Cristi McGowan Waco Realtor - NextHome Our Town

09/02/2026

Discover the world’s most beautiful ski homes.

No matter if you're a professional or still a trainee, every ski lover will love these 22 ski homes around the world!

08/30/2026

Small details like towel ring height make a big impact.

Find the perfect spot for your hand or bath towels with these towel ring placement ideas.

08/26/2026

Follow these tips to store your solar energy.

Learn how solar panels work with batteries to store energy, explore key storage methods, and see how solar + storage benefits homes, businesses, and off-grid systems.

08/23/2026

Find out how to choose the right color for hardwood floors.

Learn how to choose hardwood floor colors in this guide by 50Floor. Browse our current specials or schedule your in-home flooring consultation appointment!

08/20/2026

Homes in North Waco & China Spring (76708) are sitting for a median of 61 days before going under contract, but the more telling number is the 58 new listings that hit the market in just the past month — nearly a quarter of the current 229 active listings. This fresh inventory surge means buyers finally have choices again, though sellers who price strategically are still moving within two months.

MORE DATA> https://www.nexthomeourtown.com/blog/84/North+Waco++China+Spring+76708%3A+61+Days+on+Market%2C+58+New+Listings

08/19/2026

Data center development is expanding Waco’s economic orbit, with projects planned or under construction in Lacy Lakeview, Riesel, McGregor, and Bosque County. The activity is already influencing land values and industrial demand across McLennan County and nearby communities.

As of August 2026, the Lacy Lakeview Data District near Elm Mott is proposed for roughly 520 acres, with 925 MW of capacity, an option to reach 1.2 GW, and more than $2 billion in expected investment at full build-out. A non-binding annexation and utility-services MOU was approved in December 2025.

Near Riesel, Cipher Digital has proposed a hyperscale facility on 300 acres. Community concerns about noise, traffic, and land-use changes could affect the timeline. In McGregor, Galaxy Digital’s Project Merlin is planned for 500 acres in the industrial park, with approximately $400 million in expected construction investment.

The most immediate regional milestone is CyrusOne’s $1.2 billion DFW10 campus in Bosque County. With a signed 190-MW power agreement, construction is underway and operations are targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026. CyrusOne’s DFW17 expansion is also under construction through late 2026 and into 2027.

For property owners and investors, proximity to these corridors may increase interest in industrial and rural land, while infrastructure, utilities, traffic, and community approvals remain important factors.

08/19/2026

Save money while adding with these options.

From basics like light bulbs and plug sockets to upmarket items like robot vacuum cleaners, smart home essentials don't have to cost the earth.

08/17/2026

Inventory is up, year-over-year, which is hard for sellers still sitting on the market. You'll need to price your home ahead of any downward trends in pricing (separate graph).

looking at what inventory will do for the rest of year... sales eat up whatever inventory remains and the graph appears to show it as if sales increase. And that is typically true for October, but the downward trend on inventory is also a result of fewer listings coming on the market. At this point, sellers may be buckling down for the fall and holiday season, planning to list in the spring, per usual.

Buyers looking to close by the end of the year, especially first time buyers or those coming from hotter markets, could snag a great deal on an upgraded home.

Buyers who need to sell the current home first, well it's just going to depend whether you are looking to move up, down and the condition of your current home - meet with an experienced real estate agent to look at the data prior to making any hard decisions, especially those relying solely on Ai suggestions.

Happy Monday!

08/16/2026

Creating a welcoming home starts with thoughtful details and vision.

2026 exterior design styles are already shifting, and not in the way most expected! Here’s what we’re seeing right now and what’s fading out.

08/12/2026

Baylor University’s fall 2025 enrollment reached 20,626 students on a 1,000-acre Waco campus, supporting long-term demand for housing, retail, and mixed-use development. That growth is reinforced by downtown Waco’s riverfront and Brazos corridor redevelopment.

Baylor, the largest private university in Texas, draws students, faculty, staff, visiting families, and alumni. Its Give Light campaign has funded major campus facilities and infrastructure, signaling a long-term institutional commitment to Waco.

For real estate investors, properties near campus often attract student, graduate researcher, and university staff demand. Proximity can be a durable factor in rental performance, although it is not a guarantee.

Downtown Waco benefits from its location near Baylor and ongoing investment in restaurants, retail, hospitality, and mixed-use projects. Neighborhoods between campus and downtown may offer lower entry points, with demand from Baylor-adjacent workers, service employees, young professionals, and staff.

The broader market also has depth: McLennan County recorded 260,579 residents in the 2020 Census. Evaluating specific blocks, property condition, zoning, tenant demand, and operating costs remains essential, since every parcel is different.