Horizon Lake: A Close-In Leander Neighborhood Built Around a 25-Acre Lake

At a glance

Location

South end of Leander, almost into Cedar Park, near the 183 toll

Builders

Pulte Homes and Taylor Morrison, nearly sold out (as of May 2024)

Lots and homes

45, 50 and 60 ft lots; 1,500s to 3,500+ sq ft

Schools

Leander ISD: Pleasant Hill Elementary, Knox Wiley Middle, Rouse High School

Tax rate

2% (as of May 2024)

HOA

$40/month (as of May 2024)

Amenities

25-acre lake, miles of trails, covered playscape

Location: closer in than most of Leander

Most people who come out to Leander find it feels pretty far out. Horizon Lake is the exception. It's on the southern end of Leander, almost into Cedar Park, and about 15 minutes closer than neighborhoods like Santa Rita Ranch. It's amazing how centrally located it actually is.

• The 183 toll is a few minutes away, with "old 183" right behind the neighborhood
• H-E-B is within 5 minutes
• Whole Foods, Costco and restaurants are under 10 minutes
• The Brushy Creek Trail system is about 10 minutes away

Schools

Horizon Lake is in Leander ISD. As of my May 2024 tour, it was zoned to:

• Pleasant Hill Elementary
• Knox Wiley Middle School
• Rouse High School

Since I was a kid, Rouse has been one of the most sought-after high schools in Leander ISD. Zoning can change, so confirm it for the specific address.

The lake and amenities

The amenities center on Horizon Lake itself, a 25-acre reservoir. Around it you get miles of walking trails with two main loops, plus a covered playscape. That cover matters. As soon as August hits, you don't want to play on a playscape that's out in the sun.

Taxes and HOA

As of May 2024:

• Tax rate: only 2%. Neighborhoods like Santa Rita Ranch and Bar W were over 2%, in some cases as high as 2.5%.
• HOA: only $40 a month, about half of what a lot of similar communities charge.

My take: if you're not using a community pool all the time, there's no reason to pay for one in your dues. Take some of that savings and put it into a private gym membership.

Builders, homes and resale

Pulte Homes and Taylor Morrison built here. As of May 2024, they expected to sell out by the end of 2024, and Taylor Morrison had only four builds left. So going forward, most of your options will be resale.

That's not a bad thing. These homes were built in the last couple of years, and the structural warranty is tied to the home, not the owner. It transfers to you. Resales also had to compete with the builder, which can mean great value.

• Lots are 45, 50 and up to 60 feet (the 60-foot lots are Taylor Morrison)
• Homes run from the 1,500s to over 3,500 square feet
• One plan has an upstairs balcony that may get a lake view

I always appreciate it when builders go the extra mile to keep a neighborhood from feeling cookie-cutter, and you can see that effort here.

Who Horizon Lake fits

Pros - Close-in location near Cedar Park and the 183 toll - Leander ISD schools, including Rouse High - 2% tax rate and a $40 HOA (as of May 2024) - A 25-acre lake with trails and a shaded playscape - Newer homes with transferable structural warranties

Cons - New construction was nearly sold out in 2024, so expect mostly resale - If a big resort-style pool is what you want, the amenities here center on the lake

It fits buyers who want a newer home, a shorter drive and low carrying costs, and who'd use a lake trail more than a pool.

What's in the video

• 0:00Intro: Horizon Lake, south Leander
• 0:37What we'll cover
• 1:26Location vs other Leander communities
• 1:58183, H-E-B, Costco, Brushy Creek Trail
• 2:30Schools (Leander ISD)
• 3:01Tax rate 2%
• 3:25Horizon Lake amenities
• 3:50HOA $40/month
• 4:30Builders: Pulte, Taylor Morrison; sell-out
• 5:00Resale and warranty
• 5:24Lot and home sizes
• 6:11Final thoughts

Common questions