Is the extra drive worth what you gain?
Bastrop is farther from central Austin. For some buyers, that tradeoff works beautifully. For others, it doesn’t. The useful comparison isn’t just mileage — it’s your actual commute, the home you can buy for your budget, the space and community you gain, and how often you really need to be closer in.
A different setting, by design.
The Lost Pines are one of the first things that make Bastrop feel different from much of the Austin area. This short Drees film captures that wooded character — and the builder heritage behind the homes we’re creating here.
Compare the life you would actually live.
Don’t compare “Bastrop” with “Austin” in the abstract. Compare the specific Colony home you would buy with the specific closer-in home you would realistically choose at the same overall budget.
What you may gain
- Current new-construction inventory plus the option to build from a Drees floor plan.
- A master-planned setting with pools, trails, parks and outdoor amenities.
- More ways to solve for offices, guest suites, gamerooms and everyday living space depending on the home.
- A different price-and-space combination than you may find in the closer-in neighborhoods you’re comparing.
What you need to test
- Your real commute at the time you would actually drive it.
- School, childcare, sports and family logistics from the specific address.
- How often you realistically go into Austin for work, dining or activities.
- Whether the home and community benefits are worth the additional driving to you.
Test your real week, not a Saturday afternoon.
If commuting matters to your decision, run the route when you would actually use it. Try a school-day morning, your normal office arrival time, an after-school activity window, and the trip home. A generic mileage number won’t tell you how the routine feels.
Use your exact workplace, school, destination and travel window for the comparison that matters to you.
Not every buyer here commutes to Austin.
More jobs are landing right here in Bastrop. Starlink, for example, is hiring in Bastrop for solar cell and silicon packaging roles. If your job is local, the question flips: how close to work can you live and still get the home and community you want?
- Run the drive from the model home to your exact workplace at your shift times.
- Check internet options for the exact address, not just the neighborhood.
- Text me your start date. I'll match it to homes that can close in time.
What would you actually buy on each side of the tradeoff?
Put the best Colony option beside the closer-in home you would realistically purchase at the same total budget. Compare usable rooms, office privacy, guest setup, outdoor space, age and condition, monthly cost, and the community around the home. That usually makes the decision much clearer than debating distance by itself.
Compare the whole monthly payment, not just the price.
Two homes at the same price can have very different monthly costs. Line them up on principal and interest, property taxes, insurance and HOA dues. At The Colony, HOA dues for the 45′ and 50′ Drees sections are $88.26/month. See HOA & taxes and financing, or ask me to build the side-by-side with you.
Quick answers
How long is the drive from The Colony to work?
It depends on where you work and when you drive. Use the route buttons above, or plug in your exact workplace, and test it at your real times.
What goes into the monthly cost comparison?
Principal and interest, property taxes, insurance and HOA dues. Compare all four for each home, not just the sales price.
Can I move in quickly?
Yes, if a move-in-ready home fits. Those are already built, so timing mostly comes down to your loan. See available homes or text me for today's list.
Sources & updates: Home and plan details on this guide can change. For the latest pricing, availability and address-specific details, confirm with Joel and the applicable official source. Drees community page ↗ · The Colony ↗ · Bastrop ISD calendar ↗