New neighbors

3 new developments add 456 'starter' homes to booming Dallas suburb

Wolf Creek Farms offers two series of homes including nine floorplans.

Photo courtesy of Meritage

A building boom of new homes is beginning in one fast-growing Collin County city: Meritage Homes is building a total of 456 homes across three new communities in Melissa.

The developments will accommodate the continuing influx of new residents into Collin County, whose population shot up by 36 percent from 2010 to 2020. Melissa, about 40 miles north of Dallas, has shared in that growth. Its population in 2020 stood at 13,901, up a whopping 196 percent from 2010.

The three new Meritage communities in the Melissa area are Wolf Creek Farms, The Quarry at Stoneridge, and Bryant Farms. All are in the fast-growing Melissa ISD.

The homes are touted as affordable "starter homes," "ideal" for first-time buyers, with prices starting in the $440,000s (though pricing for one of the three has not yet been announced). According to Redfin, the median selling price in Melissa is $580,000.

Here are key details about the three communities:

Wolf Creek Farms. 248 homes ranging from 1,833 square feet to 3,331 square feet. Prices start in the $440,000s. Amenities will include a 10-acre lake, covered pavilion, trails, playground, greenbelt, and dog park.
The Quarry at Stoneridge. 133 homes ranging from 1,833 square feet to 3,100 square feet. Prices start in the $460,000s. Amenities will include a pond, greenbelt, gazebo, “tot lot,” and paved hike-and-bike trails.
Bryant Farms. 75 homes ranging from 1,475 to 2,255 square feet. Pricing information is not available yet. Amenities will include open spaces, hike-and-bike trails, and a playground.

“With demand for new homes increasing among first-time buyers who want to escape escalating rents, Meritage Homes offers an entry-level line of homes that provide upgraded features today’s homeowners want — granite countertops, kitchen islands, home automation features as well as upgraded cabinets, laundry rooms, and appliances,” the homebuilder says in the release.

Each home will be built with energy- and money-saving features, they say, including spray-foam insulation, Energy Star-certified appliances, Low-E windows, and an efficient multispeed HVAC system, as well as smart door locks, door sensors and motion detectors, USB outlets, and advanced thermostats.

Presales for Wolf Creek Farms and The Quarry at Stoneridge will start in June. Bryant Farms is expected to open for sales in early 2023.

“We’re excited to offer buyers in Melissa industry-leading, energy-efficient, quick move-in homes with amenities that will make you never want to leave,” says Austin Woffinden, division president for Meritage Homes in Dallas-Fort Worth in a statement. “Wolf Creek Farms, The Quarry at Stoneridge, and Bryant Farms are ideal for homebuyers who are looking for affordability and quality in Melissa.”

Wolf Creek Farms offers two series of homes including nine floorplans.

Photo courtesy of Meritage

Wolf Creek Farms offers two series of homes including nine floorplans.

home-for-sale

Love this listing

Extraordinary modern ranch in Grapevine trots onto 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 North Texas property that's fit for a modern cowboy has just hit the market for $7.2 million: Called the Willow Wood Horse Farm, the equestrian paradise is located on West Kimball Avenue in Grapevine, about 30 miles northwest of downtown Dallas.

The ranch is a 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 ranch 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.

From the front door, guests will see 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 includes 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, and has 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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