Real Estate Photographer in San Marcos, TX

For just the third time in school history, the Texas State Bobcats are hosting the nation’s No. 1 team in San Marcos when the Texas Longhorns travel down I-35 to Bobcat Ballpark on Tuesday for their only road midweek matchup of the season.

In 2022, No. 1-ranked Texas played in San Marcos against an upset-minded Texas State team that nearly pulled off the feat, falling 9-8 in front of a record crowd with the help of a home run and four RBI from first baseman Ivan Melendez and two hits and three RBI from shortstop Trey Faltine. Reliever Aaron Nixon walked the bases loaded in the ninth before recording the final out to earn his third save of the season.

The season quickly started to come apart at the seams for the Longhorns, however, as the Bobcats won 6-4 in Austin the following day, news broke that star pitcher Tanner Witt needed Tommy Johnson surgery, and an ambitious spring-break trip to South Carolina resulted in a series defeat by the Gamecocks and an embarrassing loss to College of Charleston.

While the Longhorns eventually finished 14-10 in the Big 12, Texas hosted a regional and won it in three games before rallying to win the final two games of the Greenville Super Regional against East Carolina to advance to the College World Series, but lost both games in Omaha to end the season in disappointment, including a 10-2 defeat by Jim Schlossnagle’s first Texas A&M team in the loser’s bracket.

The struggles against Texas State in Austin have continued with the 5-3 loss at UFCU Disch-Falk Field to open April marking the fourth straight home loss to the Bobcats and the fifth loss in the last seven games of the series.

The second midweek loss of the season for Texas came after a road sweep of Missouri that saw the Longhorns outscore the Tigers 29-9, but also suffer two significant injuries — a fractured thumb sustained by junior right fielder Max Belyeu that could keep him out for the remainder of the season and a hand injury sustained by versatile freshman Adrian Rodriguez that continues to impact him at the plate.

With neither player in the lineup against the Bobcats and junior catcher Rylan Galvan serving as the designated hitter after taking a foul ball off his throwing hand, the Longhorns scuffled offensively for much of the game, striking out 12 times and leaving 11 runners on base.

The longest outing of sophomore left-hander Kade Bing’s Texas career lasted 6.1 hitless innings and 81 pitches against Texas State during which he allowed a run and issued three walks while striking out two.

With the Horns leading 2-1 entering the eighth with freshman right-hander Jason Flores on the mound, Texas remained in control until a two-out double and an error by sophomore center fielder Will Gasparino near the wall in center that scored a run. After an infield single plated another Bobcat, Texas State took the lead on a two-run home run.

CRUSHED IT!!!#EatEmUp #SlamMarcos x @iancollier2021 pic.twitter.com/933uoX0JEc

— Texas State Baseball (@TxStateBaseball) April 2, 2025

Texas tried to mount a rally in the ninth against Texas State’s No. 1 starter Alex Valentin that got off to a promising starter when sophomore right fielder Tommy Farmer drew a leadoff walk and scored on a double by junior right fielder Jayden Duplantier. After sophomore second baseman Ethan Mendoza struck out on a full count for his third strikeout of the evening, junior shortstop Jalin Flores singled and Galvan drew a full-count walk to load the bases with one out. But Gasparino popped out weakly to right field and senior first baseman Kimble Schuessler hit a line drive just low enough for the Texas State second baseman to make the play on it and end the game.

: Last night's final out at Disch-Falk#EatEmUp #SlamMarcos pic.twitter.com/5PkssyzjcT

— Texas State Baseball (@TxStateBaseball) April 2, 2025

Despite the issues beating the Bobcats at home, the Horns have won five straight in San Marcos and 10 of 12 overall. In addition to the challenges of hosting the nation’s top-ranked team, Texas State also has to balance playing a second midweek game on Wednesday against Tarleton State.

Texas State has an uneven record in midweek games this season, winning four against Big 12 and SEC opponents, but failing to secure a midweek game against a lesser opponent until beating Houston Christian last week.

It’s not a strong offensive team, either — the team batting average is .245 with a .366 slugging percentage and none of the regular starters are hitting over .300. The team leader in home runs only has five on the season.

On Tuesday, the Bobcats will start right-hander Austin Eaton (2-2, 7.25 ERA), who is making his third consecutive midweek start and has 14 strikeouts in 22.1 innings this season.

First pitch is at 6:30 p.m. Central on ESPN+.

H-E-B is moving forward with plans for San Marcos' third grocery store. The bustling college town could see the new store open by the fall of 2026 that will house the city's first True Texas BBQ.

The San Antonio-based grocery giant filed the plans for the $30 million store on Monday, April 7, with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The filing says construction on the 118,945-square-foot store is forecast to begin on September 1 and could be completed by October 2026.

The H-E-B stores currently open in San Marcos are located at 200 W. Hopkins St. and 641 E. Hopkins St., both located less than half a mile away from Texas State University.

The new store will sit on 17.67 acres at Interstate 35 and McCarty Lane, giving non-university residents and those students who live off campus an easier time to shop for their favorite H-E-B products.

H-E-B said in a news release in October the location will include curbside pickup and home delivery options, a pharmacy, full-service bakery, tortilleria, meat market, seafood counter and deli, Sushiya, Meal Simple selection area, beer and wine department with sampling stations, a large Blooms floral area and Texas Front Porch which offers products for grilling, gardening, and outdoor entertaining.

It will also include a fuel station and car wash and is anticipated to employ 212 full-time partners and 238 part-time employees, a news release by the city said.

San Marcos has earned the designation for "best college town" in 2023, 2024 and 2025 by Texas Football Life.

IKEA is expected to open a new small-scale store in San Marcos in spring 2025, possibly offering an alternative to how students furnish their spaces.

According to a press release from the company, the new store will be in the San Mar Plaza shopping center at 917 SH-80 N, which is 0.8 miles from Texas State’s campus.

“Covering approximately 35,000 square feet, IKEA San Marcos will showcase ‘local living’ solutions, tailored to local preferences that reflect the unique everyday needs of the San Marcos community. This store will offer more than 2,500 products on display,” the company wrote in the press release.

Though not all of IKEA’s products will be available in Texas’ first small-format store, it will offer home delivery and in-store pickup for its full range. The store will also feature a small marketplace section with popular IKEA food products.

“No more trekking through that notorious I-35 traffic—now you can enjoy IKEA and our inspiring home design with less hassle. IKEA San Marcos brings our signature styles closer to the community,” Keena Garcia, market manager of IKEA U.S. wrote in the press release.

Skylynn Denning, an employee at IKEA in Live Oak, said affordability, especially with small, essential items, brings many students in.

According to the National Retail Federation, students and their families spent $1,200 on average on back-to-college spending in 2021.

Cyla Hudson, public health senior, said she bought most of the essentials for her apartment for around $1,000 at IKEA but also sees many students getting their furnishings at Target and Walmart.

Many students prioritize affordability in furnishings, buying their furniture secondhand at Goodwill and on Facebook Marketplace, according to a Reddit post The Star posted. Additionally, some utilized discount stores like Marshalls and Ross.

IKEA has a section dedicated to dorm furniture on their website which shows a variety of small items for prices as low as $1.99. Despite this, other stores are more affordable for larger items. Walmart charges $124 for a sleeper sofa, Target prices a similar item at $112 and IKEA prices theirs at $249.

“During the summertime, especially, is when we have our discounts for students. We do give 15% off and 20% off, so that’s usually around the time [of] back to school,” Denning said.

Bed frames and shower items are often the most bought by students with these discounts, according to Denning.

IKEA is cheaper than competitors in terms of bathroom accessories, charging $7.99 for a shower caddy, while Target prices theirs at $18.99, more than doubling IKEA’s price.

The San Marcos location will be IKEA’s fifth location in Central Texas, with other stores in Austin, Round Rock and Live Oak. However, for students like Hudson it can be difficult for students who do not have cars to access these.

Hudson said she bought furniture for her apartment at IKEA in Houston, but found it difficult to move her purchases to San Marcos.

“[IKEA is] very affordable compared to the things that are around,” Hudson said. “A lot of students would use [IKEA in San Marcos] because it’ll be more affordable stuff.”

Over the last decade, Hays County has experienced significant growth. With a population increase of roughly 21% according to the 2020 census. It is now one of the fastest-growing regions in Texas.

However, this growth leads to rising housing costs and traffic congestion. Students can play a pivotal role in helping address these challenges and ensure San Marcos remains a welcoming and sustainable city.

“Texas State University strengthens the local community by driving economic growth, supporting businesses and creating opportunities for residents,” Page Michel, president of the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce, said.

According to a 2021 study conducted by William T. Chittenden, former presidential fellow at Texas State, the university had an economic impact of over $2 billion on the state of Texas, creating nearly 16,000 jobs. These numbers are more than just statistics, they represent real sustained growth and development for the community.

Hays County has seen explosive economic growth in recent years. With a 2023 GDP of approximately $10.14 billion, the county ranks 30th in Texas for economic output.

While this impacts some residents positively, many also notice growing pains. An influx of students, faculty, staff and visitors, compounded by yearly record-breaking enrollment figures, can affect local residents negatively. This is particularly felt in the housing market.

The city is working to respond to housing affordability challenges, according to the San Marcos City Council. The city’s Strategic Housing Action Plan aims to tackle affordability; however, it has yet to be adopted by the council.

At the same time, increased traffic has made commutes more frustrating, with roads struggling to accommodate the rising population. Due to the historic nature of the city’s downtown, expanding existing infrastructure is challenging, making alternative transportation solutions even more critical.

“I would love to see students and residents rely less on single-vehicle transit and more on carpooling and public transport,” Michel said.

Texas State University is also taking active steps to address these issues. The university’s Core-4 Initiative, a collaborative project between Texas State, The city of San Marcos and community stakeholders, focuses on improving housing, workforce development, transportation and sustainability. This initiative can help ensure the growth of the university and the city benefits all residents.

The expansion of Texas State has also contributed to changes in San Marcos’ demographics. New student apartment complexes are replacing older, more affordable housing, pushing rent higher and altering the city’s cultural identity.

To balance growth and affordability, the city and university must invest in mixed-income housing, strengthen tenant protections and support local businesses. Encouraging student engagement with the community can also help preserve San Marcos’ cultural identity while ensuring sustainable, inclusive development.

Students at Texas State have a unique opportunity to be part of the solution. By getting involved in local initiatives, supporting local businesses and applying pressure on the city council to adopt additional steps, students can help bridge the gap between the university’s expansion and the needs of long-term residents.

“We would love for every student to have a permanent home here, analyze gaps and leakages in the local economy and allow our local community to thrive,” Michel said.

Additionally, students can advocate for policies that ensure San Marcos remains a place where both students and families can thrive. Actively participating in community actions will allow students to play a critical role in shaping the future of San Marcos.

“The involvement of students is crucial in ensuring the continued success of both Texas State and the community of San Marcos,” Michel said. “We need the energy and ideas of the next generation to make San Marcos a place where everyone can thrive.”

Village at Centerpoint Station will consist of 270 homes on 24 acres near the outlet malls. At the end of this report, check out a list of volume homebuilders in the metro.

A national developer of build-to-rent housing is bringing more of it to Central Texas after securing financing for a new project in San Marcos.

Arizona-based Empire Group of Cos. will build its next build-to-rent neighborhood across I-35 from the San Marcos Premium Outlets, said Bryan Freel, Empire's managing director of development. With groundbreaking for the project, called Village at Centerpoint Station, expected to happen later this month, Empire has secured a $58 million construction loan arranged by Arizona-based Tower Capital, according to an announcement.

Empire Group is a major developer of build-to-rent housing, with more than 5,000 units either in pre-development, development, lease-up or completion stages across the country. Village at Centerpoint Station will consist of 270 homes on 24 acres at the northwest intersection of I-35 and Center Point Road, according to the announcement. That’s a density of about 11 homes per acre.

Build-to-rent housing is aimed partly at filling a gap for people ready to graduate from apartment living but not quite prepared to purchase a home. ABJ scrutinized build-to-rent business plans earlier this month.

At Village at Centerpoint Station, single-story homes available to rent will include 680-square-foot, one-bedroom homes; 1,015-square-foot, two-bedroom homes; and 1,283-square-foot, three-bedroom homes. Two-story homes also will be available, with 1,260-square-foot, two-bedroom floor plans.

Freel said the first move-ins are expected in summer 2026.

Plano-based BBL Building Co., which Freel called “one of the most experienced BTR contractors in the country,” is the general contractor. BBL Building Co. also is the general contractor for one of Empire’s Fort Worth build-to-rent projects, The Village at Golden Triangle.

Tower Capital specializes in arranging debt for build-to-rent neighborhoods as well as for industrial, multifamily, office, retail and hospitality projects. In total, Tower Capital has arranged more than $2.3 billion in financing for build-to-rent projects, including more than $100 million in construction financing over the past three months in Texas alone.

Tower Capital also has a history with Empire Group. Kyle McDonough, managing partner and co-founder of Tower Capital, said his firm has been part of around 15 deals with Empire.

McDonough said Austin’s high vacancy rates in the multifamily sector could cause lenders to be more conservative when financing build-to-rent projects. Still, he said those able to get financing now could be well positioned.

“If you can put product in the ground today, although we’ve got a lot of supply, in 2026 that supply falls off a cliff,” he said. “If people can deliver their product in 2026 or 2027, they’re going to be in very, very good shape.”

DR Horton tops volume homebuilders list by sales in Austin area

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