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A Waterfront Adult Playground in Austin, Texas, Prepares for Its Close-Up

Acqua Villa is a contender for readers’ favorite property of the year

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Listing of the Day

Location: Austin, Texas

Price: $3.995 million

This week we’re looking back on the Listings of the Day that garnered the most attention from our readers in 2016: a Paris penthouse, an English mansion, a Montana estate and a Texas waterfront playground. On Friday, readers can vote for their favorite property of all.  

Up now: An Austin home that’s recently seen a price cut.

Next year’s star-studded film "Weightless" with Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale, Natalie Portman, and Cate Blanchett will be partially set in one of the best houses in Austin, Texas, and one of Mansion Global readers’ four favorite Listings of the Day in 2016.

Acqua Villa, which has appeared in several movies, commercials and magazines, is a waterfront adult playground, complete with six-car garage custom built to hold the current owner’s Lamborghini, Ferrari, Chevy Nova and Cadillac convertible; a wall for his electric guitars and jet ski ramps into one of the prettiest lakes in Texas.

Bought in 2004 by Texan entrepreneur Milton Verret, the house, which was put on the market during 2016, is is still for sale and its price has recently been reduced by $1 million, to $3.995 million.

Agent Dave Murray, of DMTX Realty, says the new price makes it one of the very best value homes on Lake Travis for this level of luxury. Both local and international buyers have been showing an interest, he said.

"We have seen an increase in activity since the price reduction," Mr. Murray said. "It truly is one of the most incredible homes in the Austin area and one of the most spectacular settings available."

More:Click to Tour A Hillside Knockout in Austin

Stats

The main house is 8,800 square feet, with five bedrooms and eight bathrooms, plus a detached guest house.

Design pedigree

In 2010, local architect Winn Wittman redesigned the whole house, giving it an ultra contemporary feel. Floor-to-ceiling hurricane-proof glass windows make the most of its spectacular views from a high bluff on the edge of Lake Travis.

The redesign took three years, and took it from what was a "nice home," to a "spectacular, very very high-end finish" property, said Mr. Murray. The house, anchored around a breezeway, is kept clean and simple, painted white, with wooden floors in living areas and Caesarstone countertops and floors in the gourmet kitchen. Clever mood lighting is recessed in walls, the high ceilings and the swimming pool.

Amenities

The infinity pool is inspired by the one at Miami’s Delano Hotel, with two hot tubs, and a sun deck and swimming platform on the edge of the lake, as well as the jet ski ramps. Mr. Verret installed a tram that gets you down the steep cliff from house to the boat launch and a slip, which can accommodate a 42-foot long boat.

More:5 Amazing Pools to Help You Cool Off at Home in Style

Neighborhood notes

The location is "A+," Mr. Murray said. The schools are highly rated, according to Great Schools. Plus, "one of the most famous restaurants in the entire state of Texas, The Oasis, sits on a high cliff overlooking the lake and is less than five minutes from the home. There are many multi-million dollar properties in the immediate area," he said.

The home is less than 30 minutes from downtown Austin, the U.S.’s fastest growing city according to Forbes, which has a booming hip food scene and a reputation as the self-titled "live music capital of the world," The massive, internationally famous South by Southwest music festival takes place in Austin every March.

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