Houses
This 15,000-Square-Foot Austin Estate Called The Gatsby Sits on Prestigious Balcones Drive — Listed at $22 Million
Set behind private gates on Balcones Drive in Austin, Texas, a listing marketed as The Gatsby is offered at $22,000,000. Zillow’s headline describes a home of 15,000 square feet on 1.19 acres, with 5 bedrooms and 11 bathrooms (Facts & Features: eight full and three half). The marketing description, though, says seven bedrooms. We are not choosing a number. Confirm the count — and how rooms in the two guest houses are tallied — with the agent.
The listing was Active, with 4,178 views and 377 saves after 14 days — interest, nothing more. A Zestimate was not available. The year built is shown as 2027. The same Facts & Features section says Under Construction and also “New construction: No.” We are leaving those labels as they appear. Do not treat this as a finished house until an agent or inspector says otherwise, and ask whether gallery images are photographs, renderings, or a mix.
Quick Look: The Listing Details
| Address | 3808 Balcones Dr, Austin, TX 78731 |
| List price | $22,000,000 |
| Status | Active on Zillow; Facts & Features also say Under Construction |
| Name on the listing | The Gatsby |
| Year built | 2027, per Zillow |
| Bedrooms | Listed as 5 in the headline and Facts; the description says seven |
| Bathrooms | 11 (8 full, 3 half), per Zillow |
| Interior | 15,000 sq ft (the description says approximately 15,000) |
| Lot | 1.19 acres |
| HOA | Facts & Features: Has HOA: No |
| Zillow activity | 4,178 views, 377 saves after 14 days |
| Taxes shown | Assessed value $4,699,463; see tax section for conflicting figures |
The Setting: Gated Grounds on Balcones Drive
The listing places the estate “behind private gates on prestigious Balcones Drive,” on 1.19 “beautifully landscaped acres,” in Austin’s 78731 ZIP code, west of downtown. We are not inventing a social history for the street. What the listing claims is a gated setting, a resort-style pool with a grotto, two separate guest houses, and seven garage spaces with room for vehicle lifts and extra parking.
Inside a 15,000-Square-Foot Trophy Estate
The marketing copy frames The Gatsby as a house for “grand entertaining and everyday living,” with “exceptional scale, craftsmanship, and timeless design.” Those are the listing’s words, not inspection notes. The gallery shows a formal stair hall, staged living rooms, a large kitchen, and a private primary wing.
The description highlights a showpiece kitchen with rift-sawn white oak cabinetry, Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances, and a full catering kitchen. Confirm what is installed and what remains to be completed.
The primary suite, according to the listing, occupies its own wing, with a fireplace, a dedicated vanity, a large walk-in closet, and a finished bath.
Wellness, Entertaining and the Garage Collection
Beyond the main rooms, the listing describes a private wellness center with a gym, sauna and cold plunge; a custom whiskey room; a temperature-controlled wine cellar; an elevator; a private office with a separate entry; a playroom; and the pool already mentioned. A media room appears in the gallery. Two guest houses are said to offer flexibility for family, guests or staff. Seven garage spaces, with room for lifts, are pitched for an “impressive automotive collection.” Walk and document it before treating it as finished inventory.
Price and Recent Listing History
The current asking price is $22,000,000, shown as listed on Oct. 30, 2026 under Unlock MLS #1191266. Zillow’s price history also shows earlier activity at $19,950,000, including a listing dated Nov. 15, 2024, a price-change record dated April 14, 2024, and a listing removed on April 15, 2025. We are reporting those dates as displayed.
Estimated Jumbo Mortgage Payment (Illustration Only)
A loan of this size is a jumbo mortgage, far above what Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac will buy. For 2026, the FHFA baseline conforming loan limit for a one-unit home is $832,750. Published summaries of the FHFA county file state that no Texas county is a high-cost exception, so that baseline is the usual jumbo threshold in Austin — confirm the current FHFA figure for Travis County if you are financing.
Assumptions used in this example
This is an illustration, not a quote. We used a purchase price of $22,000,000; a conventional 20% down payment of $4,400,000; a loan of $17,600,000; a 30-year fixed term; and an example rate of 7.11% — the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey average for the week of Nov. 12, 2026, for conventional conforming purchase loans with 20% down and excellent credit. Super-jumbo loans are priced differently, and many lenders will want a larger down payment, reserves and extra documentation. Your rate will not be this number unless a lender says so.
What that example comes to
Under those assumptions, principal and interest would be about $118,400 a month, before taxes, insurance, any special district charges, and reserves. Adding the higher of the two tax figures on Zillow — $132,090 a year, or about $11,000 a month — would bring a rough principal-interest-and-tax sketch to about $129,400 a month, still before a luxury insurance premium, which we are not inventing.
Property Taxes in Texas — and the Figures on This Listing
Texas has no state personal income tax. Local governments and school districts rely heavily on property taxes, so bills on high-value homes can be large and can change after a sale. Rates are set by overlapping jurisdictions — county, city, school district and special districts — not by a single statewide rate. Homestead exemptions may apply to a primary residence; we are not assuming this estate qualifies.
Zillow shows a tax assessed value of $4,699,463 and an annual tax amount of $132,090. The public tax history on the same page lists $96,174 for 2025, $81,378 for 2024 and $34,376 for 2023. The annual-tax figure and the 2025 history amount do not match, and we are not treating either as next year’s bill. A $22 million purchase would sit well above the assessed value shown here. Confirm a current estimate with the Travis Central Appraisal District.
Luxury Homeowners Insurance
A 15,000-square-foot custom estate, with a pool, guest houses, an elevator and specialty rooms, is not a candidate for a casual online quote. Insurers that write high-value or private-client policies will want a replacement-cost estimate, details on the pool and mechanical systems, and a clear picture of construction status. In Texas, wind and hail deductibles are common discussion points, and wine, jewelry or automobiles may need separate policies. We are not publishing a premium for this address. Get written quotes before relying on any payment sketch.
Cost of Living in Austin
Austin’s cost of living is often described as high for Texas, driven largely by housing, though published indexes do not all agree and we are not picking a single number as fact. A $22 million purchase is in a different category from a typical metro budget. Everyday costs and staffing for a house of this size should be modeled separately. Texas has no state income tax; property taxes are the tradeoff.
Schools Shown on the Listing
Zillow, citing GreatSchools, shows Casis Elementary (PK–5, 0.9 miles, 10/10), O Henry Middle (6–8, 2.2 miles, 7/10) and Austin High School (9–12, 3.1 miles, 7/10). Ratings and zones change. Confirm with Austin ISD.
Things to Verify
- The bedroom count (headline 5 vs. description 7) and how the guest houses are counted
- Construction status, the 2027 year-built label, and whether gallery images are photos or renderings
- Square footage, the 1.19-acre survey, easements and gate/access arrangements
- Completion of the kitchen, wellness rooms, pool, elevator, cellar and garage lifts
- Current property taxes versus the two different figures on Zillow
- Jumbo-loan eligibility, insurance quotes, and confirmation there is no HOA
The Bottom Line
At $22,000,000, 3808 Balcones Dr is listed as a roughly 15,000-square-foot gated estate on 1.19 acres, marketed as The Gatsby, with a long list of amenities and two guest houses. The listing is Active, the year built is shown as 2027, and construction status, the bedroom count, taxes and jumbo financing all need a careful look — in writing — before anyone treats this as a finished trophy house.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the asking price?
$22,000,000, according to the listing dated Oct. 30, 2026. Earlier Zillow history shows activity at $19,950,000. Confirm with the agent.
How many bedrooms does it have?
Zillow’s headline and Facts & Features list 5 bedrooms. The marketing description says seven. Ask the agent, including how guest-house rooms are counted.
Is the house finished?
Not clearly. The year built is 2027, Facts & Features say Under Construction, and the same section says “New construction: No.” Confirm the schedule and what the photos represent with the agent.
What would the monthly payment be?
A labeled illustration using 20% down, a $17.6 million 30-year loan and a 7.11% Freddie Mac conforming average from the week of Nov. 12, 2026, comes to about $118,400 a month in principal and interest, before taxes and insurance. That is not a jumbo-loan quote.
How much are the property taxes?
Zillow shows an annual tax amount of $132,090 and a 2025 history figure of $96,174, on an assessed value of $4,699,463. Those numbers conflict. Confirm with the appraisal district.
Does this listing have an HOA?
Facts & Features say “Has HOA: No,” and the header shows no fee. Still verify covenants and gate or private-road obligations.
See the full listing, all photos and the latest status on Zillow: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3808-Balcones-Dr-Austin-TX-78731/64784295_zpid/
Listing courtesy of Bridget Ramey, Kuper Sotheby’s Int’l Realty, as shown on Zillow. Source: Unlock MLS #1191266. Photos via the listing on Zillow; all rights belong to their owners.
Disclaimer: All property details, prices, measurements and photos in this article come from the public listing on Zillow at the time of writing and may change at any time. This article is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the seller or listing agent. Verify all information with the listing agent and through your own inspection, survey and research before making any decision.
