College Station

When Texas A&M University was founded in 1876, the university built over 100 campus houses for faculty; those homes stayed on the campus until the 1940s, when they were moved by mule to different parts of College Station. Many of those homes now sit in the historic Southside District, just across George Bush Drive, a stone's throw from the heart of the sprawling university. Today, Southside consists of a group of subdivisions with a broad range of housing options. Nearness to Texas A&M is a major selling point for current students and alumni alike, says David Shellenberger, an associate broker with Keller Williams Brazos Valley who has decades of experience selling homes in the area. "A lot of the times, it's old Aggies who want to retire here," says the longtime resident. "They have kids in school, so they'll buy a house and put their kids in there until they graduate." <br><br>With everything from cozy two-bedroom cottages to Queen Annes and custom-built estates, it's rare to see two identical houses in Southside's many subdivisions. Campus homes, which formerly housed Aggie staff, A&M presidents and alumni, are common throughout the Oakwood subdivision, including many homes with plaques signifying their historical significance. "The lots are very expensive, and it has everything to do with proximity to A&M," Shellenberger says. Ranch homes on the southern end of Southside typically sell between $200,000 and $350,000, whereas historic properties usually start around $900,000 and can sell for upward of $3 million. Meanwhile, multifamily properties in the area often spark investor interest.<br><br>Before becoming an Aggie at Texas A&M, Southside kids likely attend schools in the College Station Independent School District, starting with South Knoll Elementary School until fourth grade, followed by Oakwood Intermediate School until sixth grade and A&M Consolidated Middle School until high school. All schools received A grades on Niche. A&M Consolidated High School boasts an A-plus on Niche, offering 15 career and technology certifications and a 78% AP test pass rate. Of course, after graduation, students are just a stone's throw from attending the historic Texas A&M. The historic university has over 77,000 students, with 16 schools and over 140 undergraduate degrees. Community closeness is strong in Southside, even with all the students. "In the spring, they have the largest volunteer work group," Shellenberger says. "They'll come and paint your house, plant your flowerbed or take care of the weeds."<br><br>Locals in the Southside area can walk to Kyle Field, escaping the hassle of parking and navigating gameday traffic. And the stadium hosts much more than Aggie games: Major artists and sports tournaments come to Aggieland throughout the year as well. History lovers can spend the day at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library, which has many exhibits highlighting the former president's life and time in office. <br><br>Heading to campus is as easy as hopping on George Bush Drive, which leads into Texas Avenue, a main thoroughfare featuring many of College Station's shopping centers and restaurants. Bryan is about 7 miles from the Southside area. Easterwood Airport, a regional airport offering commercial flights, is also just 4 miles away. <br><br>Southside residents tend to walk along the sidewalks that line the residential roads for daily exercise, but there are several parks in the area as well. On sunny days, residents can take to Brison Park for shade under the century-old oak trees. The park gets its name from a former professor at A&M. "He was kind of the keeper of the park, so they named it after him," Shellenberger says. Summertime is best spent at W.A. Tarrow Park, which has a splash pad and a playground that kids can spend hours on. Locals host birthday parties and events at the park's pavilion and indoor rec center. <br><br>Homeowners can enjoy the proximity to an array of restaurant options close by, whether it's a burger and a pint at Dixie Chicken in Northgate or happy hour at Mo's Irish Pub. Southside is also close to the growing Century Square, a shopping plaza filled with boutique shopping, eateries and community events. Shopping options range from Sephora to Apricot Lane Boutique selling women’s clothing and accessories.1791 has an extensive selection of whiskeys, as well as a list of craft cocktails. And there are plenty more options along Texas Avenue, one of the city's main thoroughfares lined with shopping centers.

Just 2 miles from Texas A&M University, South Knoll is a suburban neighborhood boasting green spaces and access to several main thoroughfares in College Station. Proximity to the university is a draw in itself, particularly for students looking for off-campus housing or investors who want to build up older homes in a reliable market. However, there’s much more to the area, including the expansive green spaces nearby and a variety of restaurants and shopping options.<br><br>Midcentury brick ranchers make up most of the housing landscape in South Knoll, though condos and townhouses are available as well. Long residential roads are clustered with homes, some lined with sidewalks, and many houses come with spacious yards, some extending to half an acre. Home prices range between $230,000 and $550,000. “Over here, it’s going to be more students in the area than anything else,” says Alex Schielack, a Realtor with LKG Realty Advisors.<br><br>The College Station Independent School District is a big draw for parents in the area. Children in South Knoll will likely head to class at South Knoll Elementary School, which received an A grade from Niche. A-minus-rated Cypress Grove Intermediate School is up next until sixth grade, followed by A-rated College Station Middle School until eighth grade. A-plus-rated Texas A&M Consolidated High School is just minutes from the neighborhood. Of course, after graduation there's always Texas A&M. Founded in 1876, the historic university is just down the street.<br><br>Bee Creek is a sprawling park where College Station residents go to decompress. Play structures entice young kids, and the Adamson Lagoon Pool provides a cool relief during the scorching hot summer. Fishers frequent Gabbard Park to try their luck catching bass, and a paved trail around the lake is the perfect place for an afternoon stroll.<br><br>Heading south down the Southwest Parkway to Wellborn Road leads to many of the area dining options. C&J Barbecue is a local staple, serving savory barbecue ribs, brisket and fried okra. 1541 Pastries is the go-to early morning breakfast spot, offering a selection of desserts, sandwiches and coffee in a relaxed environment. Fast-food options and retail stores like Walmart, Target and Hobby Lobby line Wellborn Road and Texas Avenue, and Second Chance Resale offers clothing, accessories and other goods on Harvey Mitchell Parkway.<br><br>The Southwest Expressway flows into Texas Avenue and Wellborn Road, two main thoroughfares in the College Station area. The Brazos Transit runs along the Southwest Expressway, providing an easy way to travel around College Station and neighboring Bryan.

Stately homes, an abundance of outdoor recreation and a top-notch private golf course are among the many reasons Brazos County homebuyers are attracted to the master-planned community of Pebble Creek. Located about 9 miles from Texas A&M, the 1,350-acre development “was once the outskirts of College Station, but it’s great to see how it’s grown,” says Mike Green, a real estate agent with Keller Williams Brazos Valley who has lived in the community for over 20 years. “It’s a really welcoming community where you see your neighbors walking their dogs, at the park with their children and riding bikes.” <br><br>The Pebble Creek Country Club is the centerpiece of the neighborhood, a place for residents to go for a swim in the pool during the scorching hot summer months and play tennis with friends. The country club is private, and while residency in Pebble Creek does not come with a membership, many homeowners are members. Membership at the country club includes access to an outdoor pool with a water slide, tennis and pickle courts, a kids club and the country club cantina. The club buzzes with events year-round, including live music nights, holiday celebrations and summer pool parties. The 18-hole championship golf course has a relaxed layout that appeals to both casual and competitive golfers alike. Residents, families and country club members come to the outdoor patio for a casual drink and chat with other members while enjoying a meal. <br><br>Early-morning joggers and dog walkers frequent the walking trails that are woven throughout Pebble Creek. Green spaces are abundant throughout and around the neighborhood, and when the weather’s nice residents are often out and about. The community’s namesake park has multi-use trails and basketball courts that are perfect for pickup games. Parents can take their children to St. Andrews Park to burn off energy on the playground. It’s not rare to see kids horsing around with their friends near the first hole of the golf course, just outside of the country club’s restaurant, which has recently turned into a play area. Nature lovers can head to Lick Creek Park to traverse the miles of nature trails. The expansive 516-acre park also rings with the sounds of birds chirping, making it an attractive spot for bird watchers. <br><br>The abundance of housing options throughout the community continues to expand with the development of new homes and subdivisions. “They’re still growing on the back side of Pebble Creek,” says Rhonda Fry, a real estate agent with Century 21 who has several decades of experience selling homes in the College Station area. “So, you have at least 30 years’ worth of homes in that area, and they have several different townhome sections, one of which is gated. You can really choose which area you want depending on your price point.” Several builders had a hand in the community’s construction, so a wide range of architectural styles are represented in the area. Custom estates are often 4,000 square feet or more and can be priced upwards of $1 million. However, there are also brick homes, colonials and traditional homes that cost between $430,000 and $750,000. Some homes give residents excellent golf course views, but pricing is mostly dependent on square footage. Fry notes that Pebble Creek is still “a go-to neighborhood in College Station; the houses are still maintaining great value.” <br><br>Some roads throughout Pebble Creek have sidewalks, but roads are wide enough for drivers to make way for residents walking their pets or riding their golf cart. “It’s not a golf course community,” says Green, “but you’ll often see people riding around in their golf carts to get around.” <br><br>Many kids in Pebble Creek can ride their bikes or take a short walk to class at Pebble Creek Elementary School, which is part of the College Station Independent School District, with an A overall grade on Niche. Oakwood Intermediate School also has an A grade, teaching students until sixth grade and offers a dual language program. Next up is A-rated A&M Consolidated Middle School, followed by A&M Consolidated High School, which has an A-plus Niche grade. After graduating high school, many students apply to the historic Texas A&M University on the other side of town.<br><br>State Highway 6 is located just outside of the neighborhood, allowing Pebble Creek residents an easy way to get to the more central parts of College Station as well as Bryan. Highway 6 leads straight to Texas Avenue, a main thoroughfare in College Station that is lined with a wide variety of shopping and dining options. People tend to work and live in College Station or its sister city, so a commute to Texas A&M is only 9 miles away, and Bryan is only 14 miles out. Easterwood Airport, a regional airport offering commercial flights, is just 11 miles out. The Baylor Scott & White Medical Center is just 4 miles from Pebble Creek.<br><br>A quick drive down Fitch Parkway leads to an array of restaurants and shops in shopping centers that are within a few miles from the neighborhood, including spots for groceries like H-E-B or Spice World Market for international options. Some of College Station’s most favored dining options are nearby, too. “The biggest Italian place around here that everyone loves is 1860 Italia,” says Raylene Lewis, a real estate agent with Century 21 who has over two decades of experience selling homes in the area. “It’s really good. And for the best charcuterie board you have to go to Casa Do Brasil.” This all-you-can-eat steakhouse has an array of meats to try, and an extensive salad bar. For some good old-fashioned NOLA favorites, head to TaD’s Louisiana Cooking.