Ok, so I brought two tiny home inspectors on this Austin Texas home tour, aka my kids, and they did not hold back. We toured a five-bedroom Perry Homes house in Carpenter Hill, a Buda neighborhood just south of Austin that a lot of people drive right past without knowing it’s there. Final grade from my kids: an A. Their one dealbreaker? A bedroom that’s just too small…really the closets.
Watch the full tour:
Like always, I’m going to talk to you like you’re one of my clients. I’ll point out the pros, point out the cons, and you can make your own call.
Key takeaways
- Five bedrooms in just over 3,000 square feet, built by Perry Homes within roughly the last eight years.
- The backyard is big and unusually private for a newer neighborhood, with mature trees and a gas line ready for a grill.
- One downstairs bedroom is small. It works great as an office or nursery.
- Johnson High School, Carpenter Hill Elementary and Dahlstrom Middle School are all close by (verify zoning with Hays CISD).
- If you rate a home an A, you should seriously consider writing an offer.
Where is Carpenter Hill and why do people miss it?
Carpenter Hill is in Buda, south of Austin, and it’s tucked back far enough that people zoom right by on their way somewhere else. From here you can get into South Austin quickly, and Driftwood and the wineries are close too. You get a lot more house than you would closer in, without paying Driftwood prices.
The neighborhood is newer, so most homes were built in roughly the last eight years. The older section has bigger lots and taller trees, which is where this house sits. Want to see more of the area? Here’s my roundup of what’s new in Buda.
Have you ever driven past a neighborhood for years and then realized it was there the whole time?
What does this 5-bedroom home near Austin look like inside?
Front office. Right when you walk in, there’s an office with a door, plus the stairs. This one had mirrors on the wall, so it could also be a gym or a dance room. (My kids immediately started dancing. Of course.)
Kitchen. Three pendant lights, a black island and a backsplash that I’m almost positive was an upgrade. It’s a four-burner stove instead of five, and the kitchen isn’t huge, but there’s room along the wall to add a bar or more storage. Soft-close drawers, a nice-sized pantry, recessed lighting and a floor outlet near the island, which my kids pointed out like it was the coolest thing they’d ever seen. Honestly? It is nice. No cords stretched across the floor.
Living and dining. Open to the kitchen, with a view up to the loft.
Garage. Two-car with an epoxy floor, a tankless water heater and a water filtration system. Those last two are things buyers don’t always think about, and they’re nice to already have.
Not sure what upgrades matter for resale? Text TOUR to 563.650.0452 and I’ll send you homes for sale in Carpenter Hill and nearby Buda neighborhoods right now, plus my take on which features actually add value.
What’s the one dealbreaker?
The small downstairs bedroom. It has a walk-in closet, and empty rooms always look smaller than they will with furniture, but it’s still small. With five bedrooms in just over 3,000 square feet, something has to give, and this is where it gave.
My honest read: as an office or nursery, it’s totally fine. As a real bedroom…you’d want more.
What’s the primary suite like?
There’s a big walk-in shower with a seat, a soaking tub, and black trim on the fixtures, which is another upgrade over the standard silver. The mirror is huge but basic. Insider tip: a new mirror is about 100 bucks and changes the whole bathroom. Little things like that make a big difference for resale.
The closet is big. Let’s feel the love for big closets.
One thing to know: the shower glass looks right into the vanity area. Some people love the open look. Some people want more privacy. Which camp are you in?
How big is the backyard?
This is the winner. Compared to a lot of new construction where you’ve got five houses looking into your yard, this one is really private, with mostly one neighbor’s view. There’s room for a pool, there’s a gas line run for a grill, and there are big mature trees, which you won’t get in the brand-new sections down the street. My kids ran laps and declared it “the best part.”
The yard needs a little TLC on the grass, but that’s an easy fix. And yes, they found a stick and considered it a bonus feature.
What’s upstairs?
Three bedrooms, a guest bath with modern tile and a double vanity (not soft-close, but nice), and a loft that’s on the smaller side. The sellers left a pool table up there. Pool tables are a pain to move down stairs, so it may stay. Anything you want to keep, like furniture, you can always try to negotiate into the deal.
One bedroom has its own bathroom and a little nook that could fit a dresser or a reading chair.
The stair railings are vertical balusters, not horizontal. Horizontal bars are easy to climb, and with four kids, I always notice. A lot of newer homes use horizontal ones because they look more modern, so it’s worth checking if that matters to you.
A small detail I always check: the air return filters. These were clean, which tells me the sellers took good care of the house.
What schools are near Carpenter Hill?
Johnson High School is close enough that you can see it from an upstairs window, and Carpenter Hill Elementary and Dahlstrom Middle School are nearby too. Johnson has a big athletics complex with baseball fields and a large new building. Always verify which schools a home is zoned to with Hays CISD before you buy, since boundaries can change.
What did my kids grade it?
The older one gave it an A. What would they change? A bigger kitchen and bigger closets in the secondary bedrooms. The younger one also gave it an A, with notes: bigger small bedroom, bigger upstairs, bigger kitchen. I tried to argue that three changes should make it an A-minus. I lost.
My honest take
I’d rate this one an A too. The backyard, the mature trees, the five bedrooms and the location just outside Austin make it a strong home. The trade-offs are a smaller kitchen, a smaller loft and that one small bedroom.
Here’s what I always tell my clients: if you’re touring homes and you rate one an A, you should seriously consider putting in an offer. And right now, buyers have more room to negotiate than they have in a while. Here’s my full Austin housing market update for October if you want the numbers.
FAQs About This Austin Texas Home Tour
Where is Carpenter Hill?
Carpenter Hill is a newer neighborhood in Buda, Texas, south of Austin. It’s close to South Austin and a short drive from Driftwood.
Who built the homes in Carpenter Hill?
The home in this tour was built by Perry Homes. Most homes in the neighborhood were built within roughly the last eight years.
What schools are near Carpenter Hill in Buda?
Johnson High School, Carpenter Hill Elementary and Dahlstrom Middle School are nearby. Always verify school zoning for a specific address with Hays CISD.
Is Buda a good place to live near Austin?
Buda offers newer homes, more space for the money and quick access to South Austin. The trade-off is a longer drive to central and north Austin.
Is this home still for sale?
It was for sale when we filmed in October 2026. Text me at 563.650.0452 and I’ll tell you its current status and what else is available nearby.
Want to see homes like this one?
- Ready to tour? Fill out my buyer questionnaire and I’ll set up a day.
- Buying for the first time? Get my Keys to Austin buyer guide on my links page.
- Or text me at 563.650.0452. I actually answer!
Connect with Sarah
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Sarah Maddali, REALTOR® | Serendipity Realty Group at Compass | 563.650.0452
Serendipity Realty Group is a real estate team affiliated with Compass. Equal Housing Opportunity.