?
The future South Austin map by 2030 is not a single market. It is two parallel stories: 78744 transforming through scale, and 78748 maturing through infill. The right answer depends on which story fits how you actually want to live.
Download the South Austin Relocation Guide for the full breakdown of neighborhoods, builders, tax rates, and schools across 78748, 78744, and the rest of South Austin → https://holleyhomesrealty.com/south-austin-home-guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 78748 or 78744 the better buy for a 2026 move to South Austin? Both have nearly identical median prices around $400,000, but they are different markets. 78748 is established with mature trees, infill development, and a 21-day average sale time. 78744 is in active transformation with new construction at Easton Park, Goodnight Ranch, and Marble Creek Crossing, plus a 2,000-job Southwest Airlines expansion at the airport.
What is the tax rate in Easton Park compared to the rest of 78748? Easton Park sits in a MUD, so total tax rates run roughly 2.6% to just under 3% depending on the section. Most of 78748 runs at or below 2%. On a $600,000 home, that gap can mean several thousand dollars a year. Always ask for the exact rate on the specific lot before you write an offer.
Which builders are selling new construction in Easton Park right now? Seven major builders are currently active in Easton Park: Perry Homes, Highland Homes, David Weekley Homes, Brookfield Residential, Newmark Homes, Pacesetter Homes, and Taylor Morrison. Prices range from the low $300s for smaller plans to roughly $935,000 for larger homes in the 2,750 to 3,700-square-foot range, averaging about $258 per square foot.
How will Oak Hill Parkway change commutes in South Austin? The $677 million Oak Hill Parkway project finishes in 2026 and rebuilds the US 290 and SH 71 interchange. Once complete, drivers from southwest Austin can reach downtown without hitting a single stoplight. That reshapes the commute for the entire western edge of South Austin and indirectly lifts demand in 78748 and 78745.
Is the Brodie Oaks development still happening? Brodie Oaks received final approval in 2023, but the developer publicly slowed the project last year due to interest rates and shifting market conditions. There is no current timeline for construction to start. It may eventually get built, but it is not something to base a 2026 buying decision on.
What is making South Menchaca a hotspot in 78748? South Menchaca has quietly turned into one of the more interesting food and entertainment corridors in Austin. Armadillo Den, Leroy and Lewis, and Drifter Social are anchoring the strip, with a new pickleball concept coming in and Slaughter Lane expanding to support the growth. It is the kind of organic growth that adds value to the established 78748 neighborhoods around it.
About the Author
Brandon Holley is the Broker and Owner of Holley Homes Realty in Austin, Texas. He works with first-time homebuyers, new construction clients, and relocation buyers moving to Central Texas from across the country. Brandon hosts a recurring segment on American Dream TV and runs the YouTube channel Your Austin Home Guide, where he breaks down communities, builders, and neighborhoods across Austin, Buda, Kyle, Bastrop, and the surrounding suburbs.
Have a question or thinking about a move to Central Texas? Reach out anytime.
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I understand now may not be the right time, and I never want to be pushy. Just know that I am here if you have questions, would like to start planning, or need anything.
