The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 79718 sells for about $280,000, or $123 per square foot.
Prices are down 5.2% from a year ago, which gives buyers more room to negotiate. Homes take about 105 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,150 a month.
ZIP 79718 — Balmorhea
The Balmorhea housing market remains stable with low transaction volume and limited inventory. Prices have seen a slight year-over-year decline, reflecting the broader cooling trend in rural West Texas markets tied to energy sector fluctuations.
This ZIP is best suited for those seeking a quiet, rural lifestyle, including retirees and workers in the regional energy sector who prioritize proximity to local natural amenities over urban convenience.
Median prices moved down 5.2% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 105 days on market with 6.0 months of supply — a slower-moving market.
8% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 96.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 6.5% · poverty 19.5% — a mixed stability profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 7.6%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 5.8%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
ZCTA 79718, Reeves County TX
Crime rates in Balmorhea are generally low, consistent with the rural nature of Reeves County, though specific comparative regional data is limited.
The area is served by the Balmorhea Independent School District, which provides education for the local community in a small-town setting.
The region faces risks associated with arid climate conditions, including potential for flash flooding during heavy rain events and wildfire exposure common to West Texas.
Economic momentum is largely tied to the regional energy sector in the Permian Basin, with limited new residential development activity reported within the ZIP code.
Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. State (Texas) — Senior (65+) and Disabled Homestead Exemption and School Tax Ceiling: Grants an additional mandatory $10,000 exemption from ISD appraised value (Taxable Value_ISD = Appraised Value - $100,000 - $10,000) and establishes an absolute statutory tax freeze (school tax ceiling): total ISD property taxes cannot exceed the dollar ceiling established in the… State (Texas) — General Residence Homestead Exemption and 10% Valuation Growth Cap: Imposes mandatory state-level valuation deductions and growth limitations on the qualifying homestead: (1) Mandates a $100,000 deduction from appraised value for independent school district (ISD) maintenance and operations/debt taxation: Taxable Value_ISD = Appraised Value - $100… State (Texas) — Ad Valorem Real Property Taxation and Assessment Ratio: Mandates ad valorem appraisal of all real property at 100% of fair market value as of January 1 each tax year (Assessment Ratio = 1.00).
Commutes are primarily by personal vehicle, with residents traveling to nearby employment hubs in the Permian Basin oil and gas fields.
The area is anchored by Balmorhea State Park, famous for its large spring-fed swimming pool, and offers access to outdoor activities in the surrounding desert landscape.
The rental market is characterized by limited inventory and is primarily driven by demand from transient workers in the energy industry.
The local economy is heavily dependent on the oil and gas industry within the Permian Basin, supplemented by tourism related to the state park.
Transportation is exclusively via highway corridors, with limited public transit options available in this rural West Texas location.
There are no major large-scale residential or commercial developments currently under construction in the 79718 ZIP code.
The Reeves County Appraisal District manages property assessments, focusing on market value adjustments for residential and mineral-rich land.
Parcels are subject to Balmorhea ISD taxes and potential groundwater conservation district fees.
Property insurance premiums are influenced by regional wildfire and windstorm risk factors common to the Trans-Pecos region.
Data retrieved from US Census Bureau ZCTA 79718 profile.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
Features the world's largest spring-fed swimming pool and historic CCC-built structures.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.