Why The Hill Country?

The Hill Country region inspires in Texans not merely interest and pride but genuine affection and reverence. Some Texans call the region their spiritual homeland because they are deeply inspired by the beauty of the green hills, oaks, plentiful wildlife, rugged rock outcroppings, wildflowers and clear rivers.

We believe that the hill country offers the best scenery, climate, culture, parks and recreation of any of the states diverse regions.

For those who are not familiar with this remarkable region, the Hill Country is a unique geographical area in Central Texas whose eastern edge can best be imagined as a gentle arch that begins north of the Austin area near Lake Buchanan and gently slopes southwest to San Antonio. This curving boundary -- known as the Balcones Escarpment or Fault Line -- begins west of Austin, abruptly rising hundreds and then up to about 2,000 feet to form the massive Edwards Plateau. Suddenly the visitor is in a world of dark green hills, live oaks, limestone cliffs, crystal clear rivers and springs, sprawling ranches, and countless caves and caverns.

From San Antonio the region extends westward toward the towns of Uvalde (on the Nueces River), Brackettville, and Del Rio on the Mexican border. The Hill Country's western border, though harder to define, arches northward along the Nueces and Llano Rivers near the towns of Concan (on the chilly Frio River), Rocksprings (elevation 2,450 feet), Junction and Menard. We then travel east through San Saba and back to Lake Buchanan to define the region's northern boundary.

If you particularly enjoy fly fishing on the Llano, Guadalupe and Pedernales rivers; cycling outside of Fredericksburg; hiking in Pedernales Falls and Lost Maples state parks; kayaking near San Marcos, or just star gazing on clear winter nights, the Texas Hill Country maybe the place for you.

Many Houston area residents, seek out hill country property as a retreat or refuge from the pressures of the office, the clogged roadways, the humid and polluted air and the monotony of the malls and suburbs. If you really want to get the kids out of the mall -- to give them a place they can dream about and call their own, this is the place. And, of course, when the kids grow restless from "too much" nature, Seaworld in San Antonio is just about an hour away.

As friends once said, "you just can't worry about money or office politics when you are climbing Enchanted Rock, wading in the Llano River or kayaking on the Frio river off season. It's like you're on another planet."

The people you will meet in places such as Fredericksburg, Blanco, Mason, Willow City and other small towns may have different professions, beliefs and backgrounds, but they are among the most content that you will ever encounter. They live, as Henry David Thoreau put it, a more authentic life.

People often wonder if they can afford Hill Country property -- especially after previewing some the ranches highlighted online or in upscale magazines. Prices depend on many factors. Among them are: number of acres (naturally), county/location, demand, and whether the land is undeveloped or has an existing home.

To give you a general idea of the range of prices, a modest-sized undeveloped property outside of Fredericksburg (15-30 acres) might range from as low as $80,000-$200,000; a larger tract (50-100 acres) might sell for $250,000-$350,000; and larger ranches sell from the $500,000s to the millions. Of course, these are estimates and are based on past sales. As you go further west, say toward Mason, the price of land per acre will go down but the tracts for sale will likely be larger -- unless a family ranch has just been subdivided for sale. Again, it all depends on a range of factors. Our inent here is simply to show that beautiful properties are available for nearly any budget.

However, as you might expect, as the Austin and San Antonio metro areas inch outward property values will continue to climb. As they say, they only make so much land. You may have seen the Houston Chronicle article (7/17/2005) citing statistics from Texas A&M's Real Estate Center. The price of rural land in Texas was up 15 percent in 2004 compared to 2003; in some parts of the Hill Country prices were up 24 to 27 percent during the same period.

But a nationwide comparative analysis showed that Hill Country property is one of the best buys and best real estate investments in Texas -- or for that matter in the country. Of course, every realtor will tell you this, but inquiries and prospects come not just from here in Texas but from California, New York, and Florida.

So take a look at some of the photos on the website. Visit the local resources page. Search the MLS or request a free custom search. Plan a trip, and let us know how we can help.