Luxe Austin Homes - land

"Texas boasts more ranches for sale than any other state in the U.S."

CultureMap Austin writes, "Thanks to its deep agricultural roots, the Lone Star State boasts the most ranches and farms of any state in the U.S. — nearly 250,000, according to the Texas Department of Agriculture. Of course, we’ve got a lot of wide open space for those ranches and farms, as Texas spans nearly 172 million acres.

While Texas leads the U.S. in the number of ranches and farms, it also leads the U.S. in the number of ranches on the market. Recent data from Realtor.com shows 7,411 Texas ranches were on the market as of early September — far outpacing the second-ranked state of Kentucky, which had 1,641 ranches up for sale.

Based on the average size of a Texas ranch, 511 acres, the amount of Texas ranchland on the market would equate to…

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"HOME ON THE RANGE"

Austin Business Journal shares, "Matt Riehs' grandfather gifted his mother 2 acres, and then his grandmother helped her build a home on it. His aunt paid for his first 4-H project there. Those acts provided Riehs — an inner-city kid — with what he now describes as a "Huckleberry Finn lifestyle," which he credits for changing his future for the better.

While he wanted to become an agricultural teacher at one point, he has spent more than a decade as a large-acreage subdivision developer. For the last three years, he has owned Bertram-based LandHomesTexas LLC, which works in conjunction with his Katy-based brokerage Vertical Integration Realty LLC, to market, buy, sell and develop land homes with large acreage on the outskirts of Austin and Houston.

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"New Texas law restricting certain land sales may have major effect on real estate investment"

Austin Business Journal reports, "A new Texas law that restricts land sales to citizens and businesses from certain countries may negatively impact investment in the state after Sept. 1, commercial real estate experts said.

Senate Bill 17, which Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law last month, prohibits “real property purchases” — including residential, with some exceptions, as well as commercial, industrial and agricultural land — to citizens of or companies headquartered in China, Iran, North Korea and Russia. The law also bans “other interests in real property,” which include easements, mineral and water rights, and leases of more than one year.

The governor may designate additional countries to the list. Permanent U.S. residents are…

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"Austin considers change to density bonus programs to address public safety needs"

Austin Business Journal reports, "developers working in Austin may eventually have a new tool when seeking additional building height for their projects.

With police and fire response times unacceptable in some cases, City Hall has taken steps toward a new element to its density bonus programs that would offer incentives to developers if they donate land to the city that can be used for public safety facilities.

During its Nov. 30 meeting, Austin City Council approved a resolution directing the city manager’s office to conduct a comprehensive review of the proposal and return to Council next year.

"We are running out of land and property to develop," said Council Member Mackenzie Kelly, who sponsored the resolution. "What I don't want to…

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"Oracle could expand Austin HQ campus with additional offices, hotel"

Austin Business Journal writes, "Oracle Corp. seems about ready to move forward with long-term plans to expand its headquarters campus near downtown Austin.

The software giant in late August filed documents with the city of Austin outlining plans to add a third office building, measuring 287,510 square feet, to the site it owns off East Riverside Drive. It could also build a 255-room hotel.

The growth will be to the west of Oracle's (NYSE: ORCL) existing office buildings, which measure nearly 1 million square feet combined. The company wants to modify a planned unit development, or PUD, that governs the area's zoning by adding a more than two-acre tract bordering Tinnin Ford Road. The tract is home to the former Town Lake Village Condos, which…

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"More housing could be headed to Lakeway"

Austin Business Journal reports, "Lakeway City Council must decide whether to rezone a 33.9-acre tract and clear the way for a largely residential community in the city.

At an Aug. 2 meeting, Lakeway’s Zoning and Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend the rezoning to Council. The proposed change would see the tract switch from single-family temp zoning to a planned unit development, according to the meeting agenda.

Housing developer Cascade Homes LLC made the rezoning request for the Balcones Point PUD on behalf of the property owners, the MB Winborn Trust and Gregory & Kenneth Winborn Irrevocable Trust.

It was not clear when Council could vote on the rezoning. It typically meets on the third Monday of each month.

If built, the…

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"46K new housing units possible on unlocked Austin land — but zoning change doesn't go far enough, builder says"

Austin Business Journal reports, "builders in Austin can now take advantage of a change in city code that will allow for the development of residential properties on land zoned for commercial use.

The change to the land development code, which Austin City Council approved on Dec. 2, carries major implications for real estate firms, significantly expanding the market for development. It also represents another avenue for cutting into Austin's housing shortage: city staffers previously estimated this decision could allow for the creation of 46,324 new homes.

Developers will still need to apply to build residential projects in commercial areas and will have to meet certain criteria, including around affordability. The change incentivizes the…

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"Phoenix real estate firm on a roll in Austin area, with another home rental community planned"

According to the Austin Business Journal, "A Phoenix-based builder of rental homes is increasing its investment in the Austin area to $164 million with its latest land purchase.

NexMetro Communities LLC announced Sept. 16 the purchase of 25 acres in Liberty Hill, where the company will construct a neighborhood of 260 single-family rental homes called Avilla Rio Oaks. It will join two other NexMetro projects in the works for in the suburbs around Austin; the company already announced another in Liberty Hill and an additional community in Georgetown.

"NexMetro is actively seeking new sites ideal for our luxury leased Avilla Homes neighborhoods in multiple Austin submarkets," stated Jason Flory, managing director of NexMetro's Austin division.…

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200-plus homes may sprout in Northeast Austin subdivision

Sixty-eight acres in Northeast Austin have been zoned for single-family, small lot construction by the city’s Zoning and Platting Commission.

Plans indicate there are 211 plots at 4806 Blue Goose Road, just east of Cameron Road. Commissioners approved the zoning as part of the consent agenda at their Sept. 6 meeting, following a recommendation by city staffers.

The final number of homes could change.

The project is spearheaded by RR Braker Valley LP and Jeremy Smitheal, a partner at Austin-based real estate investment firm Riverside Resources. The company is behind several major commercial projects across the city, including plans to transform part of West Sixth Street.

A representative for Riverside Resources confirmed the firm is behind…

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Retro Austin-area drive-in movie theater premieres on the market at $4 million

Picture this: You could be the owner of a retro-style drive-in movie theater just east of Buda.

Doc’s Drive-In Theatre recently debuted on the market at a list price of nearly $4 million ($3.999 million, to be precise). The deal would include the business itself, as well as the land and structures.

The 7.9-acre property, near I-35, features the theater setup as well as three fully furnished movie-themed rental casitas and a members-only, speakeasy-like private club. Also included in the sale are the commercial kitchen and bar. The theater, casitas, and club remain open.

The listing notes that there’s “potential to grow and improve” the existing business or entirely redevelop the site.

Central Texas couple Chris and Sarah Denny opened the…

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