The best places and areas to buy land in Texas as a Brit

Looking to buy land in the US? One state you may be considering is Texas, known for its vast landscapes, business-friendly environment, affordable acreage and diverse opportunities for agriculture, development and investment.

Whether you're dreaming of building a retirement, holiday or forever home, or are looking to invest or develop - Texas is a great choice.

In this guide, we’ll take a look at 8 of the best places to buy land in Texas. This includes options for buyers with different needs, along with info on average price per acre in each region.

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Why buy land in Texas?

There are lots of reasons to consider buying land in Texas, such as:¹

• Cheaper than other states - although it’s not the cheapest in the country, Texas tends to offer more land for your money compared to lots of other states. This makes it more accessible for investors.
• Varied opportunities - land in Texas isn’t typically useful for just one thing, such as housing or commercial development. There are lots of opportunities here, including in agriculture, hunting and recreation, ranching and livestock, and of course, building your own home.
• Plenty of open space - Texas is a seriously large state, and plots tend to be on the large side too.
• Lower property taxes - taxes on vacant land tend to be lower than for developed properties in Texas, so this can help you to save on holding costs.
• Development potential - in some rural parts of the state, there are no or minimal zoning regulations. This offers more flexibility to develop land to suit your project.

Texas also offers a rural retreat, with large open spaces and plenty of beautiful natural scenery. This could make it the perfect spot if you’re looking for a holiday or retirement home.

Can UK citizens buy land in the US?

Yes, you can buy land in the US as a UK foreigner. However, it’s important to check state laws relating to use of the land and conditions on land ownership.

You’ll also need the relevant visa if you’re planning to live on any property you build.

8 of the best places to buy land in Texas

Now, let’s dive into our list of the 8 best places to buy land in Texas, focusing firstly on average prices per acre:

San Antonio (South Central Texas)

One of the most affordable areas of the state in terms of land prices, San Antonio is the ideal choice if you’re looking for a bargain. It’s popular with budget-conscious investors, small-scale developers and people looking to build rather than buy a dream home.

Popular areas include:

• Jourdanton
• Poteet
• New Braunfels (nearby)
• Boerne (nearby).

Houston outer areas - Montgomery, Liberty and Brazoria Counties

The suburbs of the Houston metropolitan area are rapidly expanding, making places like Montgomery, Liberty and Brazoria Counties a popular choice for land investment. Buying a plot here puts you within easy reach of one of the largest cities in the US. This is why it could be a good pick if you’re planning to embark on a commercial development project.

Land prices on the outskirts of Houston aren’t cheap, but proximity to the city could make it well worth it for the right investor.

Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Metroplex (North Texas)

Known for having one of the most extensive real estate markets in the state, the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Metroplex area is well worth considering if you’re looking to buy land in north Texas. One of the main advantages is that because the area is rapidly expanding, land values are increasing.

There’s high demand in the DFW Metroplex region for both residential and commercial spaces if you’re looking for a development opportunity. You can even look into more rural areas for the option to create a large-scale ranch.

Areas to consider include:

• Frisco
• McKinney
• Plano.

Austin (Central Texas)

Austin’s economy is booming, and it's a similar story for the city’s land and real estate values. This is thanks to a combination of strong tech migration, suburban sprawl and high resale potential.

There’s high demand for housing here, making Austin a fantastic choice for tech-focused residential development projects.

You may even want to build your own home or business premises here, especially if you’ve moved to the US to start a tech business or pursue a career in the industry.

Hill Country - Fredericksburg, Kerrville and Marble Falls

Head outside of Austin and you’ll find a fabulously scenic area, one known for its ranches, vineyards and tourist-focused industries. Land in Hill Country doesn’t come cheap, but it could be worth it for the location.

It’s a particularly popular choice for retirees and holiday home buyers looking to build an idyllic rural retreat on their own patch of Hill Country land. You may even be looking for land in order to set up an agri-tourism business of your own.

Popular areas include:

• Fredericksburg
• Kerrville
• Marble Falls

West Texas - Terlingua, Alpine and Fort Davis

If price per acre is your main consideration when looking for land to buy in Texas, you might want to head west. Places like Terlingua, Alpine and Fort Davis offer some of the cheapest land in the state. Plots also tend to be large, in some cases too large to manage effectively.

However, these can be wild and remote areas, outside of fast-growing cities and urban cities. So there’s a risk that land values may not increase, and there may be little demand for particular types of developments. But if you have something unusual or unconventional in mind, west Texas could be the perfect place to snap up a bargain.

Rio Grande Valley - McAllen, Harlingen and Edinburg

Known as a growing economic market in the south of the state, the Rio Grande Valley is a particularly good choice for agricultural entrepreneurs looking for land. It’s affordable in terms of land prices, and benefits from good proximity to the Mexican border and international trade routes if you’re setting up a globally trading business.

The Valley is also a popular choice for retirees, thanks to its exceptional quality of life, warm weather and low cost of living. So if you’re looking for land to build your dream retirement pad, this could be the perfect spot.

Areas to check out include:

• McAllen
• Harlingen
• Edinburg

East Texas - Tyler, Lufkin and Nacogdoches

Last but not least, we have East Texas - particularly, the areas of Tyler, Lufkin and Nacogdoches. This region is ideal for any investors or entrepreneurs looking for land for farming, ranching, pasture, hunting or other recreational activities.

The supply of available land is limited, so you may have to act quickly and be prepared to pay a premium for the right plot.

Looking for a plot in East Texas for a home building development? Another key area to focus on is McAllen, as its own for its highly competitive rental market.

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**Capital at risk. In the UK, Interest and Stocks are provided by Wise Assets — this is the trading name of Wise Assets UK Ltd, a subsidiary of Wise. Wise Assets UK Ltd is authorised as an investment firm and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Our FCA number is 839689. We do not give investment advice, and you may be subject to pay tax. If you're not sure, seek qualified advice. You can find more information about the funds on our website.

Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 12-Jun-2025