A lot of the buyers I work with already have a home in Austin, San Antonio, Houston or Dallas. What they want here is a place where the weekend starts the minute they pull into the driveway. Buying a second home in the Texas Hill Country is one of my favorite searches, because it is really about how you want to feel when you get here. I grew up in Fredericksburg, and I still love the drive in on a Friday afternoon. Here is how I help second-home buyers plan.
That fire pit on Barons Creek at the top of this post is at 406 W Schubert St, my listing a few blocks from Main Street, listed at $1,389,000. It is exactly the kind of spot second-home buyers fall for. You can see the full listing on listing page.
Start With How You Will Use It
Before we look at a single listing, I ask how you picture using the house:
- Weekend escape: easy to open up on Friday and close up on Sunday.
- Family gathering place: bedrooms, outdoor space and room for everyone at the holidays.
- Future retirement home: buying now for the life you want later.
- Part-time rental: a home that helps cover its costs when you are not here.
Most people land on a mix, and that is fine. We just need to know which comes first, because it decides location, size, upkeep and whether rental rules matter.
Where to Look for a Hill Country Second Home
Near Main Street
If you want to park the car and walk to dinner, shops and tasting rooms, look in or near the historic district. 414 E Schubert St, my listing at $1,495,000, is two blocks from the heart of Main Street and comes with a 1940s farmhouse plus a permitted short-term rental cottage next door, so you could stay in the main house and rent the cottage. Read living within walking distance of Main Street for more.
On Acreage
If you want views, privacy and stars at night, look at homes on land. 139 Armory Rd, listed at $990,000, sits on 5.67 acres just minutes from downtown with a gated entrance, a paved drive and a big covered building for the RV or toys. Out here you will want a plan for the well, septic, fences and mowing while you are away. My guide to buying Hill Country land and ranches covers what to check.
In a Private Club Community
If you want amenities and less to manage, Boot Ranch is a favorite with second-home owners. It is guard-gated, and the club takes care of the golf, pools and dining. We have been members since 2019, and my mom and I sold 70 Turning Stone Circle there, a Hill Country estate with a guest casita. See living in Boot Ranch.
Along Wine Country
Highway 290 is perfect if tasting rooms are part of the dream. Read wine country real estate on Highway 290, and if you want to taste your way down the highway without driving, my family's Absolute Charm Wine Tours is a fun way to scout the area.
Will You Rent It Out?
Many second-home owners rent when they are not using the house. If that is part of your plan, we check the rules before you fall in love.
- Inside city limits: any stay under 30 days needs a City of Fredericksburg Short-Term Rental Permit. Eligibility depends on zoning, and an inspection is required for new permits and transfers. A house that already holds a permit can carry a lot of its value in that permit.
- Just outside the city (the ETJ): the City says STRs in the ETJ do not need a City permit, but hotel occupancy tax still applies and deed restrictions can still limit rentals.
- Out in the county: the deed restrictions and HOA decide. Some subdivisions welcome rentals, and some do not allow them at all.
406 W Schubert St, listed at $1,389,000, shows why zoning matters: it is zoned C1 on Barons Creek and comes with four grandfathered STR permits. My post on Fredericksburg short-term rental rules in 2026 explains the city rules in plain language.
Owning a Second Home From a Distance
A second home should feel like a reward, not a second job. A little planning makes that happen.
- Local help: line up a house cleaner, a handyman, a pool service and, if you rent, a property manager before closing.
- Smart systems: remote thermostats, cameras, smart locks and leak sensors give you peace of mind from home.
- Freezes and storms: know where your water shut-off is, keep the heat on in winter and have someone check the house after a hard freeze or a big storm.
- Well and septic: on acreage, both need routine care. In Gillespie County, septic permits go through the county's On-Site Sewage Facilities office.
- Insurance: talk with your agent about coverage for a second home, and separately for a rental.
Financing and Taxes on a Second Home
Lenders treat second homes and investment properties differently, so tell yours early how you plan to use the house. If rental income is part of the plan, ask how that changes the loan.
A second home does not qualify for the Texas homestead exemption, and the seller's homestead cap does not carry over to you, so your tax bill can look different from theirs. I walk buyers through this before they write an offer. My post on Fredericksburg property taxes explains how it works, and your CPA can help with the rest.
Plan Your Search Weekend
Fredericksburg is a little over an hour from San Antonio and about an hour and a half from Austin, and most of my second-home buyers come from a few hours away, so I plan tours to make the most of every trip. I send listings ahead with photos, video, floor plans and 3D tours when we have them, and then we see the best fits in person.
Want to try the lifestyle while you look? My dad and I own Bubbly, a historic B&B one block from downtown on W Austin St. Book the Champagne or Prosecco suite, or the whole house; it is adults only. It is a fun way to walk to dinner and see what town feels like after the day-trippers head home.
The holidays are a beautiful time to visit, too. Read Christmas in Fredericksburg for why I love this season for house hunting.
Let's Find Your Hill Country Getaway
As a luxury REALTOR® and a Fredericksburg native, I love helping people find the place where they will make their best memories. Browse my luxury homes in Fredericksburg, see my current listings and check the latest market report before you visit. When you are ready to plan a weekend, send me a note and I will put together a tour that fits how you want to live.
This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Please talk with your lender, CPA and insurance agent about your own situation.
