Betty Saenz EcoBroker® GRI SRES®

There are many great places to have horses in the Austin, Texas area. There are very high end waterfront equestrian subdivisions, with some fabulous horse properties priced at $1 to $3 million or more. There are also Austin area horse properties in neighborhoods with great horseback riding trail systems, inexpensive properties under $100,000. all in the Austin, Texas area. East of IH 35 are the Coastal Plains which more a rolling farmland look. The soil is generally blackland and there are virtually no rocks. West of Interstate 35 the land has more of a Texas Hill Country look with lots of Live Oaks, Cedar Elms and Ashe Junipers, commonly called cedars. Some areas west are too steep for horses but have great views. Others may have too many rocks for some, but there are many places west of 35 that are well suited for horses and very beautiful.

In the Austin area there are dressage, driving, polo, hunter jumper, roping, cutting, barrel racing, trail riding and other equestrian activities and enthusiasts. There are many great barns such as White Fences in Manor as well as many therapeutic stables for the physically and mentally handicapped such as Equibloom in Manor, Open My World in Leander and the now famous Horse Boy Foundation. There are many great public trail systems to ride on such as the 4,525 acre Parrie Haynes Ranch near Killeen, just west of Florence with over 50 miles of trails. I have ridden there many times and the views are beautiful.

Here is one beautiful Austin area horse property with a great custom home with an open floor plan and a fireplace in the living as well as the master bedroom on over 10 acres fenced and cross fenced for horses. As an experienced horse person I love to help people buy and sell horse properties. Call or e-mail me anytime and I love referrals :)

New Homes in Leander

Crystal Crossing, a New KB Home Community Coming to Leander

KB Home's Crystal Crossing will be located just west of 183 Off of Spring Hollow Drive at East Crystal Falls, aka CR 272. Crystal Crossing will not be started until 1/2011 when 1st model is projected to go in. If all goes as planned, March will be the opening date for sale. The new homes in Crystal Crossing will be similar to Silverado Ranch in Cedar Park since Crystal Crossing is a replacement community for Silverado Ranch in Cedar Park. There are 200 lots planned, a few 45' lots and mainly ‘50 and ‘55 foot lots.

Rancho Sienna, Finally Picks Builders

Rancho Sienna in Leander's ETJ, has finally picked 2 builders, DR Horton and Ryland Homes. Rancho Sienna is located on Ronald Reagan just north of the South San Gabriel River.

Cap Rock at Crystal Falls is Building

The new Cap Rock at Crystal Falls has the infrastructure and roads in place. Grand Haven homes is currently building beautiful new homes in Cap Rock. There are beautiful views and golf at the beautiful City of Leander owned public Crystal Falls Golf Course.

Leander ISD Gets 2 New Schools

In Leander ISD's ongoing efforts to keep up with new schools for an ever expanding student population, 2 new schools are being built off County Road 179 east of Ronald Reagan Boulevard on approximately 12.62 acres. There will be a new elementary School as well as Junior High at the site.

Leander Road Construction

The Leander, Texas area has a lot of road construction happening simultaneously. East Crystal Falls between 183A and Highway 183 is being improved and widened. 2243 east of Highway 183 is being widened. 183 A Expressway is being extended north. Lakeline Boulevard south of Crystal Falls and north of Osage is under construction.

Leander Hike and Bike Trail

Simultaneously, as the new 183 A Expressway's Northern Extension is being built, a new Hike and Bike Trail is being built beside the access road. If you drive alongside Ridgewood South and Blockhouse Creek on 183A, you can see the survey stakes of the new trail. The trail will go from South Brushy in Cedar Park to the South San Gabriel River.

See the new trail construction stakes on the right by the wall.

Betty Saenz is a Leander resident, a Leander REALTOR® and volunteers on the Leander, Texas Planning and Zoning Commission. You can reach her at (512) 785-5050

The Texas Ornithological Society or TOS will hold their Spring mid-migration meeting in Rockport, Texas April 15-18, 2010. The meeting is open to all but requires joining the Texas Ornithological Society but membership provides many benefits. Being in the Rockport area on the Texas Coast in the middle of migration is great for birders. The Rockport-Fulton area has been a tourist destination for decades and has many attractions as well as extraordinary birding opportunities. Attendees can ask for the TOS Meeting Rate at the 2 local hotels offering meeting rates. The endangered and rare whooping cranes winter near Rockport, Texas. I love to go see Big Tree, the Fulton Mansion and eat fresh seafood.

Betty Saenz is REALTOR licensed in Texas and specializing in the Austin Metro Area and is a member of the Williamson County, Texas Audubon Group near Austin, Texas.

I have lived in Anderson Mill West and loved it!! Located at RR 620 and El Salido Parkway, this neighborhood is right on the edge of northwest Austin and Travis County but actually in Cedar Park and Williamson County. Anderson Mill West is so close to MoPac (Loop 1) as well as Research Blvd. or 183. Shopping, services and restaurants are all nearby. Taqueria Guadalajara is located at 12226 N. RR 620 (512) 219-9222. I love their gorditas and chile rellenos, Mexican sodas & desserts. Luby's is another favorite of mine because of their wonderful vegetables and salads. Luby's is located at Pecan Park and Research just south of RR620. For dessert try Shake's on Cypress Creek & El Salido or Yaghi's New York Pizzeria on El Salido right before Cypress Creek (2100 Cypress Creek Rd). There is an Olive Garden at RR 620 and 183 Research. For shopping Lakeline Mall is less than 5 minutes away as well as many other strip centers.

Old West Austin's Zocalo Taqueria Fresca Cafe at 1110 West Lynn Street in Austin, Texas is hosting a Breast Cancer Fundraiser August 18, 2009 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Zocalo Cafe will be providing light appetizers and refreshments in a joint fundraiser to fight breast cancer with the Sustainable Food Center. You will learn how to help fight breast cancer in Central Texas. Billed as the Texas Mamma Jamma Ride get together, you can get more information by contacting the Community Relations Director for the Sustainable Food Center, Susan Leibrock at (512) 236-0074 ext. 111