Published October 8, 2025
Tucked amid rolling hills just northwest of the city’s core, the Northwest Hills area offers that rare blend of tranquility and connection. Here, winding streets are shaded by mature oaks, views stretch toward the skyline, and the rhythms of community life feel close to home. As you explore this guide, you’ll discover not just the amenities, real estate trends, and lifestyle features that make Northwest Hills special—but also the feeling you get when you’ve found somewhere that truly feels like home—told by the Morelanders who live and work there.
Sarah Railey brings over two decades of expertise to her role as President and Broker at Moreland Properties. Since joining the company in 2002, Sarah has played a pivotal role in its growth and success, working closely with founder Emily Moreland to oversee all facets of the brokerage. With a keen focus on excellence and a deep commitment to client satisfaction, Sarah has become an integral part of Moreland's reputation for exceptional service.
Her passion for providing personalized support and unmatched industry knowledge is reflected through Moreland's continued success. Beyond her professional achievements, Sarah finds fulfillment in her role as a wife and mother. Together with her husband Jason, she has built a loving family, raising three beautiful daughters.
Q: What brought you and your family to the Northwest Hills neighborhood in Austin?
A: We came from South Austin and we really didn’t think we’d move all the way across town, but the more we drove around in this neighborhood with the huge live oak trees and wide roads, we just started to fall in love with the area. There’s a lot of charm here.
Q: What makes Northwest Hills unique in comparison to other neighborhoods in the Austin area?
A: I love the architecture and variety of real estate here. All of the homes are just a little bit different. You have houses that were built in the sixties and seventies still occupied by their original owners as well as new developments and gated communities. You have architecture hanging off the side of a cliff with tons and views but you also have small townhomes with retirees living there.
Q: What do you feel is most attractive about the Northwest Hills lifestyle?
A: The lifestyle in Northwest Hills is very comfortable to me. The people here are laid back and casual, but we also like to go out to the nicer restaurants when we get the chance. It just feels very easy and natural.
You can walk to things. You have great neighbors. You’ve got local restaurants around the corner, but you have access to all the great things the big city has to offer too.
Q: What do you like most about raising your kids in the Northwest Hills neighborhood?
A: We have great public schools here. A lot of people are drawn to our city for the excellent school systems we have—Eanes ISD or Austin ISD. All of the schools here in Northwest Hills funnel into Anderson High School—a wonderful IB school that’s a really bright spot for a lot of families, including my own!
It’s also a little spot in Austin where kids can ride bikes to school or run up steep hills while they’re playing outside with their friends. They’re able to spend time outside like I remember when I was a kid.
Q: What do you think is most attractive to people about the Northwest Hills neighborhood?
A: I think Northwest Hills feels close to everything. You can get downtown, or you can go to the Domain or head down 360 and be in Westlake in minutes. There’s something about the proximity for me that’s always been really appealing.
Jo Carol Snowden has called the Northwest Hills area home for decades. She doesn’t just sell homes here, she lives the lifestyle. As a native Austinite, Jo Carol has been a full-time real estate professional since 1977 and became a licensed broker in 1981. Her many decades in Austin have allowed her to build deep relationships—not just with past clients, but with neighbors, local business owners, and community groups in the Northwest Hills.
Her local roots give her an insider’s perspective on the unique charm of this part of Austin: the rolling hill country terrain, mature tree canopy, winding streets, and tranquil pockets just minutes from the heart of the city. As a long-time resident of the Northwest Hills region, she understands what draws people here—and what they look for in a property.
Q: Why did you choose to live in the Northwest Hills neighborhood amongst other areas around Austin?
A: I felt like it was the prettiest area of town because it’s very hilly. There’s a lot of native oaks and beautiful landscaping among the rolling hills. Some of my clients have said it reminded them of being in San Francisco because of the winding roads and beautiful trees.
Q: What do you feel is most attractive about the Northwest Hills lifestyle?
A: The quality of life here is very good and the lifestyle is very welcoming. The people are friendly and there’s lots to do. Nice restaurants, places to shop, access to good grocery stores, good churches and a great school system. Moving into a new city is a big change for people so it’s a real plus knowing people are going to feel welcome and make friends quickly.
Q: What do you think attracts people the most to the Northwest Hills neighborhood?
A: I’d say the major draw is the convenience offering easy access to anywhere you want to go. It used to be “north west” of Austin, but when you think of so many people living in cities up north like Cedar Park, Round Rock and Georgetown, it’s almost like we’re in the center of town.
Q: What makes Northwest Hills a good neighborhood for real estate?
A: I feel like it’s safe investment for people. House prices don’t seem to spike as high as some of the other areas around Austin. In my experience, there are multiple offers a lot of the time on properties in Northwest Hills simply because the demand is higher than the supply a lot of the time. Nice listings go on the market and sell relatively quickly.
Doug Roberts is a very trusted and experienced leader in the Austin real estate community. His mission is to provide his clients with an unsurpassed level of service as a listing broker and buyer’s agent. Doug operates under a commitment to the Moreland Properties standard of integrity, dependability, ethics, and a lifelong commitment to his clients. Very few agents have his comprehensive knowledge of the most sought-after neighborhoods, architecture, construction, and the infinite number of details that make up a successful real estate transaction.
As a licensed real estate agent since 1999, Doug has witnessed Austin explode into a global real estate market; but he has always remained committed to a small office, hands on approach to each transaction. When Doug is not working on his real estate business, he enjoys living in Old West Austin with his wife and two sons. His favorite pastimes are tennis, live music, and enjoying the Austin food scene.
Q: After being a long time Austin resident, what brought you and your family to the Northwest Hills area of town?
A: We were always attracted to this part of town. Mostly because of the generous lot sizes, rolling hills, live oak trees and the ability to be in pretty much anywhere in Austin in about ten minutes.
Q: What is it like raising kids in the Northwest Hills neighborhood?
A: There are so many wonderful families that live around here. The schools in this neighborhood are incredible and close by. While it’s a public school system, we feel like we’ve gotten a private-school type of experience where all the families know each other and are so supportive of each other. It’s the epitome of the perfect neighborhood for families and all walks of life and one of the best parts is the school system.
Q: What sets Northwest Hills apart from other areas around Austin?
A: The topography. It’s true to its name—it’s in the hills. It’s such a great neighborhood for walking and exercising. I think it’s the perfect place to live to walk a dog amongst all the live oak trees that provide shade during the summertime. We’re surrounded by miles of greenbelt trails that you don’t find in most urban cities. It’s just a beautiful neighborhood.
Q: What do you think is most attractive to people about the Northwest Hills neighborhood?
A: The convenience of the location. You have such easy access to MoPac and whether you’re going Downtown, the Domain, Lake Austin, East Austin, Lake Travis or otherwise—everything is just about ten or fifteen minutes away from here.
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As our tour of Northwest Hills winds to a close, I hope you’ve gotten a real sense of why this area continues to captivate those who live here. Between the hilltop vistas, easy access to downtown, strong schools, and welcoming local spots, Northwest Hills offers both comfort and opportunity. Whether you’re looking to settle in soon or simply exploring your options, our Moreland team is here to help guide your journey. Reach out for personalized insights, off-market opportunities, or a deeper dive into any corner of this neighborhood on our Instagram.
