Midland

An area already dotted with homes, but with room left for more, 349 Ranch Estates is a draw for both what it is and what it’s becoming. This is a slice of Midland where home seekers can find plenty of options constructed within the last 15 to 20 years, or lay claim to a brand-new build, thanks to the generous portions of undeveloped land that remains. “It is a growing and developing area,” says Jonathan Purkey, a local Realtor with The Lanier Team who's a native of the region. “There’s a lot of new commercial and residential [construction] happening out there.” The mostly residential neighborhood, situated in the northeast corner of this western Texas city, is defined predominantly by its sizable new traditional homes built within the last two decades. But 349 Ranch Estates also has a fair share of established homes that date back to the 1980s, which can be had for more accessible prices than newer properties. Regardless, most houses here tend to feature good-sized lots— typically at least half an acre. Quiet residential streets are largely removed from the surrounding, busier thoroughfares. Established houses, which are primarily ranch-style residences, range between $200,000 and $300,000. Newer homes typically feature more square footage and range from around $375,000 to $540,000. New construction is ongoing, with new-builds selling for around $400,000. Kids in 349 Ranch Estates can attend schools in the Midland Independent School District, which carries a C-plus grade on Niche. Nearby Milam Elementary has a C grade and offers activities ranging from a running club to a student council. Students continue to hone their interests at C-rated Goddard Junior High, which offers almost two dozen sports teams, including football and swimming and diving. The A-rated Early College High School at Midland College is an option for ninth through 12th grades, where students can earn an associate degree while pursuing their high school diplomas. Texas State Highway 349 runs adjacent to the neighborhood, a four-lane road drivers can use to access Texas State Highway Loop 250 and then Interstate 20 for trips to the neighboring city of Odessa, just under 30 miles away. Highway 349 turns into Big Spring Street as drivers head south, and people can use that route to get to Downtown Midland, about a 6-mile trip. About 4 miles away is Midland Airpark, a general aviation facility offering service for recreational and business travel. But, for commercial flights, Midland International Air & Space Port is 17 miles away. Residents of 349 Ranch Estates can stretch their legs with visits to the nearby Daybreak Walking Trail, where four loops add up to a mile. Area kids have Armadillo Playground at their disposal, which is less than a 2-mile car ride from 349 Ranch Estates within the Lone Star Trails subdivision. The closest restaurant is in the neighborhood, right along Texas State Highway 349, The Half Acre. Part of the Midland Meat Company, which dates back well over 100 years, The Half Acre serves up meat sourced from its in-house ranch and is well-known for its brisket. There’s a Dollar General next door and a Family Dollar and Dollar Tree across the road. Loop 250, a commercial strip located a few miles south, is lined with retail and restaurants including a Market Street grocery store and a Walmart. Downtown Midland is 6 miles away and hosts programming year-round. The Fourth of July Children’s Parade is one of the long-running traditions, when area children get the opportunity to storm through downtown on their Power Wheels, bikes and wagons, while waving ribbons and American Flags. The parade precedes an outdoor concert and beer garden in the evening, before fireworks, at Centennial Park. Midland also has an annual Christmas Parade in early December, a nighttime affair full of lights.

Adobe Meadows is a chance for home buyers to stake their claim in a developing area. This neighborhood, which was spearheaded by prominent developer D.R. Horton, hooks people eyeing a relatively new house not far from a range of amenities in the growing city of Midland. “A lot of people like the newer construction because they are cheaper if you buy them directly from the builder,” says Ashley Howsey, a local Realtor with Turnkey Realty who has almost five years of industry experience. “And the HOA makes sure that the neighborhood stays clean.” The options around Adobe Meadows are no more than about a decade old, built from 2014 to 2016. These houses share new traditional Craftsman styling and have floor plans that range between 1,700 and 2,600 square feet. The neighborhood has a cohesive look thanks to the homes’ brick- and stone-adorned facades and lots that are all between one-fifth and one-tenth of an acre. Homes here sell for prices between $300,000 and $400,000. “There is more continuity, or consistency, among the neighborhood so that protects home values,” says Jonathan Purkey, a local Realtor with The Lanier Team. The Midland Independent School District covers this area, which has a C-plus grade on Niche. The C-rated Milam Elementary serves students in prekindergarten through sixth grade and offers everything from fine arts programming to a running club. Students may then explore sports teams from football to tennis at C-rated Goddard Junior High, which includes grades 7 and 8. A-rated Early College High School at Midland College comes with the opportunity for students to earn an associate degree while working toward their high school diplomas. The thoroughfare Big Spring Street runs adjacent to Adobe Meadows’ homes and is residents’ ticket to the rest of the city. Big Spring connects to Texas State Highway Loop 250, which is lined with restaurants and other businesses. It also runs into Downtown Midland, about 5 miles away. Midland Airpark is just off Loop 250, a general aviation complex facilitating recreational and business flights. Loop 250 can also be used to connect with Interstate 20 Business Loop to reach Midland International Air & Space Port, 16 miles away, for commercial flights. Adobe Meadows’ streets are lined with sidewalks, linking residents to the neighborhood’s public pool. The kids can explore the playground by the pool, too. Those seeking more exercise can head over to the neighborhood Daybreak Estates development to walk the Daybreak Trail, where four loops add up to a mile. Locals only have to head right out of the neighborhood and onto Big Spring Street to get to some of the local amenities. “The commercial side is growing out there,” says Purkey, a West Texas native. That includes a connected Family Dollar and Dollar Tree just 1 mile from Adobe Meadows. People can also swing by The Half Acre across the road, whose brisket and beef ribs are well-liked. Loop 250, just a bit farther south, features a full commercial corridor complete with a Market Street grocery store and a Walmart. Downtown Midland, 5 miles south, is a hub for a range of events over the course of the year. One of the staples is the Midland Downtown Farmers Market, held off North Colorado Street each Saturday, rain or shine. Dating back to 2007, this is the oldest farmers market across the whole Permian Basin. In terms of annual traditions, Midland hosts a Children's Sidewalk Parade each Fourth of July, when area kids get to roll through downtown on their Power Wheels and bikes. The parade kicks off a day that ends with a concert and fireworks at the city’s Centennial Park.

Briarwood is a section of Midland that home buyers seeking space may find to be a good fit. This neighborhood is defined by its modern houses with spacious floor plans, many stretching well over 2,000 square feet and all within quick reach of day-to-day amenities. “It’s a nice little neighborhood,” says Laura Sales, a local broker and owner of The Sales Team Realtors who has worked in the Midland market for more than 20 years. “It’s nestled in a very convenient location within the city. It has very quick and easy access to some of the major thoroughfares. It’s a smaller neighborhood, developed now to the point where it’s got lots of nice trees, well-kept and just really a pretty little area.” All of Briarwood’s homes were built with brick and stone facades, giving the neighborhood a similar, earth-toned look. Many of these houses start at just over 2,000 square feet and top out at more than 4,000 square feet, with rear-access garages included. “They have that kind of open concept -- large kitchen, large living areas,” says Alli Moore, a local Realtor with Fathom Realty. The neighborhood’s homes were built between the 1990s and the early 2000s, enough time for the oak trees that dot many of the area’s lawns to mature. The lot sizes are around one-fifth of an acre. Price tags are between $400,000 and $600,000. Kids in Briarwood attend public schools within the Midland Independent School District, which has a C-plus grade on Niche. Greathouse Elementary has a B grade and offers extracurricular options including a student council and fine arts programming. Students can then explore the robotics or writing clubs at B-minus-rated at Abell Junior High and the business academy or health science academy at Legacy Freshman High. Legacy Senior High also carries a B-minus grade and includes dedicated programs in everything from automotive technology to visual and design arts. Briarwood residents are just about a mile from the John P. Butler Park and Youth Sports Complex, a 33-acre expanse that includes a playground and picnic areas but is also a draw for athletics. “There’s T-ball and soccer, the Midland Soccer Association will have practices and games [there],” says Moore, a native of the region. Moore also notes that the Bush Tennis Center, which has more than 20 lighted courts, is also just about 2 miles from Briarwood. Bush Tennis Center is a member facility but offers free clinics for kids. This neighborhood’s location is highly desired, Moore says, in part because of how close it is to Midland Drive and Loop 250, two hubs for commercial attractions. There’s a Walmart and Target just off Midland Drive, for example, both within about a mile of Briarwood. Also, Taqueria Jalisco is within walking distance for many in the neighborhood, a spot whose breakfast and margaritas are well-regarded. Diners seeking something a little bit out of the box can head about 2 miles down Loop 250 for Kokomo, which Moore says is popular. Kokomo specializes in Korean corn dogs, available stuffed with cheese and coated with Flamin’ Hot Cheetos or potatoes. Loop 250 and Midland Drive double as key transportation corridors in the area. Travelers can hop on Loop 250 to access Texas State Highway Loop 250 and head toward Midland International Air & Space Port, just about 11 miles away, for commercial flights. Midland Drive can help drivers reach the more than 500-bed Midland Memorial Hospital, 5 miles away. Loop 250 is lined with multiple stops in the area’s EZ-Rider bus system, too. The city hosts an assortment of events over the course of the year, including holiday programming that ranges from Easter Egg Eggstravaganza at Bill Williams Softball Complex at Hogan Park a half-dozen miles from Briarwood to an annual Christmas parade along A Street. Locals can also head to the Midland Downtown Farmers Market each Saturday on Colorado Street, just under 8 miles away.