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The 10 most expensive Austin homes sold this year

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Although 2016 did very little to assure us that affordable housing, urban density, or responsible growth are in our near future, one supposes that central-city champions could take some solace in the fact that, aside from downtown condos, the most exorbitant examples of profligate land use for single-family dwellings remained in the suburbs—almost half of them on Westlake Drive specifically.

Sadly, few of the top 10 are architecturally remarkable—although their beautiful, lakeside settings make up for some of that—though one is the former home of NBA star J.J. Redick and another is a contemporary for which we saw only renderings and might well turn out to be an exception to the McMansion rule.

(A special thanks to Redfin for their help. Note, of course, that some homes aren't publicly listed, and we may have overlooked those sales. If you know any big money exchanges we missed, drop a line at cindy@curbed.com.)

Here are some of the most expensive houses sold in 2016.

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3201 Westlake Drive

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Year built: 2001

Estimated time on market: 425 days

Sale price: $11.5 million

Size: 6 beds, 8 baths, 10,608 square feet

The skinny: A private, gated waterfront estate with almost four acres on Lake Austin with an emphasis on boating (the two boat houses and seven bloat slips are a clue), and outdoors (gardens, extensive flat yards, a loggia overlooking the pool terrace, and enclosed swimming area). Inside are a grand two-story foyer, wine cellar, elevator, and gourmet kitchen. There is also a separate guest house.

2611 Westlake Drive

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Year built: 2002

Estimated time on market: 75 days

Sale price: $9 million

Size: 6 beds, 8 baths, 9,604 square feet

The skinny: Down the road from Ol’ Number One, this West Lake estate boasts 1.5 acres and more or less 100 feet of Lake Austin waterfront. There are the requisite outdoor facilities—heated pool/spa, pond with fountain, boat dock with two slips, pool bath, patio with grill, and upper terrace. Inside is a luxurious retreat with high ceilings, open kitchen, fireplaces, private theater, game rooms, study, guest suite, and wine cellar.

4447 River Garden Trail

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Year built: 2001

Estimated time on market: 5 months

Sale price: $9 million

Size: 7 beds, 11 baths, 20,117 square feet

The skinny: Away from (but in view of) the waterfront, this massive home is on a hill in the gated Summit community, west and north of Downtown. Designed after a castle in northern Spain, this privately gated home has the usual amenities, plus two full guest apartments and, of course, incredible views.

3811 Westlake Drive

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Year built: 2014

Estimated time on market: 63 days

Sale price: $7.25 million

Size: 5 beds, 6.5 baths, 5,775 square feet

The skinny: By now, it should be obvious that people with the dough to afford it like to hang out at the lake—and on Westlake Drive, preferably. The third priciest Austin home of 2016 leaned more toward the Japanese and contemporary, style-wise, than its Eurocentric neighbors, with a koi pond, open living plans, and lots of outdoor paces and landscaping. They didn’t skimp on the boat dock and slips, though.

3705 Westlake Drive

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Year built: 2000

Estimated time on market: 6 months

Sale price: $7.2 million

Size: 5 beds, 6.5 baths, 7,923 square feet

The skinny: The several feet of prime Lake Austin waterfront inspired an evocation of a European lakeside villa on a privately gated, 1.8-acre estate. Interiors feature high coffered/groin vaulted ceilings, a billiards room, wet bar, and study. Flexible floor plan includes separate entrances and living areas, along with the inevitable two-slip boat dock.

4519 Island Cove

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Year built: 1999

Estimated time on market: 3 months

Sale price: $5.4 million

Size: 4 beds, 5.5 baths, 6,381 square feet

The skinny: property boasts 130 feet of Lake Austin waterfront but bucks trends by not being on Westlake Drive; it’s on the other side of the river, off Mount Bonnell Road. There’s a gourmet kitchen, exercise room, formal study, wet bar, media room, a game room, and an elevator.. But the emphasis is on once again on views, upper and lower covered patios, spacious pool area, outdoor kitchen, and private boat and jet-ski dock.

217 Bella Riva Drive

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Year built: 1999

Estimated time on market: 3 months

Sale price: $4.5 million

Size: 7 beds, 8.5 baths, 9,685 square feet

The skinny: A palatial, 3.4-acre estate on Lake Travis main body waterfront in the Costa Bella community, this home emphasizes luxurious materials as well as amenities and outdoor features including covered terraces, an infinity pool, expansive lawn, boat dock, and Spanish-Modern cabana with outdoor kitchen, bar, fireplace, and adjacent soaking pool.

701 Brandon Way

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Year built: 2005

Estimated time on market: 1 year

Sale price: $4.5 million

Size: 8 beds, 8.5 baths, 12,264 square feet

The skinny: This Canyon Hills estate features Hill Country views, high-end finishes, 30-foot ceilings, guest suite, multiple bars, 1,300-wine-bottle glass vault, media room, fitness/yoga studio, sport court, pool, and spa that includes 14 (!) waterfalls.

3000 Toro Ring Circle

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Year built: 2010

Estimated time on market: 5 months

Sale price: $4.3 million

Size: 6 beds, 7.5 baths, 10,000 square feet

The skinny: The former home of NBA star J.J. Redick, this Italianate villa is situated on more than an acre of manicured lawns and gardens. It features a media room, private office, two bars, and a wine cellar, as well as an infinity pool, spa, spacious outdoor living area, cabana that overlook the Hill Country.

8506 Big View Drive

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Year built: 2015

Estimated time on market: 7 months

Sale price: $4.2 million

Size: 5 beds, 5.5 baths, 5,500 square feet

The skinny: The listing for this sleek, one-story contemporary contains only renderings, but presumably the house has been built by now. Situated on 1.66 acres on Lake Austin, the home has 164 feet of water frontage. It has an open floor plan with high ceilings, a gourmet kitchen, large game room, media room, andexercise room. Outside is a negative edge pool, spa, and fire pit; a two-slip boat dock with an upper sun deck; and a separate guest house.

3201 Westlake Drive

Year built: 2001

Estimated time on market: 425 days

Sale price: $11.5 million

Size: 6 beds, 8 baths, 10,608 square feet

The skinny: A private, gated waterfront estate with almost four acres on Lake Austin with an emphasis on boating (the two boat houses and seven bloat slips are a clue), and outdoors (gardens, extensive flat yards, a loggia overlooking the pool terrace, and enclosed swimming area). Inside are a grand two-story foyer, wine cellar, elevator, and gourmet kitchen. There is also a separate guest house.

2611 Westlake Drive

Year built: 2002

Estimated time on market: 75 days

Sale price: $9 million

Size: 6 beds, 8 baths, 9,604 square feet

The skinny: Down the road from Ol’ Number One, this West Lake estate boasts 1.5 acres and more or less 100 feet of Lake Austin waterfront. There are the requisite outdoor facilities—heated pool/spa, pond with fountain, boat dock with two slips, pool bath, patio with grill, and upper terrace. Inside is a luxurious retreat with high ceilings, open kitchen, fireplaces, private theater, game rooms, study, guest suite, and wine cellar.

4447 River Garden Trail

Year built: 2001

Estimated time on market: 5 months

Sale price: $9 million

Size: 7 beds, 11 baths, 20,117 square feet

The skinny: Away from (but in view of) the waterfront, this massive home is on a hill in the gated Summit community, west and north of Downtown. Designed after a castle in northern Spain, this privately gated home has the usual amenities, plus two full guest apartments and, of course, incredible views.

3811 Westlake Drive

Year built: 2014

Estimated time on market: 63 days

Sale price: $7.25 million

Size: 5 beds, 6.5 baths, 5,775 square feet

The skinny: By now, it should be obvious that people with the dough to afford it like to hang out at the lake—and on Westlake Drive, preferably. The third priciest Austin home of 2016 leaned more toward the Japanese and contemporary, style-wise, than its Eurocentric neighbors, with a koi pond, open living plans, and lots of outdoor paces and landscaping. They didn’t skimp on the boat dock and slips, though.

3705 Westlake Drive

Year built: 2000

Estimated time on market: 6 months

Sale price: $7.2 million

Size: 5 beds, 6.5 baths, 7,923 square feet

The skinny: The several feet of prime Lake Austin waterfront inspired an evocation of a European lakeside villa on a privately gated, 1.8-acre estate. Interiors feature high coffered/groin vaulted ceilings, a billiards room, wet bar, and study. Flexible floor plan includes separate entrances and living areas, along with the inevitable two-slip boat dock.

4519 Island Cove

Year built: 1999

Estimated time on market: 3 months

Sale price: $5.4 million

Size: 4 beds, 5.5 baths, 6,381 square feet

The skinny: property boasts 130 feet of Lake Austin waterfront but bucks trends by not being on Westlake Drive; it’s on the other side of the river, off Mount Bonnell Road. There’s a gourmet kitchen, exercise room, formal study, wet bar, media room, a game room, and an elevator.. But the emphasis is on once again on views, upper and lower covered patios, spacious pool area, outdoor kitchen, and private boat and jet-ski dock.

217 Bella Riva Drive

Year built: 1999

Estimated time on market: 3 months

Sale price: $4.5 million

Size: 7 beds, 8.5 baths, 9,685 square feet

The skinny: A palatial, 3.4-acre estate on Lake Travis main body waterfront in the Costa Bella community, this home emphasizes luxurious materials as well as amenities and outdoor features including covered terraces, an infinity pool, expansive lawn, boat dock, and Spanish-Modern cabana with outdoor kitchen, bar, fireplace, and adjacent soaking pool.

701 Brandon Way

Year built: 2005

Estimated time on market: 1 year

Sale price: $4.5 million

Size: 8 beds, 8.5 baths, 12,264 square feet

The skinny: This Canyon Hills estate features Hill Country views, high-end finishes, 30-foot ceilings, guest suite, multiple bars, 1,300-wine-bottle glass vault, media room, fitness/yoga studio, sport court, pool, and spa that includes 14 (!) waterfalls.

3000 Toro Ring Circle

Year built: 2010

Estimated time on market: 5 months

Sale price: $4.3 million

Size: 6 beds, 7.5 baths, 10,000 square feet

The skinny: The former home of NBA star J.J. Redick, this Italianate villa is situated on more than an acre of manicured lawns and gardens. It features a media room, private office, two bars, and a wine cellar, as well as an infinity pool, spa, spacious outdoor living area, cabana that overlook the Hill Country.

8506 Big View Drive

Year built: 2015

Estimated time on market: 7 months

Sale price: $4.2 million

Size: 5 beds, 5.5 baths, 5,500 square feet

The skinny: The listing for this sleek, one-story contemporary contains only renderings, but presumably the house has been built by now. Situated on 1.66 acres on Lake Austin, the home has 164 feet of water frontage. It has an open floor plan with high ceilings, a gourmet kitchen, large game room, media room, andexercise room. Outside is a negative edge pool, spa, and fire pit; a two-slip boat dock with an upper sun deck; and a separate guest house.