Considering Moving to Texas (Houston, San Antonio: buying, college, living in)

[CodyT]

[SIZE=3]Hello,[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]I have been reading the posts in this forum for a while, but this is my first post. I will be graduating from college within the next year and I am considering moving from Ohio to Texas. At this point in time I am not interested in living in a big city. I would like to live somewhere I could eventually purchase a small ranch for a reasonable price. I enjoy outdoor activities like hunting and fishing. Can anyone recommend a town or region of Texas with cheap land and great hunting? Thanks for your help.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Cody[/SIZE]

[loves2read]

OK--bubble buster here--
JOB??? Gainful employment???
any luck in that area???

regarding the reasonable ranch land--that is kind of an oxymoron because if a ranch is "reasonably" priced in the less-expensive/cheap sense...there are usually issues with it being over-grazed, drought/water plagued, or heavily taxed...
check out some of the farm/ranch MLS sites and see the pricing of various areas...
gentleman ranches of less than 100 acres especially within driving distance to urban centers like Austin/SA/Houston/DFW are usually priced higher than larger, commercial spreads in more isolated areas and those with live water boundaries are the most expensive...

[EasilyAmused]

Reasonable and Land don't go hand and hand anymore in Texas unless you are near the Mexican border or so far west it's desert.

Best bang for the buck is NE Texas. Areas like Athens, Palestine, Rusk, Alto. Still looking around 2300 and up per acre unless you find a stress sale. With water on it, its over 3,000. With live water...well...then your at Hill Country prices.

[NOTAM]

anywhere around Hamilton, San Saba, Goldwaithe, Gatesville.....cheap land, good hunting

[TexasNick]

Hi Cody, good for you to start thinking about buying a ranch or acreage out in the country at your age (I'm assuming you're a young college student). Three years ago, I was in the same boat as you..just a few years out of college and already realizing how land is going to be the probably the best investment one can make (aside from a college education). I always said one should buy land as soon as they can practically afford it....even if it means using up your retirement account (unless you're older than 35). How many people do you know these days that are having fun with their 401k? Not many...but many sure are having a heck of a lot of fun living and playing on their land. At least it's a tangible investment you can use. Unlike paper money, they sure aren't making anymore land.

Areas for "cheap" land would be West Texas, parts of East Texas as mentioned above, and then Central Texas such as the areas mentioned by NOTAM: San Saba, Goldwaithe, Comanche, etc. Areas to avoid, unless you have the money to do 10k/acre is the region West of San Antonio and Austin.

[airboat5]

try san marcos good luck.

[bhicks]

NE TX is the best place to locate. It is green with rolling hills and plenty of good water. We live at Lake O'Pines - groups.yahoo.com/group/LakeOPines - If you move to a lake be on the northeast side to get the full affect of the cooling winds in the summer.

[Canine*Castle]

I second the "good for you, Cody." I wish when I were younger I had thought differently. You go for your dream and you'll get that ranch you want. Don't let anyone burst your bubble. Look into Bosque County.....all the best.