Luxury home on the range

Central Texas 'Pigpen Ranch' hits the market for a clean $7.5 million

A luxury Texas ranch with a curious name is looking for new owners. Pigpen Ranch, located at 6957 FM 1361 in Somerville — about 90 minutes from Houston — blends rustic sophistication with jaw-dropping views on more than 198 acres of natural beauty.

The seven-bedroom, 7,089-square-foot spread is for sale for $7.5 million, listed by Nan & Company Properties/Christie's International Real Estate. It's a Texas-size getaway for big-city folks, but also offers plenty of modern amenities for those thinking of ditching city life altogether.

Drive through the private gates and you'll start to see fine details that meld Western charm with contemporary vibes. Stone, brick, and hardwood dominate throughout, with beamed ceilings, copper and pressed-metal accents, and a series of themed rooms that take visitors and residents alike back in time.

"The Saloon," for example, is a killer relaxing space, with a player piano dating to the 1800s, red and gold velvet-covered walls, and a wide wall screen for movie viewing. A long wood bar with marble-topped back bar counters and felt-topped card table make the space perfect for entertaining.

A massive open floor plan sweeps from the kitchen through the dining space into a huge living room, anchored by a stone fireplace. Wide wood floors reflect warm light from the huge windows, offering awe-inspiring views of the property. Kitchen details include whimsical metal-basket lights over the deep trough sinks and a beamed ceiling.

Among the details in the bedrooms are stone walls, lighting fixtures made from farm implements, and wrought-iron accents. One bedroom boasts sliding barn doors that reveal four bunk beds, ready for a sleep-over. Another has bunks bordered by metal piping, set into an alcove that is supported by stripped tree trunks. The master suite features a metal stand-alone soaking tub and a stone shower with rainforest showerhead.

Five ponds are set into the rolling acres of The Pigpen, along with open fields and scenic views. A covered patio features a dining area and outdoor kitchen.

And, a crowning touch, a fantasy pool with waterfalls anchors the ranch house's exterior, along with an outdoor fireplace and seating for a crowd.

The backyard oasis at Pigpen Ranch.

Photo courtesy of courtesy of Nan & Company Properties

The backyard oasis at Pigpen Ranch.

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living single

Dallas lands among 10 most affordable U.S. metros for living alone

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In DFW, renters can afford to live solo.

Not everyone is cut out for living with roommates, but finding an affordable place to live alone can be tricky. Luckily, Dallas-Fort Worth sits among the top 10 most affordable U.S. metros for living by yourself, according to a new report.

Analysts at Apartments.com discovered North Texas renters spend the seventh lowest share of their monthly income on single-bedroom rent out of the 50 biggest metros in the U.S.

The study used a 30 percent "common budgeting guideline" to calculate the share of median renter household income spent on one-bedroom asking rents across the 50 largest U.S. metros, and determined renters can only afford to live alone in 24 of the 50 metros without crossing the 30 percent threshold.

The median annual income of a DFW renter household is $63,172, and the findings show the typical asking rent for a one-bedroom apartment comes out to $1,348 per month. The study determined single renters spend 25.6 percent of their monthly income on rent based on the budgeting suggestion.

Texas' favorable rental market also extends outside of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex: Austin surprised as the No. 1 most affordable metro for living alone, and San Antonio appeared among the top 10.

Austin renters spend the smallest share of their income on single-bedroom apartment rent, at 23.1 percent. That's based on a median renter household income of $70,008 and a $1,348 monthly one-bedroom asking rent price.

Dwindling rent prices and the prevalence of major tech employers are also attracting new renters, and the city has an 11.6 percent apartment vacancy rate.

"The average rent in Austin has decreased year over year, and construction of new housing increased by 30 percent over the past decade," the report's author wrote. "Tax incentives in Texas draw large tech corporations, like Google and Apple, to the Austin area, which has increased average wages, added more jobs to the local economy, and attracted renters in the process."

San Antonio ranked right above DFW in sixth place nationwide with solo renters spending 25.4 percent of their monthly income on single-bedroom rent, coincidentally the same share as single renters living in Raleigh, North Carolina and Salt Lake City, Utah.

This is the income and one-bedroom rent data in San Antonio:

$51,029 – median renter household income
$1,082 – one-bedroom monthly asking rent

A separate Apartments.com survey found 39 percent of U.S. adults would never feel comfortable living with a roommate, and 16 percent of renters would rather pay more in rent to live alone than consider living with a roommate.

"Factors contributing to lower rents may include recent high levels of construction, rising vacancy rates as renter demand catches up to supply, and fewer regulations, such as flexible zoning and lower development costs compared to other parts of the country," the report said. "Living alone has become a non-negotiable for many renters, and some renters are willing to make tradeoffs to afford this lifestyle."

The top 10 most affordable U.S. metros for living alone are:

No. 1 – Austin
No. 2 – Oklahoma City
No. 3 – Phoenix
No. 4 – Raleigh, North Carolina
No. 5 – Salt Lake City, Utah
No. 6 – San Antonio
No. 7 – Dallas-Fort Worth
No. 8 – Denver
No. 9 – Portland, Oregon
No. 10 – Columbus, Ohio

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