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Kelly and Sara and Melissa and Christopher are at a crossroads on this episode of Chasing the West. They have to decide: What are they willing to risk for their dream life? Kelly and Sara are hoping to escape the city to start their own horse training business outside of Dallas, while Melissa and Christopher want to move their family to the country for more peace and open space. But with so much to discuss—like budget, must-haves, work and personal life—they need to think about what’s worth it and what they can give up when it comes to this new adventure.
And they can’t do it alone. So they’re calling on Drew and Jonathan for their expertise—not just in real estate, but also in horse ranch living and property maintenance. There’s a lot that goes in to taking care of an acreage, and when it comes to these markets, they need advice from the two who know it best. So, Drew and Jonathan are helping them find their dream properties, and dusting off their cowboy boots to make it happen.
Kelly and Sara
Kelly first met Sara while she was looking for a new facility for her Friesian horse, Leo. The two clicked immediately, and have since decided to start a business together. Sara is a professional horse trainer and a dressage Olympian originally from Italy, and Kelly is dreaming of owning her own equestrian business. So, they’re risking it all in hopes of running a successful horse training business together in Texas. Kelly needs the property to be within driving distance of Dallas, since her marketing job is located there and many of her dressage clients will be coming from the city. With a budget of $2M, Kelly and Sara are hoping for 8 – 15 acres of land, with a barn and arena for their horse business as well as a move-in ready 3-bedroom home on the property. They’re aiming for Princeton, Texas, as you get a lot of space in the area while still being close enough to Dallas.
Casita Bonita
10 acres | $1.55M | 3 bed/3 bath
The property itself is beautiful—with a sprawling 10-acre landscape and plenty of room to expand and build the barns and arena exactly how they’d like. There’s also a casita on-site that’s perfect for events or a client lounge. But the interior of the home on the property is very rustic, and it doesn’t fit Kelly’s style at all. Luckily, it’s just cosmetic, so she wouldn’t have to do much heavy lifting to get the home where she wants it to be.
Equine Divine
9.53 acres | $1.94M | 4 bed/3 bath
Though this property is at the top of their budget, Kelly and Sara would be able to start up their business immediately, as there’s already a barn, stalls, and arena built and ready to use. Plus, the house that Kelly would be living in is much more her style than the previous one, with more modern touches. However, the house is very close to the horse facilities, which isn’t ideal. And with the high price tag, there isn’t much room for renovations or changes.
Kelly and Sara ultimately decided to go with Equine Divine. It had everything they needed to get started on their dressage business, Fortebella, and at two months in, they’ve begun to make a home here on the property. They’re building up their client list already, and planning a bunch of different events for new members.
Melissa and Christopher
Christopher is an air traffic controller, and Melissa runs her own homeschooling business. Together with their three boys, the family wants to move into a space where they can grow. With horses, four dogs, 13 chickens, and four ducks, it’s safe to say their current home isn’t cutting it. “With the hustle and bustle of the kids and the job, it gets overwhelming,” Christopher says. “So tranquility is very important for us—just be able to step out, take a breath, and be away from it all.” Christopher and Melissa are looking to Palmdale, California for their new home. It’s a nice blend of quiet, open space, but you’re not too far away from the city, either. They want at least 2 acres, with room for all the animals, and proximity to Christopher’s job for under $950K.
The ’70s Dust Up
2.6 acres | $850K | 4 bed/3 bath
This first property is one that Melissa and Chris actually found themselves, but they want the Bros’ opinion on it to see whether or not it’d actually be a good investment. It’s definitely a fixer-upper, but it’s also extremely close to Chris’s job, and it has the acreage they want to house their animals. Drew and Jonathan think that if they’re ready to put in the work, and the seller is willing to come down in price, it could be a great place for them.
The Desert Rose Oasis
2.5 acres | $1.1M | 3 bed/2 bath
Just down the road from The ’70s Dust Up, this property is a bit more move-in ready and much different than other properties they’ve seen online. There’s lots of trees and gardens, and beautiful foliage surrounding it. However, it is far above their budget at $1.1M, and even though it has everything they want inside and out, Chris and Melissa would have to think about whether or not the convenience outweighs the price.
The Far Flung Frontier
2.1 acres | $640K | 4 bed/4 bath
This one is pretty much a completely blank canvas. There aren’t any trees, buildings, or plants anywhere on the property, and it’s basically just a house on an empty lot. Plus, it’s about a 40-minute commute to Chris’s job. However, with so much room in their budget to work with here, it could be the perfect place to make their homestead exactly what they want. The home is relatively new, too, with beautiful modern finishes and a nice layout, so they wouldn’t have to do anything to the house upon move-in.
After negotiating with the seller on The ’70s Dust Up, the two just weren’t on the same page in terms of value. So, Christopher and Melissa thought that instead of buying a property they’d have to put hundreds of thousands of dollars into to make it perfect for them, why not just go with the property that has everything they want already? In the end, they went with The Desert Rose Oasis, and they’re over the moon. The kids are loving their new home, and even though it’s taking time to get acclimated to the amount of work that goes into a ranch property, the family couldn’t be happier.
Making Their Dreams a Reality in the West
They’re finally going to have their own little slice of paradise.
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