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Ranch round-up: 3 homesteads on the market that will give you all the space you need

(DMTX Realty Group)
Even though Austin is becoming a big city more and more each day, it’s still holding on to the countryside charm that makes Texas unique. After all, who doesn’t love some peace and quiet outside of the fast-paced city?
Those sprawling ranches you see on the outskirts of town are hard to come by, but they do exist. These three ranches are on the market right now and all within the metro area.
Heading west on Hwy 290, 12990 Trautwein Road is located on 127 sprawling Hill Country acres. This quiet ranch is only 25 minutes away from Downtown Austin but offers all the perks of countryside living with mature oak trees, the juxtaposition of wooded areas and pastures, a private pond with a dock, views of the rolling hills and a scenic drive to get there. The house on the property is a modest two-bedroom, two-bathroom with a wide front porch but with that much land, one could easily build their dream home.
If you’ve been looking for a place to raise your livestock or rather trying to break into the ranching business, there are existing barns on the premises, making this a great home for equestrians!
A bit further out in Dripping Springs, 500 Mt. Gaitor Road sits on 165 acres of gated property to really make your own. With plenty of green space surrounding the creek that runs through the property, it is perfect for those who love swimming in the great outdoors. Speaking of the great outdoors, the property is under Wildlife Management, meaning the extensive land is home to plenty of fauna like whitetails, turkey, dove, quail and could easily host livestock.
As for the living quarters on the ranch, the home is newly updated with a resort-style pool, waterfall and outdoor kitchen. The nearby barn, at 5,000 square feet, is fully insulated and includes a built-in apartment and studio.
This ranch is 35 minutes without traffic from Downtown but it’s only five minutes from the intersection of Ranch Road 12 and Highway 290, so you’ll have easy access to Austin’s massive metro area.
Nestled in the lakefront city of Volente in the Four Points area of 620 and FM 2222, 14533 Pocohontas Trail is the perfect estate for lovers of Lake Travis. Coming in at just over five acres, this estate is much smaller than the other two but counters with fast access to the comfortable amenities of the city, like an H-E-B right nearby.
A custom-made “barndominium” greets you on the property with 4,357 square feet total, with 1,800 square feet of dedicated living space. Inside is two bedrooms, three bathrooms, an office and a flex room overlooking the adjoining air-conditioned barn. With a propane-powered backup generator in the back, two 10,000 gallon rainwater collection tanks, UV filtration and a purification system, you’re prepared for the next winter storm. Plus, there’s room for guests at the next door cabin, with one bedroom, one bathroom, a full kitchen and laundry room. And for your allergies sake, cedar trees have been removed from the property.
Best of all, with 195 feet of water frontage, you’ll always have an enviable view of the lake.
These listings are held by broker associate and realtor Dave Murray.
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Austin is one of the top metro areas where homebuyer income saw the greatest surge during the pandemic and it came at a cost to locals.
A new analysis by real estate services firm Redfin reports that affluent out-of-towers have contributed to surging home prices in metros like Austin. Due to this trend, Redfin notes, many local buyers with lower incomes have been priced out.
“For white-collar workers earning high salaries, remote work is a huge financial boon,” said Sheharyar Bokhari, Redfin senior economist. Jobs with that flexibility, Bokhari says, enable them to move from a tech hub like San Francisco to a more affordable part of the country where they can get more home for their money and even put some toward a rainy day fund.
“It can have the opposite effect on locals in those destinations–especially renters–who are watching from the sidelines as home prices skyrocket while their income stays mostly the same,” Bokhari said.
In Austin, the median homebuyer income surged 19% from 2019 to 2021, ultimately reaching $137,000. In that time, the median home price growth was 48%, just behind Boise, Idaho which was more than 50%.
But the housing market is starting to slow. Redfin says high mortgage rates and unsustainable price growth have driven demand down. In fact, Austin is among the 20 housing markets that have cooled the fastest in the first half of this year.
“People are still moving in from California and they still have enough money to buy nice homes in desirable neighborhoods, sometimes with all cash,” said Austin Redfin agent Gabriel Recio. “But the days of homes selling for 25% over asking price with multiple offers are over. Buyers are no longer as eager now that mortgage rates are up and there’s buzz in the air about the slowing housing market.”
As a result, Recio says, local and out-of-town buyers have an opportunity to buy a home at the asking price or even under.
Redfin carried out its analysis using data from the home mortgage disclosure act to review median household incomes for homebuyers who took out a mortgage, though it doesn’t include buyers who paid using all cash.
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(Shutterstock)
School is back in session—do you know the latest TikTok trends?
With Austin ISD resuming session on Monday, school officials are keeping tabs on the newest TikTok trends that could pose classroom disruptions and property damage.
TikTok trends swept through Austin-area schools last year with the “Devious Lick” challenge, which encouraged students to steal from school property and reportedly caused $15,000 in damages at Round Round ISD; and the “slap a staff member” challenge.
On the distraction end, a substitute teacher was dismissed from Bowie High School in December after bringing in a karaoke machine to class and singing Britney Spears’ “Toxic” for the class on TikTok.
Officials told KXAN they are staying aware of the trends as they change during the 2022-2023 school year and the district will investigate perceived threats. Since TikTok trends vary in severity, they will also evaluate to see which trends could cause harm or not.
Finally, the school district said it does not tolerate violence or bullying and will focus its efforts on protecting students both physically and digitally.