luxe lone star livin'

Luxe new ranch community in historic Texas locale boasts sprawling riverside living

Amos Gates was clearly on to something.

As the first American settler to cross the Brazos River in the early 1800s, Gates, an intrepid land scout, selected a scenic, rolling ridge of land high above the river to call home. Years later in 1884, Gates was laid to rest on his ranch — in the heart of what’s now a sprawling, luxury ranch development known as Gates Crossing.

A brainchild of Houston-based Frankel Design Build, Gates Crossing is an 1899-acre ranch community on the banks of the Brazos River near Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas. Comprised of 40 individual ranches, Gates Crossing offers prospective buyers the chance to own a Brazos River-area ranch estate between 14 to 160 acres about a three-hour drive from San Antonio.

Platted lots are now available for pre-sale; finished home prices range from $1.8 million into the $5 and $6 million range, a Compass spokesman tells CultureMap.

“We are thrilled to begin pre-selling ranches at Gates Crossing,” said Compass broker Courtney Robertson in a statement. “With a proven luxury builder and utility improvements underway, Gates Crossing offers luxury living in rural Texas without homeowners having to deal with the hassle of finding a builder and establishing utilities like water, power, and roads. Gates Crossing represents a unique opportunity for those who appreciate the beauty of nature and the comforts of a refined lifestyle.”

(Luxe) home on the range

No detail of interior design is spared. Image courtesy of Gates Crossing/Frankel Design Build

A little about that refined lifestyle: Thanks to Frankel Design Build’s full-service offerings, buyers can customize every aspect of their estate — from home interior, to pool, yard landscaping, and more. Future residents can choose from four layouts and homesite styles that range from classic ranch to contemporary. And unlike most large land offerings, Gates Crossing — through Frankel Design Build — offers seamless, turnkey design and homebuilding.

For example, the Amos Oaks Ranch site is centered with a 6,000-square-foot main home on a 32 acre property. Some 2,800 square feet of covered patios helps residents enjoy the great outdoors, a two-story great room or a separate party barn with a bunk room make for gathering spaces, while a workshop, a two-car attached garage, and 1,800-square-foot separate garage make for perfect places to tool away the day.

“We have partnered with Frankel Design Build as the developer and exclusive builder for Gates Crossing,” noted Samantha Medve of Medve Real Estate, which is also marketing the property, “and their tailored design-build process and carefully selected team of experts allows them to seamlessly guide each landowner from start to finish. Frankel is renowned for providing all client services in-house, from architecture, to interior design, construction, pools, outdoor living, home maintenance care, and warranty. Nothing is too custom.”

Green acres

Landsites with ponds will have decks for fishing and more. Image courtesy of Gates Crossing/Frankel Design Build

While the area has seen at times devastating droughts, the rolling greens lands of Gates Crossing have been “rejuvenated and replanted with fertile grasses,” according to press materials. Onsite ponds are once again clear and full, and more than 1,000 new trees have been planted, per the developers.

Whether buyers elect a full rancher’s life or just expansive land, Gates Crossing offers plenty of outdoor activities and recreational opportunities. The property boasts a 600-acre game preserve home to whitetail deer, doves, hogs, waterfowl, and many other native wildlife — available exclusively to Gates Crossing ranch owners.

For long days along the water, the ranch development promises a total of 4.6 miles of Brazos River frontage and “breathtaking” views. Speaking of views, parcels of lands with ponds feature deck areas for fishing and more.

Truly Texas

Purists will surely appreciate the Gates Crossing dirt, as the historically significant land predates Texas statehood. The aforementioned Amos Gates was part of the “Old Three Hundred,” a group of early Texas settlers who pushed across the state at the behest and promoting of Stephen F. Austin.

The sprawling acreage predates Texas statehood. Image courtesy of Gates Crossing/Frankel Design Build

Image courtesy of Gates Crossing/Frankel Design Build

Low Creek Ranch at Gates Crossing is open for touring and showings.

As for Gates, the onetime scout became a sort of John Dutton, evolving into a rancher and esteemed landowner, his family’s legacy forever entrenched in the land. The historic Gates-Perry Cemetery, where Gates and his family are interred, sits at the heart of the Gates Crossing estate — a fitting reminder of a gateway to Lone Star State lore.

homes for sale real estate luxury luxury housing

bang for your buck

San Antonio ZIP code is 4th most affordable place for renters in U.S.

Photo by Florian Schmid on Unsplash

undefined

Trying to afford buying a home in San Antonio is difficult enough with current mortgage rates, and doubly so if you're already paying high rent on an apartment or a house. But there are six San Antonio ZIP codes where renters can get the most bang for their buck, according to a new study by financial services company CashNetUSA.

To find the most affordable ZIP codes for renters in the U.S., analysts compared median household incomes by ZIP code to the average annual rent costs in those areas using the Zillow Observed Rent Index. ZIP codes where the average annual rental constituted the lowest percentage of median household income were considered the "most affordable."

San Antonio's 78248 ZIP code specifically stood out as the No. 4 most affordable in the country, and the No. 1 most affordable in Texas. This area encompasses the north San Antonio neighborhoods of Inwood, Forests at Inwood, Oakwood, The Park at Deerfield, Canyon Creek Bluffs, Canyon Creek Village, Blanco Village, Deerfield, Cadillac Drive, and Churchill Estates.

According to the study's findings, the average monthly cost of a rental in 78248 comes out to $1,259.17, and the median annual income of a household in the area is $122,986. Analysts then calculated that the annual rent of a home in this ZIP code only takes up 12.29 percent of a household's median income, which is the fourth-lowest in the nation.

CashNetUSA found the No. 1 most affordable ZIP code for renters nationwide is 66224 in Leawood, Kansas, where annual rent only takes a 10.57 percent cut out of a household's median annual income.

Elsewhere in Texas, two Houston-area ZIP codes – 77401 and 77094 – ranked No. 9 and No. 12 nationally, while Allen's 75013 ZIP code fell two spots behind to claim the No. 14 spot.

The most affordable San Antonio-area ZIP codes for renters
CashNetUSA further unveiled the five most affordable ZIP codes across major U.S. cities, including in San Antonio, Austin, and Houston.

Following 78248 (which took the No. 1 spot citywide) is 78261 (No. 2), which spans east of Highway 281, across Smithson Valley Road. Rent costs in this ZIP code averaged out to $1,698 per month, the report found.

Landing in the No. 3 spot is 78258, which includes Rogers Ranch, The Vineyard, Stone Oak, Summit, Hidden Canyon, and Big Springs neighborhoods. The report said average rent in the area comes out to $1,507 per month, which takes up 17.54 percent of a household's median annual income.

The remaining top two most affordable ZIP codes for San Antonio renters are located in 78259 (Encino Park, Encino Ranch, Cavalo Creek Estates, Northwood Hills, Summit at Bulverde Creek, Roseheart, Redland Woods) and 78260 in Timberwood Park, which is about 25 miles north of downtown San Antonio.

rent rent prices affordable housing