What's Going on in Leander? (San Antonio, Austin: for sale, real estate, appliances)

[warmweatherplz]

We just found out that we can get an incredible deal on housing materials if we build our own home. It would save us a ton of money - and we can do a lot of the finishing work.

SO, I've been out on REALTOR.com - Real Estate Listings & Homes For Sale checking out land around San Antonio and Austin and everywhere in between. (We're in Iowa now.)

There seems to be a boatload of land near Leander. I've also interested in the Lake Travis areas. We need to be 30 minutes away from northwest Austin (78717) for work OR we even have an option of working out of Bee Cave. But, we still would like to be only 30 minutes away.

We want somewhere family-oriented, safe, and quiet. Maybe an acre or less.
Mostly, we want a great investment opportunity. Any ideas - or other places we should look?

[austin-steve]

What's your price range for purchasing land to build on?

We just found out that we can get an incredible deal on housing materials if we build our own home.

My inner skeptic tells me there must be a catch. If it's too good to be true, it's probably not true. What sort of "incredible deal" are you getting and how much per square foot will it save you on the total finished home construction costs?

Steve

[warmweatherplz]

I'd say less than $40,000 - more if it's a great investment - but, we'd have to see. I'm not sure what is realistic.

My husband works for a building supplies dealer. If you are an employee, on your first project - you get 10% over costs for materials, and all special order items - cabinetry, counter tops, appliances, etc.

We're figuring the costs now - and it looks like quite a deal. Especially since we can do almost all the finish work ourselves past the roughing-in stage.

[love roses]

There's a boatload of land anywhere North of RR (Round Rock). Not more than 3-5 years ago, these little towns were pretty much 2 stoplights and cornfields. I think Leander may be just a little more than 30 minutes away from Austin, but not too terribly bad. Lake Travis areas may be a little harder to get into central austin from.

[love roses]

My husband and I have been doing some homework, and you can find quite a few lots for under 40,000.

[txhusker]

Hi--I don't know if you have found your answer yet..but the zip code you gave is in the Brushy Creek area, which is pretty far up north Austin, so Leander should be well within the 30 minute mark. There is a lot of inexpensive land in Leander, and the city is growing rather rapidly.
I guess it just depends on what you want to see when you look out your back door. There are some really pretty 1 acre lots in a golf course subdivision called Crystal Falls--if you haven't found them already--but they are going to be about twice the price or more of what you mentioned above. However, they also come with panoramic hill country or golf course views, which can do wonders when it comes to resale values.
As far as Lake Travis, if you look close to the north shore, maybe use Volente instead of Austin for your search, you might find some non-lake view lots for around $60k..might even find a third floor lake view lot for less than $100k..but they will most likely be less than an acre.
One other consideration might be Lago Vista, which is a lake community on the north side of Lake Travis, but I have never driven from Lago to North Austin during morning or evening commute, so it might be pushing 30 minutes. However, they have a TON of lots for $40k or less, and some of them have some pretty astonishing views. Hope that helps a little!

[jread]

Originally Posted by warmweatherplz

What's going on in Leander?

Absolutely nothing, which is why you see all the cheap homes/land

[warmweatherplz]

Originally Posted by jread

Absolutely nothing, which is why you see all the cheap homes/land

THAT was what I was thinking!
Do you think anything might happen there in the next 10 years?

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by jread

Absolutely nothing, which is why you see all the cheap homes/land

Actually, Leander is getting the first leg of the new commuter rail. I don't know when it will start running or if it will positively impact the area or not.

Retailers and developers like the demographics of Leander and believe it's hit "critical mass" as far as growing up and beyond being just a bedroom community. The commuting times have been cut with the new freeways.

I think it has a bright future.

Steve

[texastea]

Steve's right. With the tollways, the trip from Leander to the Brushy Creek area is under 15 minutes.