Acreage Living FAQ
More land can create more opportunities for outdoor living, privacy and future improvements.
But every acreage community is different.
Before choosing a homesite, it helps to understand how things like pools, workshops, garages, animals, RV and boat storage, fencing, guest spaces, wells, septic systems and other improvements are handled within each community.
Homes by Faircroft currently offers acreage opportunities at:
- Arborwood in Waller, Texas — 1+ acre homesites
- Junction in Needville, Texas — 1–1.5 acre homesites
- Hill Creek Ridge in Washington, Texas — 2–5 acre homesites
Each community has its own established guidelines, and the opportunities available on one property may be different from another. The governing documents supplied for these communities show meaningful differences in areas such as pools, animals, accessory buildings, RV storage, wells, septic systems and guest quarters.
Does having more acreage mean I can do anything I want with the property?
A larger homesite gives you more room, but acreage alone does not determine what can be built or added.
The usable area of a specific homesite may be affected by:
- Building setbacks
- Easements
- Drainage areas
- Well locations
- Septic requirements
- Driveways and culverts
- Architectural guidelines
- Other property-specific conditions
That is why the actual homesite and your future plans should be considered together, not just the total acreage.
Can I add a swimming pool?
Arborwood
An in-ground pool may be possible with written architectural approval. Above-ground swimming pools are not permitted.
Junction
An in-ground pool may also be possible with written approval. Above-ground swimming pools are not permitted.
Hill Creek Ridge
Pools may be added with written approval. Permanent above-ground pools are not permitted.
If a pool is important to you, let Homes by Faircroft know before choosing your homesite so the lot's setbacks, drainage, utilities and other site conditions can be considered.
Can I build a workshop, barn or storage building?
Arborwood
An outbuilding may be possible with written architectural approval. Its size, appearance, location and design may be subject to additional community guidelines.
Junction
Workshops, storage buildings and other outbuildings may also be possible with written approval and must follow applicable community standards.
Hill Creek Ridge
Hill Creek Ridge specifically addresses barns, workshops, equipment buildings and storage buildings. These improvements must meet established placement and design standards and receive written approval.
If a workshop or barn is one of your must-haves, it is best to discuss it before selecting a lot.
Can I build a guest house or second home?
Arborwood
A second dwelling, accessory dwelling unit, garage apartment or separate apartment is not permitted.
Junction
Junction also allows only one dwelling on a homesite and does not permit a separate garage apartment or second residential unit.
Hill Creek Ridge
Hill Creek Ridge is different. Its community documents address certain detached guest quarters, but the proposed design and use require written approval and should be confirmed before planning the improvement.
Can I have horses, chickens, goats or other animals?
The answer depends heavily on the community.
Arborwood
Livestock, poultry and other non-household animals are not permitted. Household pets are allowed subject to the community guidelines.
Junction
Livestock, poultry and other non-household animals are also not permitted at Junction.
Hill Creek Ridge
Hill Creek Ridge allows certain farm animals on tracts of at least three acres, subject to specific limits. Swine and roosters are not permitted, and commercial poultry operations are not allowed.
If keeping animals is important to the way you plan to use your acreage, Hill Creek Ridge may offer different possibilities than Arborwood or Junction.
Can I keep an RV, boat or trailer on my property?
Acreage does not necessarily mean recreational vehicles or equipment can remain visible on the property.
Arborwood
A qualifying recreational vehicle may generally be in the driveway for up to 48 consecutive hours for loading or unloading. Longer-term storage must generally be concealed from public view in an appropriate garage or approved enclosure.
Junction
Junction has a similar 48-hour loading and unloading window, with longer-term storage generally requiring the vehicle to be concealed from public view.
Hill Creek Ridge
Boats, RVs, trailers, tractors, ATVs and similar equipment generally need to be enclosed or screened from view. Hill Creek Ridge also provides limited loading and visitor-RV allowances.
Can I install fencing?
Yes, but fencing should be planned with the specific community in mind.
Arborwood
Fencing requires written architectural approval.
Junction
Fencing also requires written approval and includes guidelines regarding placement relative to the street and home.
Hill Creek Ridge
Hill Creek Ridge has more detailed fencing standards, including requirements for certain roadway-facing fencing and limits on some fence materials. Written approval is required.
Will my acreage home use a private well?
Arborwood
Individual private water wells are not permitted.
Junction
Each homesite is intended to be served by its own private water-well system, which the homeowner maintains.
Hill Creek Ridge
Each homesite also uses a private water well, with written approval required before drilling.
Will I need a septic system?
Junction
Yes. Each Junction homesite requires a private septic system, with the homeowner responsible for permitting, installation and maintenance.
Hill Creek Ridge
Hill Creek Ridge homesites also require private septic systems.
Arborwood
The governing document reviewed does not provide enough lot-specific information by itself to answer every water and wastewater service question. Current service should be confirmed for the specific homesite.
Can I clear trees or significantly change the property?
That depends on the community and the scope of the work.
Arborwood and Junction require approval for certain tree removal and significant changes to grading, landscaping and other exterior improvements.
Hill Creek Ridge specifically states that the property should not be completely clear-cut and encourages preservation of existing trees.
Is every acre of an acreage homesite usable?
Not necessarily.
The number of acres tells you the overall property size, but it does not tell you exactly where every future improvement can go.
For example, the placement of a:
- Home
- Pool
- Workshop
- Garage
- Well
- Septic system
- Driveway
- Fence
may be affected by setbacks, easements, drainage and other site conditions.
A survey and site plan provide a much better picture of how the property may work for your plans. Your source specifically recommends evaluating the buildable area after those conditions are shown, rather than relying only on total acreage.
Planning Something Specific? Tell Us Early.
If you already know you want something particular on your property, tell Homes by Faircroft before you choose your homesite.
That could include:
- A swimming pool
- Workshop
- Barn
- Detached garage
- RV or boat storage
- Horses or other animals
- Guest quarters
- Certain fencing
- A large outdoor living area
The earlier we understand what matters to you, the easier it is to help you compare communities and homesites with those priorities in mind.
The source material you provided specifically recommends identifying must-have uses before purchase and getting written guidance from the party responsible for approving the proposed improvement rather than relying on what may exist on another property.
Finding the Right Acreage Is About More Than the Number of Acres
The question isn't simply:
“How much land am I buying?”
A better question is:
“Will this homesite work for the way I want to live?”
One buyer may want room for an in-ground pool.
Another may want a workshop.
Another may want horses.
And someone else may simply want a larger backyard, more space between neighboring homes and a quieter setting.
Those priorities can point buyers toward very different properties.
Homes by Faircroft offers multiple acreage opportunities so buyers can compare not only how much land they want, but also how they hope to use it.
Explore Homes by Faircroft Acreage Communities
Arborwood — Waller, Texas
1+ acre homesites
Junction — Needville, Texas
1–1.5 acre homesites
Hill Creek Ridge — Washington, Texas
2–5 acre homesites
Also read: 1/2 Acre vs. 1 Acre vs. 2-5 Acres: How Much Land Do You Really Need?
This FAQ is intended as a general overview. Community documents, plats, architectural guidelines, amendments, governmental requirements and property-specific conditions control. Buyers should confirm any important future use or improvement before purchasing a homesite or beginning work.
