• Relaxation: One of the best ways to relax is to be outside and watch the calm water. Texas Homesites offers homesites with backyards where you can see the lake directly beyond your house. Can you imagine sitting on your porch and enjoying the peace and quiet of the lake?
• Privacy: Living on a lake offers a great deal of privacy. Lakeside homes are often secluded and strategically set so that they offer the most out of the land. If you are looking for a way to escape from the hectic city life or are just looking for a weekend retreat, living on a lake may be the answer for you.
• Easy access: Living on a lake provides you and your family easy access to great entertainment. You are able to go outside and immediately enjoy great water activities such as boating, canoeing, fishing, skiing, swimming, tubing, and so forth. Also, living on the water often provides many other recreational benefits such as hiking on trails and other exercise opportunities.

Lakefront living offers relaxation, privacy, and easy access to fun activities for you and your family. Lakefront homes make the perfect spot for a second home. Lakefront homes are often in more remote locations, giving you the opportunity to live and work in the city and then enjoy the outdoors and lakefront living on the weekends.

If you have dreamed about owning waterfront property, contact Texas Homesites. We have multiple communities that offer waterfront living in Texas. To learn more about our available communities, download our free eBook titled The Texas Land Buyer’s Guide.

Texas Homesites has multiple master-planned communities with land for sale in Texas. Whether you are looking to buy your first or second home, we have the perfect piece of property for you. If you are able to afford it, there are many benefits of owning property second home.

• A second home is a good escape from the hustle and bustle of your everyday life. A second home can provide a vacation spot, a place where you and your family can just escape and relax. Texas Homesites has master-planned communities of every kind: waterfront communities, communities situated in the Texas Hill Country, and communities in the mountains, just to name a few. Each unique community features homesites that provide exceptional lifestyle benefits.
• You can pay off some property expenses with rentals. A second home can be a getaway not just for you but also for renters. If you decide to rent your house out, you can use your profits to pay for some of the expenses involved in owning a home. Also, renting a home can be a good source of additional income. Renting out your property has additional responsibilities, but it can be well worth your time.
• You can receive certain tax benefits when you own an additional piece of property. For example, if you use your second home for more than 14 days per year, you can claim the home as a personal residence. This comes with additional benefits, and you may be eligible for certain tax deductions. We advise that you consult with a tax advisor or financial planner when considering purchasing an additional home.

We are dedicated to serving you with the best land that Texas has to offer. Our homesites are affordable and located in some of the most desirable locations in all of Texas. One of our most popular communities is Vintage Oaks at the Vineyard and it features hill country land for sale. Texas Homesites wants every family to be able to build your dream home. Please contact us if you are interested in buying land in Texas!

Download the free Texas Homesites eBook, “Texas Land Buying Guide,” for additional information and resources on our available communities.

Buying land is an overwhelming decision, but Texas Homesites is here to help you find the perfect homesite in Texas. When you search online for land for sale in Texas, hundreds of results come up. So how do you know which property is best for you? There are many factors to consider before you buy land in Texas.

• Budget: Before you buy a home or land, you need to take your financial situation into account. If you are interested in building your custom-built dream home you have to pay for both the homesite and the construction. Buying an existing home is often cheaper, but you won’t get to tailor the home to your specific needs and wants.
• Needs: Think about what you are looking for in a homesite. How much property do you need or want? Are you raising a family? Will the house you are building still be the right size in 5-10 years? Do you want to live near a golf course, the water, or an equestrian community?
• Intentions: Consider what your long-term plans are for this property. Do you plan on raising a family there and staying in this home? Do you plan on retiring at this location? Do you want to pass the land down within your family? You should consider all these factors when you decide how much acreage to buy.
• Regulations: Look into local building and zoning codes before you seriously consider purchasing a piece of property. You should contact city hall to find out about the property and apply for any licenses. You should also find out about the local utilities, construction inspections, future building plans, and accessibility.

Looking for the perfect land, especially in Texas, is a time consuming and daunting process. There are many benefits of owning land and custom building your dream home. Owning land is a worthwhile pursuit and we applaud your desire to tackle it.

If you have any questions or want to get more advice, don’t hesitate to contact one of the many land experts at Texas Homesites. Download our free eBook to read about the available homesites in the Texas Homesites communities!

There are many reasons why people want to call Texas their home. Texas land is affordable, and Texas is economically a very stable state. Texas Homesites has multiple communities throughout Texas with land for sale. Our communities are located outside of Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin.  Some of the most desirable land in Texas is located just outside of these suburbs.

We have land for sale outside of Dallas in the beautiful equestrian and golfing community of The Bridges at Preston Crossings. The Bridges at Preston Crossings is 45 miles outside of Dallas, affording you the luxury of enjoying the peace and quiet of suburban Texas land, while also having the convenience and allure of a big city.

Outside of San Antonio and Austin we have two master-planned communities in New Braunfels, Texas.  Vintage Oaks at the Vineyard is a community in the heart of Texas Wine Country, with affordable homesites for a leisurely lifestyle and country club style amenities. The second master-planned community in New Braunfels is Havenwood at Hunters Crossing.  Havenwood at Hunters Crossings is located in beautiful Texas Hill Country, in close proximity to both San Antonio and Austin.

Texas Homesites is thrilled about providing individuals with the best land that Texas has to offer. If you’d like to learn more about building your Texas dream home, or if you’d like more information about any of our Texas master-planned communities, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d love to help you start planning your family’s future today!

Central Texas land in the Hill Country has so many amazing aspects. The spring wildflowers that fill the countryside with an explosion of color, the clear rivers and lakes, the abundant wildlife, the BBQ…there are so many wonderful facets to Central Texas Land in the Hill Country that it’s no wonder this part of Texas has become a highly after place to own land. There are many people who ever pursue the dream however, because they assume that land prices would simply be too expensive for most people. Fortunately, that’s simply not the case.

Below are several planned communities that offer Central Texas land that makes Hill Country living a reality.

Vintage Oaks at the Vineyard

There are few places on earth more romantic area of the Hill Country. Located in prime Texas wine country, Vintage Oaks offers one to three acre lots that start at under $50,000.

Amenities include:

- Hiking trails

- Nature preserve

- Pools

- Fitness Centers

- Tennis Courts

Lifestyle highlights include:

- Quiet life away from city, but with easy-access to big cities

- Located in historic New Braunfels between San Antonia and Austin

- Close to multitude of activities on the Guadalupe River

- Near Schlitterbahn Water Park – one of the top-rated in the country

- Just miles away from beautiful Canyon Lake

- Surrounded by premier golf courses

- Multitude of shopping opportunities at Prime Outlets and Tanger Outlet Center in San Marcos

- Dry Comal Creek Vineyard is adjacent to Vintage Oaks

Havenwood at Hunters Crossing

Graceful Hill Country living in an ideal location with resort-style amenities is what makes Havenwood such an amazing location for potential homesites. Lots sizes range from one acre all the way up to 13 acres, with prices starting at $50,000 and going up to $200,000.

Amenities include:

- Lake views

- Boat ramp

- Hiking trails

- Pools

- Fitness centers

- Tennis courts

Lifestyle highlights include:

- Quiet country living with big city convenience

- Lots nestled on rolling hills among huge, majestic oaks

- Near Canyon Lake, Lake Travis and Guadalupe River

- Outlet malls only miles away

- Nearby dance hall, Gruene Hall, commonly features legendary Texas and national musicians

Mystic Shores at Canyon Lake

Upscale living in the Hill Country is now affordable, thanks to gorgeous Mystic Shores. Perched above the limestone bluffs that overlook the Guadalupe River, owning land in this area is a chance to secure a piece of Texas Hill Country beauty. Lot sizes range from one to three acres and go from $50,000 to $200,000.

Ameneties include:

- Fishing

- Hiking trails

- Nature preserve

- Pools

- Fitness centers

Lifestyle highlights include:

- Waterfront lots with incredible mountain views in a gated community

- Conveniently located in Spring Branch, TX, between Austin and San Antonio

- Unique shopping, dining and entertainment options nearby

What general trends exist in the land market today?

Buyers are looking for properties that they can use for recreation, and justify with investment numbers. Timberland investments seem to fit the category well. There are a number of possible streams of income from timberland. The obvious is the growth and harvest of timber.

Of growing popularity is the possibility of selling carbon credits that one would own by investing in timberland. “Going Green” is finally reaching our capitalistic system. Companies that are major carbon emitters will soon be buying these credits so that they can continue to operate. Forest lands are great at sequestering carbon (binding up from the atmosphere), which is what the carbon credits are actually for.

Timberland properties can also bring income from hunting lease rents and from appreciation in land value. For all of these reasons and more, timber properties that are for sale have gotten much more attention than in the past. Farm land and farms for sale have gotten more attention of late as well. Again, that has a correlation with the potential of multiple streams of income from owning a property.

Many of the Baby Boomers are still looking to get back to the farm. Some are looking to invest in something more stable than the volatile stock market. Farm land provides the potential for traditional farm income from the production of commodities. Many are looking for farms to support their lifestyle by growing more wholesome foods. They are more comfortable with the growing conditions and methods used to grow these foods on their own “natural” or “green” farm. For this reason, I have seen an uptick in the interest in rowcrop land.

Development land has gotten considerably slower. Some would argue that the market does not even exist today, and I guess that in some localized areas it probably does not. However we do still have local markets that are strong. The areas right around large universities and areas around communities with a large government influence are prime in today’s market. Plus, we still have some enterprising Americans that are willing to take the long-view of the market and know that buys made in today’s market will pay dividends when the market comes back up…and it will.

There are still many opportunities in today’s land market for the savy investor to make money. Timberland seems to be one of the safest investments that one could make in terms of holding on to purchasing power. I will explore the difference in nominal, dollar values, and purchasing power in another post. This is a key element in why investors should be looking to land as an investment.

What are buyers looking for in today’s market?

Buyers are looking for a deal. Buyers are willing to turn over more rocks, and pass up opportunities if they don’t perceive it as a great opportunity.

Buyers are looking for sellers that are willing to work with them in the process of purchasing property.

Buyers are looking for properties where the seller and the seller’s agent have taken all of the guesswork out of the decision making process.

Buyer’s are looking for properties that meet their needs, are priced reasonably, are surveyed, and are good investments. Any type of property will still sell in today’s market if it meets the buyer’s demands.

What can sellers do to increase their chances of putting their property on the SOLD list?

Sellers can meet the buyer’s demands. Today’s market is a buyer’s market. The buyer is in control of most transactions. The seller should go ahead and take care of the things that the buyer is demanding. When the seller does that, the property will sell.

Buyers do not care how long a property has been on the market if it fits what they are looking for and they are provided with enough information to make a buying decision. In today’s market the seller should:

1. Ask a reasonable listing price – unreasonable pricing gets few, if any lookers.

2. Have the property surveyed if there is not a current survey.

3. Take care of any issues that affect ownership or use of the property. If the driveway to the property crosses another landowner, and you have a simple gentleman’s agreement with that landowner, you should get that agreement in writing at the least. Most buyers would rather have a deeded easement to use the land for access. Think about it from the buyer’s perspective. The buyer does not know the landowner the way that you do. What if he decides that he will no longer allow access through his property?

4. If there are any issues that you cannot clear up, be up front and honest about the issue AND price the property accordingly.

5. Sellers should be proactive, and educated about the market. The buyer is.

6. Make the property accessible. Buyers will not buy something that they cannot see. You might know the creek at the back of the property is beautiful, but if the buyer cannot get there, it might as well not exist. Opening up timberland properties with 4×4 roads, view spots, and wildlife plots is a great place to start.

7. CLEAN UP!…Rural properties tend to have junk piles. Clean them up. Buyers do not want your junk. They have their own. Junkiness around and on a property is a huge turn-off for buyers. I see many sellers loose interest in the properties they are trying to sell and let things like mowing and simple upkeep go. This is the time when you should keep it looking its best. 8. If your property is not getting any lookers, it is priced too high!

Both sales and selling prices of vacation homes fell in 2008, according to member survey data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) released this week.

Sales of existing and new vacation homes dropped almost 31 percent to 512,000 in 2008, from 740,000 in 2007 and a high of 1.07 million in 2006. Sales of primary residences declined about 13 percent, from 4.34 million in 2007 to 3.77 million last year.

The median price of a vacation home was $150,000 in 2008, down 23 percent from $195,000 in 2007 and from the record $204,100 in 2005. About 75 percent of 2008 vacation-home sales were located in small towns, rural areas and resorts. Almost 70 percent of vacation housing bought in 2008 were existing homes, and 70 percent were detached single-family structures. Forty-five percent were in the South, and only 15 percent were in the Midwest.

NAR’s analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data found 8.1 million vacation homes nationally, 40.5 million investment units and 75.5 million owner-occupied, principal residences last year. NAR classifies both vacation homes and investment properties as second homes. Trends like these — vacation-home sales down by about half and median price off by about 25 percent in a few years — usually bring buyers into the market. That is, except when buyers are scared stiff and “mattressing” their remaining cash.

The typical vacation-home buyer in 2008 was 46, but 27 percent were under 35 and 31 percent were over 55. Some younger folks are buying for investment and family reasons, while older folks are looking for transitions into retirement housing. Almost 80 percent of vacation-home buyers reported household income of more than $75,000, with the median at $97,200. Sixty-four percent came from two-income households. Some 80 percent of all vacation-home buyers thought it was a good time to buy in 2008.

A vacation property that can be purchased at 30 to 50 percent less than its 2006-2007 asking price is worth serious thought as an investment. While sales and prices of primary housing and vacation homes were sliding into the pits, values of agricultural lands were going up. Average U.S. farm real-estate value, which includes buildings and improvements, increased from $2,160 per acre in 2007 to $2,350 in 2008. Crop land rose from $2,690 to $2,970 per acre, driven by demand for corn-based ethanol. Pasture rose from $1,160 to $1,230 per acre. Agricultural land prices have risen steadily for the last 20 years. The USDA recently posted 2008 land values.

Farm values in 2008 declined only in New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maryland and Delaware. While USDA is projecting a decline in U.S. net farm income in 2009 from about $89 billion last year to perhaps $66 billion, the Department found “the projected decline in farm income in 2009 is not expected to have much effect on national agricultural land values.” (Economic Research Service, USDA, The 2008/2009 World Economic Crisis: What It Means for U.S. Agriculture, WRS-09-02, March, 2009) Farm values are projected to slip by only two percent in 2009 in USDA’s model despite the projected $23 billion loss in agricultural income. Long-term expectations of returns drive farm real-estate values, and these are relatively stable and have trended up.

Farm values rose 12 percent annually for the five-year period, 2004-2008. USDA is projecting a five-year rise of five percent annually. Cash-flow problems will force some farm properties on the market in the next few years, as much as I dislike saying so. Buyers will have opportunities to make long-term investments that are more profitable, less risky and more tax-friendly than stocks, bonds and Madoffs. Country property is broader than farm land. It includes small-town housing, undeveloped and recreational land, timberland, hobby farms, second homes, mineral properties and conservation tracts. Trends in sales and prices for these categories are often better understood regionally than nationally.

The value of timberland, for example, has held its own in much of the South but fell in the North and Northeast. Demand for high-quality northern hardwoods used for flooring, furniture and cabinetry has tracked the decline in new home construction. Southern wood products are less-construction dependent. Buyers should be able to find pretty good timberland tracts (without minerals) for $900 to $1,500 per acre in Pennsylvania and for less than $1,000 in upstate New York. For large-lot second homes, timberland in northern-hardwood areas may be a better value than adjacent farmland. Most country-property purchases are discretionary. Buyers can postpone them, even forget them completely.

Sales of these properties, however, are often forced by the economic vise that is squeezing everyone today. Knowledgeable buyers look for “motivated” sellers, which is a polite way of saying, sellers in a jam. Knowledgeable sellers in a pinch don’t blow off low offers. They work knowledgeable buyers toward a “reasonable” price and make the deal because their alternatives are worse. Several hundred billions of dollars were rescued from the stock market’s death spiral during the last year.

Buyers who think like investors might use some of this to pursue either marginal small farms and discounted woodlands for second homes or the hammered vacation properties – on the beach, in the mountains, along a lake — that NAR reports are still in the eye of the storm.

We're closing out of one our beautiful neighborhoods at Lake Ridge. Right now, you can save more than $45,000 on the final 10 homesites in this stunning neighborhood. We intend to close out these last wooded and view homesites by August 30. Therefore we're offering unprecedented deep discounts of up to 52 percent off from the 2008 pricing levels.

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