January 2007
Wildlife Management

Good News for Owners of Real Estate around Fredericksburg ! Read this newsletter and find out more about wildlife management valuation for rural Land in Gillespie County and the Fredericksburg Area.

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The recent sharp rise in land prices in and around the area of Fredericksburg has brought a great deal of attention to land use and the property taxes associated with land ownership.  Much of the land in Gillespie County carries what is known as 1-d-1 open spaces appraisal for purposes of property tax.  This means that the county will not tax the property at its current market value, but rather at a rate that is approximately $1 to 2 per acre because the land is being used for agricultural production.  For example, a 25 acre parcel that has just sold for $200,000 would carry a property tax of somewhere around $4000 per year if it were taxed at market value.  However, if the land is used for agricultural production, the property tax is a tiny amount of less than $100.

As more and more land in rural areas is purchased for recreational use, counties are looking harder and harder at the idea that small tracts cannot legitimately be used for true agricultural production and therefore, should be taxed at higher rates.  The difference in taxes could make the ownership of recreational, rural land beyond the financial reach of many.  However, since 1995, landowners have another alternative.  In that year, Texas voters approved an Amendment to Article VIII of the Texas Constitution to permit agricultural appraisal for land used to manage wildlife.  In short, this gives the recreational landowner a way to keep the property taxes low and at the same time, enhance the enjoyment of the property by increasing the wildlife found on the property.

What is most important for the absentee and recreational land owner to know is that it can be much easier and more cost effective to maintain a wildlife management exemption that an agricultural exemption.  Generally, maintaining an agricultural exemption would involve raising live animals.  This requires time and expense (i.e. maintaining fences, etc.).  Performing the activities necessary to meet the requirements of the Wildlife management exemption can be much less costly and in the case of the absentee owner, be done on a much more flexible and time friendly schedule.

For more information on wildlife management valuation of land and acreage in Texas, you can contact The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.  A private company specializing in helping obtain and maintain wildlife management exemptions is Plateau Land & Wildlife Management.

As always, this website is dedicated to keeping buyers and sellers of real estate in the Texas Hill Country informed.  Please let me know if I can do anything to be of service in marketing your property or helping you find the perfect Hill Country home for you.

Sincerely,

Brett A. Bruster, MBA, e-PRO
Realtor Associate
CC Herber Co., Real Estate
145 E. Main St.
Fredericksburg, TX. 78624
Brett@brettbruster.com
(830)997-4323 Office
(830)997-8258 Home
(830)456-6243 Cell

  Please visit the website of my broker.

For more information about Fredericksburg and real estate, visit our Frequently Asked Questions or Links page.