About 1903

Located in central Austin’s historic Brykerwoods subdivision, 1903 West 32nd Street was built in 1949 and was originally bought for under $8,000. Although just under 60 years old, it is in remarkably good shape. It has changed ownership only five times, which may account for its loving upkeep.

When purchased by Otsuka Hill, 1903 was at 864 sq. ft. with two bedrooms, one bathroom, a small kitchen, and a living/dining area. The renovation has added on an additional 864 sq. ft. to the back of the home, bringing it to a total of 1728 sq. ft. The addition was a must for the neighborhood since we felt that only young couples or college students would be able to live in the cramped 2/1 floorplan. Now, as a 3/2, it is truly a single family home, with a large, lovely kitchen and a breathtaking private master suite.

The Renovation

Work began on the house on May 12, 2008. With the large addition, the project went through the similar phases of new construction - new foundation was poured for the back addition, framing built, etc. While the mechanical and electrical work intertwined with the existing system, the plumbing was redone for the entire house. However, the original plans and structure were left untouched, with the exception of the existing shared bathroom, which has been completely redesigned into a more open plan.

Overall, the project has been extremely successful and a very rewarding experience. Nothing has been more fulfilling than watching 1903’s progress week after week or having close friends and family stop by to throw in a helping hand. 1903 has come a long way, and we hope that our efforts will translate into significant, positive contributions for the next homeowners and the neighborhood for many more years to come.

About Us

Early in 2008, Ryan Otsuka and Brandon Hill decided to purchase and renovate their first home. For anyone that has bought a house before, this is not the easiest of processes. They began by searching for the right home in central Austin and considered areas like 78702, 78704 and 78751, but 78703 turned out to be the best fit. It has all the comfort of an upscale neighborhood, the convenience of being close to downtown and the University of Texas, and the weirdness of Austin in that all the homes in the area are unique.

Brandon wanted to have a project of his own to work on while Ryan wanted to get his foot in the door with the home rehabilitation business. With Brandon’s remodeling experience and Ryan’s business background a partnership was formed. They found the perfect opportunity with the house at 1903 West 32nd Street.

Ryan Otsuka

Ryan currently works for Durbin Bennett Peterson, a private wealth management firm in downtown Austin, as an analyst, operations associate, and trader. He graduated from the University of Texas in the summer of 2005 with a BBA in Finance and a minor in Management. He enjoys Austin for its distinctive personality and has had the chance to watch it grow since he started school in 2001. Real estate has always been an interesting topic to him and he hopes to learn about the industry and deal with rollercoaster ride that is remodeling.

Brandon Hill

After living overseas for two years, Brandon returned to Austin in 2005 unsure of what he wanted to do with himself. He had always been interested in home building and, after a short stint of substitute teaching, found a job as a sub-contractor with Gift-Neuhaus Properties. Owned and run by Richard Gift, Gift-Neuhaus has been remodeling and building homes in Central Austin for over 10 years. Under the guidance of Richard, Brandon has learned a lot about the process of remodeling homes.