Whether you buy an existing home or plan to custom build, a new home is exciting. Many buyers find a house they love and fail to research the neighborhood. While granite countertops and high ceilings are tempting, don’t buy, or build, a home in a neighborhood not suited to your needs, or one that shows signs that your investment may not be a wise one. Here is a checklist of things to consider when selecting a neighborhood.

Location: This may seem obvious, but above all else, don’t buy a house in an inconvenient location. Check out the area and see where the nearest grocery store, dry cleaners, and restaurants are. Drive your morning commute and decide if it’s a drive you can make (twice) five days a week. You define what a good location is for you and your family, so be sure to move to an area that fits your definition.

Future indicators: Check with the local planning office and see what, if any, plans have been made that will impact the neighborhood you’re considering. You don’t want to move and have a road expansion envelope half your front yard or have a land developer cut down most of the trees in the neighborhood.

Sights, sounds and smells: Your home should be a delight to the senses. You need to visit the neighborhood at various times during the day to see if there are any sights, sounds, or smells that are deal breakers for you. Drive through on a Saturday and during a weekday to observe traffic patterns, children playing, and also note any unleashed animals, if that’s a concern for you. You may not see any train tracks, but if you’re in the neighborhood every morning you’ll soon realize a loud train whistle is part of the daily routine. Bothersome noises may never go away, and even if you get used to them, they will hurt your resale value. Walk the neighborhood and check for any hints of sewage issues that you may be able to see or smell.

If you’re searching for a neighborhood that meets your criteria, let Texas Homesites show you Texas communities that will exceed your expectations. There is land for sale in master planned communities and golfing communities in Texas. For more information on Texas real estate, find Texas Homesites on Facebook and Twitter.

Home ownership is the American dream, and now is an ideal time to purchase a home. If you’ve been considering turning in the key to your rental, here are five benefits of home ownership to help you make your decision.

Bottom dollar: In almost every U.S. city, it is cheaper to own a home than to rent. Mortgage rates remain low, making it a great time to buy a home, or buy land and begin custom building a home. Finance a home now, and enjoy the low interest rate for years to come when the rates inevitably rise.

Tax break: You can deduct the interest on the mortgage from your taxes, which is a nice additional perk of home ownership.

Control: If you’re a renter, you know renting a property from someone else owns comes with a set of rules. Depending on your landlord, you may not be able to paint your walls, mount your flat screen television, or do various other things that permanently alter the dwelling. When you own your home, you can do whatever you want, whether it’s paint the bedroom red or put in a pool in the backyard.

Quality: People take care of things they own, but they typically don’t treat rental property with the same consideration. You likely won’t find a rental that is cared for the way you would care for your own home.

Equity: If you think you’re throwing money away every time you write your rent check, it’s probably time you start looking at land or homes for sale. Equity is the buzzword homeowners love and renters envy. When you own your own home, your mortgage payments can help establish your future financial stability.

If you’re considering buying land and building a home, now is a good time to take advantage of affordable Texas living. The Texas economy is faring well, especially compared to the national economy, and new land buyers are looking to the beautiful Texas Hill Country for land for sale. Texas Homesites will show you available land in master planned communities and golfing communities in Texas. For more information on the Texas real estate market, find Texas Homesites on Facebook and Twitter today.

Whether you live in San Antonio or love to vacation there, it’s a wonderful place for families.  The city boasts endless places to go and things to see that the whole family can enjoy.  Here are a few suggestions to keep in mind the next time you’re looking for a fun-filled day.

Visit La Villita: Spanish for “little town,” La Villita was one of San Antonio’s original neighborhoods.  Today it’s populated with art galleries, gift shops, and unique eateries.  It’s a wonderful place to visit with the family, shop, dine, and maybe give the kids a history lesson.

Explore Cascade Caverns: Just outside San Antonio, the caverns offer a unique experience the whole family will love.  Visitors can take a peak beneath the surface of Texas Hill Country, plus see a 100 foot underground waterfall.  The temperature in the cavern remains about 68 degrees all year, so there’s never a bad time to bring the family.

See Shamu: SeaWorld in San Antonio is a spectacle you don’t want to miss.  It features marine life shows and displays, adventure camps, rides, and even a water park.  Located at 10500 SeaWorld Boulevard, the park is open March through December.  Onsite dining lets you stay on the premises as long as you want.

Spend a day at the zoo: The San Antonio Zoo is open every day of the year, so whether you’re in town for a week or just passing through, take the family to see over 3,500 animals that call the zoo home.  The animals are housed in naturalistic exhibits, so the kids will be amazed by what they see and probably learn a little something too.  The zoo is open from 9a.m. – 5p.m., but guests are allowed to stay until 6p.m.

If you’re considering relocating to the San Antonio area, Texas Homesites is your source for Texas real estate information.  It’s an excellent time to buy land in Texas, and home sites in the Texas Hill Country are perfect for custom building a home.  Land is available in master planned communities as well as golfing communities in Texas.  For more information, find Texas Homesites on Facebook and Twitter today.

If you’ve been planning your escape to the suburbs for years, now is the time to make your getaway.  If you’re interested in claiming some affordable Texas land for yourself, here are some of the suburbs to consider.

Bryan/College Station, Texas, is the location of a premier master planned community called King Oaks.  It offers the very essence of a peaceful country lifestyle combined with college town excitement! Like stepping back in time, large 1-4 acre homesites are virtually untouched and extremely affordable... giving your family room to spread out amid a setting of masterfully preserved natural beauty.

Cedar Hill, Texas, is home to the Lake Ridge master planned community.  Located at Joe Pool Lake, Lake Ridge offers a peaceful lakeside retreat with rolling hills and a golf course lifestyle close to the urban sophistication of Dallas. Lake Ridge offers incredible hilltop and lake views from which you can see for miles, unlike ANYTHING you've experienced in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

New Braunfels, Texas, offers the charm of a small community and the conveniences of an urban area. Near New Braunfels lies Vintage Oaks at the Vineyard, a master planned community located between San Antonio and Austin.  Vintage Oaks boasts perhaps the best location in Texas.  Near the Tanger Outlet Center in San Marcos, and adjacent to the Dry Comal Creek Vineyard, you can do as much, or as little, as you like.  Also near New Braunfels is Havenwood at Hunters Crossing. This master planned community provides the perfect setting to plant your family's legacy. Havenwood offers spacious multi-acre wooded homesites surrounded by the beauty of the Texas Hill Country. Havenwood offers a prime location with easy access to the excitement of both Austin and San Antonio.

If you can’t resist the allure of the suburbs and affordable Texas living, now is an excellent time to buy land in Texas.  Texas Homesites can help you navigate the Texas real estate market.  For more information on land for sale in Texas or golfing communities in Texas, find us on Facebook and Twitter today.

Moving is often a touchy subject. You’re going to a new place and leaving behind friends, memories, and the familiar. You’re worried about your family’s reaction. Moving is a big change that will affect the whole family. However, as long as you understand and address your family’s concerns, you can make the transition smoother.

Leaving friends: It’s hard to leave the friends you’ve had for a long time, but if you plan ahead you can avoid arguments and tears. One suggestion for helping your family cope with leaving friends is to set up regular visits so your kids are guaranteed to see their friends again. You can also encourage them to video chat, talk on the phone, and send text messages with friends. This might help assuage their sadness about moving.

Give them a say: Your family most likely didn’t have a say about where you were moving. But giving kids some control over the situation could make the move a lot easier. Let them pick out their rooms and decor. Seek their opinion about furnishings and let them take an active role in decorating the house. The more involved they are in organizing their new house, the more they will feel at home there.

Move over the summer: If you have a choice, move over the summer. This will give the kids ample time to adjust before school starts, and it will give you time to scope out the neighborhood and start meeting people. You could also enroll your kids in a summer day camp so that they can get to know kids in their new neighborhood. You can attend block parties, find local hang outs, and work on making friends. Summer is the easiest time to transition because there is more time for socializing.

Stoop to bribery: Your family may still be unhappy after all these steps, so you may have to resort to a little bribery. Give kids some incentive for moving and nurture a good attitude. Although it’s not the ideal way to handle an unhappy family, moving is a big change and it might help you avoid whiny kids.

Moving is a tough transition, but Texas Homesites wants to make it as smooth as possible. We offer the best land in Texas in family-friendly communities near San Antonio, Austin, Houston, Dallas, and New Braunsfels. One of our master-planned communities is sure to help you and your family find your dream home. Contact us today!

You’ve already decided you don’t want to live in a big city. But living on the outskirts of a big city like Dallas can give you all the benefits of the city without the hassles of traffic, crime, or the overall hectic feel. Here are a few reasons why living outside Dallas is ideal.

Close to the largest metropolitan area in Texas: The Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex is Texas’ largest metropolitan area and the fourth largest in the United States. The Metroplex has tons of economic opportunities, two major airports, ideal shopping, and entertainment galore. The benefits of having two major cities close to you are endless.

Reap the rewards of a thriving economy: Dallas’s economy is flourishing despite the nation’s economic climate. Many corporations have headquarters in Dallas or surrounding areas, so there are many job opportunities nearby. Dallas is a major hub for business. You can benefit by commuting on any of the efficient forms of public transportation or by taking quick trips in for meetings.

Home to many universities: Dallas and the surrounding areas have many colleges and universities. If your children are planning to attend college soon, you most likely want them to choose a campus relatively close to home. The Dallas area offers many colleges from which they can choose. From Southern Methodist University, a private university located right off 75, to the University of North Texas, the fourth-largest public university in Texas, and all the campuses in between, your child is sure to find a college that suits his or her educational needs without venturing too far from home.

Less crime: Living on the outskirts of Dallas gives you all the benefits of the city without the high crime rate. Your neighborhood will be community-oriented and family-friendly but you can still visit Dallas to enjoy its educational and cultural opportunities.

Living near Dallas provides you and your family with so many benefits! For more information on communities surrounding Dallas, contact Texas Homesites. We want to help you find the best location for your Dallas-area dream home. With four master-planned communities located near the DFW area, you are sure to find the right spot. We would love to help you find the perfect Texas location!

There is always something new and exciting for people to experience in the Texas Hill Country.

For the outdoors types: The Texas Hill Country is the perfect place for hiking, white water rafting, fishing, hunting, tubing, boating, bicycling, rock climbing, paddling, and camping. There are tons of scenic routes and outdoor attractions to keep you busy.

For wine lovers: The Texas Hill Country is one of the most successful places for producing wine in Texas. There are hundreds of wineries throughout Texas Hill Country. People can participate in wine tours, vineyard tours, wine tastings, and even grape stompings.

For those who just love fun: The Texas Hill Country offers tons of activities that are sure to thrill. There are natural caverns, aquariums, rivers to tube down, water parks, roller coaster parks, athletic events, and golf courses—just to name a few.

Whether you want to go shopping in a large mall or a small boutique, the Texas Hill Country has it all. Some of Texas’ best shopping is located in San Antonio and Austin.

Whether you are coming for a weekend getaway or relocating to Texas Hill Country, there is always something entertaining and exciting for you to do. The Texas Hill Country has something for everyone.

Vineyard living provides an oasis unrivaled by almost any other. Texas Homesites would love to help you find your perfect home in our Vintage Oaks community in New Braunfels, located right on the Texas Wine Trail with all the amenities of a world-class resort. Contact us today so we can assist your search for the perfect dream home location.

Located in the heart of the state, the Texas Hill Country is one of the most beautiful places in all of Texas. The Texas Hill Country is home to some of the best living communities, attractions, and wildlife in Texas. The area is known throughout the USA as one of the most popular destinations to visit, retire, and own a home.

The Texas Hill Country is the number one retirement spot in the world. This is because of the quality of life that the Texas Hill Country provides to its residents. Whether you have an interest in living in a golfing community or an equestrian community, or want vineyard living, the Texas Hill Country has it all. The Texas Hill Country is also home to some of the best fitness centers, spas, malls, and art galleries around.

The Texas Hill Country is one of Texas’ best-kept secrets. Residents enjoy rolling hills, spectacular views, peaceful rivers, and gorgeous sunsets. The Texas Hill Country provides small-town living with big-city conveniences.

Texas Homesites has two master-planned communities in the Texas Hill Country: Vintage Oaks at the Vineyard and Havenwood at Hunters Crossing. Vintage Oaks at the Vineyard offers a distinctive lifestyle with 24 local wineries just a short distance from Vintage Oaks. Havenwood at Hunters Crossing provides hill country living with resort-style amenities.

With two communities in New Braunfels, our Hill Country locations combine the convenience of community with the luxury of serenity, creating the perfect oases in one of the most beautiful parts of Texas. Vintage Oaks at the Vineyard offers vineyard living at an affordable cost; Havenwood at Hunters Crossing offers outdoor excitement and a gated community. Contact Texas Homesites so we can help you find your home in the perfect Hill Country location.

Even though San Antonio ranks as the seventh-largest city in the United States, it escapes the reputation of being a huge and overwhelming metropolis. People who are familiar with the area often describe San Antonio by saying it is a big city with a small town feel. Some things that give this big city a small town feel include the following:

• Events: Each year, all San Antonio residents join together to participate in some of the best festivals in Texas: Fiesta San Antonio, Folklife Festival, Soul Food Festival, Bones Fest XV, River Walk Mud Festival, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, The Alamo Weekend, Fiesta Primavera, Luminaria, and many more. Although large crowds come out to these events, the atmosphere is friendly. The festivals provide a great opportunity for all of the people of San Antonio to come together.
• People: The people of San Antonio are charming and personable. They want to get to know their neighbors, and they take the time to get involved in the community. No matter what part of the city you live in, you will always see a familiar face or be greeted by a stranger.
• Space: One of the best things about San Antonio is the space and acreage available. Unlike many big cities, San Antonio is a planned community that was able to grow with its population. Most big cities are crammed with houses and buildings piled on top of each other. But San Antonio was well thought-out, and there is plenty of space for everyone. San Antonio has a wealth of outdoor activities, and there are plenty of parks and green space for you to enjoy the beautiful weather.

Texas Homesites has three communities with land for sale located near San Antonio, and we are happy to be a part of this wonderful city. Our three communities near San Antonio include Vintage Oaks at the Vineyard, Havenwood at Hunters Crossing and Mystic Shores at Canyon Lake. Learn how much land you can afford with our land savings calculator!

San Antonio consistently ranks as one of the best places to raise a family thanks to affordable homes, great schools, lots of family-friendly activities, and a low crime rate.

-       Great School Districts: Some San Antonio public school systems have received the National Exemplary Blue Ribbon School Award for excellence. Not only is San Antonio home to great primary and secondary schools, but there are also many community colleges, four-year colleges, and universities located in the area. In total, there are eight colleges, universities, and professional schools in San Antonio.

-       Activities: There are many wonderful family-friendly activities in San Antonio. San Antonio is a big city with a small town feel that has great museums, libraries, parks for sports and recreation, theaters, and many other family attractions.

-       Affordable Homes: The housing market in San Antonio is fantastic for families who are looking to settle down and start making memories. San Antonio has affordable homesites for sale that will give you the most for your money.

-       Safety: Even though San Antonio is a large city, it enjoys a relatively low crime rate. This is important because you can let your children play outside and your family can go about town without having to worry about safety.

You can build your family’s dream home in our master-planned communities outside of San Antonio. All of our communities are safe and provide exclusive country club amenities for you and your family to enjoy. There is always something to do in San Antonio!

To learn more about our three family-friendly communities in San Antonio, contact us today. For more information on all of the available Texas Homesites communities, check out our eBook, The Texas Land Buyer’s Guide.