Your Guide to Buying a Home in San Marcos, TX

Buying a Home in San Marcos, Texas

San Marcos is located in Caldwell, Hays County

Located at the gateway to the Texas Hill Country, San Marcos has wonderful places to visit, great places to stay, and the best shopping in Texas! Our springfed San Marcos River provides a refreshing playground for swimming, canoeing, tubing—and even riding a glass bottom boat at Aquarena Center.

The discovery of an unusual river by a Alonso de Leon's men on St. Mark's Day in 1689 prompted the name of the river San Marcos in honor of the patron saint. Villa San Marcos de Neve was established in 1808 by colonists from Mexico. Due to devastating floods and repeated Indian raids, the settlement was abandoned in 1812. Juan Martin de Veramendi, later governor of Mexico's Texas, received a "two league" grant of land on the River. This land later became the heart of the town of San Marcos. The town was laid out in 1851 and incorporated in 1877. The unique San Marcos River area is considered by many to be the oldest, continuously inhabited area in the Northern Hemisphere. Hays County was created in 1848 and named in honor of Capt. Jack C. Hays, a noted Indian fighter and Texas Ranger.

28 Miles south of Austin, located on the Balcones Fault, a fracture in the earth's crust, that formed the San Marcos springs and river millions of years ago the amazing San Marcos Springs discharge 150-300 million gallons of water daily. Texas State University - San Marcos purchased the aging Aquarena Springs Resort in 1994 and began transforming the old theme park into a non-profit nature center. Today Aquarena Center is an environmental learning center dedicated to protecting, conserving and educating the public on the important role that water plays in everyone's daily life.

Spring Lake is home to 4 endanged species who live here and no where else in the world. This unique habitat of limestone cleansed spring water has a constant temperature of 72 degrees year round. The species living here are endangered because of the growing population of central Texas and the increased demands made on the Edwards Aquifer. Scientists believe this lake and river could dry up in the next 50 years if the expected growth is followed by several years of drought which could prevent water from ever reaching the springs. If this happens the endangered animals that live here would die.

San Marcos, home to Texas State University, is conveniently situated halfway between San Antonio and Austin. Although San Marcos is within easy driving distance of these metropolitan areas, it remains a world away from the hustle and bustle of big city life.

The center of the Courthouse National Register District, this 1909 Texas landmark has been restored to its original style and grace with copper dome, mosaic rotunda tiles and historic court room. The Hays County Courthouse square was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. The historic Square achieves significance for its rich and varied architecture. Relatively uniform in size, these buildings typify the Central Texas Courthouse Square with vernacular variations of popular commercial architectural styles, including High Victorian Italianate, Beaux Arts, Commercial Style and other influences.

San Marcos teems with some of the most unique attractions Texas has to offer. Every year millions of visitors from both the United States and Mexico delight in the serene beauty as well as the attractions of San Marcos.

Whether you're leisurely tubing down the gentle current of the San Marcos River, bargain hunting at our beautifully landscaped outlet malls, or wandering through Downtown and the Historic Districts to learn the San Marcos story, this beautiful city provides the perfect setting for long time residents as well as visitors.