Most home searches start in a pretty predictable way.

How many bedrooms? How much square footage? What price range? Which part of town?

Those things matter, of course. But when Real Estate Advisors Todd Grossman and Michelle Jones of the Grossman & Jones Group sit down with a buyer, they like to take the conversation a little further.

What does your perfect Saturday look like?

Are you waking up to coffee overlooking Lake Travis before heading out on the boat? Playing an early round of golf and meeting friends at the club afterward? Spending the afternoon exploring Austin and trying a new restaurant? Or would your ideal weekend involve staying home, opening the doors to the patio and enjoying a few acres of Hill Country all to yourself?

Those answers can tell Todd and Michelle just as much about the right home as a list of must-haves.

A man and woman in stylish attire pose together indoors near a large plant and modern wall.
Todd Grossman and Michelle Jones

What should home buyers consider when choosing a home?

One of the things Todd and Michelle love about Austin is just how many different versions of life here are possible.

Within a relatively short drive, buyers can go from waterfront living on Lake Travis or Lake Austin to the established neighborhoods of Westlake or Tarrytown, private Hill Country acreage, gated golf communities, vibrant central Austin neighborhoods or sophisticated lock-and-leave residences.

And those choices are about much more than geography.

“People often come to us with a list of things they want in a home, but as we get to know them, we begin to uncover what is really important,” Todd and Michelle said. “The home itself matters tremendously, but equally important is what you want your life to look like once you walk out the front door.”

Aerial view of modern lakeside home with pool at sunset, overlooking a large lake and hillside neighborhood.

For one buyer, that could mean mornings overlooking Lake Travis, weekends wakeboarding or fishing, and evenings outside watching the sun disappear behind the Hill Country.

For another, it may be the character of Westlake, convenient access to central Austin and highly regarded Eanes ISD schools.

Someone who dreams about making golf part of everyday life may want to compare communities such as UT Golf Club, River Place, The Hills of Lakeway and Spanish Oaks. The question becomes more interesting than simply, “Which house do I like best?” It becomes, “Where can I really see myself living?”

And sometimes the answer is entirely different. It might be several acres in the Hill Country with room to breathe, or a beautifully finished lock-and-leave residence where someone can close the door on Friday and catch a flight without thinking twice.

That variety is one of the things Todd and Michelle believe makes the Austin area so special.

There is no single “Austin lifestyle.” And there certainly isn’t one definition of luxury.

Open living and dining area with vaulted wood-beam ceiling, stone fireplace, and sliding doors to a lakeside patio.

So, what actually makes a home luxurious?

There is no one-size-fits-all definition of luxury.

It might be a spectacular view you never get tired of. A boat dock that turns an ordinary Tuesday evening into a sunset cruise. A golf course just outside the neighborhood. Enough land that you can barely see your neighbors. Or the ability to walk out your front door and be minutes from the restaurants, shops and places you love.

Sometimes luxury is a grand estate. Sometimes it is simplicity, privacy, convenience or time.

That is why two homes with similar price tags can offer completely different experiences. School districts, lake access, golf, acreage, commute times, neighborhood character and community amenities can all influence not only the value of a property, but what day-to-day life there actually feels like.

Todd and Michelle help their clients understand those differences, including the ones that may not be obvious during a 30-minute showing.

Aerial view of large two-story house with lit windows, stone-edged pool, and green lawn amid wooded hills at dusk.

How does the Grossman & Jones Group support sellers?

That same curiosity about how people live shapes the way Todd and Michelle approach selling a home.

Every property has something that makes it memorable, and finding that story is where their marketing begins.

Maybe it is the terrace where the owners always seem to end up at sunset. Maybe it is the backyard that has hosted years of pool parties and family gatherings. It could be the ease of jumping on the boat for an afternoon on Lake Travis, the view from the kitchen window, the privacy of an acreage setting or simply the convenience of being close to everything.

Those details matter because they help a prospective buyer picture something beyond the property itself. They help them picture their life there.

From photography and video to the listing narrative and overall marketing strategy, Todd and Michelle focus on capturing what makes a home distinctive and presenting it in a way that connects with the people most likely to appreciate it.

Two canopied swing chairs on a stone patio beside a pool overlooking a lake and green hills.

With extensive experience throughout Austin, Westlake, Lake Travis, Lakeway, Bee Cave, Spicewood and the surrounding Hill Country, Todd and Michelle have built their business around relationships and conversations, not simply transactions.

They listen. They ask questions. They share what they know about the communities they serve, and they are not afraid to point out the differences between two seemingly similar options.

Because whether someone is buying a first luxury home, moving closer to the lake, trading a large estate for something easier to maintain or selling a longtime family property, the decision is personal.

And ultimately, the best home is not necessarily the biggest one, the newest one or even the most expensive one.

It is the one that makes the life you want to live feel possible.

Those interested in working with Todd and Michelle can find additional resources at the Grossman & Jones Group.

A woman and man stand together on a garden pathway in front of a glass-walled building.

Frequently asked questions

What types of Austin communities does the Grossman & Jones Group specialize in?

Todd Grossman and Michelle Jones work throughout Austin and the surrounding areas, with particular expertise in Westlake, Lake Travis, Lakeway, Bee Cave, Spicewood and the Texas Hill Country. Their clients’ searches span a wide range of properties and lifestyles, from luxury homes in established Austin neighborhoods and highly regarded school districts to waterfront residences on Lake Travis and Lake Austin, gated and golf course communities, private acreage estates, Hill Country retreats, new construction, and low-maintenance lock-and-leave residences. Their extensive knowledge of these diverse markets helps buyers compare communities, properties, amenities, locations and lifestyle considerations to identify the right fit at every stage of their search.

How does the Grossman & Jones Group approach searching for a home?

Rather than starting with a rigid checklist of bedrooms, bathrooms and square footage, Todd and Michelle start with a conversation: How do you actually want to live? What do you love to do? What does your ideal Saturday look like? Are you happiest spending the day on the lake, playing a round of golf, entertaining friends around the pool, exploring Austin or simply enjoying a little more space and privacy? One of their favorite questions is, “What does life look like once you walk out the front door?” The answers often reveal priorities buyers may not have considered and can reshape the search entirely. Two homes at the same price point can offer remarkably different lifestyles depending on the community, school district, proximity to town, lake or golf access, acreage, amenities and neighborhood character. Todd and Michelle help clients look beyond the house itself and understand those nuances, so they are not simply choosing a home, but a place that truly fits the way they want to live.

How does the Grossman & Jones Group help sellers?

For Todd and Michelle, every home has a story, and uncovering what makes it special is where the marketing begins. They look beyond the obvious features to identify the moments, details and lifestyle that make a property memorable: morning coffee overlooking the lake, evenings around the pool, the ease of walking to a favorite neighborhood spot, a backyard made for entertaining, or the privacy and views that make a Hill Country property feel like an escape. From photography and video to the listing narrative and overall marketing strategy, every element is thoughtfully designed to create an emotional connection with buyers. By capturing not just what a home offers, but why someone will love living there, Todd and Michelle position each property to stand out and resonate with the buyers most likely to appreciate its value.

The above story was produced by The Grossman & Jones Group team with Community Impact's Storytelling team, using information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.