Thinking about renting near Sky Creek Ranch in Keller, or buying a home there to rent out? You’re not alone. The Hidden Lakes and Sky Creek Ranch area draws steady interest for its golf-course setting, suburban convenience, and strong day-to-day amenities. Whether you’re a renter weighing value or an investor testing returns, it helps to see the local numbers and the tradeoffs clearly. In this guide, you’ll learn current rent trends, real-world investor math, key rules that affect rentals, and the pros and cons for both sides. Let’s dive in.
Why Sky Creek Ranch stands out
Sky Creek Ranch centers on the public Sky Creek Ranch Golf Club and the surrounding Hidden Lakes neighborhoods, with a mix of higher-end single-family homes and gated pockets. The golf club offers memberships, events, and a clubhouse that anchors community life. You get the feel of a golf community without needing a private-club membership. Explore the club and setting.
Location is a daily win. You are roughly 15 to 25 minutes from DFW Airport and about 20 to 30 minutes to central Fort Worth, traffic depending. These distances align with typical Keller commutes and give you metro access without big-city bustle. See typical Keller to DFW distance context.
Keller ISD serves most of the area, which many families consider during housing decisions. You can review district resources and enrollment information directly on Keller ISD’s site.
Current rental snapshot
Apartment-focused sources show citywide averages, while single-family rentals near the course often command more. Recent data highlights the spread:
- Apartment average in Keller: about $1,731 per month, per RentCafe’s October 2025 snapshot.
- ZIP 76248 active-listing medians: RentHop reports a median around $2,798 overall, with 3-bedroom single-family listings around $2,150 and premium 3 to 4 bedrooms pushing higher, often $3,000 or more depending on upgrades and lot features. See RentHop’s 76248 data.
- Inventory near the golf course is tight. These neighborhoods are primarily owner-occupied, so good single-family rentals close to the fairways can be limited and lease quickly. Local listing counts reflect that scarcity. Check 76248 market snapshots.
Pros and cons for renters
What you may like
- Golf-course lifestyle and suburban convenience with parks, trails, and easy airport access. The golf club is public with membership options, so you can enjoy the setting without a private-club requirement. View the club.
- Commute flexibility. Typical drives to DFW and Fort Worth fit many professional schedules. See distance context.
- Single-family options across Keller, including 3- and 4-bedroom homes, support a range of household needs. Browse 76248 market snapshots.
Tradeoffs to consider
- Rents for single-family homes are not low. Listing aggregators show many 3-bedroom homes at $2,000 or more in 76248. Check current 3-bedroom medians.
- Limited supply close to the course means competition for well-kept homes. Be ready with documents and timing when a match appears.
Investor returns, with real numbers
Below is a simple, illustrative example using current public snapshots. Your results will vary based on the exact property, taxes, insurance, HOA, and how you manage it.
Sample numbers at a glance
- Assumed purchase price: $580,000
- Assumed annual rent: $2,150 per month, or $25,800 per year, based on 3-bedroom medians in 76248. See RentHop’s 76248 data.
Gross yield example:
- $25,800 annual rent on a $580,000 purchase equals about 4.5 percent gross yield. At higher purchase prices, the gross yield trends lower.
Simple pro forma to illustrate net operating income:
- Vacancy allowance at 5 percent: −$1,290
- Management at 8 percent of rent: −$2,064
- Repairs and maintenance (example): −$3,800
- Insurance (example): −$1,800
- Property taxes (illustrative at 2.2 percent of $580,000): −$12,760
- Total operating expenses: $21,714
- NOI: $25,800 − $21,714 = $4,086
- Implied unlevered cap rate: about 0.71 percent
What it means: Single-family rentals near Sky Creek Ranch often trade at prices that compress unlevered returns. Many investors count on a mix of attractive resale prospects, rent growth, and tax benefits, or they pursue higher-rent strategies where allowed. In the broader DFW marketplace, pro forma cap rates on packaged SFR offerings often cite mid single-digit ranges depending on price band and rent assumptions. See representative market context from CREXI SFR listings and the MDRE Group’s DFW market overview.
Taxes, HOAs, and key rules
Property taxes in Keller come from several entities. In FY 2025–26, the City of Keller adopted a rate of $0.287 per $100 valuation. Review city tax context. Keller ISD adopted $1.0852 per $100 for the same period. See district tax-rate reporting. County, hospital district, and college components apply as well, so total effective bills often fall in the low-to-mid 2 percent range before exemptions. For precise numbers on a specific address, use Tarrant County’s truth-in-taxation summary and your parcel details.
HOA covenants matter. Many master-planned sections have minimum lease terms, tenant registration steps, or policies that limit short-term rentals. Always review a property’s CC&Rs before you buy or lease.
Short-term rentals are evolving across North Texas. Some nearby cities have adopted STR permits and registration. If STR income is part of your plan, verify Keller’s current code and your HOA’s rules first. You can see how neighboring cities have approached STR changes in public updates such as North Richland Hills news and check City of Keller building and permitting updates.
Texas landlord-tenant basics worth knowing:
- Security deposits must be returned or itemized within 30 days after the tenant surrenders possession. See the Texas Property Code on deposits.
- Evictions run through Justice Court as forcible entry and detainer actions. Notice periods and procedures apply. Review Chapter 24 of the Texas statutes and check local court practices for timelines.
Who this area fits best
- Renters who value single-family living close to a golf course, strong day-to-day amenities, and practical commutes.
- Investors who prioritize long-term hold qualities and potential resale strength over immediate high cap rates, and who are comfortable underwriting taxes, insurance, and HOA rules carefully.
Smart next steps
- Get a current CMA and rent comps tailored to your property and micro-neighborhood.
- Pull an exact property tax estimate using Tarrant County’s truth-in-taxation summary and your parcel data.
- Review HOA CC&Rs for lease terms, registration, and any short-term limits.
- Confirm city permitting and any current rules that affect rentals through City of Keller updates.
- If schools are part of your plan, verify attendance and enrollment steps with Keller ISD.
- Run a lender scenario if you plan to use financing.
If you want local guidance, comps, and a clear plan for your goals near Sky Creek Ranch, reach out to Shannon Johnson for a quick strategy session.
FAQs
What are typical 3-bedroom rents near Sky Creek Ranch?
- Listing aggregators show 3-bedroom medians around $2,150 per month in ZIP 76248, with upgraded homes often higher; verify current data on RentHop’s 76248 page.
Are apartment and house rents different in Keller?
- Yes. Apartment averages run lower citywide, about $1,731 per month per RentCafe, while single-family homes near the course often lease for more due to size, features, and lot location.
What kind of cap rate can I expect as an investor?
- A simple example at a $580,000 price and $2,150 monthly rent yields about 4.5 percent gross and roughly 0.71 percent unlevered after typical expenses; market-offering materials in DFW often cite mid single-digit cap rates on portfolios. See CREXI SFR listings for context.
How do property taxes affect cash flow in Keller?
- Taxes combine city, school district, county, hospital district, and college components, often totaling in the low-to-mid 2 percent range before exemptions; pull an exact estimate using Tarrant County’s truth-in-taxation summary.
Can I run a short-term rental near Sky Creek Ranch?
- It depends on current city code and your HOA’s CC&Rs; STR rules vary across North Texas and are evolving, so confirm with the City of Keller and your HOA before you buy or list. Review local updates such as City of Keller permitting news.
