Pioneer Hill: Modern D.R. Horton Homes in Northeast Austin

At a glance

Location

Northeast Austin, off US-290 and I-35 near Parmer Lane

Price range

Roughly $400,000-$500,000; some smaller townhomes in the $300s (as of April 2024)

Builder

D.R. Horton

Home sizes

About 1,300 to close to 3,000 sq ft; most 1,800-2,000

Tax rate

2.33% (as of April 2024)

HOA

$45 a month (as of April 2024)

Location and commute

Pioneer Hill is in Northeast Austin, right off 290 and I-35 near Parmer Lane. It's tucked back far enough that it's quiet and feels suburban, even though you're not far from anything.

As of April 2024:

• Downtown: 15-20 minutes without traffic, maybe 30-35 at rush hour
• Airport: about 25 minutes via 183
• Samsung, Dell and General Motors off Parmer: 5-10 minutes
• Tesla: less than 20 minutes via 183 to 290 to 130

It's really not bad, especially once you factor in how much you get for your money here.

Homes and architecture

D.R. Horton built Pioneer Hill, and it's known for a more modern, contemporary style than their standard line: harder edges and larger windows to capture natural light. There are a few traditional red-brick homes too.

You'll see townhouse-style homes with rear-alley garages as well as traditional single-family homes. Homes run from about 1,300 sq ft up to close to 3,000 sq ft, with most in the 1,800-2,000 sq ft range. Quite a few back to greenbelt.

Central Texas is generally pretty flat. This one's not. The hills give the neighborhood a little character, and some homes have views.

Amenities

Pioneer Hill has:

• A really nice pool (not a lap pool)
• An indoor community event space for parties, with restrooms
• A playground
• Walking paths, and sidewalks throughout

Prices, taxes and HOA

As of my April 2024 tour:

• Prices: roughly $400,000 to $500,000 (mid $400s to mid $500s), with some smaller townhomes in the $300s
• Tax rate: 2.33%, which is very reasonable when some locations not far away are in the 3% range
• HOA: only $45 a month, very reasonable considering the amenities

These numbers change, so confirm them for any home you're looking at.

How often homes come up

By my ballpark estimate, Pioneer Hill has around 800 to 1,000 homes. When I filmed, there were no homes for sale at all. People generally don't move from here, and that's a really good testament to how much the community offers. It also means you need to be ready when one comes up.

Who Pioneer Hill fits

Pioneer Hill fits buyers who want a newer, more modern-looking home in the $400s, a low HOA and an easy commute to Samsung, Dell, GM, Tesla or downtown. It's a tremendous value for the money.

The trade-offs: inventory is rare, and the tax rate is higher than some older parts of Austin.

When I work for you, you get me. I show the homes, I negotiate and I'm the one who answers your call. You're never handed off to a teammate you didn't choose.

What's in the video

• 0:00Intro: new-build style homes in the $400s
• 0:41Location: off 290 and I-35, near Parmer employers
• 1:40D.R. Horton's contemporary architecture
• 2:23Commutes: downtown, airport, Samsung/GM/Dell, Tesla
• 3:17Community size and low turnover
• 4:00Amenities: pool, event space, playground, trails
• 5:00Housing: sizes, greenbelts, views
• 5:47Pricing, 2.33% tax rate, $45 HOA
• 6:35Final thoughts

Common questions