views for miles

Sprawling off-the-grid ranch in Hill Country hits the market for $8.75 million

A glorious and spacious Hill Country ranch fully equipped for off-the-grid living has landed on the market with a grand $8.75 million price tag.

The Lonesome Valley Ranch, located at 1430 Gibson-Best Rd. in Hye, sits behind a gated entrance on a short road for ultimate privacy. Past the gate is 260-plus acres of land, a one-acre pond, and four fully-furnished buildings ready to accommodate large gatherings or events.

The single-story main residence has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, while the two-story "barndominium" serves as a 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom bunkhouse and saloon. The bunkroom includes 10 bunk beds, so it's perfect for large groups. Both homes have wrap-around porches, extensive outdoor living spaces, and 360 degrees of Hill Country views.

Overlooking the pond is a 2-bedroom, one-bathroom cabin with a connected 40-foot pier for guests to try their hand at fishing or take a dip in the water. Also within the pond is an anchored dock and a fountain.

The fourth building on the ranch, hidden among the woods, is an equipment barn and workshop with a loft, apartment, and caretaker's residence.

The ranch is fully capable of operating off-the-grid thanks to an extensive solar system, several backup generators, a deep water well, a supplementary 100,000 gallons of rainwater collection, a propane capacity of 4,000 gallons, and much more.

Lonesome Valley Ranch is truly an entertainer's paradise. With the benefit of having no restrictions, the next owners could choose to Airbnb the bunkhouse, host special events or corporate retreats, and more. According to the listing, the property could generate $200,000 to $300,000 yearly for the next owners, while still operating as a family compound.

Photo courtesy of DMTX Realty Group

Lonesome Valley Ranch is located in Hye, Texas.

Thanks to the seller's intentional preservation of the heavily-wooded areas of the property, there is an abundance of wildlife suitable for hunting. Other outdoor amenities provided include an NBA-sized basketball court, a tennis court, and a pickleball court.

The property is also neighbored by the award-winning William Chris Vineyards and Garrison Brother's Distillery. The ranch is an easy 20 minute drive from the popular town of Fredericksburg, and an approximate four-hour drive from Dallas (less than 250 miles).

David Murray from DMTX Realty Group holds the listing. More information about the ranch can be found on dmtx.com.

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Going Down

This Dallas suburb saw 5th biggest drop in home prices in U.S. in 2026

Photo courtesy of City of Plano

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Good news for potential Dallas-area homebuyers: Housing prices in Plano have come down nearly $30,000 since last year.

Typical home values in Plano have fallen 5.1 percent since February 2025, now standing at $501,564, down from $528,510.

The new housing study from SmartAsset analyzed home values across the 100 biggest metro areas using Zillow’s Home Value Index tool for single-family homes, condos, and co-ops. Home value data was sourced for the month of February in 2021, 2025, and 2026.

Plano is joined by Oakland, California (No. 1); Saint Petersburg (No. 2); Naples, Florida (No. 3); and Austin (No. 4) as the top five U.S. cities with the biggest one-year home price reductions in the U.S.

Housing prices in Dallas-Fort Worth have been on the decline since 2024, a separate study found, but SmartAsset said they're still a whopping 32.4 percent higher than they were in 2021. And compared to Plano's pre-pandemic housing market in 2019, prices have ballooned by 44.1 percent.

Here's how much cheaper housing prices are in other North Texas cities:

Dallas:

One year change: -3.79 percent
Typical home value in 2025: $317,550
Typical home value in 2026: $305,523

Arlington:

One year change: -3.41 percent
Typical home value in 2025: $318,649
Typical home value in 2026: $307,792

Fort Worth:

One year change: -3.08 percent
Typical home value in 2025: $305,236
Typical home value in 2026: $295,822

DFW homeowners are also entering the best time of the year to sell their houses, which could add a sudden sense of competitiveness for buyers.

Home prices elsewhere around the U.S. have seen varying changes, according to the report.

"Between 2025 and 2026, the typical home value in large U.S. cities actually declined by 1.04 percent, with values dropping in 70 percent of cities," the report's author wrote. "But the full range of changes from market to market ran the gamut from -9.1 percent to +5.01 percent, putting both hopeful buyers and homeowners in starkly different environments across the nation."

The top three U.S. cities where home prices increased the most since 2025 are Toledo, Ohio (No. 2); Lincoln, Nebraska (No. 2); and San Francisco (No. 3).

The 10 cities with the biggest one-year decreases in home values are:

No. 1 – Oakland, California
No. 2 – Saint Petersburg, Florida
No. 3 – Naples, Florida
No. 4 – Austin
No. 5 – Plano
No. 6 – Aurora, Colorado
No. 7 – Denver
No. 8 – Atlanta
No. 9 – Stockton, California
No. 10 – Tampa

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