Ranch and Land Buying tips for the Texas Hill Country

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The Texas Hill Country is becoming one of the faster growing areas when it comes to real estate and Fredericksburg TX is right in the heart of the Hill Country and the strong real estate growth associated with the area. Fredericksburg TX and Gillespie county are known for the rolling hills, diverse wildlife and terrain, famous and entertaining main street as well as the rapidly expanding Vineyards and wineries, peaches and goats and cattle.. There is a lot of acreage for sale and among that you’ll find recreational ranches for hunting, cattle ranches, land for crops such as peaches and grapes, a ranch with live water or  rugged hill side acreage with awesome views. If you are looking for quality ranches and land there are quite a few things that you are going to need to keep in mind. Here are a few suggestions:

First you need to determine what you are intending to do with your new ranch and what you except from the land. There is a big difference in topography in Gillespie county from one area to the next and you need to have a clear idea of your needs. For instance the best farming land lies along the Pedernales river valley which runs through the county but often this great farm land is a little short on big views while the most breath taking views are often found on land that is not ideally suited for crops. So you have to have you priorities set first or you will struggle with yourself during your search because believe me, I fall in love with a new piece of land or ranch every week and they all have something unique to offer.

Second, make sure it has a water source – When you are looking for ranch acreage for sale one of your main concerns is going to be water. You need water for livestock, for any crops you plan on growing, and you will need it for your home. Fortunately Gillespie county is blessed with good water sources, with the Edwards aquifer , Ellenburger aquifer, Hickory aquifer & Hensel aquifers under us. Finding water for residential use is usually not too much of a problem but can get a little tricky in the Llano uplift area.

Third is watch for the type of trees . If you are not already familiar with the term Oak wilt you soon will be once you start looking at ranches and land for sale in the Texas Hill country. Oak wilt is a disease that travels through the root systems of oak trees and can also be spread by insects. While any oak is susceptible there are some which are more tolerant than others so paying attention the variety of tree cover while you are looking at the land is important.

Forth, if you are a nature lover you should consider the types of Wildlife already on the property. If you are going to be more of a rancher then you need to consider how many animals will the property support? Land buyers frequently overestimate the “carrying capacity” of the land.. A good resource for buyers is the Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA) offices. With knowledge of soil type, precipitation, vegetation and forage condition, a professional can accurately predict production potential.  

Fifth, most ranches and large acreage land tracts for sale are going to be agricultural exempt on taxes. This is something you must also consider as you will need to be sure you have a plan to keep this property under an agricultural exemption or change it over to a wild life exemption. This is very important because failure to do so will result in a dramatic tax increase on your new property and possible roll back tax penalties which could be financial devastating.  

There are of course many other variables when you are looking to buy a ranch or land but these are some of the first things you should be thinking about. I have a lot of experience with Fredericksburg Texas Real estate and in helping folks with ranch and land purchases. I will be happy to share my expertise and knowledge of this area with you.

Ranch and Land Buying tips for the Texas Hill Country

I’m sure you have many questions about the market in Fredericksburg and Gillespie County. A good place to start is with my Real Estate market report. Here, you can see fluctuations in the market over the past 13 years regarding average sales price, days on market, etc. You can also follow me on Facebook for view quarterly videos, and other interesting real estate information. 

If you are looking for ranches for sale, large acreage & land or homes for sale in Fredericksburg TX or the Texas Hill Country, I would love to help, email me at mike@mikestarks.com or call with any questions.