The real estate market sucks. Yea, yea. I think we all know that. But instead of focusing on the glass being half empty, let's talk about how the glass is half full. If you're looking to buy a home in the $250k - $600k range, scrolling through Realtor.com is a feast for the eyes! I am amazed by how inexpensive homes are in beautiful gated communities. And these are big homes with big yards and big trees and lots of room for lots of kiddos! Let's look at a gated neighborhood near Lake Travis as an example. The community is called "The Hills" and it is located about 40 miles SW of downtown Austin.
If you've never been to Austin, TX, you will be blown away by how beautiful the Hill Country is in comparison to cities like Dallas and Houston. Austin is not only the Music Capital of the World, it is brimming with bright blue lakes (okay, well not during the drought) and rolling hillsides. Yes, the downtown area of Austin is brimming with eclectic boutiques, zen-like coffee shops, thriving businesses and lots of hippie festivals, but the Hill Country is cool too in its own way. It boasts gorgeous golf courses, lakes, hills, restaurants with views, etc.
You can buy a 3,300 square foot home in this gated community for $133 per square foot! Yes, if you're looking at homes in the $400k to $500k range, there are plenty of incredible homes to choose from. You can see a bunch listed online like this beauty for $425k or this one for $559k. They are in an award-winning school district, so families can not only feel safe (by the gates) but also have peace of mind of living in a great school district.
I'm not a Realtor, so I'd be interested in hearing comments from a few who can identify communities like this is other cities that are an equally great deal. The homes don't have to expensive like these, just priced right. Where are they even lower than $130 per sq ft? Do tell!
