Weekend Retreat Suggestions (Austin, Marble Falls, Lago Vista: rental, homes, neighborhood)

[SurferDude]

We are planning to get out to Austin shortly, but want some suggestions on where we could purchase a weekend home no more than 2 hours away. With all of the work that we do, I want to dedicate my weekends to the family. I think it would be nice to have access to a lake, do some hunting/fishing...Not sure if we want to purchase large acreage or get something smaller. Any suggestions or things to think about would be great! Budget would be under $500k

[love roses]

Somewhere around Lake buchanan. More people hunt and fish in that area than they do near say, Lake Travis. You can also buy property for under $500k. Lake Travis, you'd be lucky to get anything under 1Mill. There is a gated neighborhood near Lake Buchanan that sells acreage sites also. The homes on Lake Buchanan in comparison to Travis are not Mcmansion showpieces. They are small ranches or lake cabins, mostly one story. There are some 2 story homes, but again, nowhere near pretentious. Near the dam, there are lots of vacation rental cabins and some businesses and such that cater to hunting/fishing expeditions (hire guides). There is an island in the Lake, similar to the one at Travis, where people anchor their boats and hang out on the beach. There's also a very nice waterfall up the river that people kayak under. Buchanan isn't really that far from Austin. Maybe not even an hour.

[Raskolnikov]

I would look at The Hollows on the North Shore of Lake Travis. Definitely it's cheaper than 1 million! The amenities are awesome. Or, buy property near Jonestown or Lago Vista. Marble Falls is also nice. Basically, the North Shore of Lake Travis. It's only 30 minutes from north Austin, about 45 to downtown.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by love roses

Somewhere around Lake buchanan. More people hunt and fish in that area than they do near say, Lake Travis. You can also buy property for under $500k. Lake Travis, you'd be lucky to get anything under 1Mill. There is a gated neighborhood near Lake Buchanan that sells acreage sites also. The homes on Lake Buchanan in comparison to Travis are not Mcmansion showpieces. They are small ranches or lake cabins, mostly one story. There are some 2 story homes, but again, nowhere near pretentious. Near the dam, there are lots of vacation rental cabins and some businesses and such that cater to hunting/fishing expeditions (hire guides). There is an island in the Lake, similar to the one at Travis, where people anchor their boats and hang out on the beach. There's also a very nice waterfall up the river that people kayak under. Buchanan isn't really that far from Austin. Maybe not even an hour.

There are many lakefront lots on lake travis for under 200K. That leaves you plenty to build yourself a lake house. This would not be large acreage though.

[HappyTexan]

If you want your own "lake" you can look east out in Milam County. Buy some acreage that has woods and a stocked lake, build a nice weekend cabin and voila..instant retreat.

Land is going for about $2k an acre out there..give or take. I've been looking for some land myself and the parcels start at about 29 acres and up.

I don't think you can hunt on your property in those acreage subdivisions out in Lake Travis.

[love roses]

Right...That's why I suggested Buchanan area. It's more what I'm thinking when i think of a "sportsman" area as far as hunting and fishing. Lake Travis subdivisions won't have those things, except fishing.