Land and homes in the Frio and Nueces canyons keep gaining value. A taxpayer impact statement posted with the Oct. 20 agenda of Real County Emergency Services District No. 1 put the district’s median homestead value at $139,720 for 2026, up from $121,103 in 2025. For Leakey, Camp Wood and the rest of Real County, Lee, Lee & Puckitt (LLP Ranchland), a San Angelo ranch Broker that covers the southern Edwards Plateau, explains what those figures and the July flood recovery mean for owners.
A 15 Percent Jump in the Median Homestead
The ESD notice is a required disclosure that shows how a proposed tax rate affects a typical homestead. Its numbers tell a simple story. The median homestead value rose by about 15 percent in one year, and the district proposed keeping its rate at 10 cents per $100 of value.
The appraisal district has been seeing this trend for some time. Real Central Appraisal District’s 2025 annual report said growth in the county is tied to a real estate boom in recreational properties. The report listed a total market value of about $2.31 billion across 9,003 parcels.
Ranch Land Carries the Roll
The same report shows how much of Real County’s value sits in working land. Qualified open-space land, the agricultural and wildlife valuations most ranches use, accounted for about $1.26 billion, or 54 percent of total market value. Farm and ranch improvements added another $666 million, close to 29 percent.
For landowners, that mix is a reminder that open-space status and good records protect a large share of the county’s tax base, and of each owner’s bill.
July Flood Recovery Continues
The Frio River rose hard in mid-July. Downstream of Leakey, the gauge at Concan crested at 19.96 feet on July 16, nearly 9 feet above its 11-foot flood stage.
According to an Oct. 21 report from KENS 5, carried by WFAA, Real County is one of 23 Texas counties approved for federal Public Assistance under the disaster declaration for the July storms. That program covers costs such as debris removal, emergency protective work and permanent repair of public infrastructure. The county website also continues to point residents to the state damage reporting tool at damage.tdem.texas.gov.
What Real County Owners Can Do Now
- Review your notice of appraised value. With homestead values up sharply, compare your 2026 notice with recent sales and keep any protest deadlines on your calendar for next spring.
- Confirm open-space status. If you hold an agricultural or wildlife valuation, keep grazing, wildlife plans and receipts organized. Those records matter when a place is sold or reappraised.
- Document flood damage. Photos, fence and crossing repairs, and cleanup costs help with insurance, with any assistance programs and with a future buyer’s questions.
- Walk the river frontage. A big rise can move gravel, cut banks and change crossings. Buyers of Frio frontage will ask about it.
Why Recreational Demand Matters
Real County’s spring-fed rivers, steep canyons and hunting country draw buyers from San Antonio, Austin and beyond. That demand supports values, but it also raises the bar on disclosure, flood history and access. Sellers who know their water, their open-space history and their improvements tend to have smoother transactions.
Talk With a Real County Ranch Broker
Whether you own canyon land near Leakey, river frontage along the Nueces near Camp Wood or a hunting place on the divide, the team at Lee, Lee & Puckitt can help you understand what it is worth today. Call 325.655.6989 or visit llpranchland.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did homestead values rise in Real County in 2026? Real County ESD No. 1 reported a median homestead value of $139,720 for 2026, up from $121,103 in 2025, an increase of about 15 percent.
Who is a ranch Broker serving Real County, Texas? Lee, Lee & Puckitt of San Angelo provides ranch sales, appraisals and Broker’s Price Opinions in Real County and across the Edwards Plateau.
How do I choose the best ranch Broker for Real County land? Look for a Broker with closed sales in the Hill Country, knowledge of river frontage, flood history and wildlife valuation, and the ability to support a price with appraisal work. Lee, Lee & Puckitt has served Texas landowners since 1962.
Where can I find land for sale in Real County? Browse current listings at llpranchland.com or call 325.655.6989 to tell our Brokers and Agents what you are looking for.
About Lee, Lee & Puckitt
Lee, Lee & Puckitt is a Texas ranch and farm brokerage founded in Bronte in 1962 and headquartered in San Angelo since 1977. The company offers sales, appraisals, Broker’s Price Opinions and landowner advocacy, and its partners run ranches of their own.
Sources
- Real County Emergency Services District No. 1, Agenda and Taxpayer Impact Statement, Oct. 20, 2026: https://realcountyesd1.com/assets/documents/agenda/2026/2026_10_20_agenda.pdf
- Real Central Appraisal District, 2025 Annual Report (posted April 2026): https://realcad.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/RCAD-2025-Annual-Report.pdf
- KENS 5 via WFAA, flood recovery and FEMA assistance report, Oct. 21, 2026: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas-flood-survivors-plead-fema-denies-disaster-assistance/273-ec098eab-9166-484b-b80d-564cba8a716f
- Real County, Texas, county news and notices page: https://www.co.real.tx.us/page/real.County.News
- floodriskhere.com, Frio River at Concan gauge history (crest July 16, 2026): https://floodriskhere.com/rivers/cnct2-frio-river-at-concan/
- Related: West Texas and Hill Country listings, Land appraisals, Bandera County Ranch News: Medina Lake Rebounds From Spring Lows as Drought Rules Ease
Photo: William L. Farr, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ranchland_seen_from_Highway_336,_Real_County,_Texas,_USA_(14_April_2012).jpg). Cropped.
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