Big Hill Country ranches are still changing hands, but sellers are waiting longer and buyers are paying up for the best places. A public Q3 2026 market report released Nov. 5 by Republic Ranches counted 13 verified ranch sales of $1 million or more in Blanco, Burnet and Gillespie counties, against 14 a year earlier. Lee, Lee & Puckitt (LLP Ranchland), a San Angelo-based ranch Broker that tracks land markets across Texas, reviewed the report for what it means for landowners well beyond the Hill Country.
What the Q3 2026 Numbers Show
The report covers July 1 through Sept. 30. Of the 13 sales, 12 were over $2 million and six were over $5 million. That was up from 10 sales in the second quarter, but below a first-quarter high of 16. Through September the three counties had 39 closings, down 11 percent from 44 at the same point in 2025. The report counted 37 listings above $5 million, down 10 percent from a year ago.
The author cautions that Texas does not require sale prices to be disclosed, so the figures reflect reported sales only.
Time on the Market and Price Versus Asking
Among 26 verified 2026 sales, the typical sale was about $4.0 million, and 73 percent included a home. Sales averaged about 88.8 percent of original list price after roughly 262 days on the market. Gillespie County sold closest to asking, at about 93.8 percent, while Blanco County ranches averaged about 413 days to sell.
Median prices per acre ran about $24,600 under 100 acres, $20,500 from 100 to 250 acres and $16,500 above 250 acres. Each median rested on five to seven sales, so the report calls them directional.
What Buyers Paid For
Water showed up in the comps. A 170-acre ranch in Burnet County with a custom home and a 4.2-acre fishing lake sold in one day at about 97 percent of asking. Cash was common, too: five of 11 MLS sales this year were cash, and two more were seller-financed.
Compare It With the State Picture
Texas A&M’s Texas Real Estate Research Center put its Austin-Waco-Hill Country region at $8,040 an acre in second quarter 2026, up 8.63 percent, and the statewide average at $5,218. Different studies use different filters. This report tracks $1 million-plus ranches on 30 or more acres in three counties, while the center tracks median prices across a wider region.
Lessons for Texas Sellers and Buyers
The report advises sellers to price for today’s market rather than the pandemic-era peak, and it points to unique features such as live water as the places that move fast. Buyers have more choice in the $2 million to $5 million range, where the report counted 85 listings. Whether you own 300 acres in the Hill Country or a ranch in the Concho Valley, recent comparable sales within your own county are the best guide.
Talk With a Texas Ranch Broker
Lee, Lee & Puckitt helps landowners read market reports against actual comparable sales. Call 325.655.6989 or visit llpranchland.com for a confidential conversation about selling, buying or a Broker’s Price Opinion.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Hill Country ranches sold in Q3 2026? Republic Ranches reported 13 verified $1 million-plus ranch sales in Blanco, Burnet and Gillespie counties in the third quarter, compared with 14 a year earlier and 10 in the second quarter.
Who is a ranch Broker for Texas land? Lee, Lee & Puckitt, based in San Angelo, has represented ranch buyers and sellers across Texas since 1962, with a focus on West Texas, the Concho Valley and adjoining ranch country.
Where can I find ranch land for sale in Texas? Browse current listings at llpranchland.com or call 325.655.6989. Tell us the region, acreage, water and budget, and our Brokers can pull recent sales for comparison.
How do I choose the best ranch Broker in Texas? Look for closed rural sales in your region, clear communication on water, wildlife and access, and appraisals or Broker’s Price Opinions built from local comparable sales.
About Lee, Lee & Puckitt
Lee, Lee & Puckitt began in Bronte in 1962 and has operated from San Angelo since 1977. Our Brokers and Agents handle ranch sales, appraisals and Broker’s Price Opinions, and we advocate for landowners.
Sources
- Republic Ranches, “Q3 2026 Hill Country Ranch Market Report: Blanco, Burnet & Gillespie Counties,” Nov. 5, 2026: https://republicranches.com/resources/articles/q3-2026-hill-country-ranch-market-report/
- Texas Real Estate Research Center, Texas Rural Land Markets, Second Quarter 2026: https://trerc.tamu.edu/reports/texas-rural-land-markets-second-quarter-2026/
- Texas Real Estate Research Center, “Rural Land: Has the Texas Rural Land Market Hit a Plateau?,” Oct. 28, 2026: https://trerc.tamu.edu/article/rural-land-has-the-texas-rural-land-market-hit-a-plateau/
- Related: West Texas and Hill Country listings, Land appraisals, Lampasas County Ranch News: 2,894-Acre Smith Ranch Sells in Under Six Months
Photo: Zereshk, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Texas_Hill_Country_187N-4.JPG). Cropped.
