Bar W Ranch: D.R. Horton's Upgraded Community in Leander

At a glance

Location

Leander, off Ronald Reagan Blvd, with Bar W Ranch Blvd connecting to Larkspur and 183

Opened

2020

Builders

D.R. Horton only (as of May 2026)

Home sizes

About 1,600 to close to 3,000 sq ft, many single-story

Schools

Liberty Hill ISD: Bar W Elementary (on site), Santa Rita Middle, Liberty Hill High School

Tax rate

About 2.7% (as of May 2026)

HOA

Not covered in my notes; ask me for the current amount

What's changed at Bar W Ranch

This area has completely exploded. When Bar W Ranch opened in 2020, you drove a long way for groceries. As of May 2026, there's a shopping center at the front of the neighborhood and a new road that changes how you get in and out.

D.R. Horton is still building here, with one or two more phases left. You can also find resale homes if you'd rather skip the build process.

Location and commute

The biggest complaint I've heard from everybody I've ever sold a house to in Santa Rita Ranch, Rancho Sienna or this neighborhood is Ronald Reagan and its stoplights.

Bar W Ranch Blvd fixed a lot of that. As of May 2026, it connects straight through to Larkspur and on to 183. From the neighborhood it's one stop sign and one stoplight, and then you're on the 183 toll road south toward the Domain, Apple or downtown. No more crawling down Ronald Reagan. The plan is for Bar W Ranch Blvd to become four lanes eventually.

If you commute south every day, this is the single biggest improvement to the neighborhood since it opened.

Shopping and what's nearby

Bar W Marketplace is open at the front of the neighborhood. As of May 2026, it has:

• A huge H-E-B
• Torchy's Tacos and a Mexican restaurant
• Banks and doctors' offices

That's only phase one. The center is planned to eventually straddle both sides of Ronald Reagan, and the second side was under construction when I filmed.

For families, Primrose and Goddard preschools are nearby, along with Divine Savior Academy (private) and the Harmony science and technology school off 2243. There's also an amenity center inside the neighborhood.

Homes and builders

Bar W Ranch is built entirely by D.R. Horton. What surprises people is that this is D.R. Horton's more upper-end product. As of May 2026, that includes:

• Full gutters
• A 30-year architectural shingle roof
• Brick on all four sides
• Better kitchen finishes and countertops

Homes range from about 1,600 square feet up to close to 3,000. A lot of the plans are single-story, and some homes sit on bigger lots. There's even a floor plan that's a single-story 5-bedroom, which is really rare to come across. If you need bedrooms but don't want stairs, that plan alone is worth a look.

Schools: Leander address, Liberty Hill ISD

Even with a Leander address, Bar W Ranch is zoned to Liberty Hill ISD. As of May 2026:

• Bar W Elementary, right in the neighborhood
• Santa Rita Middle, one of the highest rated middle schools in the district
• Liberty Hill High School

A new high school is under construction up Ronald Reagan. I imagine the neighborhood gets rezoned to it eventually, but there's no ETA, and it won't be for the 2026 to 2027 school year. Always confirm zoning for the specific address.

The tax rate: the biggest con

This is by far the biggest con of this neighborhood. As of May 2026, the tax rate is about 2.7%, one of the highest around Austin. That's because Bar W Ranch sits between a bunch of school districts and city limits.

For comparison, Rancho Sienna across the street is about 2.4%. Is that earth-shattering? Absolutely not. But about 0.3% more does add up on a $400,000 to $600,000 home, every year. Weigh it against nearby neighborhoods before you decide.

What's in the video

• 0:00What's Changed at Bar W Ranch
• 0:46Driving the Neighborhood
• 1:30Amenity Center Tour
• 2:30Home Styles & Builders
• 3:15New Construction Options
• 4:23Schools (Liberty Hill ISD)
• 5:15HOA Fees
• 5:45Tax Rate Breakdown
• 6:34Final Thoughts

Common questions