TexasWaterFrontRanches

Lonesome Bayou Ranch

The Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, or Farmer Mac, is a government sponsored enterprise providing a secondary market for agricultural real estate and rural housing mortgage loans. They were created by congress in 1987 (in response to the farm crisis of the 80’s) to improve the ability of agricultural lenders to provide credit to America’s farmers, ranchers, rural homeowners, agricultural businesses and communities.

They do this by primarily purchasing loans from lenders, replenishing their funds to make new loans. Farmer Mac then funds its loan purchases by issuing debts or securities backed by pools of loans and selling them into the capital markets. “In doing so, Farmer Mac facilitates the flow of money from Wall Street to rural America, providing a stable supply of mortgage credit to lenders and borrowers” (Farmer Mac).

Farmer Mac has two primary programs:

- Farmer Mac I purchases qualified loans from lenders who are approved sellers.

Organic Free Range Egg Operation

- Farmer Mac II purchases portions of qualified loans guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, providing secondary market funding to support the USDA loans.

A Farmer Mac III option combines Farmer Mac I and II.

Farmer Mac has proved to be a successful and stable program, earlier this summer posting a first quarter profit and 124% share increase.

If you are interested in learning more about farm credit services, you can visit www.farmcredit.com and click on your state. Or you can talk to your Realtor about finding a Farmer Mac approved lender.

Rivercliff Entry

Frank Lloyd Wright architecture and contemporary interiors create this masterpiece on a bluff overlooking the Pedernales Arm of Lake Travis.

This 6,733 Sq Ft, shake roof home was built in 2008. It has 5 Bedrooms and 5.5 Baths and a cool, contemporary finish with stone floors and accents; rift cut oak ceilings, doors, cabinets and accents, and stone fireplaces.

The 5 manicured acres features a man-made stream spilling into a pond, and flowing under the entry.

Great Room

The great room, at entry with elevated foyer, has a wood arched ceiling and a granite and stone fireplace with rift cut oak accents. The dining area is open to the great room and has two story ceilings with a stone floor. There is also a wet bar with exotic granite counters, ice maker and refrigerator open to the dining area.

The kitchen is open to the family room also with exotic granite counters, rift cut oak cabinets, stone floors, two sinks and breakfast area with seamless windows looking to the pool and patio.

Master Closet

The two story NanaWall Window System opens to the Infinity Edge pool, patio, and hill country views.

The master bedroom features a stone fireplace, double doors to the patio and NanaWall Window System running the length of the room with seamless corners and folding doors opening to the private, Infinity Edge soaking pool. The master bath has exotic granite counters, stone floors, jetted tub, walk in double shower and doors to the private patio. The master suite also has a huge, custom walk-in closet with center island and granite countertops.

Kitchen

The private office in the master suite has custom built ins, and door to the private stone patio.

A family room has fireplace with granite , rift cut oak wall accents and window trim. An office or bedroom has full bath, seamless windows and entrance to patio. Two other bedrooms have full bath and doors to patio. The guest bedroom has full bath, walk in closet and private stone patio. The home also has utility room and secondary storage room, and attached 4-car garage with air-conditioned pet room.

Back, Pool

Altogether, 2,210 Sq Ft of stone patios with firepit surround the Infinity Edge pool spilling into overflow pool with spa and fountains.

The covered patio with stone decking off bedrooms leads to tram accessing waterfront. The stone path leads to arched entry with glass facade and wood ceilings.

The home is located near Austin Country Club in the gated community of Rivercliff in Spicewood, Texas, 10 minutes to the new Hill Country Galleria and 30 minutes to downtown Austin.

Equestrian Center

This home can be purchased for $3,750,000 or combined with a 32 acre horse stables, covered riding arena and 3 bed, 2 bath guest home to create your dream luxury ranch.

The 32 acres are fenced and cross fenced, with 5 contiguous 6+ acre lots all ag exempt. Electronically controlled stone and wrought iron gates create the entry, leading to 18 stall horse stables with limestone interior, each with doors to turnouts – 4 foaling stalls and 12 day stalls. Can easily be expanded to include additional stalls. Includes tack area, wash stall, store room and high bay doors on both sides for trailer or RV parking. Gates on both ends allow for trucks, trailers and RVs. The covered stone and split rail fenced riding arena is 100 ft x 200 ft.

Guest Home

The limestone guest home was built in 2006 and includes wood and tile floors with stone accents. The large living area includes a stone fireplace and open dining. The kitchen has granite counters and recent appliances. The master suite has a kitchenette, walk in closet, full bath, and sitting area. The home also features attached two car garage and pond at gated entry.

Owner will consider seller financing, call for details.

You can see the home listing here, and the stables/arena/guest home listing here. Call us today!

Vail Valley Equestrian Estate

Enjoy private ski and golf club memberships with this gated equestrian estate boasting an indoor horse arena, 10 stall barn (easily expandable to 22 stalls), heated lap pool, rock climbing cliff and majestic views.

The Eagle River runs through the property providing private trout fishing, kayaking, rafting and water rights for irrigation etc. The property is adjoined by BLM lands for some of the best trail riding in Colorado. State of the art finishes and meticulous attention to detail enhance this centrally located resort home.

The town of Vail is less than 20 minutes away and Eagle airport is within 15 minutes with service by 6 major airlines including 757 jet service and facilities for private aircraft.

The 5,030 Sq. Ft. home on 18 acres features 5 bedrooms and 6.5 baths, formal dining, an exercise room, game room, library, study, and wine cellar. Four fireplaces are found throughout the home, including one in the master suite and one in the beautiful great room. The master bath has a jetted tub with views. The kitchen features four ovens, Sub Zero fridge and freezer, and other appliances. The house has a four car garage and carport.

Barn and horse amenities include a climate controlled indoor riding arena, 10 stall horse barn (expandable into more stalls), caretakers unit, hot water heated floors and cooling system.

Other features include a heated, in ground pool with waterfall, cliff-side hot tub, patios with outdoor cooking, more garage parking, and memberships to golf courses, tennis and swimming, and a spa and health club.

See the listing here for more information and photos.

Take a tour without leaving your chair…enjoy!

The listing is available here.

Horses in Field at the Dream Horse Property

Buying a residential property can be difficult enough without having to consider the extra needs of a horse. But there is help – some sources on the internet give useful tips that even a seasoned buyer might not have considered.

From the Ezine article “Tips for Buying a Horse Farm”:

- Consider the house.
It’s deceptively simple: make sure that your home is one you can live in. This will be the home for your horse, and yours as well. If you plan to buy a property and build a new house or do renovations, make sure you’ve factored in all the costs, even some possible surprise ones.

- The barn: size and convenience.
Does it fit all your horse’s needs? Is it conveniently located, with enough access?

- Check for ample water supply.
Particularly in Texas, there may be dry periods. This article recommends having two sources of water available, in case of emergency. For example, our “Dream Horse Property” has two separate wells – one for the home, and the second with sprinklers to irrigate the pastures. Similarly, Rancho Estacia’s sprinkler system is fed from the lake.

- Check the pastures.
Are they steep or hilly? Are they quality? How is the soil quality? How about gating? Make sure they suit your needs.

Horses at Gabriel's Horn Ranch

HorseRides.org’s article “Things to Consider When Buying a Horse Property” echoes some of the same considerations; making sure the home is a good fit for both you and your horse. Extras like riding arenas may make a big difference. But they offer another big tip: get an expert to help you find this property. An Real Estate Agent used to farms and ranches, as well as the area you’re looking at, can offer expertise, a wider choice, and better understanding of your needs. The Dave Murray Team agents are your experts in Central Texas Waterfront, Development, Luxury and Ranch properties, serving all your needs from first time buyers to relocation. #1 Team in the #1 Coldwell Banker Texas Office, and Top 10 of all Realtors in the Greater Austin Area.

View, Montandon Ranch

The Montandon Ranch piece of property on Lake Travis just had a sizeable price reduction, to $5,900,000. It is 171 Acres of dramatic views of the lake, manicured acreage, rolling hills, mature oaks and big, deep waterfront, consisting of some cove waterfront  and main body waterfront. The perfect deal for the right buyer. Able to divide into 100 and 71 acres.

See the listing here.

A profile published this weekend in the Austin-American Statesman really nails down the allure of life on Lake Travis.

“When you live on the water, it’s like being on vacation all the time. You have access to all the water sports. It’s our form of relaxation. We’re out on the lake three days a week during the summer,” says one property owner. As the article points out, many people drive hundreds of miles just to spend a weekend on the beautiful clear, aquamarine colored waters of Lake Travis. To live on Lake Travis in sight of the water is incomparable to any place in Central Texas.

“Boating is a big part of (this lifestyle),” says another property owner. “I love to boat, and boating on Lake Travis is great. The first thing I did was buy a boat — before I got (my) condo.”

Osprey Ridge

It’s all about lake views and lake access, as they say.

Even more, a property purchased on Lake Travis is a sound long term investment. With this lake’s uniqueness to the area, there’s a constant premium on these properties (even though prices have gone down some in the past couple years). Even when the national economy struggles, the market for waterfront property in the area remains strong, according to the report.

The ideal Lake Travis home has plenty of outdoor living to sit, entertain, enjoy the vista, and perhaps take a dip in your pool. “Your blue heaven,” another Statesman article calls it.

“The view … that’s the hardest thing to give up. We get to watch the regatta, the sailboats out on the water,” says one home seller.

The agents of the Dave Murray Team are your experts in Lake Travis Property.

Listing Information

Austin, Texas has caught the eyes of lots of top economic analysts trying to find the best places to live and work in the country right now. Strong growth and opportunity makes property in Austin a great investment. Some highlights:

The Today Show listed Austin as the #3 market most primed to rebound quickly.

WomenCo listed Austin as #1 City for your Career

Relocation.Com listed Austin as #1 City for a Fresh Start

Forbes listed Austin as #1 City for your Money, and the #2 City where Americans are Relocating.

Fortune Small Business named Georgetown, just north of Austin, #1 city to start a business.

Austin is the #1 Top Performing Metro Area.

The USDA has announced a three week sign up period for farmers to receive a part of its $50 million Organic Initiative, through EQIP, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. The sign up period is May 11 – May 29.

This is for:
- growers switching to organic production
- growers expanding their organic operations
- certified organic farmers who want to expand stewardship work

Six practices will be eligible for support:
- conservation crop rotation
- cover crops
- integrated pest management
- nutrient management
- rotational grazing
- forage harvest management

Farmers can receive a maximum of $20,000 a year per farm in organic transition funding and up to $80,000 per farm in six years.

Reuters article
Memo and more information
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The Dave Murray Team
Organic Egg Farm