FOR LAND SAKES Farm, ranch prices stabilize after earlier run, but sellers still seeking fortunes
Land is plentiful among the farms and ranches of East Williamson County, and a lot of it has changed hands in the last four years.
Some of it was snatched up by speculators looking to make money off the northward push out of Travis County in search of more affordable houses and huge economic-development news that is creating tens of billions of dollars in investment around Taylor and Hutto.
But there are still nearly 12,000 acres on the market across the county as higher land prices motivate sellers, sometimes families with properties handed down for generations. They now envision a payday in their future that doesn’t involve waiting to see if a crop survives drought, hail or disease every season.
The asking prices in the listings total about $1 billion, according to LandWatch. com.
The appraised value of acreage in East Williamson nearly tripled between 2021 and 2023, according to an examination of several properties with data from the Williamson Central Appraisal District. The increases occurred after Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. announced Taylor as the site for its massive semiconductor foundry campus set to open late next year.
The increases were especially pronounced in areas that had access to water and wastewater services or were close enough to the main pipelines to tap in during development.
While some asking prices are still high – most are more than a $100,000 an acre and some as much as $144,000 per acre – land valuations and sales seem to have cooled off in 2024 and 2025.
“Generally, the land market is taking a much-needed break,” said Kelly Meyer, a broker with TexasLand, who has done several deals in Williamson County over the last few years. “We watched prices jump by multiples for years, creating opportunities for landowners and developers alike.”
Although the desire of developers to buy and families and early speculators to sell is still there, he said several factors are keeping prices and sales in check.
“With higher development costs, interest rates that are scaring consumers and way too much supply, the next 12 months and likely 24 are the right time to hold your land if you can,” Meyer said.
There are nearly 950 pieces of land on the market in Williamson County from vacant lots to sizable farms and ranches totaling 11,627 acres, according to data from LandWatch. Of those, about a quarter are in the Georgetown area and a nearly equal number are scattered throughout East Wilco While about two-thirds of the land listings are less than 2 acres, there are some big parcels on the market touting their proximity to Samsung’s campus near Taylor High School.
Compelling offers came early and often for certain tracts in the two years after the Samsung announcement, but that was based on early investors and developers paying a premium for property that had been $10,000 an acre or less for years.
The market cooled when sellers wanted more than $100,000 an acre.
Despite some steep asking prices, “We’re seeing a leveling off of the land pricing,” said Ben White, CEO of the Taylor Economic Development Corp. “It’s a competitive market and landowners can price themselves out of projects.”
There also seems to be competition shaping up for ready industrial space for manufacturing and warehouses, much of it coming from Samsung suppliers.
FRIDAY, AUG. 29
• SeniorFit by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 11 a.m., $5.
• Baby/Toddler Play Time at Hutto Public Library, 500 W. Live Oak St., Hutto, 11 a.m. to noon.
• Silos Farmers Market at The Cotton Gin, 106 Co-Op Blvd., Hutto, 4-8 p.m., free.
• Karaoke Night and Pool Tournament at Cotton Country Club, 212 E. Davilla St., Granger. Doors open at 5 p.m.
• Glen Collins at SPJST Lodge 29, 5025 FM 619, Taylor, 7:30-11:30 p.m., free.
SATURDAY, AUG. 30
• Heritage Square Farmers Market, 400 N. Main St., Taylor, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., free.
• Pottery Wheel Class 1 of 6 at Art Off Center, 116 W. Second St., Suite 108, Taylor, noon to 2:30 p.m., $380. Registration: https:// artoffcenter.com/calendar/.
• Josh Ward and Gunnar Latham at Old Coupland Inn and Dancehall, 101 Hoxie St., Coupland. Doors open at 7 p.m., $23.50. Tickets: https://tickets.holdmyticket.com/ tickets/443378.
SUNDAY, AUG. 31
• Wheel & Handbuilding Basics Class 1 of 6 at Art Off Center, 116 W. Second St., Suite 108, Taylor, noon to 3 p.m., $380. Registration: https://artoffcenter.com/calendar/.
MONDAY, SEPT. 1 LABOR DAY
TUESDAY, SEPT. 2
• SeniorFit by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 10:30 a.m., $5.
• Intermediate Pottery Wheel Class 1 of 4 at Art Off Center, 116 W. Second St., Suite 108, Taylor, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., $285. Registration: https://artoffcenter.com/calendar/.
• Pilates by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.
• Track Time by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6:30 p.m., $5.
• Adult Show & Tell at Black Sparrow Music Parlor, 113 W.
Second St., Taylor, 7 p.m. Ages: 18 and up.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 3
• Hutto Farmers Market at 350 Ed Schmidt Blvd., Hutto, 3-7 p.m.
• LinkedIn Learning Workshop using your library card for free access and training at Hutto Public Library, 500 W. Live Oak St., Hutto. Ages: 13 and up.
• Neighborhood Coalition at Black Sparrow Music Parlor, 113 W.
Second St., Taylor, 7 p.m. Ages: 18 and up.
• Yoga by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6:30 p.m., $5.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 4
• Open Mic Night at Cotton Country Club, 212 E. Davilla St., Granger. Doors open at 5 p.m.
• Daddy Daughter Hair Tutorials at the Hutto Public Library, 500 W. Live Oak St., Hutto, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
• Butts ‘N’ Guts by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 5
• SeniorFit by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 11 a.m., $5.
• Karaoke Night and Pool Tournament at Cotton Country Club, 212 E. Davilla St., Granger. Doors open at 5 p.m.
• Texas Neon Ramblers at SPJST Lodge 29, 5025 FM 619, Taylor, 7:30-11:30 p.m., free.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 6
• Heritage Square Farmers Market, 400 N. Main St., Taylor, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., free.
• Pottery Wheel Class 2 of 6 at Art Off Center, 116 W. Second St., Suite 108, Taylor, noon to 2:30 p.m., $380. Registration: https:// artoffcenter.com/calendar/.
• Palook, Rooftop Boxer at Black Sparrow Music Parlor, 113 W.
Second St., Taylor, 8 p.m., $10.
• Jukebox Preachers at Old Coupland Inn and Dancehall, 101 Hoxie St., Coupland. Doors open at 7 p.m., $17.50. Tickets: https://tickets.holdmyticket.com/tickets/443558.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 7
• Wheel & Handbuilding Basics Class 2 of 6 at Art Off Center, 116 W. Second St., Suite 108, Taylor, noon to 3 p.m., $380. Registration: https://artoffcenter.com/calendar/.
• Murder Ballad with Curio Mvrosa at Black Sparrow Music Parlor, 113 W. Second St., Taylor, 4:30 p.m.
MONDAY, SEPT. 8
• How to use Libby to access free ebooks, audiobooks and magazines at the Hutto Public Library, 500 W. Live Oak St., Hutto, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
• Sketch Club at Atelier 95, 311 N. Main St., Taylor, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Donation: $15. Ages: 18 and up.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 9
• SeniorFit by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 10:30 a.m., $5.
• Intermediate Pottery Wheel Class 2 of 4 at Art Off Center, 116 W. Second St., Suite 108, Taylor, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., $285. Registration: https://artoffcenter.com/calendar/.
• Pilates by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.
• Track Time by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6:30 p.m., $5.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 10
• Hutto Farmers Market at 350 Ed Schmidt Blvd., Hutto, 3-7 p.m.
• Yoga by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6:30 p.m., $5.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 11 PATRIOT DAY • Open Mic Night at Cotton Country Club, 212 E. Davilla St., Granger. Doors open at 5 p.m.
• Butts ‘N’ Guts by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 6 p.m., $5.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 12
• SeniorFit by Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, 1412 Davis St., Taylor, 11 a.m., $5.
• Silos Farmers Market at The Cotton Gin, 106 Co-Op Blvd., Hutto, 4-8 p.m., free.
• Karaoke Night and Pool Tournament at Cotton Country Club, 212 E. Davilla St., Granger. Doors open at 5 p.m.
• Old Friends at SPJST Lodge 29, 5025 FM 619, Taylor, 7:30-11:30 p.m., free.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 13
• Heritage Square Farmers Market, 400 N. Main St., Taylor, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., free.
• Local Author Story Time: Dana Rawdah, author of “Cee Cee Nanigans,” at Hutto Public Library, 500 W. Live Oak St., Hutto, 11 a.m. to noon.
• Pottery Wheel Class 3 of 6 at Art Off Center, 116 W. Second St., Suite 108, Taylor, noon to 2:30 p.m., $380. Registration: https:// artoffcenter.com/calendar/.
• 5th Annual Spay-ghetti Dinner & Dance w/ Raffle Fundraiser for Texas Critter Crusaders at Taylor SPJST Hall, Taylor, $40 dine-in and $20 to go. Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/ SpayghettiTickets.
• Open Mic Night at Black Sparrow Music Parlor, 113 W. Second St., Taylor, 6 p.m.
• Dale Watson at Old Coupland Inn and Dancehall, 101 Hoxie St., Coupland. Doors open at 7 p.m., $23.50. Tickets: https://tickets. holdmyticket.com/tickets/444017.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 14
• Wheel & Handbuilding Basics Class 3 of 6 at Art Off Center, 116 W. Second St., Suite 108, Taylor, noon to 3 p.m., $380. Registration: https://artoffcenter.com/calendar/.
Comment
Comments