SWEET SUITE

2 prime Austin locations strike gold with new luxury short-term rentals

In a time when staying home is the norm and social distancing is a must, short-term luxury rentals provide a hotel-like experience without the hotel — and without the need for in-person contact.

New York-based Mint House, billed as an Airbnb-style hospitality concept targeted mainly at business travelers, has opened its first Austin location at The Hatchery, the massive “urban village” being erected on the east side just north of Lady Bird Lake.

Mint House is also planning to open a second Austin location on South Congress Avenue this spring, according to a release.

Essentially providing short-term, apartment-style living without the long-term lease, Mint House operates out of existing multifamily buildings and offers an assortment of amenities, from mobile check-in and check-out to keyless entry, a 24-hour concierge, pre-stocked groceries in the in-suite kitchens, smart TVs with streaming services, and all the high-speed Wi-Fi any technophile could ever need.

Mint House The Hatchery, which opened December 20, 2020 at 49 Navasota St., includes 30 units — standard to deluxe — with short-term and extended-stay options. The project is the newest to open at The Hatchery, a mixed-use development that will feature hundreds of apartments, as well as restaurants, retailers, and a public park, alongside the new home of local classical-music radio station KMFA and a renovated Rebekah Baines Johnson Center independent living community for seniors and people with disabilities.

Founded in 2017, Mint House currently boasts more than 500 units in 10 downtown locations in the U.S., and has plans to expand to 50 cities throughout the world by 2025. Those expansion plans include adding units at another location in Austin, The Muse at SoCo, located at 1007 S. Congress Ave. near East Riverside Drive, scheduled to open March 1. Mint House also plans to move into other Texas markets with its short-term luxe rentals, including Houston and Dallas.

Mint House opens its first luxury short-term rentals spot on the east side at The Hatchery.

Courtesy of Mint House

Mint House opens its first luxury short-term rentals spot on the east side at The Hatchery.

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a barton creek paradise

$15.2 million Austin sanctuary is in the middle of a nature conservancy

The Sanctuary on Barton Creek, Austin home for sale

Photo courtesy of Peyton Skinner

The Sanctuary on Barton Creek sits on 24 acres of untouched Hill Country land.

Living on an expansive estate teeming with untouched nature and vegetation may seem like a priceless dream, but a lavish property in West Austin has a cost in mind: $15.2 million.

Photo courtesy of Peyton Skinner

The Sanctuary on Barton Creek sits on 24 acres of untouched Hill Country land.

The Sanctuary on Barton Creek is a 24-acre estate with an Austin address, although it is located near Bee Cave, a Hill Country suburb. The entrance of the property is double gated, and the area is completely surrounded by a 4,100-acre nature conservancy to provide a peaceful and private escape from the ever-changing landscape of the Texas capital.

The 7,931-square-foot main house contains seven spacious bedrooms, five full bathrooms, and one half bath. The listing, managed by Douglas Elliman sales agents Jeanne Parker and Julie Mack, describes the modernly updated home as a place where "elegance and comfort intertwine seamlessly."

The Sanctuary on Barton Creek, Austin home for sale The estate is a private and peaceful oasis.Photo courtesy of Peyton Skinner

The new Wolf appliances in the state-of-the-art chef's kitchen is a primary example of the sophisticated upgrades that have been completed on the residence. The primary bathroom has also been completely remodeled, where the next owners can be enamored with the privacy of the Hill Country while enjoying luxurious baths in the standalone soaking tub.

Another key feature of this home is its abundance of fireplaces, which can be found in bedrooms, living areas, balconies, and outdoors.

The property is also suited for hosting friends and family with two additional buildings: A fully equipped guest house, and a lofted "executive lodge" that can be used as additional guest quarters, game room, or executive office.

Like the rest of the residences on the estate, the executive lodge has breathtaking views of the Hill Country that can be admired from the spacious balcony or large windows. The space sits above a three-car garage that comes with a pull-through for a RV and a dog washing station.

The Sanctuary on Barton Creek, Austin home for sale The spacious executive lodge also comes with a kitchenette, making it suitable for hosting guests or using as an office.Photo courtesy of Peyton Skinner

All of the residences open up to the backyard pool area where guests can relax under the covered veranda, the patio, or take a dip in the resort-style custom designed pools. There's plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy if exploring the property's untouched 24 acres is a more appealing alternative to sitting by the pool.

"Enjoy honey made from the hives on the property which provide not only an agricultural exemption, but also promote a healthy environment for everyone," the listing says.

Guests are also welcome to go fishing or paddle boarding in Barton Creek, where the estate has more than 200 feet of grassy shoreline access to the water.

The property is zoned for Lake Travis Independent School District, and is situated just minutes away from the Hill Country Galleria in Bee Cave.

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