high five for cinco ranch

Travel + Leisure ranks tight-knit Houston suburb No. 2 in America

Cinco Ranch is the best suburb to live in Texas, and No. 2 nationwide.

Cinco Ranch, a master-planned community in Katy, has been declared the second best suburb to live in America, according to a recent report by Travel + Leisure.

The report, published July 16, analyzed feedback from realtors and data from "recent livability rankings" to determine the 10 best U.S. suburbs with the most "affordable housing, top-rated schools, and excellent job opportunities."

Johns Creek, Georgia (located 30 miles outside Atlanta) was the only city to overtake Cinco Ranch to claim the title as the No. 1 best American suburb to live in.

Rebecca Turner, a Realtor at Houston-based Greenwood King Properties, said in the report that the main attraction bringing families to Cinco Ranch is its seemingly endless outdoor recreational activities. Cinco Ranch boasts three lakes, 11 pools, 70-plus playgrounds, and 231 miles of trails, all of which make the suburb one of the most highly sought after communities in the nation.

"Cinco Ranch, like most of Houston, continues to appreciate at a fast clip," said Turner in the report. "Unlike other areas of Texas and the country, which have had to deal with a real estate reset and falling prices after the COVID-19-influenced boom, Cinco Ranch continues to be a desirable neighborhood where home values and equity are rising at a healthy rate."

Cinco Ranch, Katy, Houston suburb Families can bring their children to enjoy movie nights at the community pool. cincoranch.life/

Cinco Ranch-residing families can also take advantage of the many high-ranking schools in Katy Independent School District, which are some of the best public high schools in Texas, according to Niche.

Moreover, Zillow's Home Values Index says the average home in Cinco Ranch is worth nearly $544,000 in July, which is almost five percent more year-over-year from July 2023. The suburb's hot housing market means available homes go from on sale to pending in just six days, according to the report.

"Today, half of all Americans live in suburbs of different densities, driven by rising costs in cities plus a desire for more space and a laid-back lifestyle," the report said. "Because of that shift, suburbs are now more racially diverse than ever, offering a wide range of amenities like excellent restaurants, shops, and entertainment, but also top-rated public schools, medical centers, and recreational facilities."

The only other Texas suburb to earn a spot in the report was Coppell (No. 5), which is located 22 miles northwest of Dallas. The city is described as a quieter alternative to the hustle and bustle of Dallas-Fort Worth, with average value of a home coming out to more than $643,000 in July.

Houston suburbs have been on a roll in national surveys lately: Missouri City recently ranked the No. 77 most livable small U.S. city; West University Place and Bellaire were listed among the wealthiest American suburbs (which our beloved late columnist Ken Hoffman had some things to say about); and Conroe was just ranked the No. 31 best city in the nation for renters.

The top 10 best suburbs to live in, according to Travel + Leisure, are:

No. 1 – Johns Creek, Georgia
No. 2 – Cinco Ranch, Texas
No. 3 – Okemos, Michigan
No. 4 – North Bethesda, Maryland
No. 5 – Coppell, Texas
No. 6 – Brookline, Massachusetts
No. 7 – Brentwood, Mississippi
No. 8 – Carmel, Indiana
No. 9 – Short Pump, Virginia
No. 10 – Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania

The full report can be found on travelandleisure.com.

houston katy real estate suburbs rankings

HAUTE PROPERTIES

675-acre Hill Country ranch where George Strait rehearsed lists for $19.5M

Photo by Michelle Watson CultureMapSnap

George Strait developed his early sound at Lone Woman Ranch.

Lone Woman Ranch, the Hill Country estate where country stars like George Strait, George Jones, and Ace in the Hole Band rehearsed, is up for sale for $19.5 million.

Located 65 miles from San Antonio in Hays County on 675 acres, the secluded ranch once served as an artistic getaway for emerging Texas artists. The property, listed by Olmos Park firm Republic Ranches. is named after the nearby Lone Woman Mountain, and its elevation gives an incredible view of the county. On a clear day, you can see downtown Austin.

The land comes with two residences, both built near the entrance gate. The primary stone house has original hardwood floors, a recently remodeled kitchen and bathrooms, as well as a new HVAC system. The secondary residence was used as a rehearsal space. Both have had long-term residents who made improvements, and both have their own septic systems, wells, and electric meters.

The real appeal of Lone Woman Ranch, however, is the extensive woods, creeks, and natural setting. It is next to 6,000 acres of conservation land, including Storm Ranch. The entire mountain is also included in the property, making it a veritable mini-kingdom for the owner with unobstructed privacy on three sides.

Two ponds are on the site — a 4-acre and a 1-acre — both fully stocked. Runoff from the larger pond creates picturesque seasonal limestone waterfalls.The surrounding woods are full of wildlife, including white-tailed deer, turkeys, doves, and more. The property is under wildlife exemption.

It's little wonder the ranch was a muse to so many country musicians. A network of ranch roads provides access throughout the property, including most of the way up Lone Woman, giving views around every corner. Only Strait can tell you whether his 1996 hit "King of the Mountain" was inspired by the ranch.

Photo by Michelle Watson CultureMapSnap

George Strait developed his early sound at Lone Woman Ranch.

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