TexasWaterFrontRanches

Hickory Creek Ranch

According to the Wall Street Journal’s article (Green Acres is the Place to Be, 12/2), many new buyers are looking at rural land who weren’t before.

The reasons vary, but the result is definite: rural areas are growing in popularity. One of the most common motivations for buying rural land deals with the pocketbook: in the uncertain economy, land is standing out as a great investment. Many, expecially young singles, have been squirreling away savings, and are starting to look at something that they feel is going to be a more solid investment and a safer, surer bet than the stock market or even a 401(k).  Land is a great asset, and even small plots have appeal to these “starter” groups. It’s “a hedge against an unpredictable future,” the Journal says. Also, the rural market is often stronger than the residential market, and so more rural land can be a great deal over real estate closer to, or in, a city. It’s proving to be a good option whether or not you plan to live on the land.

Hill Country Hideaway

Another group of people looking at farms and ranches are people with more of a “back to their roots” mentality - interested in getting away from the rat race and pace of the city, and to a daily routine involving farming and ranching. This is a wide range of people with everyone from young families looking to get their kids involved, to empty-nesters and retirees who have spent entire careers in an urban environment. They enjoy making money, self sustaining, living green, or just having the fun of this lifestyle as a complete change of pace from what they were used to. “It’s a little like the pioneer spirit,” says one editor, “they still want high-speed Internet but want to feel like they are doing something else for their families.”

Cow Creek Ranch

Some are looking for a way to get away from the city while still being close enough to work, and others may have been forced away from work and are looking to the next opportunity. For many, living on a Texas ranch is something they’ve “always wanted to do.” But for whatever reason, now seems to be the time that so many are feeling the motivation to give ranch life a try.

Dave Murray is your expert in central Texas ranch properties, as well as waterfront, luxury and development. Serving all your real estate needs from first time buyers to relocation, his team is the #1 Team in the #1 Colwell Banker Texas office, and top 10 of all Realtors in the greater Austin area.

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and many households are starting to decorate their homes for the holidays. Soon, our streets and neighborhoods should be filled with twinkling holiday lights. If lights are part of your holiday traditions, this year, LED lights offer a new option to save energy, save money on your bills, and more.

What are LED lights? LED is an acronym for “light emitting diode.” Lights are traditionally miniature incandescent bulbs, with a filament inside them. Basically, LED lights do not have this filament, but rather, are lit by moving electrons in semiconductor material.

These have many advantages. For one, they don’t burn as hot, making them safer, and cool to the touch. They can be encased in a plastic material, instead of the thin glass that older lights are made of, making them harder to break. The wires are thicker, making them harder to tangle. They last longer, sometimes 20 years. And of course, they save energy – using around 80% less energy than traditional lights.

LED technology has been around for a while, but has only caught on for holiday lighting in recent years. Now they come in all colors, and can blink. The past three years have seen LED lights grow more and more popular – they have been used on the Rockefeller Center tree since 2007.

Miller Creek Ranch

What are the disadvantages to LED lights? They cost more upfront, for one. You can expect to pay two or three dollars more, per strand. The main complaint with the lights is the appearance – the glow is just different, and some don’t like it. But as we get more used to seeing these lights, the safety and efficiency is something we can all feel good about seeing this holiday season.

Photo: Miller Creek Ranch

Read more:

Wise Geek’s LED article

“What We Are Decking the Halls With: LED Christmas Lights” from the Omaha World Herald

Photo taken at: Bella Tesoro

Sandy Ranch

CNN Money’s article “What Housing Bust?” covers what areas of the nation have done well in the housing market, and why. According to writer Les Christie, areas with plenty of available developable land have smaller swings between home price highs and lows. This is because, when the demand for housing spikes, home builders are able to build more homes and keep the housing prices in check. Speed is also of the essence here, home builders need to be able to build quickly, thus, the need for available land.

“Elasticity of supply,” this is called, according to Mark Fleming, chief economist for First American CoreLogic. And Christie says, it is the definition of Texas real estate, and similar throughout all the metro areas.

“Texas is the poster child for these ‘steady Eddie’ states. House prices during the past three years rose in all 26 metro areas with gains ranging from 2.8% for Dallas, the second largest metro area, to 9.7% in Houston, the largest, to a whopping 32.5% in Odessa.”

This is part of what is causing the metro areas in Texas, including Austin, to grow so rapidly. Landowners in the Austin area should continue to see their investments in high demand for buyers and developers.

The Double Spear Stables are 27 Acres with gated entry, highlighted by wet weather Alligator Creek.

The state of the art horse facilities include a 14,520 square foot, 39 stall barn with office and tack room; and 27 outside stalls. There is a lit arena off the barn, a 60 foot round pen, several fenced paddocks and a large, lit rodeo arena. A second hay barn includes a 1,000 square foot apartment with three bedrooms and one bath.

The property includes a recently completed, 1,482 square foot Ranch Home. The entryway features a stunning great room highlighted by a stone Rumford fireplace. The open gourmet kitchen has been installed with new appliances. The master suite has vaulted ceilings, double shower, Greek soaking tub, and his & her closets. The separate entry guest loft also has a full bath. The 800 squarare foot detached guest home has living, kitchenette, loft and full bath. Also inside the Ranch Home is a utility room.

The Ranch Home features high end finish, including stained concrete floors, knotty Alder and Cedar wood accents.

Double Spear Stables is located in historic Greune, within 10 minutes of Canyon Lake and the City of New Braunfels. 45 minutes from both Austin and San Antonio. Sold for $1,450,000, additional acreage available. See the for Double Spear Stables listing here.

The results are in, and Texans have voted to pass all 11 proposed amendments to the state constitution, including those we’ve reported on, for appraisal reform.

Proposition 11, which limits the government’s power to eminent domain, was hugely popular and passed by an 80-20 margin. “The amendment bans governments in Texas from seizing private property and giving it to a private developer to boost the tax base,” reports KXAN News.

Over 43,500 residents voted in Travis County.

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If you’re used to not voting when it isn’t a big ticket year, or if you’ve never voted before, skipping your chance to vote this year may be a mistake you’ll be paying for, for a long time. Some of the propositions on Texas’ ballot this year deal directly with home values and appraisals, and it’s important that we understand what we’re voting for and why, even if someone would still decide it’s not important and not go. Even if you don’t own a home now, it may be an issue that affects you in the future. Here is a re-print of October 16th’s blog.

November 3^rd’s ballot in the State of Texas won’t have the same hot button races as a presidential election year, but the propositions on it will directly affect Texas homeowners and their money, right now and in the immediate future. The language can be tricky and there is misleading information floating around from misinterpretation, but it is important to understand the proposed amendments and vote.

Gabriel Lopez wrote a great column translating the amendments into simpler terms. The Houston Chronicle also offered an interpretation. There are a few amendments in question, namely, Propositions 2, 3, and 5.

Proposition 2

As it will appear on the ballot: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for the ad valorem taxation of a residence homestead solely on the basis of the property’s value as a residence homestead.”

What it means: We’ve talked about the increases in appraisal rates in the state. Currently, “the central appraisers are using a practice called ‘highest and best use,’ which allows a property to be valued on potential use rather than current use,” Lopez writes. In other words, if this amendment passes, if an area is experiencing rapid commercialization, the land can’t be valued for the potential value – it will mandate “that a residence be valued only as a residence, regardless of what the ‘highest and best use’ is.”

“This amendment is intended to protect less affluent homeowners from situations in which rapid commercialization in their area threatens to drive up property taxes unreasonably year after year,” writes the Chronicle. “…such development can occur quickly and with potentially difficult consequences for homeowners. The measure would be strictly limited to residences qualifying for the home-owners exemption, thus eliminating the potential for use by speculators.”

Proposition 3

As it will appear on the ballot: “The constitutional amendment providing for uniform standards and procedures for the appraisal of property for ad valorem purposes.”

What it means: This amendment is another reaction to the state appraisal policies leading to inflated rates recently. It would require uniformity in appraisal processes statewide, allowing the state to have oversight and enforcement over every district. “This is important because state funding for public schools is based on the taxable property in each school district,” says Lopez.

Writes the Chronicle: “Unfortunately, the proposition has been plagued by Internet rumors that it is a back-door method to introduce a statewide property tax. It is no such thing, assures state Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, an author of the amendment. Williams says it is simply a means to achieve uniformity of appraising methods in the interests of more equitable appraisals in all areas.”

Proposition 5

As it will appear on the ballot: The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to establish a single board of equalization for two or more adjoining appraisal entities that elect to provide for consolidated equalizations.

What it means: The board of equalization would hear appeals from homeowners regarding their home’s appraisal value. It can be difficult to find qualified individuals for these boards in rural and less populated counties; this amendment would assist them. “It is written to be ‘permissive,’ which means a larger entity cannot force a smaller one to participate without its consent,” says the Chronicle.

Along with the Houston Chronicle, The Texas Board of Realtors endorses “yes” votes for propositions 2, 3, and 5. A quick, concise flyer is available here.

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Lake Travis, Montandon Ranch

Lake Travis has risen even more since our update yesterday; it is now at 645 feet and still rising. You can see up-to-the-minute conditions here.

With Lake Travis up and the creeks flowing again, now is the perfect time to buy.  Ranch sales are still down and sellers are extremely motivated to move their property. With the recent rains and forecasts for more rain throughout the coming months, once spring time rolls around and the market really gets going sellers might not be as motivated to sell.  There are still great rates and good terms for land deals.  Capital Farm Credit is offering 30 year term and 5 year fixed rates at 6.25% with 20% down.  Give us a call and we can get you in touch with a loan officer there.

Featured Properties on Lake Travis

Rancho Estacia A luxurious waterfront gentlemen’s ranch on Lake Travis. A 6,694 Sq Ft home, guest cabana, stables and 700 ft of Lake Travis Waterfront make this Mediterranean oasis with Texas ranch comforts.

Rivercliff Frank Lloyd Wright architecture & contemporary interiors create this stunning masterpiece on bluff overlooking Pedernales Arm of Lake Travis. Can be combined with a 32 acre equestrian center and guest home to create your dream ranch.

The Montandon Ranch Looking for deep, Lake Travis waterfront? 171 Acres with 1,800 ft. of Lake Travis waterfront. Paved roads, electricity, 3 wells. One of the Largest Lake Travis Pieces on the Market.

100-459 Acres on Lake Travis Gently sloping terrain to the Lake, high bluffs overlooking the Lake, draws, pecan bottoms, spring fed creeks and pond.

0 Bee Creek Road 46.66 Acre Prime Commercial Corner Near New Lakeway Development – The Highlands. 1,000 ft. of frontage on Bee Creek Cove of Lake Travis. Panoramic Lake and Hill Country Views.

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Lake Travis

As a result of the heavy rains last week in the Austin area, the Lake Travis levels have risen six feet. Currently, the lake’s level is just over 642 feet, with more rain already coming today. 

It is still, however, 24 feet lower than average, and 39 feet lower than completely full. “El Nino should bring us more rain between now and the spring,” says LCRA Supervisor David Walker, “we’d need ten more floods like this one to do the trick.” The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 2009 Winter Outlook and Climate Predictions expect El Nino to dominate weather patterns, bringing a cooler winter and above average precipitation for Texas, by an increase of 40%.

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Front

This contemporary Texas “Farmhouse” was designed by Hobson Crow & custom built by Decker Ayres. It has original Texas homestead feel with contemporary design & modern features in a world class golf community.

4,192 square feet on 1.2 acres, the 4 bed/4.5 bath home is located near the 11th hole of Barton Creek Lakeside Golf Course. It is completely fenced, with limestone privacy wall and big antique mesquite doors welcoming guests. The home has a white Texas limestone exterior and a clay tile roof.

Living

The interior features tall, beamed ceilings, hardwood Texas pecan floors, and stained concrete floors throughout. The great room, at entry, has a limestone fireplace, two siting areas, and Texas Pecan wood panel walls with hidden storage/media closet and leaded windows showcasing the grounds. The open dining area has Texas pecan built-ins and door leading to private patio perfect for breakasts in the cool fall mornings. The gourmet kitchen features stainless GE Monogram appliances, Dacor range, Texas pecan hardwoods, Vermont soapstone counters and big breakfast area.

Master Suite

The main floor master suite features its own stone fireplace and sitting area with built-in bookshelves and big windows for lots of natural light. The master bath with double vanities, travertine floors, huge walk-in closet with dressing area, jetted tub and separate double shower.

Guest areas include loft guest suite with hidden storage behind Texas pecan paneling, full slate tile bath, large closet, desk/office area with big windows looking to grounds and Hill Country views. The guest home features exterior walls of stone and cypress, interior walls of painted pine with batts and sheetrock, concrete floors, living area with kitchenette, cypress wood paneling and wall of windows looking manicured grounds, and 2 bedrooms each with full bath.

Patio

The main home also features utility room with concrete floors, ice maker and 1/2 bath; 3 car garage with lots of storage; big wraparound patio with limestone fireplace and built-in BBQ; and covered breezeway leads to detached guest home built to look like original Texas farmhouse.

The property showcases a firepit and flagstone sitting area, saltwater pool and spa surrounded by mature oaks and flagstone decking and wrought iron fencing, several gardening areas among manicured grounds, and limestone workshop/storage.

Pool and Spa

The neighborhood features gated, guarded entry, golf course, tennis courts, club house, recreation facilities, hiking/jogging paths, private parks, access to Lake Travis. Located in Spicewood, only 15 minutes to new Hill Country Galleria, 35 minutes to downtown Austin. See more information and virtual tour here.