The city of San Marcos has historically lagged behind its Hays County neighbors in the number of permits it issues for single-family homes, but city officials are encouraged that the trend appears to be shifting.

Through the first six months of 2015 the city of San Marcos permitted 150 single-family homes, according to its permit reporting service. That puts the city slightly behind last year’s pace, but Kristy Stark, assistant director of planning and development services, said new communities such as Paso Robles and Vistas de los Santos—both in southwest San Marcos—are gaining momentum.

The city of San Marcos permitted 278 single-family homes in 2014, and although that number lags behind nearby cities, the city’s planning staff said they are encouraged because it has been increasing each year since 2010.

“Our numbers continue to increase [year over year], which is very promising for San Marcos,” Stark said.  “We’re seeing a higher concentration of developers coming in and developing single-family residences and single-family subdivisions, which we hadn’t seen [in previous years].”

In Kyle and Buda there were 505 and 452 single-family permits issued in 2014, respectively. Buda’s total permit number does not include the Sunfield neighborhood, which is not within the city limits.

“We want to [have one of the highest numbers of] single-family home communities along the corridor,” Stark said. “We want to keep creeping up. We’d love to see 500 homes going up [each year].”

Growing neighborhoods

Blanco Vista, located in north San Marcos near the intersection of Yarrington Road and I-35, has been driving much of the single-family home growth in San Marcos since it rebranded in 2011. Through the first six months of 2015 the neighborhood has accounted for 83 of the city’s 150 total single-family home permits, according to city data.

The neighborhood, which is expected to have 1,800 homes at build out in 2018, is located on 575 acres near the Blanco River, and amenities within the community include Blanco Vista Elementary School, a church, pools and athletic courts. Brookefield Residential, neighborhood’s developer, also has plans for small commercial developments near the entrance to the neighborhood.

Edjuan Bailey, senior director at Brookefield, said the community has achieved success because of the variety of housing types available.

“If you are looking for a home, regardless of your stage of life, we want you to be able to find it here,” he said.

Other neighborhoods in San Marcos are growing steadily as well, Stark said. Cottonwood Creek, the Retreat at Willow Creek and Park Court at Willow Creek are each showing encouraging signs of growth, she said.

Paso Robles, which is also being developed by Brookfield Residential, will include 3,000 homes on 1,400 acres when it is fully built out.