For as long as there have been Texans in Texas, the idea of someday owning a large piece of land has been a dream for many. As one ranch owner put it, “it’s the basis of Texas. Land. Land…it’s just deep in you. It’s part of you…so sweet and fine, you can taste it and you miss it.”
Literature and Hollywood have helped to portray these epic images through movies and novels such as “Giant” and “Lonesome Dove.” Legendary ranches such as the King Ranch – an 825,000 acre sprawl in South Texas, and the Waggoner Ranch, an icon for Texas horse and cattlemen, are uniquely Texan and have added to the mystique of the state’s ranch culture.
Looking east over Gates Ranch towards the historic Brazos River Valley.
Sales Volume in Texas Continues on an Upward Trend
Texans’ passion for owning rural land has caused the ranch business to boom. In a July 2014 story produced by KHOU-TV in Houston, reporter Doug Miller cited the idea that the current demand for ranch land in Texas is a byproduct of the thriving Texas economy, particularly in the energy business.
Long term real estate agents such as Jeff Boswell say that the biggest problem is finding inventory. Boswell states that so many people want to buy ranches, he can’t find enough sellers. In particular, sales volume of ranch properties in the region of Texas that includes Houston, the Coastal Prairies, the Belleville-Brenham area, the Piney Woods, and the Brazos Valley, saw an increase of over 200 ranch property closings with a 12 month period from 2012 to 2013.
Investors are also attracted by low mortgage rates and the paltry returns now offered by bonds and certificates of deposit. “With low interest rates and the potential for inflation, a lot of people are looking at large rural tracts really more as a hedge against inflation, a tangible asset to put wealth into,” states Boswell.
Located in the beautiful rolling hills of Washington County – Gates Ranch provides the unique opportunity for families from Houston to invest in their own historic ranch. At Gates Ranch, our carefully crafted vision and protective deed covenants establish a high standard of quality and a common commitment to rural land conservation that is key to protecting each land owner’s investment over the long term. We believe that 50 or even 100 years from now, Gates Ranch will remain a special place, even more beautiful than it is today.
Quarter horses graze at Gates Ranch. Washington County’s pastoral setting and temperate climate are ideal for livestock, wildlife and agriculture.
Come Visit Our Properties
We invite you to stop by for a visit to Gates Ranch, where we have sold 70% of the family farms in Phases I & II, and we encourage you to visit us soon to ensure your choice of the prime farm sites. For more information or to schedule your personal tour, please call Cyndee Smith with Oldham Goodwin group at 713-816-3407.
