in the 'burbs

Fort Worth neighbor is 9th fastest-growing affordable suburb in U.S., report says

Burleson's rich history may be a draw for newcomers.

www.movebuddha.com

Life in the Fort Worth area may not be as affordable as it used to be. But one local city - Burleson - is still a bargain, according to a new report by moveBuddha on "The Top 20 Fastest-Growing Affordable U.S. Suburbs."

The south Fort Worth suburb ranked No. 9, with a population growth rate of 11.2 percent as of 2020, the report said.

The report notes that some suburbs have stagnated, in the wake of a trend of people moving toward more walkable inner cities. But the allure of space and safety is still a lure for many home buyers. Burleson is just 15 miles from downtown Fort Worth, making a manageable commute part of its appeal.

Burleson's average housing price is $318,568. The study says Burleson residents are paying much less than most Americans for their homes, which is part of its allure.

The city's population has been on an upward trajectory for decades (as longtime residents who've witnessed its growth can attest).

"Burleson struggled during the Great Depression, maintaining a population of just a few hundred," the report says. "Today, the jobs and people are back in droves. Burleson’s grown from just over 46,000 residents in 2017 to more than 53,000 today."

For comparison, the north Austin suburb of Georgetown took the lead as No. 1 on the list with a 26.7 percent growth rate since 2020. Georgetown's average housing price is $453,376, a significantly higher cost than a home in Burleson.

Elsewhere in the Metroplex, Little Elm - located north of Dallas at the northeast corner of Lewisville Lake - earned the No. 4 spot in the study. An earlier U.S. Census report also confirmed Little Elm's skyrocketing population growth. Rockwall lands at No. 20.

Overall, nine out of the top 20 "bargain" suburbs in the report are in Texas.

The top 10 fastest growing affordable American suburbs are:

No. 1 – Georgetown, Texas
No. 2 – Kyle, Texas
No. 3 – Leander, Texas
No. 4 – Little Elm, Texas
No. 5 – Westfield, Indiana
No. 6 – New Braunfels, Texas
No. 7 – Maricopa, Arizona
No. 8 – Buckeye, Arizona
No. 9 – Burleson, Texas
No. 10 – Conroe, Texas

The report defined a suburb as any "non-principal" city in a metropolitan area with a population of fewer than 100,000. Over 800 suburbs were examined based on 2020 and 2022 U.S. Census Bureau's population estimates, and narrowed down into the final 20. It also defined the "affordability" category by sorting cities with average home prices below $500,000 using the Zillow Home Value Index for single family homes. The cities were ultimately ranked based on their growth rates.

The full report can be found on movebuddha.com.

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farm for sale

Unusual ultra-modern Grapevine ranch is on the market for $7.2 million

Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

The Willow Wood Horse Farm in Grapevine is on the market for $7.2 million.

A stunning 10-acre property in North Texas that looks like it was made for an ultra modern cowboy family has just hit the market for $7.2 million.

Called the Willow Wood Horse Farm, this one-of-a-kind equestrian paradise is located on West Kimball Avenue in Grapevine, about 30 miles northeast from downtown Fort Worth.

The ranch is an extraordinary combination of elegant and thoughtful modern design paired with all of the practicality required of a fully functioning farm.

According to the listing, which is held by Burgher-Ray Ranch Group and managed by David Burgher and Harlan Ray, the farm includes several fenced pastures, an enclosed and insulated shop storage building with concrete flooring, and a seven-stall horse barn.

A covered and irrigated riding arena is attached to the barn, every stall has its own turnout, and six of the stalls are 12 feet by 12 feet wide, and the seventh is designated as a foaling stall. An additional turnout for grazing is located adjacent to the barn, as well as a training pen.

Willow Wood Horse Farm in Grapevine, ranch for sale The horse barn has seven stalls with individual turnouts.Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

But the focal point of the entire estate is the 4,353-square-foot, three-story primary residence that sits at the highest point of the gently sloped property. The home was custom-designed and completed in 2022, featuring an exterior made of metal cladding, concrete, durable ipe hardwood, and glass.

Upon entering the front door, guests will notice unparalleled views that lead through the home's living areas and into the 3,000-square-foot back deck, past the 80-foot-long saltwater swimming pool, and out toward the pastures.

The chef's kitchen is outfitted with luxurious Gaggenau appliances, such as a steam convection oven, a conventional convection oven, a coffee machine, stove, dishwasher, a separate paneled refrigerator and freezer, and a warming drawer. A half bathroom and full butler's pantry is located to the side of the kitchen, which is equipped with a prep space and a dishwasher.

Additional features of the home include:

Koi ponds located on either side of the main door that welcome guests to the home
An open concept living space that contains the living room, kitchen, and dining rooms
A primary suite with a spacious walk-in closet and en-suite bathroom
Two additional bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms
Soft opening/closing doors in all main bedrooms
Dynaudio speakers installed throughout the home
Geo-thermal heating/cooling system

A custom-built metal spiraling staircase connects all three levels of the home. The second floor contains a viewing area with floor-to-ceiling windows and access to the covered porch and rooftop deck. The lower level leads to an "acoustically balanced" underground home theater featuring eight-foot concert walls, Dynaudio speakers, an Ember Audio sound system, a 250-bottle wine cooler, and a powder bathroom. The listing notes that this area could be converted into a storm cellar.

Willow Wood Horse Farm in Grapevine, ranch for sale The underground home theater has an impressive Ember Audio sound system with Dynaudio speakers.Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

A detached three-car garage is located next to the home, which contains one EV charging station and two additional outlets for charging. Discreetly designed solar panels are hidden on top of the garage, which are capable of powering the entire residence.

The horse barn, irrigation system, and stock pond all run off of a water well located on the property, while the primary residence uses city water with a filtration system.

"Situated in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, just minutes from Lake Grapevine, Southlake, and an easy commute to DFW International Airport, this property affords someone the ability to have all the comforts of the city, while living just slightly removed from it all," the listing says.

Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

The Willow Wood Horse Farm in Grapevine is on the market for $7.2 million.

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