One-story homes come up in almost every buyer conversation I have where accessibility, aging in place, or a multi-generational household is part of the picture — no stairs means fewer limits on who can live there comfortably, now or in twenty years. Around Austin, that search takes you in a few different directions depending on budget: established single-story ranch homes in older suburbs, newer one-story floor plans in growing areas like Round Rock and Hutto, or age-restricted, one-story-by-design communities like Sun City in Georgetown.
I’m Robbie English, REALTOR and Broker at Uncommon Realty, and I can help you sort through which part of the Austin area actually has the one-story inventory you’re looking for.
Where one-story inventory is easiest to find
Closer to central Austin, single-story homes are harder to come by and carry a premium since so much of the infill construction over the last 20 years has been two-story to maximize square footage on smaller lots. You’ll have better luck, and more selection, in the outer suburbs — Round Rock, Hutto, Cedar Park, and especially Sun City in Georgetown, which is a large active-adult community built almost entirely around single-story floor plans.
If one-story isn’t strictly required
Some buyers don’t need a fully single-story home so much as a primary bedroom they don’t have to climb stairs for — if that’s closer to what you’re after, I’ve got a separate page on Austin-area homes with the primary bedroom on the main floor, which opens up a lot more inventory than a strict one-story search. And if you’re shopping with extended family in mind, take a look at what I’ve pulled together on multi-generational homes in the Austin area as well.
Reach out when you’re ready and I’ll help you figure out which of these searches actually fits what you need.
I’ve got a related post that digs into this from another side: Should You Rent Out Your Home Before Buying Your Next One?.
Before you get too far into the search, it’s worth getting pre-approved so you’re shopping with a real number in hand.
