Sucker for Austin Stone: Renovated Ranch Living With A-Plus Location, Lot

Update: apparently the third bedroom is on a second level in this home, with loads of storage space, overlooking the lush backyard and pool… and all that Austin stone.

I’m a total sucker for Austin stone. That’s why this great renovated ranch popped out at me. For one thing, Austin stone is indigenous and serves as the best shelter stone in Texas: it’s thick, insulating, and keeps homes cool in hot summer months. Most Austin stone homes have sheetrock and dry wall in the inside walls, but I’ve stayed in homes and B&B’s where you only had Austin stone on both the exterior and the interior walls, and that’s it. It worked very well.

The other nice thing about this home is that it is all on one story. As you know, one-story homes are in vogue outside areas like the Park Cities (where land is such a premium). Older buyers shun stairs or put in elevators. Young families don’t want to deal with toddlers and stairs. If you have the lot space, go ahead and spread out.

And 6701 Inwood is quite a spread — 185 feet wide by 200 feet deep! The home comes in at a neat 3852 square feet, and is like brand-new living thanks to the complete remodel in 2002 and the addition of a den with a 12 foot vaulted ceiling. The den is a natural flow with huge windows on the custom backyard pool, fountain and heavily treed yard. There is a backyard party cabana and deck all flanked by large palms and a forest of trees.

There are formals, including a very elegant fireplace in the living room. The kitchen went all “Old World” when it was updated to concrete counters, beautiful custom cabinetry and custom lighting over slate floors. While the Old World look may be getting dated, I think this kitchen has great bones and a little re-surfacing could bring it into 2015. This is a cook’s kitchen with two professional ovens, counter gas range and tons of custom cabinet storage. There is a large breakfast room, arched doorways to a beautiful beamed great Room, a huge master with luxury spa bath, and two decked-out bedrooms for a total of three. Three full baths, one half. I also love the pergola patio, the diamond-shaped pool, and the old-fashioned cabana when pool parties get wild and crazy: I hear cabanas are making a come-back: they keep your main house clean and water-free.

I think this home has great potential: you’ve got an A-plus location,  hefty acreage that buffers from Inwood Road (the home is on the corner of Inwood and Waneta, west side of Inwood), and updates for easy living. Move-in ready or buy and hold for a future tear-down: save every piece of that Austin stone!

The home has been reduced from a high of $1,190,000 and is now listed at $995,000, inching very close to it’s DCAD value of $850,000.

Like my mother used to say, get it while it’s hot. Listed with Grant Hudson of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.