Trace is a newer master-planned community tucked into San Marcos, one of the fastest-growing cities in Texas, sitting squarely between Austin and San Antonio along the I-35 corridor. The neighborhood draws buyers who want new construction quality, low-maintenance lot sizes, and easy access to everything San Marcos offers: the San Marcos River, Texas State University, a revitalized downtown, and one of the best outlet shopping destinations in the state. Homes here are built by recognized production builders including Pacesetter Homes, DR Horton, and Terrata Homes, giving buyers move-in-ready options with modern floor plans and builder warranties. San Marcos CISD serves the community, with Hernandez and Rodriguez elementaries, Miller Middle School, and San Marcos High School rounding out the public school lineup.
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About Trace Homes for Sale in San Marcos, TX
Neighborhoods & Subdivisions in Trace
Trace is a single master-planned development, though you will find slight variations in product depending on which builder delivered a given section. Pacesetter Homes has the largest presence in the community, followed by DR Horton and Terrata Homes. The result is a cohesive neighborhood with consistent streetscapes but enough variation in elevation and interior finish to give buyers options. Lots are compact, averaging around a tenth of an acre, which keeps exterior maintenance manageable and keeps the community density high enough to support shared amenities. Most homes are three-bedroom floor plans, though four-bedroom configurations do appear. The neighborhood is entirely within the city limits of San Marcos, giving residents access to city utilities and services.
New Construction in Trace
New construction is still active in Trace, with multiple builders offering available inventory and to-be-built options. Buyers who purchase new here benefit from current energy codes, builder warranties, and modern open-concept floor plans designed for today's living. Pacesetter Homes in particular has a track record throughout the San Marcos area, and their Trace homes tend to feature practical layouts with covered patios and two-car garages. DR Horton brings its national scale and broad floor plan library to the community, while Terrata Homes rounds out the builder mix with its own take on livable new construction. If you are weighing a resale versus new build, Trace is one of the few communities in this price range where new construction is still a realistic option. Neuhaus Realty Group works with buyers on new construction purchases and can help you evaluate builder contracts, upgrade selections, and inspection timelines.
Schools Serving Trace
Students in Trace attend schools in San Marcos CISD, a district serving both the city proper and surrounding Hays County areas. Elementary-aged children are zoned to either Hernandez Elementary or Rodriguez Elementary, both of which serve the San Marcos community. Miller Middle School feeds into San Marcos High School, which offers a range of academic programs including dual enrollment options and career and technical education pathways. Texas State University sits just a few miles from the neighborhood, giving high school students access to dual credit and early college programs and making San Marcos a city where education runs deep at every level. For buyers comparing schools across the corridor, Hays CISD is the neighboring district to the west, though Trace sits firmly within San Marcos CISD boundaries.
Getting Around Trace
Location is one of Trace's clearest selling points. San Marcos sits at roughly the midpoint between Austin and San Antonio along I-35, which means residents have reasonable access to two major metros. Downtown Austin is approximately 30 miles to the north, reachable in 35 to 50 minutes depending on traffic. San Antonio's north side is roughly 45 miles south. For buyers who work in either city, San Marcos offers a genuine cost and lifestyle tradeoff compared to living inside either metro. Within San Marcos itself, the Trace neighborhood connects easily to the commercial corridors along I-35 and TX-123, where you will find grocery stores, big-box retail, restaurants, and services. The San Marcos Premium Outlets and Tanger Outlets are a short drive away, which is either a feature or a liability depending on your relationship with shopping. The San Marcos River and City Park are accessible within a few minutes, giving residents a genuine outdoor amenity in a city known for its spring-fed waterways.
Life in San Marcos and the Trace Community
San Marcos has evolved well beyond its college town identity, though Texas State University still shapes the city's energy, restaurant scene, and cultural calendar. The downtown square has seen significant reinvestment, with local restaurants, coffee shops, and music venues filling historic buildings along Hopkins Street and LBJ Drive. The San Marcos River draws tubers, kayakers, and swimmers to the spring-fed water year-round, and the nearby Blanco River adds another outdoor option for residents willing to make a short drive. Buyers looking at San Marcos homes increasingly come from Austin, priced out of neighborhoods closer in but still wanting proximity to the capital city's job market. Trace serves that buyer well: move-in-ready homes, a manageable commute, and a city that has genuine character beyond its I-35 corridor reputation. For those browsing the broader Austin area homes for sale, Trace represents one of the more accessible entry points into Hays County homeownership without sacrificing quality of build or community amenities.
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