Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty
Dallas-Fort Worth land is being snapped up like crazy, according to the most recent Texas Small Land Sales Report. The Texas Association of Realtors combed through 2016 data from the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University to uncover where buyers are making their next big land purchase, and Northeast Texas leads the pack.
In 2016, the region had 2,230 small land purchases (200 acres or less) — a whopping 21 percent hike from 2015. In total, 42,138 acres were purchased in the area, representing almost 31.9 percent of all Texas small land sales. In Texas as a whole, there were 6,992 small land sales in 2016, a 4.2 percent increase from 2015.
"As our state's population continues to grow and the footprints of Texas cities expand, the demand for rural land will only increase," Vicki Fullerton, chairman of the Texas Association of Realtors, says in a release. "At the same time, after consecutive years of rapid growth in real estate land prices, prices in many regions have leveled off."
Unlike the regions where land costs decreased or plateaued, the Northeast area increased. The average price per acre in the region jumped 13.3 percent to $8,315 in 2016, much higher than the $5,647 Texas average. It's still less expensive than the $10,182 price per acre you'll find in the Gulf Coast-Bottom Brazos region, which encompasses Houston, in addition to miles of coastal property.
Northeast Texas has one of the most diverse ranges of land usage in the state. In addition to strong demand for pastureland as well as recreational properties, the region’s Piney Woods areas are also in high demand due to strong timber prices.
A European-inspired estate in Westlake just came on the market at a record-high asking price for a Tarrant County residence — $27.75 million.
To put that price tag in perspective, the median list price for a Tarrant County home stood at $340,000 in August, according to the Greater Fort Worth Association of Realtors. For $27.75 million, you could buy roughly 82 Tarrant County homes at August’s median price.
The 1.5-acre, 12,000-square-foot Philoxenia estate, located in Westlake’s exclusive 300-home Vaquero enclave, offers five bedrooms, five full bathrooms, and three half-bathrooms. The property delivers unobstructed views of the community’s private golf course and lake.
The name Philoxena refers to the ancient ideal of gracious hospitality.
A 14-foot textured black-granite waterfall complements the lake-face infinity pool. Photo courtesy of Ebby Halliday
Kelly Marcontell and Susan Gilchrest of Ebby Halliday’s Marcontell+Gilchrest Group have the listing for the estate, at 1112 Post Oak Pl.
Marcontell and Gilchrest say the property, built in 2009, was designed as a family’s “private luxury sanctuary.” A four-year renovation project was just completed in 2026.
“Philoxenia is a rare architectural statement for Dallas-Fort Worth that favors European clarity over conventional open-concept trends,” Marcontell says. “Unlike homes where custom detailing is reserved for just one or two primary rooms, every single inch of this residence was meticulously crafted.”
Specialized stone accents the foyer, kitchen, and primary suite, while hand-selected oak, poplar, and Italian marble finish nearly every surface.
Other luxury touches include white oak herringbone floors, custom doors with Joseph Giles London brass hardware, Phillip Jeffries textile wallcoverings, and more than 150 hand-selected slabs of Nero Marquina and Calacatta Monet marble throughout the estate.
An island made of Calacatta Monet marble sits in the grand kitchen. Photo courtesy of Ebby Halliday
“For today’s highest-level luxury buyers, time is the ultimate luxury. Attempting a transformation or build of this caliber on a lot this prominent would require three to four years of construction management and supply chain navigation,” says Gilchrest.
Marcontell, a Vaquero resident, points out that there are a handful of undeveloped lots in Vaquero, but none remain for purchase.
Features of the primary wing include a Nero Marquina marble shower, a Carrara block bathtub, heated floors, a custom Italian dressing room, a panic room, and a hidden speakeasy.
The chef-worthy kitchen also doesn’t disappoint. It offers:
A custom-built, professional-grade Anthracite Lacanche Sully range
A full suite Thermador appliances
Dual Miele dishwashers
Custom Italian Binova black oak cabinetry
An island made of Calacatta Monet marble
Of course, the grounds of the estate are just as steeped in luxury as the interior is. For instance, a 14-foot textured black-granite waterfall complements the lake-face infinity pool.
The property includes a golf simulator. Photo courtesy of Ebby Halliday
Other amenities are a full John Michael outdoor kitchen, pickleball and basketball court, sauna, steamroom, and indoor golf simulator.
As if the kitchen and grounds weren’t grand enough, other high-end aspects of the estate include:
A gated entry gated entry leading to a granite cobblestone drive
Eligibility for membership at Vaquero’s Tom Fazio-designed championship golf course
A more than 2,000-square-foot, five-car garage geared toward car collectors
A geothermal HVAC system
Rockwool acoustic insulation
Photo courtesy of Ebby Halliday
The Philoxenia estate is at 1112 Post Oak Pl., in the Vaquero enclave of Westlake.