Legacy RanchSouth Temple’s Premier Address
Arnold and John Houston builds. Belton ISD. A 7-minute BSW commute. Median closed at $460K across 14 trailing sales. This is the honest intelligence — not the brochure.
Is Legacy Ranch a good place to live in Temple, TX?
Legacy Ranch is South Temple’s premier master-planned community, positioned at the intersection of South 31st Street and West FM 93 with a direct 6–9 minute commute to Baylor Scott & White Medical Center. The neighborhood features luxury new construction by Arnold Design + Build (Phase 1) and John Houston Homes (Phase 2), with median closed prices at $460,000 and an average of $182 per square foot across 14 trailing-12-month sales. It is best suited for BSW attending physicians, Fort Cavazos senior officers, and relocating families who prioritize Belton ISD schools. The defining tradeoff is the 2.3–2.4% total property tax rate, which pushes annual tax bills above $10,000 on most homes.
- Median closed price: $460,000 (trailing 12 months, 14 sales)
- Price per square foot: $182/sqft average (closed)
- Price range: $425K–$749K (resale through custom builds)
- BSW commute: 2.5 mi / 6–9 minutes via S 31st St
- HOA: ~$550/year — Associa Hill Country management
- School district: Belton ISD (Charter Oak → Lake Belton MS → Belton HS)
- Property tax rate: ~2.3–2.4% effective
- Builders: Arnold Design + Build (Phase 1) + John Houston Homes (Phase 2)
Built for the 7-minute surgeon and the officer who refuses to live in Killeen.
Legacy Ranch attracts three distinct buyer profiles. Here’s the honest fit analysis for each.
The BSW Physician
You matched to a fellowship or accepted an attending role at Baylor Scott & White. The OR calls at 2 AM, and you need campus in under 10 minutes. Legacy Ranch puts you 6–9 minutes from the main hospital via South 31st — no interstate. The $460K median aligns with physician loan products through Extraco Bank: no PMI, 0% down for qualified MDs. Post-tension slab foundations on every home means modern engineering, not inherited deferred maintenance.
6–9 Min to BSW • Physician Loan EligibleThe Fort Cavazos Officer
You’re O-3 or above looking for distance from Killeen without an unreasonable gate commute. Legacy Ranch delivers: 35–40 minutes to the main gate via I-14/US-190, Belton ISD schools (not Killeen ISD), and homes that hold resale value for PCS rotations. VA loan eligible at 0% down. BAH for an E-7 with dependents covers roughly $1,920/month — a $460K home at 6.5% runs approximately $2,900 PITI. Officers at O-4+ with dual income close here routinely.
VA Loan Eligible • Belton ISD SchoolsThe Out-of-State Relocator
You’re leaving Austin, DFW, or the West Coast and want the “Texas master-planned” experience without the $600K+ entry point. Legacy Ranch gets you 2,400+ sqft of spray foam insulation, 12-foot ceilings, and modern post-tension slabs for $460K median. Warning: your property tax rate (~2.3–2.4%) will shock you if you’re coming from a 0.8% state. Budget $11,500–$12,000/year on a $500K home.
No State Income Tax • File Homestead Day 1Legacy Ranch Market Intelligence
Trailing 12-month data from 14 closed sales, 2 active listings, and 2 pending contracts. Sourced from CTXMLS and Bell County Appraisal District.
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Median Sold Price | $460,000 | 14 closed sales, trailing 12 months |
| Average Sold Price | $483,589 | Pulled higher by Phase 1 custom builds ($525K–$623K) |
| Price Per Sq Ft | $182/sqft | 27% above Temple’s citywide $143/sqft average |
| Median Days on Market | 96 days | Avg DOM: 105. Longer sits on overpriced Phase 2 spec homes |
| Sale-to-List Ratio | 98% | Median 100% — priced-right homes close at ask |
| Active Listings | 2 ($521K & $749K) | Tight supply; new JHH builds entering quarterly |
| Pending Sales | 2 ($439K & $445K) | Both 2,421 sqft Phase 1 Arnold resales |
| Property Tax Rate | ~2.3–2.4% | BISD 1.15% + Temple 0.70% + Bell County 0.32% + misc |
| HOA Dues | $550/year | Associa Hill Country — covers commons, entrance, future parks |
| Flood Zone | FEMA Zone X | Minimal risk — flood insurance not federally required |
| School District | Belton ISD | Charter Oak Elem → Lake Belton MS → Belton HS |
| Lot Sizes | 0.20–0.28 ac | Rolling slopes, Central TX expansive clay soil |
Sources: CTXMLS closed data Feb 2025–Feb 2026, Bell County Appraisal District, Belton ISD Infofinder, FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
Arnold Design + Build vs. John Houston Homes
Two premium builders in one neighborhood. Each with a distinct identity. Here’s the side-by-side.
Arnold Design + Build
- 139 homes built exclusively in Phase 1
- 8-foot doors, 12-foot ceilings standard
- Full spray foam insulation (walls + attic)
- Custom and semi-custom floor plans
- Expansive masonry exteriors with stone
- Bespoke interior finishes throughout
- Resale range: $425K–$623K
- Local builder — Bobby Arnold, Temple-based
John Houston Homes
- Active Phase 2 new construction
- Floor plans: Trigger, Phoenix, and 6+ others
- 2,100–3,400+ sqft modern open layouts
- Design center upgrades available pre-build
- Standing spec inventory = faster closings
- Builder incentives: rate buy-downs, closing credits
- New build range: $432K–$749K
- Texas regional builder with multi-market support
What the Big Sites Won’t Tell You
The information that separates informed buyers from everyone else.
The Railroad Is an Asset
The MK&T line along the eastern boundary is inactive — zero train noise. It’s slated for conversion into the Georgetown Railroad Trail: a 10-foot paved hike-and-bike corridor connecting to South Temple Community Park and the Leon River. Eastern-boundary lots will gain premium trail frontage once construction completes.
The Tax Shock Is Real
A $500K home carries ~$11,500–$12,000/year in property taxes before homestead exemptions. One actual Legacy Ranch home went from $1,264 in taxes (vacant lot at $39K) to $13,380 when assessed at $585,401. File your homestead exemption immediately — it caps annual assessment increases at 10%.
Construction Noise Expires
Phase 2 is actively building on the western edge. Expect heavy machinery, nail guns, and dust during business hours on adjacent lots. This resolves in 2–3 years as final plats complete. If quiet is non-negotiable on day one, buy a completed Phase 1 resale on the eastern side.
Clay Will Test Your Foundation
Bell County’s montmorillonite clay expands wet and shrinks dry, creating continuous heave-and-settle cycles. Post-tension slab foundations here are engineered for this, but homeowner neglect kills them. Install a soaker hose around the perimeter and run it 30–45 min a few times weekly in summer.
MLS Names Will Trick You
Properties list under “Legacy Ranch Ph I,” “Legacy Ranch Phase 2,” and sometimes “The Meadows at Legacy Ranch.” Set up wildcard search alerts for all three variations or you’ll miss new inventory the day it hits the market.
No Pool, No RVs, No Airbnbs
No community pool — recreation focuses on green spaces and the future trail. HOA CC&Rs prohibit visible RV, boat, and trailer storage. Short-term rental operations are aggressively penalized with escalating fines. This is an owner-occupant neighborhood by design and by enforcement.
“These are really great quality, larger homes. I prefer the Arnold builds over John Houston, but they’re each unique styles — and this is where investors live, not where you invest.”
Legacy Ranch is the neighborhood I point people to when they say “I want the nicest new construction in South Temple and I don’t want to drive 45 minutes to get to work.” The Arnold Phase 1 homes have the custom feel — 8-foot doors, 12-foot ceilings, spray foam insulation, bespoke finishes. John Houston Phase 2 brings volume-builder efficiency with genuinely premium floor plans. If you’re choosing between the two, Arnold has the edge on interior quality; John Houston wins on lot selection because you’re picking from current inventory.
There’s commercial being built around this neighborhood along the South 31st frontage, and I predict serious appreciation down the line because of it. When those restaurant and retail pads fill in, Legacy Ranch becomes a walkable luxury neighborhood — not just a subdivision at the edge of town. That’s a fundamentally different value proposition.
The thing most people miss: the inactive MK&T Railroad line on the eastern boundary is being converted into the Georgetown Railroad Trail — a 10-foot paved hike-and-bike corridor. Once that’s done, eastern-boundary lots become the most valuable in the subdivision. If you can grab one now before the trail construction starts, you’re buying a future premium lot at today’s pricing.
One honest caution: Phase 2 is still actively under construction. Western-edge lots get dust and heavy-equipment noise during business hours. That will resolve in 2–3 years, but if you need quiet on day one, buy a completed Phase 1 resale on the eastern side.
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Homes for Sale in Legacy Ranch
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You are here. South Temple’s premier luxury community. $425K–$749K. Belton ISD. 7-min BSW commute.
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The data is here. The agent is ready.
The question is yours.
I’ll show you which Phase 1 resales have the best foundation history, which Phase 2 lots to avoid for construction noise, and whether the Georgetown Trail timeline changes your eastern-boundary lot value. That’s $27M+ in transactions and active investment experience working for you.
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