8 Ideas for a New Home Gift
Bastrop natives Laura and Matt just closed on their brand new M/I Home in The Colony in Bastrop, TX. Find out why they chose to build their new home in this Austin suburb.
Tell us a little about yourselves and your family.
We are a family of 8 (including our two Mauzers dogs who are our babies). We have been a blended family since 2016, but our friendship began in 2003.
How did you decide on The Colony in Bastrop, TX as your new home community?
We already lived in Bastrop and The Colony is in a great location. It’s close enough to town and has easy access to 969 and Highway 71.
How long have you lived in Bastrop, TX?
We have lived inside Bastrop city limits for about 4 years and Bastrop County for about 6 years.
Laura moved to Bastrop County with her family when she was in middle school, so she would say she has grown up in Bastrop since she has been here most of her life.
Matt did not grow up in Bastrop but moved here when we married in 2016. If you were to talk to him you would think he did though—he loves Bastrop and bleeds Maroon (school colors)!
As Bastrop natives, why do you think Bastrop, TX is a good place to live?
We think Bastrop is a great place to live because it still has that small-town feel with easy access to multiple major cities.
Can you tell us some of your favorite places to eat and shop in Bastrop?
We have a few local favorites. For breakfast, our go-to is Anita’s. It’s always nice to have lunch at Neighbor's Kitchen & Yard because they have a great view of the river, they even have live bands on weekends. For a nice dinner, we like to go Piney Creek Chophouse or Storehouse.
Honorable mentions include Cedar’s Mediterranean & Italian Grill, Paw Paw’s, Bassano’s, and Roadhouse (best burgers hands-down).
We love local shops like KC Outfitters and Black and White Interiors because they have something for everyone in the family. You can also find some of the cutest Bastrop repping gear there! We also love all the retail stores Burleson Crossing has to offer like TJ Maxx and HomeGoods.
What are your favorite activities to do as a couple and as a family in Bastrop?
Sometimes we walk through main street when they have their market day vendors setup.
When the kids join us for breakfast, we sometimes walk down to the park and walk to trail at Fisherman’s Park.
One of the kids’ favorite activities that we do in the summer is rent a kayak from Bastrop River Company!
Did you consider any other cities, or did you strictly focus your search in the Bastrop area?
We did not consider other cities because we truly love the Bastrop area, and since the kids already have their friends here, we felt that it was important to stay.
There has been a lot of attention on the growth of Bastrop. Do either or both of you work in the Bastrop area?
Yes, it has grown significantly since 2016 when Matt first moved here. Matt’s company has 2 locations in Bastrop, but he works out of Austin and Round Rock.
Laura works from home but a couple of days out of the week she enjoys working out of Bastrop Hub, which is a local remote work facility.
Is this your first new home you have built? Why did you decide to purchase a new construction home vs. purchasing a resale?
Yes, this is the first new home we have built. We wanted a home that met our style without having to make a lot of changes. A new build offered that.
Why did you choose M/I Homes over the other builders in the Colony?
This is an easy one: Abigail, our New Home Consultant. Since the day we came in to meet with her, she has always been so nice and extremely helpful!
What made you first walk into our M/I Homes model?
We found M/I Homes on Zillow. We had visited another builder in the area but decided to go with M/I because of the functional, 4-bedroom floorplans. We felt they were the perfect mix of quality and affordability.
What floorplan did you build and what made you decide on this home?
We chose the Balboa floorplan because it is the perfect plan for our big family. We realized how important it is to have a space for work/school and a space to play. The Balboa offers both a study and a play room for the kids.
How was your experience building your new home with M/I Homes?
It has been great! Abigail has been a pleasure to work with since day one. Ashley, our Loan Officer, was also always very helpful through the entire process. Erinn, our Construction Manager, was also always quick to respond anytime we had questions or concerns.
Honestly, everyone we came across with at M/I was a pleasure to work with.
What are you looking forward to most about being a new homeowner?
Establishing friendships with our new neighbors and community.
Is there anything specific your family is looking forward to about living in your new community?
Yes, the pool! The kids can’t wait to visit in the hot summer days. We are also super excited about the dog park. Our previous community did not offer that, so that is a huge bonus!
Do you have any plans yet on how you want to personalize your home?
Yes, we love DIYs (Laura does; for Matt, it more so depends on what it is). We have quite a few plans, but the first one will probably be painting the kitchen island. We are leaning towards Tricorn Black by Sherwin Williams!
What is everyone’s favorite area in your new home?
For Matt it would be the garage. He loves his tools and his “man space.”
For Laura it would be the kitchen because of the open concept.
The kids love the play room because it’s their own space.
What advice would you share with future homeowners looking to move to the Bastrop area?
Take the time to truly explore what this little town has to offer; you will not be disappointed!
Could you be Bastrop’s next resident? Find out more about things to do in Bastrop.
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