What to do in the first 90 days, the financial filings that protect your tax position, and how to connect in a Hill Country community still building its social identity
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Talk to a Specialist →File Form 50-114 with Hays Central Appraisal District (hayscad.com) to establish your homestead and over-65 exemptions. The school tax freeze activates automatically once the over-65 exemption is approved. File within your first month — the April 30 annual deadline applies. Hays CAD office: 21001 IH-35 N, Kyle TX 78640.
The Texas homestead exemption requires your Texas DL to show the Kissing Tree property address. Visit a Texas DPS office in San Marcos (Aquarena Springs Dr location) within 90 days of establishing primary residence. Bring your prior-state license, Social Security card, and two proofs of Texas residency.
Contact the Kissing Tree community management office to receive your amenity access credentials for The Mix campus. This activates your access to fitness center, pools, pickleball courts, and other amenities. Required before any amenity use.
Confirm whether your specific parcel is in a Municipal Utility District by checking the Hays CAD tax account for your property. If a MUD is present, budget for the annual tax — it will appear on your first full-year property tax bill. Understanding this early prevents a surprise in the fall.
Kissing Tree has a different social integration dynamic than Sun City Texas. With 3,200 homes planned and active construction ongoing, the community is in a different phase of social formation — newer, more fluid, with many residents also arriving recently. This is an advantage for new residents: there are proportionally more people who are also in their first or second year and looking to connect. The energy is building rather than established.
The most effective integration points at Kissing Tree: pickleball courts (18 courts ensures almost always-available open play and league options), the pool complex (The Mix pools are genuinely the social center of the community), and Sam's Cafe/Tarbox & Brown (the restaurant creates a natural regular gathering space that many communities lack). Attend the welcome events for new residents offered by Brookfield's lifestyle director.
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San Marcos has CHRISTUS Santa Rosa hospital for routine and emergency care. For specialist care, establish your provider network in either Austin or San Antonio — your dual-city position means both are accessible. San Antonio's South Texas Medical Center complex (50–60 miles) is the stronger academic medical option; Austin's Dell Seton and St. David's system (30–40 miles) provides solid primary care and general specialist access. Identify your primary care physician in San Marcos or New Braunfels within the first month.
| Season | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| October–April | The ideal Kissing Tree months. Hill Country wildflowers in March–April. Comfortable temperatures. All outdoor amenities fully usable including trails and pickleball courts throughout the day. |
| May–June | Transition — temperatures rising. The Blanco and San Marcos Rivers nearby provide escape during warm days. |
| July–September | Texas summer. 95–102°F in San Marcos with high humidity from the spring-fed rivers and Barton Springs geology. Outdoor activity shifts to 6–9am and after 7pm. The Mix indoor amenities are the primary activity zone. |
San Marcos summers are slightly more humid than Georgetown due to the spring-fed waterways nearby. Plan a visit in July or August before purchasing if you have not experienced Central Texas summer heat firsthand.
We can help you prepare for the transition — exemptions, healthcare setup, and community connections.
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