
Luxury lake house transactions in Austin demand specialist knowledge that standard residential agents simply don’t possess. Water rights, dock permits, LCRA regulations, flood zone classifications, and lake level variations affect property values in ways that can shift a transaction by hundreds of thousands of dollars. On Lake Austin alone, properties average over $3 million, with the highest-tier estates surpassing $38 million. The agent you select directly affects your outcome. This guide profiles six top-tier luxury lake house realtors in Austin for 2026, covering dedicated waterfront specialists, nationally ranked luxury agents, boutique brokerages, and globally affiliated teams serving Lake Austin, Lake Travis, Lake LBJ, and the Highland Lakes chain.
How to Select Top Luxury Lake House Realtors in Austin
Choosing the right agent starts with knowing which qualifications actually matter in waterfront real estate:
- Waterfront transaction record: Proven closings on luxury lakefront properties, not general residential sales, confirm the agent understands unique negotiation dynamics and due diligence requirements specific to waterfront homes.
- Lake-specific regulatory knowledge: LCRA water rights, dock permits, flood zone classifications, and short-term rental rules differ by lake. Select an agent who handles these details without needing outside help.
- Off-market and private network access: The most desirable lake houses sell before they hit Zillow or the MLS. Verify whether your agent has demonstrated off-market inventory access before you commit.
- Brokerage network and global reach: Luxury lake buyers often relocate from out of state. Agents affiliated with globally recognized networks like Sotheby’s International Realty, Engel & Völkers, or Compass expand your buyer pool beyond the local market.
- Industry recognition and peer standing: Membership in Austin’s Elite 25, Luxury League, or Platinum Top 50 signals third-party peer verification of sustained performance, not self-promotion.
Top 6 Realtors for Luxury Lake Houses in Austin, Texas
Here are the six realtors who lead the Austin luxury lakefront market:
- Fokus Waterfront
- Kumara Wilcoxon
- The Keenan Group
- Kathryn Scarborough Group
- Spyglass Realty
- Bridget Ramey
Best Realtors for Luxury Lake Houses in Austin, Texas
1. Fokus Waterfront
- Principal: Greg Gaynor, Broker/Owner at Fokus Waterfront & Hill Country, based in Kingsland, Texas.
- Experience: Over 20 years specializing exclusively in waterfront and lake properties across the Highland Lakes region of Central Texas.
- Lakes served: Lake LBJ, Lake Travis, Lake Austin, Inks Lake, Lake Marble Falls, and Lake Buchanan.
- Recognition: Ranked the #1 waterfront home sales agent on Lake LBJ in 2025; active member of the Austin Board of REALTORS (ACTRIS) and Highland Lakes Association of Realtors.
- Differentiator: Greg and Stephanie Gaynor personally own a vacation home on Lake LBJ, giving them first-hand lake ownership experience that informs every client transaction.
Fokus Waterfront & Hill Country is a dedicated waterfront real estate firm led by Broker/Owner Greg Gaynor, with over 20 years focused exclusively on lakefront properties across the Highland Lakes, including Lake LBJ, Lake Travis, Lake Austin, Inks Lake, Lake Marble Falls, and Lake Buchanan. Ranked #1 on Lake LBJ for waterfront home sales in 2025, Greg and his team bring personal lake homeownership insight, handling dock permits, water depth analysis, LCRA regulations, boathouse approvals, and flood history as part of standard service.
Best For: Buyers and sellers targeting the Highland Lakes, particularly Lake LBJ and Lake Travis, who want a dedicated waterfront specialist with personal lake ownership experience and LCRA regulatory knowledge.
Standout Feature: Holding the #1 waterfront home sales ranking on Lake LBJ in 2025, combined with the Gaynors’ personal ownership of a Highland Lakes vacation home, delivers client-side lake experience other agents cannot match.
2. Kumara Wilcoxon

- Brokerage: Kuper Sotheby’s International Realty, Austin, Texas.
- Career sales: Over $2 billion in career sales volume; $359 million in sales in 2021 alone, averaging nearly $1 million per day.
- Rankings: #1 Realtor in Austin for five consecutive years; #1 worldwide for Sotheby’s International Realty; #1 by Austin Business Journal Residential Real Estate Awards for four consecutive years.
- Memberships: Austin’s Elite 25, Luxury League, Sotheby’s International Realty Market Leaders, Métier Maison, and Sotheby’s International Realty Top 100.
- Awards: 2024 Inman Golden i Award winner; over 20 years of experience in Austin’s luxury market.
Kumara Wilcoxon has operated at the top of Austin’s luxury real estate market for over 20 years, working exclusively through Kuper Sotheby’s International Realty and generating over $2 billion in career sales, including $359 million in 2021 alone. Ranked #1 in Austin for five consecutive years and #1 worldwide for Sotheby’s International Realty, she holds distinguished positions in Austin’s Elite 25, Luxury League, and earned the Inman Golden i Award in 2024. Her Lake Austin waterfront knowledge, global buyer network, and access to off-market properties make her a consistent top choice for ultra-high-end lakefront transactions.
Best For: Ultra-luxury Lake Austin and Westlake buyers and sellers who want the highest-ranked Austin agent with global Sotheby’s network access, Elite 25 membership, and a $2 billion+ career track record.
Standout Feature: Over $2 billion in career sales, with $359 million closed in a single year (2021), plus #1 rankings globally for Sotheby’s International Realty, five consecutive #1 rankings in Austin, and a 2024 Inman Golden i Award.
3. The Keenan Group
- Principals: Joe and Cara Keenan, Broker Associates at the Keenan Group at Compass Real Estate; office at 4206 Venado Dr, Austin, TX 78731.
- Experience: Over 25 years in Austin’s luxury real estate market; consistently performing in the top 1% of Austin REALTORS.
- Recognition: #1 Top Team in Austin 2024 by Austin Board of Realtors & UnlockMLS; Platinum Top 50 REALTORS for 15 consecutive years; REAL Trends America’s Best; over $800 million in total career sales.
- Specializations: Lake Austin waterfront properties, Northwest Hills, Westlake Hills, Tarrytown, and off-market Compass Private Exclusive listings.
- Memberships: Luxury League; Compass Austin Luxury Advisors; Joe holds a USAF Academy B.S. (1999) and St. Edward’s University MBA (2005).
Led by Joe and Cara Keenan, the Keenan Group at Compass Real Estate has delivered over 25 years of luxury real estate know-how across Austin, achieving #1 Top Team status in 2024 (Austin Board of Realtors & UnlockMLS), Platinum Top 50 REALTORS for 15 consecutive years, and over $800 million in total career sales. Their Lake Austin waterfront specialization is backed by analysis of $865.6 million in Lake Austin transaction volume (276 sales reviewed) and exclusive off-market access through Compass’s Private Exclusive program.
Best For: Buyers and sellers in Lake Austin, Northwest Hills, and Westlake Hills who want a team with over 25 years at the top, off-market Compass Private Exclusive inventory, over $800 million in total sales, and 15 consecutive Platinum Top 50 distinctions.
Standout Feature: #1 Top Team in Austin (2024, Austin Board of Realtors & UnlockMLS) backed by 15 consecutive Platinum Top 50 REALTORS distinctions, over $800 million in career sales, and Compass Private Exclusive access to listings before they reach the public market.
4. Kathryn Scarborough Group
- Brokerage: Engel & Völkers Austin; Kathryn was appointed President of Engel & Völkers Austin in 2015 when her family firm merged with the global brand.
- Background: Fifth-generation Austinite; in the real estate industry since 2001 (over 23 years); mentored by her mother, Michele Turnquist.
- Career volume: Over $1.5 billion in active, pending, and recently sold inventory since 2001; top .001% of Texas Realtors; ranked #16 statewide in the Top 1% of Texas REALTORS.
- Record sale: Set the highest recorded sale in Austin’s history at $38,900,000 for a Lake Austin home.
- Memberships: Private Office (31 advisors across North America, over $2 billion in annual sales); Elite 25; Luxury League; Million Dollar Guild; Realm; DuPont Registry Top Luxury Real Estate Professional Award; Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist.
A fifth-generation Austinite with over 23 years in the industry, Kathryn Scarborough leads the Kathryn Scarborough Group at Engel & Völkers Austin, which she has served as President since 2015, bringing $1.5 billion in career inventory and the distinction of setting Austin’s all-time record sale at $38,900,000 on Lake Austin. Recognized among the top .001% of Texas Realtors and inducted into Private Office (31 advisors across North America representing over $2 billion in annual sales), her Lake Austin waterfront knowledge spans estate homes, land assemblage, and off-market deals.
Best For: Buyers and sellers of elite Lake Austin waterfront estates and Austin luxury properties who require access to Private Office’s exclusive North American network, Austin’s record sale specialist, and Engel & Völkers’ global marketing reach.
Standout Feature: Setting the highest recorded sale in Austin’s history at $38,900,000 on Lake Austin, combined with Private Office membership (31 advisors, over $2 billion in annual North American sales), the top .001% Texas Realtors ranking, and over 23 years as a fifth-generation Austinite.
5. Spyglass Realty
- Founded: Spyglass Realty was founded in 2008 by Ryan Rodenbeck; headquartered at 5818 Balcones Dr Suite C-2, Austin, TX 78731; 2 offices and 125 sales associates.
- Broker: Ryan Rodenbeck, CEO and Broker; elected to the Austin Board of Realtors Board of Directors for 2025.
- Network affiliation: LeadingRE affiliate (Leading Real Estate Companies of the World).
- Awards: #1 small employer, American-Statesman Top Workplaces of Greater Austin 2022; two best workplace awards in 2024; ranked #2 Austin Business Journal Best Places to Work 2022 (in their size category).
- Services: Free staging and renovation consultation for all sellers; advanced digital marketing including video production, photography, and online syndication; serves Westlake, Lakeway, East Austin, Downtown Austin, and central Austin luxury and investment markets.
Founded in 2008 by Ryan Rodenbeck in Austin, Spyglass Realty is a boutique independent brokerage with 125 sales associates across 2 offices, affiliated with LeadingRE (Leading Real Estate Companies of the World). Rodenbeck was elected to the Austin Board of Realtors Board of Directors for 2025, and the firm has earned top workplace recognition including #1 small employer in the Austin-Statesman’s 2022 Top Workplaces. For sellers, Spyglass provides free staging and renovation consultation (a differentiator in the luxury segment) alongside advanced video marketing and digital syndication.
Best For: Buyers and sellers in central Austin, Westlake, and Lakeway luxury markets who want a boutique independent brokerage with a leadership-level ABoR voice, free staging services, and high-quality digital marketing as standard.
Standout Feature: Free staging and renovation consultation for all sellers (provided at no extra cost, a rare offering in the luxury segment) combined with Rodenbeck’s 2025 Austin Board of Realtors Board of Directors membership and LeadingRE global network affiliation.
6. Bridget Ramey
- Brokerage: Kuper Sotheby’s International Realty Austin; office at 524 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX.
- Career volume: Approaching $1 billion in active, pending, and recently sold inventory since 2020; over $193 million in closed transactions in 2021 alone.
- Rankings: Sotheby’s International Realty Top 100 globally every year since 2020; member of Austin’s Elite 25; member of Luxury League Austin.
- Education: University of Texas at Austin graduate, Summa Cum Laude, BA in Communications (minor in Public Relations); also holds Associate Degrees in Journalism and Radio/TV/Film.
- Specializations: Lake Austin waterfront properties, central Austin luxury homes, ranch properties in Georgetown and Dripping Springs, and suburban areas including Spicewood, Round Rock, Lakeway, and Cedar Park.
A University of Texas at Austin Summa Cum Laude graduate, Bridget Ramey operates through Kuper Sotheby’s International Realty in Austin, approaching $1 billion in inventory since 2020 and holding Sotheby’s International Realty Top 100 status globally every year since 2020. Specializing in Lake Austin waterfront properties, central Austin luxury homes, and Texas ranch properties, she serves clients through Austin’s Elite 25, Luxury League, and Sotheby’s global buyer network, providing full concierge service at all price points.
Best For: Lake Austin buyers and sellers, ranch property clients, and luxury homeowners across Austin’s in-city and suburban markets who want a Sotheby’s Top 100 global agent with Elite 25 membership, $1 billion in recent inventory, and a reputation built on referrals.
Standout Feature: Sotheby’s International Realty Top 100 global ranking sustained every year since 2020, combined with Elite 25 and Luxury League membership, approaching $1 billion in inventory since 2020, and a Lake Austin specialization grounded in over 20 years of Austin market relationships.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Luxury Lake House Realtor in Austin

Confirm Specific Experience With the Lake You’re Buying or Selling On
Lake Austin, Lake Travis, and Lake LBJ operate under completely different regulatory frameworks. Constant-level versus reservoir lakes, LCRA permit requirements, dock standards, and HOA structures vary significantly between each body of water. Choosing an agent whose transaction history is concentrated on the specific lake you’re targeting produces meaningfully better due diligence than a generalist luxury agent with broad Austin market exposure.
Verify Off-Market Access Before Assuming It Exists
Austin’s highest-tier lake houses frequently change hands without ever appearing on Zillow, Realtor.com, or the MLS. Ask an agent directly how many of their recent lake transactions originated off-market and through which specific networks. This is a faster and more reliable indicator of true off-market reach than marketing language alone.
Evaluate Brokerage Network Relative to Where Your Buyer Pool Lives
Luxury lake house buyers in Austin increasingly relocate from California, New York, and international markets. Selecting an agent affiliated with a globally recognized luxury network such as Sotheby’s International Realty, Engel & Völkers, or Leading Real Estate Companies of the World directly expands exposure to the buyer pools most likely to transact at the upper price tiers.
Understand the Regulatory Complexity of the Specific Property Before Engaging
Waterfront properties in Austin may involve LCRA water rights documentation, dock or boathouse permits, flood zone determinations, STR restrictions, and HOA approval requirements that standard agents are unprepared to address. Confirm that your agent has closed similar transactions on that specific lake, including handling those specific compliance requirements, before retaining them. This prevents discovering regulatory gaps at the contract stage.
Treat Industry Membership as Peer Verification, Not Self-Promotion
Membership in Austin’s Elite 25, Luxury League, Platinum Top 50, or Private Office requires independent nomination or performance verification from peers and governing bodies. These credentials represent a stronger signal of sustained market performance than agent-reported sales figures alone and should be one of the filters applied before any initial agent consultation.
Final Thoughts
The single most important filter for Austin luxury lake house transactions is lake-specific transaction experience. An agent who has closed multiple deals on your specific lake will handle water rights, dock permits, LCRA documentation, and comparable values with a precision that outperforms any amount of general luxury market volume. Off-market access and brokerage network reach are the secondary differentiators. The properties and the buyers that move the needle in Austin’s lakefront market rarely surface on public platforms first. Interview at least two agents, request lake-specific transaction histories, and confirm membership in recognized peer-verified groups before retaining anyone.
FAQs
They have experience with waterfront properties, including water rights, dock permits, and lake-specific regulations.
Each lake has different rules and valuation factors, which can significantly impact the property’s price and usability.
LCRA regulations govern water use, dock permits, and shoreline structures, directly affecting property ownership rights.
Yes, many high-end properties are sold privately through agent networks before reaching public listings.
They connect properties to international buyers, increasing exposure and potential sale value.
Ask about their recent waterfront transactions, off-market access, and experience with specific lakes.
Typically yes, due to limited inventory, premium locations, and unique amenities like docks and lake access.
Flood zones, fluctuating water levels, and permit restrictions can affect long-term value and usability.
No, many general agents lack the specialized knowledge required for lakefront transactions.
Proven experience closing deals on the specific lake you’re targeting is the most critical factor.