\u201cThere is little or no affordable rental housing in this area,\u201d a Villas development representative said in Travis County documents. \u201cThe management company has a substantial amount of prospective residents needing housing by Lake Travis to continue to live and work in this area.\u201d<\/p>\n
With a promise of 180 units at or below 60% of the median family income, the Villas at Cardinal Hills is just one housing solution among several underway in the area.<\/p>\n
The overview <\/p>\n
Outside the Villas at Cardinal Hills, another multifamily development project nearing completion is Jovie Lakeway<\/a>, a 55-plus \u201cactive adult community\u201d with studio, one- and two-bedroom units near Lakeway\u2019s incoming City Center development The Square at Lakeway<\/a>.<\/p>\n Four developments within The Square at Lakeway have plans to bring hundreds of multifamily units, over 100 townhomes, 34 multifamily condo units and 63 single-family homes.<\/p>\n The Village at Spanish Oaks<\/a> is an 18-acre development in Bee Cave with residential and commercial spaces. While the project is still in early phases, recent development plans show a multifamily apartment complex with 310 units and a senior living facility with up to 225 units.<\/p>\n Another townhome development down the street is BB Living Sweetwater Crossing<\/a> in Bee Cave, which began leasing in November. Similarly, the Provence neighborhood plans to expand with 193 townhome-style units at the Hills at Provence near Bee Cave<\/a>, county documents show.<\/p>\n The why <\/p>\n As affordability continues to be a concern<\/a> in the area, multifamily developments are becoming a key option for families trying to enter the Lake Travis market, said Angel Ceniceros, leasing and marketing manager for BB Living.<\/p>\n Nearly 48% of occupied housing units in Bee Cave were multifamily units in 2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of people are starting families and have outgrown traditional apartments,\u201d Ceniceros said. \u201cThe multimillion-dollar homes are not attainable for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n In April, the median home sale price for the Lake Travis area was $600,000, Unlock MLS data shows.<\/p>\n Zooming in <\/p>\n Since 2014, both Bee Cave and Lakeway have seen significant total population growth, with Bee Cave increasing by over 80% and Lakeway by nearly 52%. With this population growth comes an increased demand for housing.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s high traffic,\u201d Ceniceros said. \u201cMany people that can\u2019t get into a home yet or are looking to build in the future come here.\u201d<\/p>\n Jovie Lakeway has also seen high demand, Regional Property Manager Keri Denson said.<\/p>\n One week after starting tours, 10 units were already leased, Denson said.<\/p>\n In Lakeway, the two largest population groups are those ages 45-54 and 65-74. With over 200 units, Jovie Lakeway offers resident events several times a week to create a sense of community, Denson said.<\/p>\n Sorting out details <\/p>\n Though Villas at Cardinal Hills is the first area development offering 100% of its units at income-restricted rates, Pearl Bee Cave<\/a> also began offering \u201cworkforce housing\u201d in Bee Cave last October at around 80% or below the median family income, or MFI. For a family of four, the 80% MFI for the Travis County area is $104,200.<\/p>\n The next-closest affordable housing is Cardinal Point Apartments<\/a> in Four Points and two sites near US 290 through Foundation Communities<\/a>, a local nonprofit focused on providing housing for families in need. Across its three West Austin communities, it offers 338 rent-restricted units for tenants making 30%-60% of the area MFI. In western Travis County, one major barrier for affordable housing is public transportation.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think there\u2019s less of a need; it\u2019s just the infrastructure is not there to help lower-income folks,\u201d said Mandy Lewis, Foundation Community\u2019s director of family property management.<\/p>\n For both Lakeway and Bee Cave, the majority of people who work there do not live there, U.S. Census Bureau data <\/a>shows.<\/p>\n \u201cIt will benefit families that need to work in that area but maybe have a lower income point, whether they are working in the schools or up and down RM 620,\u201d said Ann Howard, Travis County Precinct 3 commissioner. \u201cIt would be so much more restful for a family that\u2019s going to work out there to live out there.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/communityimpact.com\/uploads\/images\/2026\/05\/21\/425390.jpg\")
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