Austin Neighborhood Guide:

Central East Austin

Hip and vibrant, this might be the ‘most Austin’ of all Austin neighborhoods.

Walk score: 81
Transit score: 49
Bike score: 95

Public Schools
Blackshear, Brooke, Campbell, Govalle, Maplewood, Metz, Norman, Oak Springs, Ortega, Pecan Springs, Sanchez, Sims, Zavala

french-legation
hillside-farmacy
bouldering
figure8

The Central East Austin vibe

Central East Austin is the heart of what Austin’s all about today. It’s known for its restaurant scene, with options from food trailers to fancy dining (well, fancy-ish — this is a laid-back town!). You’ll also find eclectic shopping, urban farms, art and theater venues, yoga studios and a deep love of the community.

the roots of Central East Austin

Landmarks like The Historic Victory Grill (which has hosted legends like James Brown and Billie Holiday), Huston-Tillotson University and the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center speak to the area’s roots as a center of Austin’s African American community. The area is also rich in Mexican American history. Our Lady of Guadalupe Church is the oldest Hispanic Catholic church in Austin. And look for murals reflecting cultural pride at Oswaldo A.B. Cantu/Pan American Recreation Center and at Cycleast bike shop, among other locations.

Central East Austin real estate

While this area used to be the more-affordable option in Austin, homes here are now highly sought after — and prices match the demand. There are still some single family homes on residential lots, but two-unit condos have become a popular choice since land prices have gone up.

Eat and Drink in the
Central East Austin Area

This area is one of Austin’s dining hot spots, and you’ll have no shortage of amazing options from morning till night. We like to caffeinate at Figure 8 Coffee Purveyors. Grab a classic, diner-style breakfast with a locavore twist at Counter Cafe, or linger over brunch and Bloody Marys at Hillside Farmacy.

When it’s cocktail time, sidle up to the cozy bar at Whisler’s or sample a fresh Mexican martini at Takoba.

We can’t choose just one favorite restaurant for dinner. But three we know you’ll love are Chicon (a relaxed, open space with a casual menu), Dai Due (one of Bon Appétit magazine’s Best New Restaurants of 2015), and Launderette (a gas station/coin laundry turned stylish eatery).

Get
Outside

Go for a run at Lady Bird Lake or challenge yourself at Austin Bouldering Project.

Neighborhood
Landmarks

The Texas State Cemetery is a huge, tree-shaded slice of history. It’s the final resting place of illustrious Texans like Stephen F. Austin.

The French Legation Museum is the oldest house in Austin. Stroll the beautiful grounds, or step inside to explore life in early Austin.

Where We Find
‘Our Austin’

The East Austin Studio Tour is one of our favorite Austin treasures — and it’s free. Each year, hundreds of studios open their doors to visitors over two weekends in November. You can meet artists and artisans, buy some one-of-a-kind creations and enjoy free beer, snacks and music.

what our clients say:

Best buying process ever!

Best buying process ever! Teel and Helen on Lisa's team streamlined the process and minimized my stress. Would recommend to anyone looking to buy.

Andreas L.

2022-01-11T09:07:10-06:00

Andreas L.

Best buying process ever! Teel and Helen on Lisa's team streamlined the process and minimized my stress. Would recommend to anyone looking to buy.

Wow Wow Wow!

Wow wow wow! We cannot say enough great things about Lisa! We started looking for a new home back in December of 2020 and watched home prices skyrocket. To make matters worse, we were house shopping remotely due to childcare responsibilities and fear of traveling to Austin during the pandemic before vaccines were available. At that time, we were with a different realtor that wasn’t a good fit for us. We put in a few offers and lost out on everyone. We were anxious, scared, and hopeless, so we decided to switch gears, which led us to Lisa. She took us under her wing and provided us firm guidance, confidence, and support. Lisa really took the time to understand our wishes. It felt good to be challenged when we brought up a house that she knew wasn’t right for us, and it gave us a lot more confidence when we found the right house. When that day came, Lisa and her team sprung into action, and we ended up getting our dream home with the first offer Lisa’s team helped us with! We loved Lisa and her whole team! We are so so so grateful for every one of them!

Bekah S.

2021-11-05T11:00:38-05:00

Bekah S.

Wow wow wow! We cannot say enough great things about Lisa! We started looking for a new home back in December of 2020 and watched home prices skyrocket. To make matters worse, we were house shopping remotely due to childcare responsibilities and fear of traveling to Austin during the pandemic before vaccines were available. At that time, we were with a different realtor that wasn’t a good fit for us. We put in a few offers and lost out on everyone. We were anxious, scared, and hopeless, so we decided to switch gears, which led us to Lisa. She took us under her wing and provided us firm guidance, confidence, and support. Lisa really took the time to understand our wishes. It felt good to be challenged when we brought up a house that she knew wasn’t right for us, and it gave us a lot more confidence when we found the right house. When that day came, Lisa and her team sprung into action, and we ended up getting our dream home with the first offer Lisa’s team helped us with! We loved Lisa and her whole team! We are so so so grateful for every one of them!

We really enjoy working with Lisa and the whole team.

We really enjoy working with Lisa and the whole team. We’ve bought and sold homes with Lisa and every time the experience has been seamless and we’ve felt like we had help and advice through every step of the process.

Paula S.

2022-01-20T12:17:59-06:00

Paula S.

We really enjoy working with Lisa and the whole team. We’ve bought and sold homes with Lisa and every time the experience has been seamless and we’ve felt like we had help and advice through every step of the process.

November 2021

I’ve just completed my 3rd real estate transaction with Lisa Munoz and her amazing team at Realty Austin-Central.  My 3rd transaction was as wonderful as the 1st and 2nd, and these have occurred over a 16 year period of time, both buying and selling. One of the many things I find amazing over these years is the consistency of Lisa’s team. Not just the fact that some of the same, critical people have been a part of her team for so long, but also the consistent quality of execution each member of the team provides. To say they go above and beyond doesn’t seem adequate. They supported me at such a high level of customer service that I never felt like “just a customer” or one of X-number of deals they are handling. You truly have a team there for you, helping you navigate and make great decisions at every step. Additionally, this team listens! That, coupled with their deep knowledge of the Austin market, gave me the confidence to know I was making well-informed decisions aligned with my goals. You will not go wrong by choosing Team Munoz, so go for it!

Kim B.

2021-11-09T12:30:51-06:00

Kim B.

I’ve just completed my 3rd real estate transaction with Lisa Munoz and her amazing team at Realty Austin-Central.  My 3rd transaction was as wonderful as the 1st and 2nd, and these have occurred over a 16 year period of time, both buying and selling. One of the many things I find amazing over these years is the consistency of Lisa’s team. Not just the fact that some of the same, critical people have been a part of her team for so long, but also the consistent quality of execution each member of the team provides. To say they go above and beyond doesn’t seem adequate. They supported me at such a high level of customer service that I never felt like “just a customer” or one of X-number of deals they are handling. You truly have a team there for you, helping you navigate and make great decisions at every step. Additionally, this team listens! That, coupled with their deep knowledge of the Austin market, gave me the confidence to know I was making well-informed decisions aligned with my goals. You will not go wrong by choosing Team Munoz, so go for it!

Lisa was great!

Lisa was great. I have two friends that recommended Lisa to me and I too would recommend her to any other friends looking to sell their house in Austin.

Andrew M.

2022-01-18T07:19:04-06:00

Andrew M.

Lisa was great. I have two friends that recommended Lisa to me and I too would recommend her to any other friends looking to sell their house in Austin.

Lisa and her team were there to support us the whole time.

Lisa rocks! Lisa's team rocks! We have been clients of Lisa's since 2005. We have referred our friends and family to her as well. This year was a challenging time to purchase a home, especially for investment. We have been looking since January and had put up a total of 3 offers before finally successfully getting a contract. Lisa and her team were there to support us the whole time. It was an extended engagement. There were times when we were more active, and there were times when we slowed down some, wondering if this was all in vain. A couple of the homes we bid on we had located, but Lisa's vigilant eye and a good understanding of what our limits and needs were led us to one we now own. She helped us modify our strategy in September, and that approach proved to be successful. I couldn't think of a better realtor (and I know a few). I always am the first to recommend Lisa to anyone, friend, family, or other who is looking to purchase a home.

Billie Jo and Jonathan E.

2021-11-09T12:28:54-06:00

Billie Jo and Jonathan E.

Lisa rocks! Lisa's team rocks! We have been clients of Lisa's since 2005. We have referred our friends and family to her as well. This year was a challenging time to purchase a home, especially for investment. We have been looking since January and had put up a total of 3 offers before finally successfully getting a contract. Lisa and her team were there to support us the whole time. It was an extended engagement. There were times when we were more active, and there were times when we slowed down some, wondering if this was all in vain. A couple of the homes we bid on we had located, but Lisa's vigilant eye and a good understanding of what our limits and needs were led us to one we now own. She helped us modify our strategy in September, and that approach proved to be successful. I couldn't think of a better realtor (and I know a few). I always am the first to recommend Lisa to anyone, friend, family, or other who is looking to purchase a home.

Can’t say enough positive things about this process. 

Lisa and her team at Realty Austin were nothing short of spectacular.  My wife and I approached this process (and the crazy Austin market) with concern in that we weren't sure we could pull off the purchase of a home that worked for our situation and budget.  That said, Lisa's team was extraordinary (shout out to Teel Warren!) and we were provided excellent advice every step of the way.  Even when we were sure about a place they professionally guided us away by commenting on specific pitfalls that we would've never had caught ourselves.  While my wife and I are engineers and we loved to look at data and challenge some of the notions around why a home may be worth it or not, we ultimately just got to a point through the constant communication with Lisa's team where we completely trusted their opinion.  Having that trust was truly a blessing, especially with our busy lives (two kids and demanding jobs).  Can't say enough positive things about this process.  We'll be using Lisa and her team again in the future without a doubt!

Ben R.

2022-01-18T07:12:58-06:00

Ben R.

Lisa and her team at Realty Austin were nothing short of spectacular.  My wife and I approached this process (and the crazy Austin market) with concern in that we weren't sure we could pull off the purchase of a home that worked for our situation and budget.  That said, Lisa's team was extraordinary (shout out to Teel Warren!) and we were provided excellent advice every step of the way.  Even when we were sure about a place they professionally guided us away by commenting on specific pitfalls that we would've never had caught ourselves.  While my wife and I are engineers and we loved to look at data and challenge some of the notions around why a home may be worth it or not, we ultimately just got to a point through the constant communication with Lisa's team where we completely trusted their opinion.  Having that trust was truly a blessing, especially with our busy lives (two kids and demanding jobs).  Can't say enough positive things about this process.  We'll be using Lisa and her team again in the future without a doubt!

January 2022

Lisa and her team were perfect from start to finish. She was referred to us by a friend who also had nothing but good things to say. Lisa provided us a strategic home improvement plan, which we followed and likely resulted in a quick sale for our house at a price we were happy with. If I end up searching for a home in the Austin area, I definitely plan to reach out to her. Likewise, if any friends of mine are searching for a realtor, I'll most definitely be referring Lisa to them.

Lily Y.

2022-01-11T07:35:43-06:00

Lily Y.

Lisa and her team were perfect from start to finish. She was referred to us by a friend who also had nothing but good things to say. Lisa provided us a strategic home improvement plan, which we followed and likely resulted in a quick sale for our house at a price we were happy with. If I end up searching for a home in the Austin area, I definitely plan to reach out to her. Likewise, if any friends of mine are searching for a realtor, I'll most definitely be referring Lisa to them.

referral program

We welcome and are honored by your referrals.
We go the extra mile to show our gratitude for referrals with special perks at our appreciation events and little treats all year long, such as our Thanksgiving pie delivery.