in this issue…
Putting a Face on Real Estate since 1995™
• CRS Austin Bi-Monthly Meeting • AYREP June Happy Hour • PT50 REALTORS Fashion Show • KB Home Agent Mixer • WCR Business Resource Meeting • and much, much more!
Associates in Progress
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Page 25
Associates in Progress Page 27
JULY 2016 • VOLUME 21 • ISSUE 2
The region's newest residential hot spots for buyers By Riki Markowitz
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n 2015, John Burns Real Estate Consulting published a list of the top 50 masterplanned communities (MPC) in the U.S., and Texas-based properties held 20 of those spots. A majority of the MPCs on the list are from Houston, then Dallas, with Austin trailing with two top-selling properties. According to the report, MPCs accounted for 5 percent of new home sales last year. Based on population alone, Austin may never catch up to our neighbors to the north and east, but it’s not for lack of trying. Anyone who takes a look at neighborhoods surrounding metro Austin, from Dripping Springs to Georgetown, will see MP communities are sprouting up and adding
parcels every year. There’s not just one reason MPCs are popular, but rather, at least three top reasons: amenities, schools and value.
Amenities Around two decades ago, the average MPC offered residents a golf course and maybe an ornamental pond with a fountain in the center. Today’s masterplans are as close to resort-style living as you can get, with some developers going as far as to employ resort-caliber amenity management consultants just to be sure they’re covering all the bases. Santa Rita Ranch, a 3,100-acre community in Liberty Hill, has no fewer than five amenity plans available to residents, from splash parks and pools to trail systems, plus year-round calendar of events for families and those designed for adults. Before the last home goes up, topping out at around 6,500 properties, Santa Rita Ranch will have several sports complexes and a town center with shopping and dining. The MPC’s “staff director of fun” organizes roughly seven
events per month. This past spring, residents were sledding down hills made of real snow and when that melted, they could head over to the two-story tall dual water slides for a dip. One of the most popular amenities in today’s MPCs are the trail systems. Caliterra, located in Dripping Springs, is a 600-acre homestead with no fewer than seven featured perks, including a greenbelt and hike-and-bike trail that winds through the entire community. Eventually, it will become part of the regional trail system. According to Greg Rich, a partner with the community’s developer, Allegiant Realty Partners, focus groups said these were the amenities they wanted most in an MPC within walking distance of their home, along with open space. “Over 250 acres will be undeveloped – almost 50 percent of our land will be used for trails,” says Rich. There’s also a fishing dock, nearly a mile of Onion Creek runs through the property, and an area with treeshaded picnic tables.” Bryson, in Leander’s Hill Country, is a
500-acre MP that is part of Crescent Communities. The area provides a blend of rural, country and modern living. It is located at the meeting point of several in-demand, bedroom communities in Austin, including Georgetown, Cedar Park and Liberty Hill. An on-site community lifestyle director is in charge of organizing family and grown-up concerts, group bike rides, food truck courts, BBQ block parties, and poolside movie night, among many other activities. In direct response to the REALTOR community, Caliterra is also planning to build a large event pavilion that can be used for parties, meetings, and banquets. Rancho Sienna, a 500-acre community in Liberty Hill, carved out 20 percent of its open space for trails and parks. On-site, residents can play horseshoes, romp around on splash pads, fish any one of five catch-and-release ponds, or enjoy a family meal in the outdoor dining room.
Wednesday, July 120th AYREP: July Networking Happy Hour ABoR HQ - 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, August 11th ALREC: Fun in the Sun Boat Ride Riviera Marina- 4 p.m.
Thursday, July 21st AMBA: TopGolf Networking Event TopGolf - 4 to 7 p.m.
Capital Title: Anniversary Celebration Northwest Office - 5:30 p.m.
Front Page: Continued on page 28
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Upcoming Events Tuesday, July 19th HBA: Million Dollar Club Networking Happy Hour - Dogwood Rock Rose 6 to 8:30 p.m. WCREALTORS: Mid-Year Economic Update WCREALTORS - 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 120th Belterra Monthly Home Tour Belterra Welcome Center - 9 a.m. Bryson Monthly Home Tour Grand Haven Homes Model - 9 a.m.
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