Garden Ridge is a small Comal County city on the northeast side of the San Antonio metro where most homes sit on three-quarter-acre or larger lots and very little vacant land is left — so most purchases are resales, and the due diligence looks more like a Hill Country acreage purchase than a subdivision purchase. The city had 4,186 residents at the 2020 Census. Its Master Land Use Plan (effective March 2018) describes a city that “primarily has 3/4 acre lots and larger.” The plan also notes that an active limestone quarry covers about 1,718 acres, or 36% of the city limits. This guide covers the Garden Ridge buying process step by step: the Comal County tax stack, the homestead exemptions, and the lot-level checks that matter here.
Brock Bremmer | U.S. Air Force Reserves Veteran | Real Estate Agent | eXp Realty
Northeast SA Corridor and VA Buyer Specialist
Also see: Living in Garden Ridge | Garden Ridge vs Schertz | Randolph AFB Guide
Step 1: Get Pre-Approved for the Price Point
- Pre-approval first: Because new inventory is limited, the right home may not stay on the market long. A written pre-approval lets you write an offer the same day
- VA buyers: Request your Certificate of Eligibility through VA.gov or your lender. With full entitlement, VA does not set a loan limit — your lender approves the amount you can afford, and the appraisal has to support the price. See our VA jumbo loan guide
- VA funding fee: 2.15% of the loan amount for first use with less than 5% down, 1.5% with 5% down, and 1.25% with 10% down. Veterans receiving VA disability compensation are generally exempt
- Appraisal on unique homes: Larger custom homes on bigger lots can have fewer close comparable sales. Ask your lender how it handles appraisal gaps before you write an offer
Step 2: Build the Comal County Tax Stack
| Taxing unit | 2025 adopted rate (per $100) | Source |
| Comal County | $0.2690 | Comal County 2025 tax rates |
| Comal County Lateral Road | $0.036015 | Comal County 2025 tax rates |
| City of Garden Ridge | $0.246430 | Comal County 2025 tax rates |
| Comal ISD | $1.0748 | Comal County 2025 tax rates |
| Emergency services district or other districts | Varies by address | Comal Appraisal District |
- Add it up for the address: These four rates total about $1.63 per $100 before any emergency services district and before exemptions. Confirm every taxing unit for the exact property at comalad.org
- Exemptions matter here: Texas school districts must exempt $140,000 of a homestead’s value. Comal ISD grants an additional 20% homestead exemption on top of that, and the Comal Appraisal District reports that Comal County provides a 20% local-option homestead exemption
- Give your lender the real numbers: Escrow estimates based on a generic county average can miss in either direction. Use the rates and exemptions for the specific address
Step 3: Do Large-Lot Due Diligence
- Survey and boundaries: On a three-quarter-acre or larger lot, order or review a current survey. Confirm fences, driveways, outbuildings, and easements line up with the recorded boundaries
- Wastewater: Ask whether the home is on an on-site sewage facility (septic) or a sewer connection. If it’s on septic, get an inspection and the maintenance records. TCEQ regulates on-site sewage facilities in Texas
- Water service: The City of Garden Ridge holds the water CCN within its city limits. Areas around the city are served by other providers, so confirm the provider for any address near the edge of town
- Deed restrictions and city rules: Get the deed restrictions and any HOA or POA documents, and check the city’s zoning and permit rules before you plan a pool, shop, or addition
Step 4: Check Location-Specific Disclosures
- Quarry proximity: The city’s Master Land Use Plan identifies the Hanson Materials quarry on the north side of the city and projects quarry use to continue for decades. If the home is on the north side, visit at different times of day and read the seller’s disclosure carefully
- Flood zones: The plan notes FEMA-designated flood areas in the city. Look up the property on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and get an insurance quote during your option period
- Option period: The TREC One to Four Family Residential Contract (Resale) gives you an option period you buy with an option fee. On a large-lot home, schedule the general, septic, and any specialty inspections in the first days
Step 5: Confirm the School Zone
- Garden Ridge Elementary is a Comal ISD campus located in Garden Ridge. Confirm the elementary, middle, and high school zone for the exact address with Comal ISD before you go under contract
- For school performance information, use the Texas Education Agency’s school report cards and the district directly
Step 6: Close and File Your Exemptions
- Homestead exemption: File Form 50-114 with the Comal Appraisal District once the home is your principal residence. That one filing is what triggers the state school exemption and the Comal ISD and Comal County local-option exemptions
- Disabled veterans: Texas Tax Code §11.131 provides a total residence homestead exemption for veterans rated 100% disabled or individually unemployable, and partial exemptions apply at lower ratings. File with your VA award letter
Frequently Asked Questions: How to Buy in Garden Ridge
What are the property tax rates in Garden Ridge, TX?
For 2025, Comal County lists these adopted rates: Comal County $0.2690, Comal County Lateral Road $0.036015, City of Garden Ridge $0.246430, and Comal ISD $1.0748 per $100. That’s about $1.63 per $100 before any emergency services district and before exemptions. Comal ISD adds a 20% homestead exemption on top of the state’s $140,000 school exemption, and Comal County provides a 20% local-option homestead exemption. Verify the exact address at comalad.org.
What should I inspect when buying a Garden Ridge home on a large lot?
Review a current survey and easements, confirm whether the home is on septic or sewer, inspect the septic system if there is one, confirm the water provider, read the deed restrictions, and check the FEMA flood map. If the home is on the north side of the city, also look at its distance from the quarry.
Ready to Buy in Garden Ridge?
Brock Bremmer with eXp Realty is a U.S. Air Force Reserves veteran who has closed 115+ homes. He helps Garden Ridge buyers build the full Comal County tax stack, file every exemption they qualify for, run large-lot due diligence, and structure VA financing at higher price points.
- 📞 Call or text: 210-501-5088
- 📧 Email: [email protected]
- 📅 Schedule a free consultation
Also see: Living in Garden Ridge | Garden Ridge vs Schertz | Randolph AFB Guide | VA Jumbo Loans | Comal County Taxes
Sources: Garden Ridge, Texas (2020 Census population); City of Garden Ridge Master Land Use Plan (eff. March 1, 2018); Comal County 2025 tax rates, all taxing units; Comal ISD current tax rate and 20% homestead exemption; Comal Appraisal District exemptions; Texas Comptroller, property tax exemptions; Garden Ridge Elementary (Comal ISD); TCEQ on-site sewage facilities; TREC Resale Contract; VA funding fee; VA loan limits; FEMA Flood Map Service Center.