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.