KXAN Austin
by: Kaitlyn Karmout
WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — As Central Texans watch the influx of large tech companies coming into town, property developers are preparing to build more homes.
All of that development is pushing out one group of Central Texans who have been here the longest: ranchers.
“It’s difficult to let something go like this that’s been in your family for many many years,” said Glenn Patterson, a Coldwell Banker commercial real estate agent.
Patterson works in Central Texas, but he also just sold off his family ranch that sat on the outskirts of Georgetown. In the 1980s, aerial view photos show nothing but grazing lands for cattle.
Now, you’ll find a Georgetown Elementary school and a nearby subdivision. Pretty soon, what used to be Patterson’s 109 acres of land will also have houses on it.
“Approximately 400 homes will be built on this property,” Patterson said.
See a timelapse from the 1980s to 2020 of the Georgetown area below from Google Earth Engine. Can’t see it? Click here.
The property was purchased in January 2021, but it hasn’t been a matter of just turning the dirt, Patterson said.
“Utilities is a big component, and understanding where you can connect into it,” said Nick McIntyre, Vice President of Perry Homes.
The tract of land is set for Perry home builds. Homebuilders like McIntyre constantly weigh the off-site costs, what infrastructure will look like and what resources are available from the city.
“The growth has just expanded so much that they haven’t been able to keep up with it. They didn’t anticipate it,” McIntyre said.
Longhorn Realty, another real estate firm, told KXAN land has doubled in price over the last 18-24 months. Another trend this group has seen is an uptick in the number of buyers coming from outside the U.S. to parts of Williamson County to invest in Texas land.
There’s also a whole other component to this Central Texas shift.
“You can’t hardly afford to stay in it,” said Craig Daniel, a Burnet County rancher.
Ranching industry costs have become so high that selling off land that’s increasing in value is tempting, but it’s a tough call for those who have cultivated our state’s supply of beef and grain.
“My biggest concern is, I don’t know where we are going to get all of our food from,” Daniel said. “If you look at the packaging, it’s not coming from the U.S.”
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FRISCO, Texas (Silver Star Nation) – The Dallas Cowboys are looking for redemption this week after their shocking defeat at the hands of the Denver Broncos last Sunday.
The Cowboys were on a six-game winning streak when the 4-4 Broncos made them look as bad as the 2020 Cowboys team. Dallas remains 3 1/2 games ahead in the NFC East division.
TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A corrections officer with the Travis County Sheriff’s Office was arrested and is accused of sneaking banned substances and items into a correctional facility.
Jose Esquivel is charged with bringing prohibited substances and items into a correctional facility, a third-degree felony, according to TCSO. He’s been with TCSO since September 2018.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA) will dedicate $52 million in funding over the next 20 years toward services to support homeless veterans and other people experiencing homelessness.
HACA, a public unit separate from the City of Austin, will fund 200 permanent supportive housing units. This includes 50 vouchers to help veterans in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing or HUD-VASH program.