Alamo Heights

• Alamo Heights is often referred to as the “friendliest city in Texas.” Need we say more?
• Alamo Heights is close to San Antonio, thereby making it ideal for city professionals. The average commute time into the city from Alamo Heights is just 20 minutes.
• Alamo Heights is incorporated, meaning that it boasts its own police and fire departments.
• Alamo Heights is also close to Lackland Air Force Base and the San Antonio International Airport.
• Alamo Heights real estate is available in a wide range of price points, thereby making it popular for nearly everyone, from first-time homebuyers to luxury home buyers.
• Alamo Heights is served by the highly acclaimed Alamo Heights Independent School District and the North East Independent School District.
• Alamo Heights is close to a number of major roadways, including Interstate 35 and Interstate 10.
• Alamo Heights has a number of employment sectors, including the educational and health services.

Terrell Hills

• Terrell Hills is located close to San Antonio, thereby making it popular for city professionals. The average commute time to the city from Terrell Hills is 15 minutes.
• Terrell Hills is located close to a number of major roadways, including Interstate 35 and Interstate 10.
• Terrell Hills is served by the highly regarded Alamo Heights Independent School District and the North East Independent School District.
• Terrell Hills features both historic homes from the 1920s, as well as new construction.
• Terrell Hills is bordered by Fort Sam Houston and is close to both Lackland Air Force Base and the San Antonio International Airport

• Am I able to move/Do I really want to move? Before you actually make the decision to buy, it is always best to decide if moving is actually the right decision for you. Are you in a good financial position to buy?  Is it feasible to buy at this time?  Have you talked with your family to make sure everyone is on the same page? Asking yourself whether you are realistically able to move or ready to move may seem like a no-brainer, but it pays to take a moment or two and really decide why you want to move and if it is a realistic endeavor at this time.
• Do I plan on staying in the same place for the next, few years? Buying a Spring Branch property only makes financial sense if you plan on staying put for at least the next five years because the financial benefits you will get from owning a home will not outweigh the cost of moving and purchasing a new home. Therefore, it is best to ask yourself whether you plan on switching jobs or relocating, or whether you have an interest in living in another area or city. If you feel you and your family are settled and you are looking to spend the upcoming years in the same area, then it probably makes good, financial sense to purchase a home.
• How do I feel about home improvements and maintenance? One of the biggest questions many first-time home buyers ask themselves is: Am I prepared to take on maintaining a home? Unlike an apartment, a homeowner is responsible for all maintenance and upkeep which, for many, is simply not something they want to take on. Also keep in mind that maintaining, repairing and updating a home can cost quite a bit of money – money that would come out of your household budget, so it pays to consider these added expenses.

According to the Houston Chronicle, luxury real estate numbers are outperforming other types of real estate sales. Custom builders see San Antonio in 2012 as a year to begin plans for a number of million-dollar spec homes. Real estate is picking up in San Antonio, but luxury real estate in San Antonio in 2012 will likely be the driving factor for San Antonio’s real estate market.

Says James Gaines, a research economist for the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University: “Who is the most recession-proof? High-income people who can more easily qualify for loans? Who can come up with more equity?”

Luxury Housing Median Rules

The San Antonio median home price is currently showing a 2-percent gain, while homes in the $750,000 and up category are up over 3 percent. A good example of the thriving luxury housing market is Cordillera Ranch in Boerne, where there are currently 35 homes under construction and another 20 homes slated for construction. Consider that homes in this affluent community start at an impressive $1 million, and it becomes quite clear where luxury real estate in San Antonio in 2012 is heading.

Statistics have also shown that the most expensive real estate in nearly every market is moving at a much greater rate than lower-priced real estate. It appears now that the biggest challenge heading into 2012 is where builders can keep up with the demand.

These statistics, of course, are a sharp contrast to 2008, when AT&T moved its quarters to Dallas and the San Antonio real estate market was flooded with executive homes that just didn’t sell.

In addition to luxury homes, ranch homes throughout the region are also moving quite well. The market for rural land is on an uptick, which is welcomes news for a market that has seen slow sales over the past three years.

With historically low interest rates and plenty of attractive home loan programs, it only makes sense that home buyers are looking toward the luxury home market in San Antonio.

Although each home builder will have its own set of options regarding your Alamo Heights custom home, the following list details custom home features that are often offered by a number of Alamo Heights custom home builders:

• Ceiling height – Although a standard ceiling height is typically eight feet, many of today’s new Alamo Heights’ homes feature nine, and even ten, foot ceilings. You may have the option of choosing the ceiling height for your custom home. In addition, you may want to have vaulted ceilings in certain rooms of your custom homes, which will further add to your home’s price.
• Exterior building materials – As a custom home, you will generally be given liberty to choose your home’s exterior, although it’s important to know that your choice can greatly affect your overall budget. One of the most economical building materials for your home’s exterior is vinyl siding, although many homeowners choose a combination of vinyl siding and brick or stone, for example, to keep costs down. An all-brick or all-stone exterior, of course, will cost the most money and the price variants between brick and stone choices will vary greatly, depending on availability and difficulty of installation.
• Interior building materials – Often times, it is your home’s interior building materials that can put the largest dent in your budget. From hardwood floors to granite countertops, your choices for the interior of your home should be based on your budget and the durability of materials, as well as its look, of course. Some of your interior choices will be: cabinetry, flooring, lighting fixtures, moldings, faucets and other plumbing fixtures.

Luckily, however, there are a number of things you can tackle in a weekend that will improve your home’s curb appeal so it will stand out among the crowd of other houses for sale:

1. Cut back overgrown plants and trees – One of the easiest ways to spruce up your landscaping is to cut back any overgrown trees and shrubs. Make sure the path to your house is cleared of any shrubbery or low-hanging branches, and make sure the façade of your home isn’t blocked by any trees. Although tackling overgrown greenery can be done by most homeowners, if you have large trees that need to be pruned, it is best to call in the help of a professional.
2. Update outdoor lighting – From pathway lighting to the light beside your front door, lighting can add depth, dimension and interest to your Fort Sam Houston home, both during the daytime and nighttime hours. It is therefore best to switch out your dated lighting with more contemporary fixtures. Outdoor light fixtures are typically quite cost effective, yet they can instantly update the exterior of a home. You may also want to consider adding solar path lights; buyers will appreciate this touch and they are super-easy to install because there are no wires!
3. Spruce up your front door – Your front door is the entrance to your home and a sign of things to come. So if it’s seen its better day, now is a good time to give it some TLC. A fresh coat of paint always does the trick, and switching out dated hardware for something more attractive is a smart move. Finally, add a seasonal wreath to create an air of warmth and you’re ready to go!
4. Don’t forget the details – Often times, a few punches of color will give your home’s exterior an instant facelift. Consider adding pots of colorful annuals near your front door.

When shopping for an Adkins condo, it is important, because they are quite different from a single-family home, to consider a number of things:

• HOA Fees – When purchasing a condo, you will likely pay HOA (homeowners association) fees. These fees, which are usually paid on a monthly or quarterly basis, are fees paid for maintaining and updating the property in which the condo is located and for amenities and services offered by the building. HOA fees may cover everything from landscaping and building repair to the cost of hiring security, valet staff or pool cleaners. When purchasing a condo, ask to see the history of HOA fees so you can determine how often they are raised.
• Location – Most condo homebuyers choose condos because of their urban location. In fact, you will find that most condo buildings are either located close to the city or near public transportation or a major roadway to help individuals get in and out of the city. Therefore, it is important to consider the location of the condo and the distance from locations most important to you, such as your work, the grocery store or your children’s school.
• Privacy – One of the downsides of purchasing a condo is the lack of privacy. However, today’s condos are often built and designed with privacy in mind, so pay close attention to the location of the condo and the noise you can hear when inside the home. In addition, it may also be a good idea to ask neighbors if they experience any noise problems.
• Amenities/Features – Sometimes the best part of living in a condo are the amenities and services that come along with it. Although you will certainly pay more in HOA fees according to the amenities and services offered, many condo owners are more than willing to pay the price for these key features, which may include: a swimming pool; valet parking; courier services; business centers; and party rooms, just to name a few.

If you don’t want to be another casualty of the shaky real estate market, you must take care of three, key issues, which include:

• The condition of your home – You simply can’t expect buyers to want to purchase your Fort Sam Houston home if the home is in poor condition. Because today’s real estate market is still a decidedly buyer’s market, buyers are looking to purchase homes that they can move into; not homes that need a considerable amount of work. Although you may want to think twice before embarking on any major renovations, you will need to address other things, such as repairs and updates. In other words, don’t put your home on the market without taking care of basic maintenance issues, such as leaky faucets and torn carpeting. Get your home clean and organized, and take care of basic maintenance issues, such as painting the walls and updating light fixtures.
• The price of your home – Sellers who are looking to get a few more bucks could be sabotaging their chances of selling their home. It is important, especially in today’s real estate market, to price your home to sell. If you don’t have any time frame for moving, then you can price your home according to what you want for it; otherwise, make sure to price it aggressively so you can sell it and move on.
• The marketing of your home – Although it may seem like a good idea to sell your home on your own, without the help of a realtor, the reality is that realtors simply have more resources to sell your home in a shorter amount of time. A qualified realtor can get the word out about your home through a number of outlets, thereby helping you sell your home quickly and for close to the asking price.

• Owning a home allows you to build equity for future use!

Building equity in your Terrell Hills home is one of the biggest reasons people choose buying over renting. Even if you do very little to improve your home, it will likely increase in value over the years based on market conditions. The equity in your home is like a savings account that builds up without you even adding anything to it! In other words, the equity in your home is like your own personal savings account; an account where you can withdraw money for any number of reasons.

You can access the equity in your home, without selling it, by simply taking out either a home equity line of credit or a home equity loan. Many people take out home equity loans or lines of credit to: repair, update or renovate their home; to pay off high-interest rate debts; to send their children to college; to purchase a vehicle; or to simply take a nice vacation! The truth is that home equity is an important tool for homeowners that can even be used to get themselves out of financial trouble or get them through financial hardships. Whatever you choose to do with the equity in your home is your choice, thereby making the process of building equity one of the most important aspects of owning a home.

• Owning a home keeps your money where it belongs – in your pocket!

You’ve heard it before, but it bears repeating: passing rent along to a landlord is like throwing your hard-earned money down the drain. There are, of course, people who benefit from renting, such as those who move often or are not financially secure; but for most individuals, it just pays to keep money where it belongs: in their pocket! Although you pay mortgage to a lender, you are building equity at the same time, thereby putting money back into your investment.

• Yard – Even if a yard isn’t a very big deal to you in terms of your next home purchase, you will want to examine it to make sure it provides you with adequate privacy and personal space. For example, a home on a corner lot may seem like a great idea until you realize that your backyard is very small and is up against the neighbor’s backyard, thereby providing you with very little privacy. If you have small children, consider whether the yard’s location is safe and secured, and whether it is near a busy street or intersection.
• Location – The location of the home is another important consideration, as you will want to be in a home that is close to the things that are most important to you. Therefore, you may want to consider whether the home is close to your place of employment, your children’s school, the grocery store, public transportation, or even the shopping mall. In addition, consider how easy (or hard) it is to make your way out of your neighborhood and through your town.
• Neighborhood – Before considering a home in a particular neighborhood, it is important to consider the neighborhood itself. If you have children, you will want to pay close attention to the schools and amenities, such as playgrounds, in the neighborhood. You will also want to check on home values and whether they have increased or decreased in the last five years. Remember that location is crucial when purchasing a home, as it could determine the overall success of your investment.
• Amenities – Consider the amenities offered by the neighborhood. Do they have a neighborhood watch? A neighborhood swimming pool? A community park or playground? Are the streets lined with sidewalks? Do they have a strong police force? Paying close attention to the community and the services and amenities it provides its residents is an important factor when deciding if it is a neighborhood that will grow and flourish in the upcoming years or lose its luster and experience falling home values.

A mortgage preapproval, which is done through a lender, is like a green light for buying your first home. It will determine whether your credit and income are sufficient for obtaining a home loan, and it will provide you with an accurate amount for which you can spend on a home. In short, a mortgage preapproval will arm you with the information you need to purchase a home.

A mortgage preapproval, in addition to providing you with the information necessary for purchasing a Cordillera Ranch property, is important for a number of other reasons:

• Many real estate agents will only work with buyers who are preapproved for a mortgage because, in simplest terms, they don’t want to waste their time showing a buyer a home, only to find out they can’t get approved for a loan of that size, or they cannot get approved for a loan at all. Therefore, one of the first things a realtor will ask you before working with you is if you have been preapproved for a mortgage.
• Many sellers and seller’s agents do not want to show homes to buyers who have not been preapproved for a mortgage – Again, sellers and seller’s agents only want to spend time with buyers who are capable of buying their home.
• A mortgage preapproval shows everyone you are a serious buyer – If you submit an offer on a home without a mortgage preapproval, chances are it will be declined. Sellers want to see that you’ve already done your homework and that you’re ready to come to the table with a serious offer; and a mortgage preapproval shows you’re serious.
• A mortgage preapproval may give you more bargaining and negotiating power – If you put in an offer on a Cordillera Ranch home with a mortgage preapproval, and another buyer, without a mortgage preapproval, puts in an offer, it is more like the seller will entertain and accept your offer over the buyer without the preapproval. This is because your offer comes with an insurance policy that says the seller can comfortably accept your offer without fear of the sale not going through.