Texas, the second biggest state, boasts a wide variety of stunning natural environments. Water activities are popular in Florida due to the state’s abundance of lakes and the warm, sunny beaches along the Gulf of Mexico. Wine country’s scenic slopes attract hikers and oenophiles alike, while the region’s numerous quaint villages provide cultural vultures and foodies a feast for the senses.
Over one million acres of nature preserves with a wide variety of flora and fauna may be found in Texas. The state is also home to two national parks: Guadalupe Mountains and Big Bend.
Hence, it comes as no surprise that investing in a second home in Texas is at an all-time high. Seven of the most visited places in Texas that visitors often end up calling home are listed below.
Lake Cedar Creek
Cedar Creek Lake (technically a reservoir) provides Dallas and Fort Worth locals, as well as tourists and second homes from as far away as California and Canada, with a wide variety of recreational possibilities thanks to its more than 200 miles of picturesque coastline. Seven Points is home to the award-winning Cedar Creek Brewery, so if you’re looking for a place to relax with a refreshing beer or glass of wine while listening to live music, go no further. Golfers, hikers, kayakers, and stand-up paddleboarders may all take advantage of the area’s many outdoor recreation options.
Debbie French, an Ebby Halliday broker, claimed that the lake’s housing and beachfront property prices range from the mid $100,000s to the multi-millions.
Galveston Island, Lafitte’s Cove
This section of Galveston Island is like a tropical paradise and was named after the French pirate Jean Lafitte (the spelling is different owing to a clerical mistake that remained). Imagine a place with beautiful views of the Gulf of Mexico surrounded by exotic birds, swaying palm trees, rich vegetation, and well managed landscapes. Beautiful Pirates Beach is usually only a short stroll or golf-cart ride away for locals.
Agent Bet Jennings of Greenwood King Properties stated, “Locally owned restaurants with great seafood and, of course, all the facilities of Galveston are within 15 minutes driving directions.” These amenities include the Pleasure Pier, The Strand, stores, restaurants, and live entertainment. In addition to locals from Austin and Dallas, Jennings noted that many purchasers in Laffite’s Cove come from other states, including California and Arizona.
Lake Travis
One of the most popular freshwater attractions in Texas is Lake Travis, which has called the “crown gem” of Central Texas. With more than 270 miles of coastline, the lake provides a beautiful setting for a wide variety of outdoor pursuits including boating, jet skiing, and even zip lining. Around Lake Travis, the good times just keep on coming.
Kara Jones, director of marketing at Realty Austin, said that the market for houses costing $1 million and more on Lake Travis had seen “tremendous rise in activity” over the previous two years. Between April 2020 and April 2022, the number of sold high-end listings climbed by 340%, while the number of new listings increased by 367%. Rough Hollow Lakeway, Volente Peak, the Hollows at Northshore, Lakehurst, and the Reserve at Hudson Bend among the lakeside neighborhoods she named as among the most desirable.
Fredericksburg
Wine lovers could consider making this charming Texas town their permanent home. Fredericksburg, with its picturesque setting in wine country, is a year-round tourist hotspot. You’ll never have time to get bored with everything there is to see and do, from vineyards and tasting rooms to museums and trails. The fanciful Enchanted Rock State Natural Reserve is a haven for hikers and rock climbers, among other outdoor lovers.
The location, about 75 miles from both Austin and San Antonio, has made it a favorite vacation home choice for city dwellers. Anna Lee, a realtor with Moreland Properties, reports that in April 2022, the typical listing price in Fredericksburg was $780,500, up 45.3% from the previous year.
Lyndon B. Johnson Reservoir (LBJ)
Tammie Bennett of Kuper Sotheby’s International Realty of Lake LBJ said, “[It is] really a magnificent area where many Texas spent their youth on the lake, fishing or water skiing, and now they want to give the same amazing experiences for their family.” This lake continues to be a tourist hotspot because of the abundance of nearby resorts and outdoor pursuits. There is a wide variety of houses available on the market, from modest studio apartments to sprawling mansions, to meet the needs of every prospective buyer.
In addition, Bennett said, “Approximately 75% of the lake residences in the towns around Lake LBJ are second homes with values [ranging] from $500,000 to $15 million.”
Nw Brusels
If you want to experience Germany without leaving Texas, go no further than this lovely city. New Braunfels, Texas, founded in the middle of the 19th century by Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels, who took the name from his native Germany. It situated between the larger cities of Austin and San Antonio. New Braunfels is a great place to take the kids because of its strong German past (be sure to check out the town’s annual Wurstfest event) and its closeness to natural wonders like the Natural Bridge Caverns, Wildlife Ranch, and Comal River.
“New Braunfels is a wonderful place to visit, but it’s also a fantastic place to invest because of its fast expanding population, which is quickly reaching 100,000 people. Many financiers intrigued by predictions of a 27.7-percent growth in property values by 2021 “According to Phyllis Browning Company CEO Jennifer Shemwell, two of the most sought-after neighborhoods in the area right now are Landa Park Highlands and The Bluffs on the Guadalupe.
Lake Livingston
In the heat of the Houston summer, locals and visitors alike travel to this artificial lake to relax, soak up some rays, and take in the picturesque waterfront scenery. Furthermore, there’s much to do with more than 450 miles of coastline to explore: fishing, hiking, camping, and boating are all popular activities.
The increased demand for vacation Texas houses caused by the epidemic has made this location more desirable, particularly among telecommuters.
“During the epidemic, many families chose to quarantine at their lake houses so that their children could play safely on the water while they worked from home. The current standard inquiry amongst first-time purchasers at the lake is, “How’s the Wi-Fi?”” real estate agent Aaron Sonnier from Martha Turner Sotheby’s International remarked. The price range for beachfront real estate, he said, is between $350,000 and $3 million.