OVERVIEW
Tract of land between Austin and San Antonio, Texas, located within one of the nation’s fastest-growing populations – according to Forbes, “The Heart of Americas Next Great Metropolis”. Known locally as York Valley Ranch East (YVR East), the Property is open, gently rolling land with varied vegetation & topography and multiple ponds. York Creek meanders through the Property in a northwesterly to southeasterly direction forming the boundary between the San Marcos CISD (Northeast side) and Seguin ISD (Southwest side). A network of typical pasture roads provides interior access.
THE AREA
The Property is located an approximate 40-minute drive from Austin Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA), and no more than one hour from downtown Austin and San Antonio. Under normal driving conditions, ABIA is more accessible from York Valley Ranch than from most of the fast-growing suburbs north and west of Austin.
The Property lies between San Marcos and Seguin, two notable towns in the Central Texas Growth corridor.
San Marcos. Home to Texas State University, San Marcos has a well-educated workforce with an affordable cost of living. The city registered a population of ~62,000 people in 2016. According to the Cost of Living Index 2017 Annual Report, San Marcos is one of the most affordable cities, posting a composite index score of 92.3% (as compared to Austin at 97.7%, and Dallas at 102.1%, for reference). In 2016, approximately 86.4% of the workforce had a high school level of education or higher, and approximately 32.0% of the workforce had attained a bachelors degree or higher.
Seguin. Seguin is known as one of the strongest manufacturing clusters in the region, as it is home to more manufacturing jobs per capita than any other city in Texas. More than 30,000 called Seguin home in 2016, and the city continues to grow as new jobs are added to the region.
Notable employers in the two cities include Amazon Fulfillment, Caterpillar, Continental Automotive Systems, and a variety of educational institutions.
LAND USE & IMPROVEMENTS
The Property includes cultivated land, along with native and improved grass pastures. Barbed wire fencing surrounds the perimeter and divides interior areas into pastures and traps that facilitate efficient crop, grazing and livestock management. A local agriculture producer currently leases the Property for farming and livestock operations.
INVESTMENT POTENTIAL
Prominent Location Frontage on SH 130 in Thriving Central Texas Corridor
Frontage on SH 130 (Toll), a key connector between Austin and San Antonio; SH 130 bypasses heavily-congested IH 35, connecting IH 35 north of Georgetown to IH 10 near Seguin; Less than one hour from downtown Austin and San Antonio; Approximately 40 minutes from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport; Within 15 minutes of IH 35 (links Canada and Mexico), IH 10 (links the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans), San Marcos and its outlet mall & University, historic New Braunfels, and Seguin; Approximately equidistant from the IH 35/SH 123 Interchange (San Marcos) and the IH 10/SH 130 Interchange east of Seguin; Within both the San Marcos CISD and Sequin ISD.
Minimal Restrictions
The Property is not located within any city limits or Extra Territorial Jurisdictions (ETJs) and is not subject to deed restrictions. It can be used for any legal purpose within Guadalupe County, subject to applicable Guadalupe County rules and regulations. A future developer may realize significant savings developing this Property as compared to other development projects that are located within city limits, ETJs, or otherwise subject to deed restrictions.
Ag-Exempt Property with Current Tax Benefits
The Property’s current agricultural lease qualifies it for an agricultural-use exemption, which sets its value for property tax purposes at a fraction of the actual market value. The agricultural-use exemption in 2017 resulted in a ~92% reduction in annual property taxes. An investor can capitalize on current revenue from the lease and reduced agricultural use-based property taxes, while also receiving the upside potential of future redevelopment in this prime location.
Municipal Utility District
The Property has been prepared to take advantage of coming growth by establishment of the York Valley Municipal Utility District (York Valley MUD) – so a future investor can convert the Property’s current agricultural use to another use if desired.
York Valley MUD was created in 2007 by the Texas Legislature (Senate Bill No 1982). York Valley MUD has authority to: 1) impose taxes and issue tax-exempt bonds to pay for water, wastewater and drainage improvements, 2) utilize the power of eminent domain, 3) impose taxes and issue tax-exempt bonds to pay for roads, and 4) divide itself into two or more new districts. All of the Property lies within the boundaries of York Valley MUD.
LEGAL DESCRIPTION
653.086-Acre Tract of Land (more or less) located in Guadalupe County, Texas, described in Guadalupe County Appraisal District (“GCAD”) records as Parcel IDs 60377, 61426, 71753, 133855, 137093, 137094, 137096, 137098]