| Olympic Heights is a South Austin neighborhood of | | | | Johnny Weissmuller |
| newer homes built by DR Horton. Not far south from | | | | Observations and Analysis: Olympic Heights always |
| downtown Austin, Olympic Heights features a beautiful | | | | yielded higher prices than surrounding neighborhoods. |
| park with nature trails and a community pool. There is | | | | As new homes were being built in this neighborhood, it |
| a active homeowner's association with reasonable | | | | puzzled me, a real estate agent with over thirty years |
| fees (many under $40/month). The streets are named | | | | experience in South Austin. Yet homebuyers accepted |
| after world class athletes, such as Johnny Weissmuller | | | | those higher prices. Incredulously, prices for Olympic |
| (aka Tarzan), Jesse Owens, Budley S Degroot (a | | | | Heights resales continue to remain higher, even during |
| curious misspelling of Dudley Sargent Degroot), Marcus | | | | times when other prices are declining. |
| Abrams, and even Mary Lou Retton. Home sizes | | | | A case in point are the following properties, 1124-1219 |
| range from about 1150-2100 square feet (heated and | | | | square feet, among the smallest in the neighborhood. |
| cooled areas). Prices range from a low of $158,800 | | | | From Feb-August 2010, their sold prices have been |
| (11716 Budley S Degroot) to a high of $189,900. Lease | | | | consistently in the mid 150s, which is at least $10,000 |
| prices range from $1195 for about 1350 sq. ft. to $1395 | | | | and in some cases $20,000 and $30,000 higher than |
| for about 2000 square feet. | | | | properties the same size and age within just one mile. |
| Elementary school student go to highly acclaimed | | | | 11706 Budley S Degroot sold for 153,000 |
| Baranoff Elementary, Middle School is Bailey and High | | | | 11203 Jim Thorpe LN sold for 155,000 |
| School is Akins. | | | | 11704 Raymond C Ewry Ln sold for 153,000 |
| Residents of Olympic Heights love the fact that they | | | | 1805 Marcus Abrams Blvd sold for 155,000 |
| are almost equidistant from the major north-south | | | | 2417 Jesse Owens Dr sold for 150,500 |
| thoroughfares, Mopac (Loop 1) and IH-35. Getting | | | | 11507 Dub Dr sold for 160,000 |
| downtown is easy, as the main street through Olympic | | | | Why on earth would people pay $10,000-$30,000 |
| Heights (Marcus Abrams) intersects Manchaca Road, | | | | more for a house that was similar to those being built |
| a straight shot to South Lamar and on into downtown. | | | | in surrounding neighborhoods? Today, a drive through |
| Newcomers love the look of the neighborhood. It is | | | | Olympic heights provides the answer. |
| very clean and well kept. The streets have aesthetic | | | | PRIDE. Olympic Heights LOOKS like a quality |
| curves. Traffic control is with roundabouts, avoiding the | | | | neighborhood. It FEELS refreshing. Streets are clean. |
| use of unsightly and annoying speed bumps. In short, | | | | No disabled vehicles are in sight. Lawns are mowed. |
| Olympic Heights is a great place to live. | | | | Better still, lawns are green, even in 100 degree heat. |
| Now for us curious folks, following is a list of athletes | | | | The major streets are graced with landscaped |
| the streets were named after, with examples of | | | | medians. There are no speed bumps; instead, there |
| homes for sale: | | | | are classy landscaped roundabouts. Homes are kept |
| Marcus Abrams | | | | painted. Yards are free of trash, debris, and even too |
| Paul E. Anderson | | | | many toys. Shrubbery is kept trimmed. The |
| Theresa Blanchard | | | | neighborhood is not gated, but it is certainly set apart. |
| Georgia Coleman | | | | Yes, the residents pay a cost for all this, under $40 |
| James B Connolly | | | | month to a homeowners association that enforces the |
| Budley S Degroot -misspelled name of Dudley Sargent | | | | rules and helps keep the neighborhood uniformly |
| DeGroot | | | | attractive. But this small cost not only includes paying |
| Raymond C Ewry | | | | for the beautiful pool and park areas, but also results in |
| Billy Fiske | | | | increasing the value of the properties. All of this is why |
| Bruce Jenner | | | | Olympic Heights homes cost more than those in |
| Billy Mills | | | | surrounding neighboorhoods. I'm reminded of the old |
| Jesse Owens | | | | Curtis Mathes TV ads, which touted their product, "The |
| Mary Lou Retton | | | | most expensive television in America, and darn well |
| Wilma Rudolph | | | | worth it." Residents of Olympic Heights can say the |
| Jim Ryun | | | | same. If you want to buy in Olympic Heights, you too, |
| Jim Thorpe | | | | can proudly pay more. |