Lake LBJ Homes for Sale, Horseshoe Bay to Kingsland

More About Lake LBJ Homes for Sale

Work With Lake LBJ Waterfront Specialists

Buyers researching the Highland Lakes often arrive at Lake LBJ asking the same question: why does it command such a premium? The answer starts with one thing most Highland Lakes cannot offer, a water level that stays constant year-round. No drought fluctuations, no dock adjustments, no uncertainty about what the shoreline looks like after a dry summer. That stability, combined with roughly 6,500 acres of Hill Country water, a range of communities from the resort lifestyle of Horseshoe Bay to the relaxed pace of Granite Shoals and Sunrise Beach, and one of the strongest short-term rental markets in Central Texas, makes Lake LBJ a destination for lifestyle buyers and investment buyers alike.

Hunter Croan, owner of The Lakefront Group, leads a team with deep roots across the Highland Lakes and access to Lake LBJ properties that never reach a public listing. At a lake where some of the most desirable homes change hands quietly, that access matters.

Billy Stephens brings more than a decade of building materials sales experience to every Lake LBJ transaction, and that background goes well beyond dock and exterior work. In Granite Shoals, Billy identified a kitchen and outdated flooring as the reason a seller was fielding offers far below the home's potential. He connected them with the right contractors, the renovation came in just under $100,000, and the home sold off-market for $300,000 more than pre-renovation offers. For sellers looking to maximize what their Lake LBJ property is worth, that kind of pre-listing insight and contractor access is hard to find.

Brooke LeMond grew up right around the corner from the lake in Llano and works Lake LBJ year after year, most recently representing buyers in Kingsland, Granite Shoals, and Horseshoe Bay, including two Granite Shoals purchases that never hit the MLS. Her clients tend to stay with her: several have used her for personal and investment purchases over more than a decade, and one recent Lake LBJ buyer put it simply, "Not only is she a very knowledgeable real estate agent, she is really fun to be around." As a certified KW Real Estate Planner, Brooke also handles the questions that come up constantly on a second-home lake, from 1031 exchanges to capital gains timing, so buyers and sellers get the tax and planning side of the decision worked out alongside the property itself.

Lake LBJ Communities

Lake LBJ runs about 21 miles from Kingsland at the upper end to Wirtz Dam at Horseshoe Bay, and Lake LBJ real estate is not one market: the communities along that stretch differ more than first-time buyers expect in resort amenities or none, short-term rentals allowed or restricted, open water or cove, and which side of the lake you are on. We maintain individual pages for the seven areas buyers ask about most.

Horseshoe Bay is the resort end of the lake, a small city on the south shore near the dam with the three Robert Trent Jones Sr. courses at Horseshoe Bay Resort, the resort marina, and a private airport. It carries the highest price tier on Lake LBJ and a larger share of full-time residents than anywhere else on the lake, and its two most exclusive waterfront neighborhoods, Applehead Island and Blue Lake, each have their own page below.

Applehead Island is a gated island community inside Horseshoe Bay with a single road entrance, around-the-clock security, and some of the most substantial waterfront estates on the lake. Inventory is thin and sellers here value privacy, so a meaningful share of what trades on the island never appears in a public listing.

Blue Lake is a peninsula neighborhood on the west side of Horseshoe Bay with its own waterfront park, a nine-hole golf course at its center, and a community boat launch. The housing stock mixes original 1960s through 1980s lake houses with newer construction, which makes it one of the better places to find a Horseshoe Bay address without an Applehead Island budget.

Kingsland sits at the upper end of the lake where the Llano River meets the Colorado, with water on three sides of town. Lots and homes tend to be larger for the money than at the resort end, and it is the most short-term-rental-friendly part of Lake LBJ, which is why many of the investment buyers we work with start their search here.

Granite Shoals is the largest city on the lake, on the east shore across from Sunrise Beach, with nearly 20 city parks on the water and a mostly natural shoreline. It is the middle of the market in both price and pace: a real neighborhood feel, tighter short-term rental rules than Kingsland, and a short boat ride to everything else on the lake.

Sunrise Beach is a village of under a thousand residents on the west shore, known for its shallow sandbars and a social, boat-up culture. The land is less developed and more spread out than the east side, and it offers some of the more accessible waterfront price points on Lake LBJ.

Highland Haven is a small residential lake community on the east shore between Granite Shoals and Kingsland, with a few hundred residents, a natural shoreline, and calm morning water that makes it a favorite for skiing and wakeboarding before afternoon traffic picks up. It is the quiet answer for buyers who want a full-size lake house away from the resort scene.

Homes on Lake LBJ and Who Buys Them

Lake LBJ real estate runs from waterfront condos and original lake cottages to new-construction estates on open water, and the live listings above show the current range of Lake LBJ homes for sale. Most buyers here are second-home owners, with Horseshoe Bay holding more full-time residents than the rest of the lake. Drive time shapes who shows up: San Antonio, Austin, and Midland and Odessa buyers make up most of our Lake LBJ clients. Fewer come from Dallas-Fort Worth, which has closer lakes of its own, and only a handful from Houston, which sits just beyond the three-hours-or-less rule most lake house buyers stick to.

Because the water level holds year-round, Lake LBJ has also become one of the stronger short-term rental markets in the Highland Lakes, and a good share of buyers are weighing a purchase as both a lifestyle decision and an investment. If that is you, start with our Lake LBJ investment and short-term rental homes for sale, and read our take on whether waterfront property is worth the investment before deciding how much of your decision should ride on rental income.

Things to Do Around Lake LBJ

Lake life here starts on the water: boating, skiing, wakeboarding, tubing, and long afternoons on the sandbars. Off the water, the lake's biggest draw is Horseshoe Bay Resort, with multiple restaurants, pools, the resort marina, and the three Robert Trent Jones Sr. golf courses (Slick Rock, Ram Rock, and Apple Rock), plus the members-only Summit Rock course by Jack Nicklaus. The resort operates as a private club, but parts of it are open to the public, including the Waterfront Bar and Grill on the lake. Lake LBJ Yacht Club and Marina, next door to the resort at the south end of the dam, offers slips, boat rentals, and a bar and grill of its own. Boat-up dining runs the length of the lake from Kingsland to Sunrise Beach, and our guide to five exceptional waterfront restaurants on Lake LBJ covers the ones we send clients to.

Lake LBJ Schools

Lake LBJ straddles the Burnet and Llano county line, and school zoning follows the address, not the lake. Most homes on the south and east shores, including the Burnet County side of Horseshoe Bay, Granite Shoals, and Highland Haven, fall in Marble Falls ISD. Kingsland, Sunrise Beach, and the Llano County portion of Horseshoe Bay are zoned to Llano ISD, a smaller district where class sizes run lower. Some addresses north of the lake fall in Burnet CISD. Confirm zoning with the district for any specific property before you buy.

Lake LBJ Real Estate FAQs

Is Lake LBJ a constant-level lake?

Yes. Lake LBJ is one of the few Highland Lakes maintained at a constant level year-round, managed by Wirtz Dam on the Colorado River. The LCRA does lower the lake occasionally for dam maintenance and to let owners work on docks (LCRA, September 2026), but day to day the level holds. That consistency is a significant reason Lake LBJ holds its value well and makes dock planning, shoreline improvements, and water access more predictable than on variable lakes. Read more about how lake levels affect property values in Central Texas.

What communities are on Lake LBJ?

Lake LBJ has several distinct communities, each with its own character and price range. Horseshoe Bay is the most developed, with resort amenities, world-class golf, and a full-service marina. Applehead Island is a gated community with some of the most exclusive waterfront estates on the lake. Kingsland offers more space for the money and is one of the most STR-friendly communities on the lake. Granite Shoals is the largest community on Lake LBJ and strikes a balance between small-town feel and lake access. Sunrise Beach draws buyers looking for a relaxed, less developed atmosphere with affordable price points. Highland Haven and Blue Lake round out the lake with quieter residential options. Knowing the differences between these areas matters as much as the property itself.

Is Lake LBJ good for short-term rentals?

Lake LBJ is one of the strongest short-term rental markets in the Highland Lakes, with consistent demand from Austin and San Antonio visitors year-round. STR rules and HOA restrictions vary significantly by community, so buyers pursuing rental income should evaluate those details carefully before purchase. Browse our Lake LBJ investment and short-term rental homes for sale, and read more: Are Short-Term Rental Lake Houses a Good Investment?

What is a fill area on Lake LBJ?

On some Lake LBJ properties, the land between the recorded property boundary and the waterline is not owned by the seller. It may be owned by the LCRA or by an entirely separate individual. Either way, if a buyer does not own all the way to the water, they are not purchasing a true waterfront property regardless of how the listing presents it. Understanding exactly who owns the fill area before making an offer is one of the most important due diligence steps on Lake LBJ. Read more: Fill Property and the Highland Lakes: Understanding Your Boundaries.

How does Lake LBJ compare to Lake Austin?

Lake LBJ is larger, more community-driven, and generally more accessible in price than Lake Austin, which sits closer to downtown Austin and carries a higher entry floor. Lake Austin draws buyers looking for urban-adjacent waterfront luxury, while Lake LBJ appeals to a broader mix of lifestyle buyers, second-home buyers, and investors. For a full comparison, read Lake LBJ vs. Lake Austin.

What else should buyers look for when comparing Lake LBJ homes?

Beyond the home itself, focus on open water versus cove position, dock size and condition, depth at the waterline, rules around short-term rentals, and proximity to resort amenities and marinas. Constant water level removes one variable, but location on the lake still significantly influences long-term value and daily enjoyment. For a deeper look at how community affects pricing across the Highland Lakes, read Understanding Waterfront Communities Pricing on the Highland Lakes.

Contact The Lakefront Group for Lake LBJ Real Estate

Whether you are buying your first lake house, moving up to open water, or selling a Lake LBJ property that deserves a serious marketing effort, our Highland Lakes specialists know this lake community by community and have access to Lake LBJ homes for sale that never reach a public listing. Contact The Lakefront Group or call 830.253.5253 to get started.

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