New offices in Austin, Houston and San Antonio, new franchises in Collin Country and amazing programs and incentives have all secured VIP Realty’s position as San Antonio’s Premier Real Estate Firm.

VIP Realty is a testament to the fact that, although the national economy is weak and the housing market is tough, there are plenty of opportunities to be had in the real estate market.

VIP Realty’s Popular Programs Take the Lead

VIP Realty’s success lies in its advantageous programs, including the written guarantee that assures buyers that they will receive a written offer within 60 days of listing their San Antonio property. If the sellers do not receive a written offer on their home within 60 days of listing it, VIP Realty will sell their home for free! Now, what other real estate firm offers that kind of guarantee?

Another reason VIP Realty has maintained such a strong presence in the San Antonio real estate market is because they offer their customers choices when selling their home. They provide full-service brokerage services for those homeowners that need or want it; yet they also provide a flat-fee MLS program for those individuals who want to sell their homes themselves.

Standing Apart from the Crowd

VIP Realty remains flexible and accommodating to its sellers, and also allows its sellers to decide which services best suit them. Selling your home is not a one-size-fits-all scenario, so it only makes sense that you should choose a brokerage firm that can accommodate your needs and wants.

Lessons Learned

VIP Realty customers have learned that it is simply not necessary to hand over six percent of your home’s earnings to realtors that may or may not have helped to sell your home. Instead, VIP Realty customers understand the value of flat-fees and sellers’ guarantees.

Your friends, your parents and even your financial adviser are all telling you it’s time to own your first home. And you’ve been renting for the past, few years with the goal of eventually owning your own home. But how do you know when it’s time?

1.       You have a sparkling credit history and an impressive credit score – If you’ve paid your dues and worked hard to maintain a gleaming credit history then it may be time to purchase your first Alamo Heights home. You credit score is crucial when it comes to securing a home loan, so if you’ve successfully managed your credit and have earned an excellent credit score (which is typically anything over 720) then the chances of securing a great home loan rate are strong.

2.       You know where you’re going to be for the next three to five years – If you are ready to settle down, at least for the next three to five years, then owning a home should be a consideration. However, if your future plans are still up in the air then it is probably best to wait it out until you have more firm plans for the future.

3.       You’ve amassed a nice emergency fund - Although a large down payment is great, it is important to remember that you don’t want to be left without savings after you close on your first home. Most financial experts recognize a good emergency fund to be equal to at least six months of living expenses.

4.       Your nest egg is large enough for at least a 20 percent down payment – With today’s tough lending standards, most lenders now require a hefty down payment, which usually totals about 20 percent of the home’s selling price.

5.       You have the desire to become a homeowner – Even if you meet all of the above criteria, you must have the desire to become a homeowner. For some individuals, owning a home just isn’t right for them. In other words, don’t purchase a home merely because you feel like it is the thing to do; instead, purchase a Bexar County home because it is what you want to do.

It comes as no surprise to the residents of San Antonio, as well as the people who work here, that San Antonio is a hot spot for all things business. With a progressive, thriving economy, which has someone managed to dodge the bullet of the recession, San Antonio enjoys an excellent labor pool, a low cost of living and a superb quality of life.

In fact, San Antonio was named by Forbes as the second most recession-proof city in the United States in 2008. Just some of the factors leading to this honorable position include its strong employment and its growing industries.

Dynamic Business and Industry Continue to Drive the Region

From the military and government sectors to the manufacturing and biomedical sectors, the industries of San Antonio are a driving force behind its dynamic economy.

It certainly comes as no surprise, then, that the commercial real estate market in San Antonio is alive and well. Buoyed along by the city’s thriving industries and businesses, San Antonio has enjoyed a healthy commercial real estate market that has kept on chugging even when the national real estate market was struggling to keep its head above water.

Introducing the Four Points by Sheraton

A fine example of the changes taking place in San Antonio regarding its commercial real estate market is the Four Points by Sheraton, a prototype hotel set to open in Northwest San Antonio this year.

Sheraton has chosen San Antonio as a home for this prototype – which is, incidentally, one of only three of these prototype hotels in North America – because San Antonio has proven, time and time again, that its industries are strong and that its economy is even stronger.

The Four Points by Sheraton, which is owned by San Antonio-based Galo Properties and is managed by the DePalma Hotel Corporation, will boast 130 guest rooms and plenty of guest amenities and features.

The Four Points by Sheraton is strategically located near the Shops at La Cantera and the University of Texas at San Antonio. In addition, the Four Points will be the centerpiece of Promenade Place, a multi-use commercial area of shops, restaurants and offices.

There’s no question about it: Alamo Heights is a highly desirable San Antonio city that is best known for its excellent sense of community, its superb level of living and its fantastic array of middle to upper-class real estate.

Those individuals looking for luxury will have no trouble finding luxury real estate in this quaint suburb, which boasts excellent real estate options, including high-end condos, estate properties and grand homes on expansive lots.

The average price for a home in Alamo Heights in 2007 was $190 per square foot, or $419,011, and it’s easy to see why as you begin navigating the serene, picturesque streets with their impressive array of spacious homes.

A quick view of Alamo Heights’ current real estate reveals a large, five-bedroom estate property for $1.8 million, a four-bedroom, four-bathroom home for $758,000 and a more modest, three-bedroom, three-bathroom homes for $538,000. There seem to be plenty of new and existing luxury homes from which to choose in Alamo Heights.

Although home prices in Alamo Heights generally exceed home prices in neighboring communities, such as Terrell Hills and Olmos Park, most residents will agree that Alamo Heights provides an excellent quality of life like no other in the city of Texas.

In fact, real estate in Alamo Heights is often as much as 20 percent more than similar properties in surrounding areas.

Many families also flock to Alamo Heights because of its excellent school system, the Alamo Heights Independent School District.

In addition to the fine array of single-family homes, Alamo Heights also boasts great, upscale condo residences that attract many San Antonio professional and empty nesters. Combine that with Alamo Heights’ close proximity to downtown San Antonio and its no secret why so many residents have turned to the luxury real estate market in Alamo Heights.

Condo living in downtown San Antonio is red hot, thanks to fabulous, dynamic surroundings, a flourishing city and plenty of high-end condo residences.

With an average price of $575,544 and an average price per square foot of $297, condo living in downtown San Antonio doesn’t’ come cheap. But what it does come with are loads of fantastic amenities, a sure-fire location and residences that are sure to impress.

Travis Park Lofts

Take the Travis Park Lofts, for example. Located smack dab in the middle of downtown San Antonio, this sleek condo building features 17 units with such fantastic features as exposed ceilings, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, stained concrete floors, and expansive, open floor plans. Conveniently located near the famed Riverwalk and Majestic Theater, the Travis Park Lofts are popular among San Antonio professionals, young families and empty nesters, just to name a few, and are also served by the highly acclaimed San Antonio Independent School District.

La Cascada

Downtown living on the Riverwalk is enjoyed at La Cascada, a luxury, 12-story residence with 46 condo homes. If luxurious, downtown condo living is what you seek, then you’re in luck with La Cascada. From expansive, spacious floor plans to designer finishes and private balconies, the residents of La Cascada are afforded the finest surroundings in the downtown area. In addition, a great array of building amenities, such as a fitness center, a business center and a rooftop swimming pool and spa, provide residents with fantastic, high-rise condo living in San Antonio.

Alteza

Located high in the sky above the Grand Hyatt Hotel, the luxurious Alteza condominiums are sumptuous, opulent and just plan fantastic. Nineteen floor plans and six penthouse floor plans provide the perfect backdrop to the beautiful surroundings, such as exotic hardwood flooring, natural stone countertops, 10-foot ceilings and private balconies and terraces.

Residents of Alteza enjoy the high-end services of the hotel, including catering, room service and maid service, and also have exclusive membership privileges to the Grand Hyatt fitness center.

While other parts of the country continue to struggle to keep their heads above water amidst the struggling, national housing market, San Antonio is experiencing a rebirth of sorts, particularly when it comes to downtown condo living.

Ben Brewer, president of the Downtown Alliance San Antonio, has recently remarked that the demand for downtown living continues to remain strong, and that homes are still continuing to sell at a brisk pace.

However, home sales in downtown San Antonio still come with their share of difficulties, mainly as a result of the national housing slump. In particular, developers are experiencing financing difficulties and restrictions imposed by banks and other lenders.

The Completion of the Vidorra sets the Stage

A fine example of the dynamic growth of downtown San Antonio condos is the Vidorra, an upscale condominium building boasting 150 residences. Developers of the Vidorra have sold more than 40 units over the last, two months alone.

The manager of the Vidorra development team, Jeff Rochelle, has noted that, since March, his team has sold approximately five residences every week.

If Vidorra is any indication of the superb residences found throughout downtown San Antonio, then the real estate market will certainly continue to impress.

Homes in Vidorra, which range from about 1,000 square feet up to 3,866 square feet, are priced from $255,900. Residents can choose from 15, different floor plans and two penthouses in the Vidorra.

There are plenty of amenities for the residents of Vidorra, including a prime location near Sunset Station, a swimming pool and spa, a fitness center, business centers, secure parking and 24-hour concierge service.

Just a few of the other condominium residences of downtown San Antonio include: Las Cascada, Piazza San Lorenzo, Alteza and the Judson Candy Factory Lofts.