Santa Rita Ranch, TX: The Complete 2026 Guide for Buyers & Sellers

Last updated: July 2026
By Nick — Service First Real Estate. Nick is a local Santa Rita Ranch specialist who has helped buyers and sellers navigate this community for years. Contact Nick →

Santa Rita Ranch is a master-planned community of new homes spanning Liberty Hill and Georgetown, Texas, in Williamson County, roughly 30–45 minutes northwest of downtown Austin. It's built for a wide range of buyers: young families relocating from out of state, local move-up buyers who want more space and amenities, first-time buyers looking for new construction in the high $300s, and active adults seeking a low-maintenance 55+ lifestyle in the community's Regency neighborhood. Homes here currently range from the high $300,000s to roughly $3 million, built by a dozen national and regional builders across several distinct neighborhoods.

Quick Facts: Santa Rita Ranch at a Glance

Sources: santaritaranchaustin.com (Location, FAQ, Amenities, Relocating pages) — verified July 2026

Where Is Santa Rita Ranch Located?

Santa Rita Ranch sits in the Texas Hill Country between Liberty Hill and Georgetown, two growing Williamson County cities northwest of Austin. The community's Welcome Center is at 504 Exploration Circle, Liberty Hill, TX 78642. According to the developer, the 183 Tollway is about a three-minute drive away, and Highway 35 (I-35) is under 15 minutes out — making it easy to reach both the western Hill Country and the I-35 corridor without a long haul.

For families relocating from out of state: if you're used to a different kind of commute or grid layout, know that Santa Rita Ranch is genuinely rural-adjacent — rolling hills, ranch land nearby — while still being a realistic Austin-area commute. In my experience helping buyers here, most out-of-state families are pleasantly surprised by how much land and quiet they get relative to what they're used to paying for closer to the city center.

What Are the Schools Like in Santa Rita Ranch?

School zoning depends on which neighborhood you buy in. Homes in Homestead and Saddleback are zoned to Liberty Hill ISD. Homes in Tierra Rosa are zoned to Georgetown ISD. The community currently has six on-site or immediately adjacent school campuses: Santa Rita Elementary, San Gabriel Elementary, Tierra Rosa Elementary, Santa Rita Middle School, Divine Savior Academy (private), and Kids 'R' Kids Daycare & Preschool. Liberty Hill High School serves grades 9–12. Additional on-site campuses are planned as the community continues to grow.

For families relocating from out of state: confirm which specific neighborhood and street a home sits on before assuming a district — Homestead/Saddleback and Tierra Rosa are zoned differently, and that can matter for boundaries and bus routes even within the same community.

How Much Do Homes in Santa Rita Ranch Cost?

New homes at Santa Rita Ranch are currently offered from the high $300,000s up to roughly $3 million, spanning everything from cozy starter homes to large estate lots and the 55+ Regency section. Twelve builders are active in the community: CastleRock Communities, Chesmar Homes, Coventry Homes, GFO Home, Highland Homes, Perry Homes, Pulte Homes, Scott Felder Homes, Sitterle, Taylor Morrison, Toll Brothers, and Westin Homes.

Comparing the Neighborhoods Within Santa Rita Ranch

For first-time buyers: the high-$300s entry point gets you new construction with a builder warranty and resort-style community amenities — often a more predictable cost picture than an older resale home.

For move-up buyers: Eldorado and the larger Homestead/Saddleback plans tend to offer more square footage and bigger lots if you're outgrowing a starter home elsewhere in the Austin area.

What Amenities Does Santa Rita Ranch Offer?

Amenity pools with waterslides are a signature feature of master-planned communities like Santa Rita Ranch. (Stock photo for illustration.)

Amenities are spread across several dedicated centers rather than one clubhouse:

• The Ranch House — waterslides (the "Big Dip" and "Lil' Dip"), a resort-style pool, splash park, Stargazer Patio fire pit, and the Lookout Deck
• The Hub — voted Best Community Amenity in 2020
• Wellness Barn — a fitness center with cardio equipment and weight machines
• Ranch Camp Amenity Center — two resort-style pools, a kiddie pool, Happy's Splash Park, pickleball courts, and cornhole
• The Paddock Amenity Center — resort-style pool, playscape, indoor and outdoor pickleball, and a trike track
• The Green Amenity Park — splash zone, basketball and volleyball courts, a food truck lot, and a fitness zone
• Regency Clubhouse — the 55+ section's private resort-style pool, pickleball, and bocce ball courts
• Trails and parks — 5+ miles of nature trails including Ranch House Trail, plus Sister Park, Chris' Park, Hideaway Park, Headwaters Preserve, Marriage Park, a dog park, and catch-and-release ponds near the San Gabriel River

Splash pads and family pools are common amenities across Santa Rita Ranch's amenity centers. (Stock photo for illustration.)

Is Santa Rita Ranch a Good Place to Raise a Family?

Yes — the combination of on-site schools, multiple playgrounds and splash parks, a dedicated dog park, and a full events calendar (holiday celebrations, food truck nights, movie nights) is built around family life. For families relocating from out of state, this kind of amenity-rich, master-planned structure often means an instant social circle for kids and parents alike — you don't have to wait years for a neighborhood to "fill in."

Neighborhood playgrounds like this are found throughout Santa Rita Ranch. (Stock photo for illustration.)

For first-time buyers, the family-oriented design pairs well with new-construction pricing that starts in the high $300s. For move-up buyers already in the Austin area, the tradeoff is usually more space and more amenities for a longer commute than an in-town neighborhood.

What's the Commute to Austin Like?

Santa Rita Ranch is roughly 30–45 minutes from downtown Austin depending on time of day, traffic, and route — this is an estimate based on typical driving distance from Liberty Hill, and actual times vary. The community itself advertises quicker regional connections: about 3 minutes to the 183 Tollway and under 15 minutes to Highway 35, both of which feed into the broader Austin metro. If you work in North Austin, the Domain, or the Highway 183 tech corridor, the commute is meaningfully shorter than a downtown commute.

Is Now a Good Time to Sell in Santa Rita Ranch?

For homeowners considering selling: Santa Rita Ranch continues to add new phases, builders, and buyers, which keeps the community visible to relocation and move-up buyers searching the Austin area. Whether "now" is the right time depends on your specific home, neighborhood, and what's currently available from builders (since new construction is a direct competitor to resale here). The most reliable way to know where your home stands is a current, no-obligation valuation rather than a general market comment — see the seller box below.

Santa Rita Ranch's Wellness Barn offers a fitness center with equipment like this for residents. (Stock photo for illustration.)

For Homeowners: Thinking of Selling in Santa Rita Ranch?

If you're weighing a sale, get a free, no-obligation home valuation before you decide anything. I'll walk you through what's currently active, pending, and sold in your specific neighborhood — Homestead, Saddleback, Tierra Rosa, Eldorado, or Regency — so you know exactly where you stand against new-construction competition.

Get My Free Home Valuation → · Call/text Nick: 512-964-8883 · Email: [email protected]

For Buyers: New to Santa Rita Ranch?

Get my free Santa Rita Ranch Buyer's Guide, a private home tour, or new-listing alerts the moment something matches what you're looking for.

Get the Free Buyer's Guide → · Schedule a Tour → · Call/text Nick: 512-964-8883 · Email: [email protected]

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Santa Rita Ranch?

Santa Rita Ranch is a master-planned community of new homes located between Liberty Hill and Georgetown, Texas, in Williamson County. It's designed around resort-style amenities, on-site schools, and a mix of neighborhoods for different buyer types, from first-time buyers to active adults 55+. At build-out, the community is planned to include approximately 10,000 homes.

Where is Santa Rita Ranch located?

Santa Rita Ranch is located in Liberty Hill, TX, with its Welcome Center at 504 Exploration Circle, Liberty Hill, TX 78642. The community spans parts of both Liberty Hill and Georgetown. It sits close to the 183 Tollway (about 3 minutes) and Highway 35 (under 15 minutes), giving residents quick access to the broader Austin metro area.

What school district is Santa Rita Ranch in?

It depends on the neighborhood. Homestead and Saddleback are zoned to Liberty Hill ISD, while Tierra Rosa is zoned to Georgetown ISD. The community has six on-site or adjacent campuses, including Santa Rita Elementary and Santa Rita Middle School. Always confirm zoning for a specific address before buying, since it can vary within the community.

How much do homes cost in Santa Rita Ranch?

Homes are currently priced from the high $300,000s up to roughly $3 million. The range reflects everything from entry-level new construction to large estate homes and the 55+ Regency section. Twelve builders, including Perry Homes, Toll Brothers, and Highland Homes, offer homes across this range.

Which builders build in Santa Rita Ranch?

Twelve builders currently build at Santa Rita Ranch: CastleRock Communities, Chesmar Homes, Coventry Homes, GFO Home, Highland Homes, Perry Homes, Pulte Homes, Scott Felder Homes, Sitterle, Taylor Morrison, Toll Brothers, and Westin Homes. Toll Brothers also builds the separate 55+ Regency section, and CASO offers a build-for-rent program. Builder lineups do change over time as phases sell out.

What amenities does Santa Rita Ranch have?

Amenities are split across multiple centers rather than one clubhouse, including the Ranch House (waterslides and a resort-style pool), the Wellness Barn fitness center, Ranch Camp and The Paddock amenity centers, and a dedicated Regency Clubhouse for the 55+ section. There are also 5+ miles of nature trails and several neighborhood parks. For example, the Ranch Camp Amenity Center alone includes two resort-style pools and a dedicated splash park.

Is Santa Rita Ranch a good place to raise a family?

Yes, the community is built around family life, with on-site schools, multiple playgrounds and splash parks, a dog park, and a regular events calendar. It particularly suits families relocating from out of state who want an instant sense of community. In my experience, families often say the amenities and school proximity were the deciding factor over other Liberty Hill or Georgetown neighborhoods.

What's the commute like from Santa Rita Ranch to Austin?

The drive to downtown Austin is roughly 30–45 minutes depending on traffic and route, though this is an estimate rather than an official published figure. The commute to North Austin, the Domain, or the 183 tech corridor is typically shorter. Residents also have quick access to the 183 Tollway, about 3 minutes from the community.

Is now a good time to sell in Santa Rita Ranch?

It depends on your home, neighborhood, and current builder competition rather than a single market-wide answer. Santa Rita Ranch continues to add new phases and buyers, which keeps demand active, but new construction pricing and incentives directly affect resale value. Getting a current, no-obligation valuation is the most accurate way to know where a specific home stands, for example comparing a Homestead resale against active Perry Homes or Highland Homes inventory nearby.

Are there HOA fees or rules in Santa Rita Ranch?

Yes, Santa Rita Ranch is managed by an HOA, with day-to-day administration handled by Goodwin & Co. HOA rules (the "Ranch Code") cover community standards and access to shared amenities and trails. Full HOA documents are available directly through the management company, and buyers should review the current fee schedule before closing since it can be updated annually.

Is there an active adult (55+) section in Santa Rita Ranch?

Yes, the Regency neighborhood is Santa Rita Ranch's dedicated active adult community for residents 55 and older, built by Toll Brothers. It includes its own clubhouse with a resort-style pool, pickleball courts, and bocce ball. It operates as a distinct, low-maintenance section separate from the family-oriented neighborhoods.