welcome to whitehall

Stunning 656-acre regal ranch near Houston lassos luxury, resort-style living for $42M

Between the work-at-home shift and popularity of cowboy culture getting to obnoxious levels (we see you, Jeff Bezos), Texas ranches are one of the biggest real estate searches around.

The latest: a grand, 656-acre ranch listing near Houston merges the big-land life with a luxe ranch retreat vibe. Whitehall Ranch, a sprawling private escape in southern Grimes County (that’s roughly an hour north of Houston, between Magnolia and Navasota), has listed for $42 million.

Photo via Nan and Company Properties

Blow off steam in the sauna.

Reflecting that post-pandemic price hike, Whitehall Ranch actually listed for half the current price — $21.6 million — in 2020, as Houston Business Journal reported — a veritable value, these days. Whitehall is currently repped by Houston-based luxury real estate firm Nan and Company Properties.

About this regal ranch: Polo fans and aficionados can stomp divots after chukkas on an on-site, regulation polo field and stables, which spans 11 acres and anchors an 8-acre lake, per press materials. The field has seen “several top polo matches” over the years, per Nan and Company. Should the new owners pass on polo, they can instead repurpose the 11-acre field into a driving range, cricket pitch, baseball field, or any outdoor activity they choose.

Whitehall Ranch horse in stable Horse around and the sizable stables. Photo via Nan and Company Properties

Whitehall Ranch sunset house Enjoy sunsets and sweeping vistas. Photo via Nan and Company Properties

Luxe living amenities start with the main residence, tucked away surrounded by a secluded countryside oasis, per the listing. The main home is open-concept design and plays to the space with “soaring” ceilings and wall-to-wall windows throughout. Mornings and sunsets can be taken in on a surrounding porch that showcases the stunning, protected acreage.

Guests and family can look forward to a two-suite guest residence, plus a four-suite bunk house for larger groups (a fun spot to play out those favorite Yellowstone bunkhouse scenes).

Whitehall Ranch interior windows High ceilings and tall windows open the area and bring the outside in. Photo via Nan and Company Properties

A green oasis — dubbed the “Home Camp” — boasts a heated saltwater pool, and a pool house that’s replete with a full kitchen and the always-important pass-through serving bar. Residents can live out their Post Ranch Inn memories at the sauna, massage studio, full indoor gym, and even a commercial laundry room for dirty cowboy gear or those sweaty Lululemon threads.

Whitehall Ranch tub No tin pots here: soak in a garden tub. Photo via Nan and Company Properties

But, this is a ranch after all, and it includes two twin barns, fitted with everything needed for resident horses, donkeys, or cows. Owners can grow their greens and plants in a greenhouse, tend to the chicks in a chicken coop, and take in five, lush ecosystems. For the sporting life, shooters can grab their Benellis and head to the skeet and trap range, which comes with its own “cozy clubhouse” and full kitchen.

Whitehall Ranch chicken coop Tend to the eggs and chicks in the chicken coop. Photo via Nan and Company Properties

Houstonians rolling in will no doubt be familiar with Whitehall Ranch’s presence on FM 362, near Highway 6 and the Highway 249 “Aggie Freeway” extension. But for those opting for an airy arrival can get to the chopper, as the ranch includes an FAA-approved, lighted helipad for that truly elevated entrance.

Homebuying strategy

The best time of year for deals on Houston homes is coming soon

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Back-to-school season turns out to be prime homebuying season.

Back-to-school season turns out to be prime homebuying season in Dallas-Fort Worth and the state’s three other major metros.

A new report from real estate brokerage Redfin finds mid-September reigns as the best time for homebuyers to score a deal in Dallas, Fort Worth, and San Antonio.

The report pegs late August as Austin’s best period for nailing down a home deal, while late September is Houston’s sweet spot.

“Each homebuyer has their own timeline based on personal circumstances. But seasonality trends suggest buyers in these places looking to score a bargain may want to hit the pavement as summer comes to a close and the leaves start falling,” Asad Khan, a senior economist at Redfin, says in a release.

“Sellers who put their home in the market in the spring or early summer and haven’t offloaded it yet may be open to dropping their price or offering concessions,” Khan adds.

Redfin cautions that the best time to buy is more complicated than when a homebuyer is most likely to land a deal. Redfin economists recommend balancing choice and competition when shopping for a home.

“More inventory to choose from improves the chance of finding the home that’s right for them, and more competition creates more urgency and requires stronger offers to win a home, decreasing the likelihood that buyers will get a deal,” says Redfin.

Redfin emphasizes that most places in Texas are now buyer’s markets, equipping buyers with negotiating power. In fact, the majority of Texas markets have roughly twice as many buyers as sellers, according to Redfin.

The Redfin analysis, based on data from Home Economics, looked at three metrics for determining the best times for homebuyers to make a deal:

The week when the number of new listings is the greatest compared with the annual average.
The week when the number of active listings on the market for 60 days or less is the greatest compared with the annual average.
The time when the average home price drops the most heading into late fall or winter.