I have not written about an actual real estate auction in so long, I have to double-check how to even spell it: AUCTION.
This one is up in beautiful Pilot Point, the North Texas home of loamy soil and Texas’ horse country extraordinaire, which makes it the most incredible horse riding and rearing part of the Southwest. It’s called Sunset Pines Ranch. Sandy loam soil has sand and silt, but packs in lower levels of clay. It doesn’t crack when dry and hard, which means horses’ delicate hooves don’t get caught in the cracks. This eliminates potential injuries. Loam is considered also ideal for gardening and agricultural uses because it retains nutrients well and retains moisture while still allowing excess water to drain away. So … vineyards, anybody?
This is where former Exxon chairman and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has cutting horse ranches.
And here we find a fully renovated family home on under five completely fenced acres — a true modern farmhouse property. There is a sparkling pond, a turn-out pasture, stables, a workshop, and a complete equipment barn. There is enough room on this property for three families with not just the main house but a guest apartment, and a grooms/caretakers quarters.
Main House, Two Apartments, Stables, Pasture, and Pond
The main house is more than 5,000 square feet and has been completely gutted and renovated. Agents who toured the home were blown away to see how the owners renovated the existing circa 2014 structure down to the studs and slab. They added a phenomenal back porch consisting of a covered patio with a fireplace and sitting area.
For a dramatic entrance, they erected an impressive two-story covered porte-cochere at the front entryway after you drive through the stone ranch gate. The front door opens to spacious, open rooms and a flowing floor plan towards a large kitchen so new you can still smell the fresh cabinetry. The kitchen has a center island, a farm sink, and high-end gourmet cooking appliances.
The home has formals, three bedrooms, three full baths and a powder room, a home theater, a game room, a three-vehicle RV bay, and most vitally a wine room that doubles as a “safe room.”
You heard me right: the “safe room” doubles as a wine cellar! This is brilliant, by the way. I lived through the North Dallas EF-3 tornado of October 20, 2019, and we were in our tornado room (not a wine cellar, unfortunately) and I can tell you there is nothing you need more than a glass of wine — more like a bottle — when you hear that gusting wind overhead.)
A few more salient details about this home’s thoughtful renovation: the principal suite holds a vessel tub, the charming brick archway in the kitchen is crafted from historic bricks imported from the family’s 1869 farmhouse in Missouri, and the doors to the study are from an old 1800s U.S. Post Office in Indiana.
Want a Place Where the Wild Horses Roam? A Rare Chance May 5 to Make That Happen
This touch of history blends in with the community of Pilot Point, located less than an hour from downtown Dallas and convenient to all airports, the oldest settlement in Denton County, and a Texas Main Street City. The property is about 20 minutes from Highway 380, which is right off the Dallas North Tollway, what I call a two-phone call drive from North Dallas.
Sunset Pines Ranch is listed at $2.995 million and is to be auctioned on May 5 with no reserve by listing agents Natalie Swanson of Coldwell Banker Apex and Supreme Auctions’ Jennie Heal.
“At Supreme, we only auction luxury properties that fit within our strict parameters for quality of construction and design,” said Jennie Heal, president of Supreme Auctions.
The Pilot point area has grown tremendously in the last two years as North Texas homeowners have sought out more open living space and headed to Pilot Point, Aubry and Argyle. Located in Denton County, Pilot Point has a population of 4,867 and has expanded its population by 26.22 percent. There are only 1,207 people per square mile.
“And if you crave even more nature,” says Heal, “Ray Roberts Lake State Park‘s Johnson Branch and Isle du Bois Unit are mere minutes away.”
