Mesa Ridge

Taylor Dasch here. If you are looking at Mesa Ridge, you probably have one specific goal in mind: Schools.

You want your kids in the new Lake Belton High School, but you don’t want to pay the $500k+ price tags you see in the “luxury” Belton subdivisions.

Here is the scouting report on why Mesa Ridge is the smartest play on the board right now—and the one traffic nightmare you need to plan for.

The “Belton ISD” Hack

Most people think you have to live deep in Belton to get the “good schools.”
False.
Mesa Ridge has a Temple address (and Temple utilities), but it is zoned for the “Holy Trinity” of Belton ISD schools:

• Tarver Elementary

• North Belton Middle

• Lake Belton High School (The shiny new one everyone wants).

You are getting the premier education package for a price point that is often $40k–$60k cheaper than similar homes three miles down the road. That is simply good ROI.

The “Roster”: Know Your Builder

Mesa Ridge isn’t a “one size fits all” neighborhood. It’s a tale of two different teams.

1. D.R. Horton: They control a huge chunk of the volume here. These are your value plays. Speed, efficiency, and lower price per square foot. Great for first-time buyers or investors.

2. Carothers Executive: You’ll see these “Signature” homes mixed in. They bring the higher-end masonry, the custom ceilings, and the “custom feel.”

Taylor’s Advice: Don’t compare them apples-to-apples on Price Per Sq Ft. A Carothers home should cost more than a Horton home. Know which league you are buying in.

The Location Strategy

You are sitting right off Highway 317 in North Temple.

• The Win: You are 4 minutes from the new H-E-B on West Adams and all the dining (Teddy’s Brewhaus, etc.). You feel “country” without being isolated.

• The Commute: If you work in Temple (Baylor/Industrial Park), you have a straight shot down 317 or loop 363.

The Trap: The “317 Bottleneck”

I’m not here to sell you a fairy tale; I’m here to prepare you.
Highway 317 is growing fast, and the infrastructure is playing catch-up.
The Reality: School drop-off hours (7:30 AM and 3:30 PM) can get congested at the main entrance. If you commute to Austin or Georgetown, adding 10 minutes to get out of your neighborhood in the morning is a real factor.

Who Wins in Mesa Ridge?

✅ Families focused on LBHS: This is the most affordable ticket into that high school.
✅ Commuters to Killeen/Fort Hood: You can shoot across the back roads to I-14 faster than people living in South Temple.
✅ Buyers who want “New” but hate “Cookie Cutter”: Because you have different builders (Carothers, Horton, Kiella), the streetscape doesn’t look like a monotonous row of identical boxes.

The Bottom Line

Mesa Ridge is a strategic stronghold. You get the Temple price tag with the Belton school diploma.
If you can handle the morning traffic on 317, this is one of the smartest buys in the 76502 zip code.

Don’t buy here blindly. I have a map of which specific streets flood during heavy rain (yes, it happens).

Text me at 254-718-4249 before you tour.
Let’s make sure you’re on the high ground.