Founder's Blog

https://rrcathens.com/austin

This may be my new favorite Tiny Home builder as the combination of size, design and price are fantastic, especially for a US-based maker. Many of the homes I feature on this blog are built outside of the country and many of those are not cost effective to import but this series by RRC Athens is made right here in Texas.

This new “Austin” model is a “Park model” version which are less mobile and intended more for permanent placement. It checks in at 399sf which is the maximum allowed by Texas law without it being considered an actual home requiring permits etc. This beauty features not one but TWO covered porches while also having vaulted ceilings with a second series of windows up high for extra light and the feeling of spaciousness.

Check out the kitchen with its own Island, which is something you don’t see often on homes of this size and nature. I was even more blown away when I saw the base price of only $74k as I expected it to be double that cost after seeing the features and quality and additional images. In any case go ahead and check out their site and here is an article with some additional insight: https://www.autoevolution.com/news/austin-park-model-tiny-features-two-covered-porches-and-a-spectacular-kitchen-with-movable-island-272887.html

One of Hill Country’s best venues for music and evening entertainment is the Cider Mill at Round Mountain, which is located just south of Marble Falls off highway 281. It’s a huge complex with a ton of buildings including a beer tap room, an apple cider store, a large outdoor area with reserved seating and a lot more.

I recently attended a 4th of July event there and was able to meet and greet with the musicians including the photo above with a dear old friend of mine, Clint Manning, who played a show with upcoming country musician Sammy J.

Hill Country doesn’t just have tiny bars and unknown musicians as there are a variety of larger venues like the Cider Mill with some great musical guests that come through town. Check out their website and go take a visit if you like good music, beer, friendly people and views!

www.RoundMountainCiderMill.com

https://clevertinyhomes.com

Just stumbled upon this really cool Tiny Home manufacturer based in San Diego. What really caught my attention was the high-end designs combined with very low prices. Typically models under $100k are very basic in appearance as it usually takes closer to $150-200k for the really amazing ones you see on the web. Even more often, the best and cheapest models are made in foreign countries that don’t export to the USA.

However this new Clever 1 Lite model checks in at only around $85,000 yet looks like a tiny home double that cost. And it’s available in the USA as the manufacturer is American while the actual home is made in their Mexico factory. Besides the new Lite 1 model, they have several other variations that look just as good and are similarly affordable.

After spending 9 months and $180k building my own 320sf elevated tiny home a few years ago, I would definitely consider this option if I had it to do over again as there simply wasn’t anything this elegant and functional in this price range available at that time. You can read a more extensive article about the 1 Lite model here:

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/this-new-85k-single-level-tiny-house-is-one-of-the-smartest-buys-right-now-271172.html

https://www.youtube.com/@TexasBenRealEstate

I just started publishing a new series of videos on my personal Youtube channel called the Insider Knowledge series. These videos are informational and educational and take a deeper dive into important real estate and hill country-related topics. This includes everything from tips to evaluate properties, special tools that investors and professionals utilize, information about real estate agents, mortgage pitfalls and more.

The first video is on C.L.U.E. Reports, the true secret carfax to your home – a rarely known but very important document that homeowners can obtain through LexisNexis that reveals all Insurance Claims made on the property in the past 7 years while under current ownership. This is a critical document that Buyers can use to help to both evaluate the property condition and ensure the Seller Disclosure Notice is accurate.

Look for a new video every 1-2 weeks!

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/this-mobile-home-might-just-be-the-rv-of-the-year-has-a-unique-layout-and-high-end-features-270234.html

I recently came across this new model that has some really cool features like a built-in covered patio and a spa-like bathroom complete with soaking tub. These units are sized from about 360sf-500sf and cost around $175k. This is comparable to the stick-built tiny home I built from scratch with an architect in terms of both size and price and yet can be purchased turnkey whereas my tiny home took over 9 months to build on site. Check this manufacturer out if you’re looking to add a small living space to your existing property and have the necessary RV/utility hook-ups in place!

https://www.youtube.com/@TexasBenRealEstate

I just started a new series on my private personal investor channel called Hill Country Hidden Gems. Each episode features 5 different Texas Hill Country properties that are currently available for sale. I’ve divided these properties into 5 categories as follows:

1 = Raw Land and Lots < $250k
2 = Homes < $500k
3 = Homes < $1M
4 = Homes $1M-$2M
5 = Homes $2M+

I also am doing special “Investor Edition” episodes featuring only properties for investors which include:
–Properties in need of Repairs
–Properties that are ideal for Short-Term Rentals (STR)
–Properties with existing STR or other Businesses on them

These episodes are unique compared to most media because they are not presented from a sales perspective – instead they are presented from the view of a knowledgeable hill country shopper. As this content is offered on my personal private channel, free to the public with no subscription required, I have a lot more flexibility to discuss what I personally like or notice about each one.

Please visit and subscribe to the channel via the link above so you can be notified each time a new episode drops or view the new Hidden Gems page here on this website to view more details about each selected home. Please keep in mind these properties have no connection to HillCountryHomes.com Realty Group unless noted.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/7400-Park-Rd-4-Burnet-TX-78611/452050457_zpid

Have you ever dreamed of having your own Castle? Now you can! This incredible property was constructed in the late 90’s in Burnet TX (about 30min from NW Austin) and is currently available for sale. Featuring 14,000sf on 110 acres, this property truly defines the terms unique and amazing.

Falkenstein Castle was inspired by romantic Bavarian castles and features an interior just as authentic as it’s exterior. This iconic property can be an event venue, the ultimate airbnb or just a basic luxury residence for you and your small family :) Hill Country TX is full of cool and unique properties and this wild new listing just about tops them all.

https://www.statesman.com/business/technology/article/taylor-data-center-samsung-22153681.php

While Taylor TX is not officially a Hill Country Town, it offers perhaps the best current investment opportunities in the central TX area. This charming sleepy town just 20 minutes NE of Austin is seeing tremendous job growth as a result of a recently opened Samsung chip facility and now the town just approved a massive $2.5B data center project.

The traditional #1 driver of property values is Employment Growth and these 2 massive projects are driving that growth. The land in Taylor is beautiful but generally is flat. That said, the prices for both raw land and homes are well below typical Austin-area pricing and therefore represents an interesting opportunity for investors of both land and homes alike.

(Image shows the Samsung plant under construction in 2025, which is now open.)

I recently came across a tiny home builder based in Australia called Yellow Eagle Homes, and I was genuinely impressed with their design approach. Their Bumble Bee model eliminates the traditional loft layout and instead places the primary bedroom on the main floor. This creates a much more open and comfortable feeling, especially for homeowners who want accessibility and convenience.

What stood out to me most was how efficiently they use every square foot without making the home feel cramped. The ceiling height and window placement create an open, airy atmosphere that feels much larger than the actual footprint.

The Bumble Bee starts around $80,000 USD and can push close to $100,000 depending on upgrades like off grid solar packages. For buyers looking at downsizing or building on acreage, this could be a smart alternative to traditional construction.