There are plenty of fantastic San Antonio gated communities from which to choose. Many of us, when buying a home in San Antonio, hear plenty about the perks of living in San Antonio gated communities, but what are they really and what can they offer?

If security and a sense of community are what you’re looking for, then San Antonio gated communities should definitely be on your list when searching for a home. Here’s why:

• San Antonio gated communities, because they are often revered for their added degree of safety, and therefore typically have lower crime rates than other communities, often help the homes found here better retain their value.
• San Antonio gated communities may differ when it comes to security. Some communities will have controlled access, via a gate, while others will also have a guard or security staff that monitors the activity at the gate. Most times, residents will need to open the gate with a remote control or key card.
• Because the safety aspect of a gated community is very important, most gated communities control the through traffic; therefore, the only traffic within the community consists of residents and visitors. This often makes the community appealing to many buyers who don’t want a constant flow of traffic in and out of their community.
• Many families appreciate the traffic restrictions of a gated community, as it makes it safer for families and small children to walk the streets. In addition, residents in gated communities often remark that traffic incidences are greatly reduced.
• Vandalism in gated communities is also much lower than typical communities, as access is restricted to only those individuals living there or visiting residents. Homeowners in gated communities may feel more at ease when it comes to crimes and burglaries, as well.
• San Antonio gated communities are often sought after because the resident amenities, including parks, playgrounds and swimming pools, are enjoyed only by the residents and the residents’ guests. In other words, residents don’t have to worry that individuals from other communities are using their facilities and amenities.

Where does the downtown San Antonio condo market stand? Perhaps the best answer to this question was found at the recent Downtown Alliance’s State of Downtown Luncheon at the West Riverwalk Hotel.

This is where the downtown San Antonio condo market, along with the revitalization of the downtown area, was discussed by a number of city and business leaders. The main focus of the Downtown Alliance’s annual downtown luncheon was to discuss ways in which downtown San Antonio can become a more livable and workable community. And, as always, there are challenges that must be met head-on in this quest.

Condo Financing Problems still Exist

One of the current problems discussed at the annual luncheon includes obtaining financing for downtown condos. The downtown San Antonio market has long been plagued by the fact that financing is hard to come by and the office market in the city’s center is outdated. However, the meeting also noted that apartment rentals in the downtown area are up, and the entertainment sector has been helped along, thanks to upgrades in various facilities around the area.

Office Market Struggling

The city and business leaders agree that more downtown residents and a boost in the downtown San Antonio condo market are essential to boost the outdated office market and the city center. However, in order to accomplish this, individuals need to be able to obtain financing from Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae which, at the present, just isn’t happening. And that means a longer turnaround for the near-obsolete office space market which, at this time, is classified as a C, making as much as 40 percent of it functionally obsolete.

Because of these problems, there is still a large portion of the downtown office market that just isn’t being leased.

The challenges with downtown San Antonio’s condo market may be best summed up by David Adelman, a partner at Cross & Company who, at the annual luncheon said, “Housing will lead then everything else will follow.”

There are currently about 3,000 residential units in the downtown San Antonio condo market; Adelman notes that a goal of 10,000 units should be set.

The San Antonio commercial real estate market has certainly experienced its share of ups and downs over the past couple years. It feels rather good, then, to say that 2010 will go down as the year of the rebound for the San Antonio commercial real estate market.

This was, by far, the major theme of the 2010 San Antonio/South Texas CCIM Real Estate Symposium, which was recently held at the J.W. Marriott at the San Antonio Hill County Resort and Spa.

Goodbye to 2009

Much of the talk at this year’s Symposium was saying good-bye to the dismal 2009 and looking at the gains experienced during 2010. That’s not to say that 2010 wasn’t without its challenges but, when compared to 2009, it was a breath of fresh air, to say the least.

To put the difference between 2009 and 2010 into perspective, consider this: during the 12 months ending December 31, 2009, the San Antonio commercial real estate market absorbed just 186 square feet of office space. Yep, that’s just 186 square feet.

Hello to a Brighter Future

However, looking to 2010, and it’s an entirely different picture: As of December 2010, the San Antonio commercial real estate market has absorbed nearly 472,000 square feet of office space.  Even though this number is considered a downturn from an average of 350,000 to 500,000 square feet per year in previous years, it sure blows away 2009 and shows just how resilient the San Antonio economy really is.

In addition to office space absorption, there are also several new developments that have real estate analysts excited about the commercial real estate market, including the new campus of NuStar and plans for a new campus for Nationwide.

One of the challenges that continue to exist for the commercial real estate market is lending. The lack of lending slows new construction, which therefore has a negative effect on commercial space absorption. Analysts also expect to see a lot of “no vacancy” for commercial space, thereby halting any growth that can be anticipated.

There are many Terrell Hills new homes from which to choose, which is why this suburb of San Antonio has become such a family friendly hotspot. Moving to one of Terrell Hills new homes can be quite exciting, but along the way, if you’re not organized and prepared, you could run into some bumps in the road.

With that said, if you are one of the lucky homeowners of one of Terrell Hills new homes, there are a number of things you can do to make sure your move is a successful one:

• As soon as you begin the house-hunting process for Terrell Hills new homes, start taking an inventory of your current belongings. Now is a great time to sell, donate or simply toss things you no longer need or want. If you’re downsizing, get the measurements to your new home and determine which furniture can stay and which must go. Remember: a move is made much easier when you don’t have so much to move!
• Ask a close friend or family member to hold anything of value you for you during your move. Such items that you will certainly want to safeguard during a move include: jewelry, valuable artwork, china, crystal and any type of personal documents or paperwork. You may also want to handle moving those things of personal value yourself, as you can be sure of its safety.
• Hire a moving company as soon as you secure a closing date for your Terrell Hills new home. Get your reservation secured, so you’re not in a panic at the last minute because you can’t find a mover. In addition, if you need anything large or valuable moved, such as a piano or antiques, you will want to hire a specialty mover to handle this important job.
• Prepare your paperwork for closing day. Again, it is never too early to begin the organization process when it comes to preparing for closing. Your real estate agent or closing company will likely supply you with the documentation necessary for closing, so don’t put this task off until the last minute or you could find yourself short on important paperwork and unable to close.