Welcome to the Hill Country
The Texas Hill Country is no longer a secret enjoyed only by Texans. Rolling hills, abundance of freshwater creeks and thriving culture make the Texas Hill Country an ideal place to build your dream home. And as more and more residents and visitors flock to San Antonio and Austin, the Hill Country has been discovered by the nation.
One of the Hill Country’s fastest growing towns – the historic and beautiful New Braunfels.
With the eclectic and thriving city of Austin 45 minutes to the north and the culturally diverse San Antonio 30 minutes to the south, New Braunfels enjoys the scenic natural beauty of the Hill Country and a convenient proximity to two dynamic cities.
A few reasons why New Braunfels is the ideal location to build your dream home:
Stunning Natural Beauty
People typically have the same reaction when they first see the Hill Country: “This is Texas?!” With rolling hills, lakes and rivers, towering trees and abundant greenery, there is always something beautiful to see.
Abundant Outdoor Activities
It is no surprise that New Braunfels has been a vacation retreat for Texans for generations. From hikes that wind through wooded areas and up rolling hills to take in scenic lake views, to miles of bike trails offering varying levels of difficulty, to boating and fishing on Canyon Lake, New Braunfels is a recreational haven. Owners at New Braunfels’ Vintage Oaks community enjoy their own nature trails, resort pool and lazy river, regulation size baseball and soccer fields and a year ‘round calendar of events for all ages—just a few of the amenities that have helped make this New Braunfels community a best-seller.
Texas Wine Trail
The Texas Wine Trail comprises 35 unique local wineries throughout the Texas Hill Country, including several in New Braunfels. Dry Comal Creek Winery is an award-winning winery known for its Black Spanish Wine, and is located directly across the street from Vintage Oaks.
World-Class Dining
Restaurants in New Braunfels reflect an international flavor rooted in the city’s German heritage. But it wouldn’t be the Lone Star state without some good ‘ole Texas barbecue, like you’ll find at Rudy’s and Coopers. A few favorite local dining options include Huisache Grill & Wine Bar in New Braunfels and The Gristmill in Gruene.
Shopping
In Downtown New Braunfels, you have the historic main plaza dotted with antique stores, quaint shops, and can’t-miss boutiques (which offer a taste of what you’ll find in the historic town of Gruene). Just up the road in San Marcos, the Premium Outlets have been voted among the “Best places to shop” by the Austin Business Journal and named the third-best place to shop in the world by ABC’s “The View.”
Relaxed, Friendly and Affordable - Quality of Life
New Braunfels is located at the intersection of desirability and affordability, and those who call it home are proud to do so. With a low cost of living, an exceptional climate, beautiful topography, exceptional schools, and an array of things to see and do, New Braunfels offers a quality of life that is second to none.
Exceptional Schools
There’s something to be said about attending a school where the teacher knows truly cares about their students and you wouldn’t dare miss the Friday night football game. Residents of Vintage Oaks attend the highly rated Comal ISD Schools including Bill Brown Elementary, Smithson Valley Middle School and Smithson Valley High School located just minutes from the community.
Take all of these reasons into account and you have the ideal location to build your dream Hill Country home!
In this guide we will cover:
When choosing a location for your dream home, it’s important to do these things:
Vintage Oaks has one of the highest rates of owner referral of any community in Texas. Owners happily invite their friends and family to become their neighbors.
What is a Master-planned Community?
A master-planned community is a community that has worked with local and regional agencies and municipalities to deliver a comprehensively planned community.
A master-planned community shows the full vision of the community, how it will look and feel at completion and what owners can expect as a part of the community. This distinction includes:
Many people think that buying a home allows them to move-in for less money and trouble, but that is not necessarily true.
The Advantages of Building a home:
No timeframe to build. When you find the homesite of your dreams, secure it at today’s prices and low financing rates, and build when you are ready.
So many options. Gated and non-gated communities. A long list of highly recommended custom and semi-custom builders to accommodate any budget.
Variety of topography and locations. Wooded hilltop? Serene open pasture? Steps to the pool or tucked quietly behind a gate, Vintage Oaks offers a broad selection of areas to suit your desired lifestyle. But all enjoy the amenities and management of the Vintage Oaks community.
So many amenities. Resort-style amenities at one of the lowest Property Association annual fees in the Hill Country.
Guided by the owners. Vintage Oaks owners make up the committees and board that guide the community along with a seasoned developer.
Seasoned developer. SouthStar Communities has been successfully developing residential communities across the Southern United States for nearly 25 years. They are actively developing and operating 5 communities in Texas today, located in the Texas Hill Country, outside Dallas and in Bryan-College Station.
Happy Homeowners. As you tour Vintage Oaks, be sure to meet the homeowners, and ask them about living there. Vintage Oaks owners bring their friends and family to the community as new neighbors each month. There is no greater accolade for a community than the happiness of its homeowners and residents.
Perhaps the best part of building your home is that you get to choose where you will be located. Heavily wooded lot? Flat and open for fun in the yard? Hilly and secluded with great views and privacy? When you decide to build, you choose the ideal homesite, and orient your home plan to your wants and needs, and what views it will enjoy.
Considerations when choosing your homesite:
When you are looking at homesites with a licensed Realtor®, have your questions ready:
Custom vs. Semi-Custom Homes
A custom home is designed from the ground up by you, your builder and/or architect. It will be custom-fit to your lot and your desires. It involves many decisions to ensure the home is entirely to your specifications, which can take a good deal of time, but in the end your home will be exactly as you have chosen.
A semi-custom home is where you choose elements of a standardized plan – floorplan, façade, lot layout, etc., that are common to the builder. Purchasers then are told what they can customize – finishes, non-structural walls, etc. Builders often have many plans to choose from, helping you to find one that fits your desires.
Designing a dream home will be one of the most exciting events in your life. Here’s how to make sure it results in the perfect home for you.
Determine what you need. For most, it starts with number of bedrooms, size of living areas and special preferences. Do you need a big gourmet kitchen, or an outside cooking area? A room for kids to play or a home theater? Home office space or a workshop? Write down what you absolutely need, and then what you would like should budget allow.
It’s a good idea to get mortgage pre-approval when designing a dream home; this will set your budget and will let builders know you’re ready to go, without financing issues slowing things down.
By now you should have an idea of which builders may be right for you. What do the builders you are considering offer in home plans? Do they only offer a set selection of models, do they have in-house design services, and will they work with plans that you supply?
Start looking at home plans – there are hundreds of sources on the internet for complete home plans for purchase. Before you purchase anything, review many floor plans and renderings of houses to get an idea of what appeals to you.
If there are existing new homes in the community that have caught your eye, ask about their builders and designers, and what the experience was like for those owners. Model homes are also a great way to really get a feel for a house. Browsing design magazines may give you ideas on floor plans and decorating details, too. Keep a folder of images/floorplans/finishes you like.
The biggest trend in home design right now is “green building.” This may simply mean energy efficient windows and weather stripping, or may extend to powerful solar systems that actually sell energy back to the utility, resulting in lower or non-existent energy bills. There are water catchment systems that capture rainwater or household grey water for “free” irrigation of gardens and yards. Many of these technologies can add to the purchase price, but may pay for themselves in utility savings and tax credits.
Contact your lender to get pre-approved for your home. Knowing your hard budget will make the decision process easier.
Ask for referrals from friends, business associates, etc.
At every SouthStar community, your sales team will be able to provide a list of the most highly recommended builders in the area and describe the key differences among them.
Do your research on builders. Ask for references, tour model homes and complete online searches of their brands. Find out how long the company has been in business, how many homes they build annually, and their background and experience. Does the company have an after-sales service policy, and will they provide references from homeowners? Are they current with latest trends like green building and energy efficiency?
Get to know the builders you are considering – if the company offers standard plans, how much change is allowed? How flexible is the company? Will the builder modify the floor plans to your needs? Can you change some of the finishes? Add more features? Ask to see a copy of the company’s sales contract. See what other costs will the builder may charge you for, such as a new home warranty, legal and title fees, or adjustments on utility bills.
Does the builder have experience with the style of home you are contemplating? Can they design a home for you, or recommend a designer or architect? Ask about the standard features included in the basic price of the home. Does the builder offer a selection of standard finishing products, such as flooring and tiles, and can you have a look? Does the builder offer upgrades and options, and what do they cost?
When will the builder be able to begin construction? What will be the completion date? Does the company have a clear process in place for dealing with delays, including informing you within a reasonable timeframe? Will you be able to visit the site during construction?
As you get answers to these questions, ask yourself if you feel the builder answers you satisfactorily? Is the builder able to offer suggestions or alternatives to meet your needs? Are you treated with respect?
Builders commonly offer a one-year warranty and after-sales service on workmanship and materials in your new home. This “promise” to customers is most often backed up by a third-party warranty. Ask builders to explain their after sales service policy — what can you expect from the company once you have moved into your new home? And always, make sure to check with the Better Business Bureau, and search the Internet for information.
Need help choosing? Let the Vintage Oaks team introduce you to a variety of highly-rated homebuilders in the area. They are familiar with the topography, utilities and lending options to make your experience easy and painless. Vintage Oaks' Builder Match program is free to Vintage Oaks lot owners and is an easy way to learn from the experiences of other Vintage Oaks owners who have built in the community.
Remember, when you build a custom home, you’ll be living in the finished product for a long time. Doing a little homework when choosing a builder can make all the difference.
Please contact a Land Consultant at 866-483-8998 to let us help you find the homesite of your dreams in Vintage Oaks.
