In the News

Raider Ranch Developers announce accelerated building plans

The Raider Ranch Developement Team of local developers I & S Investments and the Dallas development firm of South Bay Partners announced that the second and third phases of Raider Ranch originally scheduled to begin construction in late 2008 have been accelerated a full year to the fall 2007.  Speaking on behalf of the Raider Ranch Partnership, Clayton Isom a principal in I&S Investments said that the extremely strong response to the Raider Ranch concept from the Lubbock area and West Texas has resulted in the decision to begin construction on the Condominium and Clubhouse as well as the Assisted Living and Memory Care facility known as The Isle at Raider Ranch in November  2007.

The four story Condominium and Clubhouse will include152 condominium homes featuring custom finishes such as 9ft ceilings, granite countertops, and gourmet kitchens.  A variety of one, two and three bedroom floor plans ranging from 800 to 1,300 square feet will be offered.

The architecturally distinctive 22,000 sq ft clubhouse will feature a full service restaurant, indoor swimming pool, athletic club with Pilates and yoga studio, a day-spa, internet café and Starbucks coffee bar.

The Isle at Raider Ranch will offer 110 one and two bedroom appartments and companion suites for those who need assistance with everyday tasks.  Thirty of those apartments will be located in a secure Memory Care section to provide assistance to those with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.

It was also announced on Tuesday that Horizon Bay Senior Communities has been selected to mange and operate Raider Ranch.  Horizon Bay Senior Communities is a seniors housing management company focused on managing large portfolios of retirement communities for institutional real estate investors.  The company currently manages 70 retirement communities with over 12,000 units in 15 states. Their portfolio includes independent living, assisted living and continuing care retirement communities.

"We're pleased to be working with the Raider Ranch Partnership and serving the people of West Texas and East New Mexico," said Thilo Best, Horizon Bay's Chairman & CEO. "Raider Ranch is the next evolution in retirement living. Older adults will be able to keep their active lifestyles with unparalleled choices in cultural events, and recreational and fitness programs."

Press Release

Dallas Morning News Ranks Texas Tech Golf Course #1 in Texas!

In its annual Best of Texas Golf edition, the Dallas Morning News ranked The Rawls Golf Course at Texas Tech the #1 "High Priced Golf Course" in Texas ahead of many other well known courses in Texas.  Although relatively new, the Rawls course is meticulously maintained providing a challenge to experienced and novice players alike.  Residents at Raider Ranch will enjoy playing golf at the #1 rated Rawls Course paying no green fees

Lubbock, Texas Tops College Town List

Catch a great football game in the home of Texas Tech University, the most affordable college town.
November 4, 2005: 8:38 AM EST
By Rob Kelley, CNN/Money staff writer

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Coldwell Banker president Jim Gillespie had just finished a nationwide survey of home prices, but after talking it over with a friend, he decided to boil it down to just the 59 towns with the best football programs.

After all, along with four great months of football, college towns have a wide range of activities year-round.

"College towns can be great places to live because they are family-friendly, lively communities with an abundance of activities ranging from sports and entertainment to high culture," says Gillespie in a statement. "A large majority of these towns are also very affordable, making them ideal for first-time homeowners or Baby Boomers looking for a second home near their alma mater."

Lubbock, Texas, home of the Texas Tech Red Raiders, ranked as the most affordable college town, with an average home cost of $164,133. Palo Alto, California, home of the Stanford Cardinals, was the most expensive at $1,550,000.

The study evaluated average home values for a single-family home measuring about 2,200 square feet with four bedrooms, two and one-half baths, a family room and a two-car garage.

Gillespie said the study comes on the heels of two interesting trends in college towns.

"People who are thinking about retiring may go back to their college towns. There's plenty of culture and recreation there, and many take classes as well," he said. Indeed, those benefits led MONEY Magazine to focus on college towns when selecting its best places to retire for 2005...see the selections here.

The second trend, Gillespie said, is that parents with kids in college are buying properties near campus. He said he had seen parents allowing their children to manage properties, renting rooms to other students.

"That way, it's cheaper for the student and the parent earns the appreciation," said Gillespie.

Coldwell Banker's findings might have implications beyond just home prices, according to Gillespie. "We found that in the most affordable college towns, the schools went to more bowl games," he said.