HAUTE PROPERTIES

80-acre Texas estate with 2 ponds hits market for $11.5 million

Imagine acres of green vistas, tree-lined paths and the privacy that comes with a personal oasis. That’s S Lazy S Ranch, set on 80 acres at 8502 Stansberry Road in Wallis, about a two and a half drive from San Antonio. It’s for sale for $11.5 million, listed by Rachel Hrncir with Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty.

Gated and fenced, this is a remarkable property meant for living, working, and entertaining, with exceptional indoor and outdoor spaces.

Designed in tandem by the seller and Houston architect Robert McKinney, a decorated amateur golfer who’s considered one of the top golf clubhouse designers in the United States, the home unfolds over more than 5,000 square feet and features a distinctive floor plan that maximizes its pond views and is flooded with natural light. From the rugged facade of San Saba stone to a host of contemporary conveniences, this is a space that offers elegant rustic living.

Photo of the S Lazy S ranch house, set back on a green lawn acbove a pond

Photo by Sky Crafted Imaging for Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty

Set amid tree-lined paths between two lakes, S Lazy S Ranch offers privacy, rustic living and modern conveniences.

The interior’s spacious gathering areas provide opportunities for family relaxation and entertaining a crowd. The chef's kitchen has Viking appliances and is anchored by a large island with seating for five. An open plan provides seamless access to the dining room and living room, with vaulted wood ceilings and a huge stone fireplace.

A luxurious primary suite is a true retreat, with double glass doors opening to a covered patio, two walk-in closets, and a spa-like bath that boasts a jetted soaking tub set against huge windows offering beautiful views. The secondary bedrooms are designed as private suites, and a flexible bonus space can be a game room or other additional gathering spot.

Outdoors, find covered patios, an infinity-edge spa, outdoor kitchen, fire feature, two stocked ponds, and abundant wildlife.The barn includes four horse stalls, workshop, guest apartment, and equipment storage.

With a location south of I-10 and less than an hour from Houston, S Lazy S Ranch is a space that feels deep in the heart of Texas, yet is so close to modern living.

homebuying news

Texas ranks among top 20 housing markets for under-35 buyers

RDNE Stock Project/ Pexels

In 2025, Texas had more mortgage applicants under 35 years old than any other state in the country.

The Lone Star State is emerging as a top destination for young adult homebuyers, a new report has confirmed, with nearly 23 percent of all mortgage applications submitted by individuals under 35 years old.

Texas ranked No. 18 in SmartAsset's new study, "Where Young Adults are House Hunting," making it one of the most sought-after U.S. states "where the next generation of homeowners may be gaining the strongest foothold."

To determine where younger Americans are most actively pursuing homeownership, SmartAsset's analysts examined mortgage application data in all 50 states in 2025. They then calculated the share of applications filed by buyers younger than 35 relative to all applicants.

A total of 259,737 Texas homebuyers under 35 submitted mortgage applications in the last year alone — making Texas the state with the highest number of young adult applications in the country.

California and Florida, respectively, had the second- and third-highest numerical rate of young adult homebuyers with 170,434 and 159,429 applications in each state. But they still ranked at the bottom of the national list with the lowest percentage of young adult applications relative to all applicants in 2025 — at 14.7 and 14.8 percent.

North Dakota leads the nation as the top state for young homeowners, with over 28 percent of all mortgage applications in 2025 submitted by homebuyers under 35, making up 6,551 applications.

SmartAsset also revealed something many homeowners might already know: younger Americans are more likely to pursue homeownership in states with lower housing costs.

"In each of the four states with the highest share of mortgage applications from adults younger than 35, the typical home value is less than $300,000: North Dakota (No. 1), West Virginia (No. 2), Nebraska (No. 3) and Iowa (No. 4)," the report's author wrote.

In Texas, the typical home is worth $302,187, which is the 18th highest in the U.S. Meanwhile, West Virginia and Mississippi are the only two states with home values under $200,000, the lowest nationwide.

San Antonio has seen some mixed results regarding its appeal among first-time homebuyers, but recent studies have positioned the city as a hotspot for Gen Z and millennial homeowners. As many San Antonians already know, affordability remains a major hurdle.

High home prices aren't the only challenges keeping young Americans from becoming homeowners, the report said. Other challenges like high interest rates and limited supply are also plaguing would-be homebuyers.

"According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, nearly 9 in 10 younger Americans say it is harder for them to buy a home than it was for their parents," the report said. "Nonetheless, younger buyers continue to aspire to homeownership, navigating an uneven landscape of affordability and opportunity."

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