San Antonio, Texas Real Estate Blog & Market News - Richard Soto's Blog | Page #17

If you are moving on and you don’t want to spend a fortune on professional packers and movers then it pays to learn a little about packing before you embark upon such a large task.Packing takes a bit more finesse than just throwing things into a box and taping it up; if you want to your possessions to remain safe and undamaged, and if you want to remain neat and organized, then it pays to learn how to pack like a professional:

  • The moment you realize you are moving, begin packing. This may seem a bit premature, but you will be glad you got a head-start. Begin by packing off-season items, such as holiday décor. You can also begin packing fragile, rarely used items, such as china and stemware. Gather newspapers and bubble wrap and take care to pack each…

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Alamo Heights has always been known as an old-fashioned city with a family-oriented, small-town atmosphere. Residents of Alamo Heights have always reveled in the quiet surroundings, the cozy homes and the open land. The easy commute in and out of the city has always been a bright spot for residents, as well, as they are able to enjoy both small-town living and the opportunities and excitement of a large city. Alamo Heights has always boasted a strong real estate market in San Antonio.

The homes in this area are revered for their location along quiet, tree-lined streets, as well as for their blend of architecture, including Mediterranean, contemporary and Spanish. In addition, along any given street in Alamo Heights you may see gorgeous, historic homes…

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Homeownership, despite all of the doom and gloom felt across the country, is still a very smart financial move for most individuals. The Bexar County real estate market, of course, has received poor evaluation over the last year because of the subprime mortgages and the record number of foreclosures which, unfortunately, has left many would-be homebuyers feeling more than a bit nervous to purchase their first home.

However, there are many reasons to purchase a home in Bexar County now, including low interest rates, dropping home prices and the government’s first-time homebuyer tax credit. If you are ready to take the plunge into homeownership, there are a few things that you can do to prepare for your homeownership adventure:

  • Talk to a lender first…

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Northwest San Antonio has begun showing signs of stability, and Wereldhave, a Netherlands-based development firm, is one of the first to notice – and to take action. This development firm has plans to bring a high-end, mixed-use community to San Antonio, and the first part of the project is expected to debut as early as this fall. 

Two Class-A Office Buildings on the Horizon

The master-planned community envisioned by Wereldhave will have two, Class A office buildings, thereby boosting the sagging office market here in San Antonio. The office buildings will be a part of their master-planned project entitled “eilan.” The mixed-use community will measure a whopping 220,000 square feet and will cover about 118 acres, once completed. The first of the two…

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The Texas Hill Country is home to one of the most successful, master-planned communities in Texas, if not the country. This exclusive, private community is home to several enclaves, all of which feature only the finest living and only the best services and amenities. It only makes sense then that retirement living in the Dominion be just as superb. And, true to its name, the Dominion offers retirees upscale living in its retirement enclave, Independence Village. This private retirement community reminds one of a quaint, Italian countryside, where fine, Mediterranean homes and outstanding architecture, highlighted by exquisite landscaping, can be found at every turn.

Excellent Quality of Life

Often referred to as a retreat from daily living,…

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Many think of only the homeowners when they hear of the record number of foreclosures across the country. However, it is often the renters that pay in this brutal real estate market. Many renters, for example, have been evicted from their homes because the owners of the homes in which they are living are foreclosed upon. Many times, it is the renters that receive a notice of eviction, not from their landlord, but from the lender that foreclosed on the home. And, unfortunately, many of these renters find themselves without homes and without their security deposits.  In addition, because of the high foreclosure rates, many cities, including San Antonio, have seen rent prices increasing sharply and vacancy rates dropping.

Across the country, vacancy rates…

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The Bexar County Appraisal District is taking the national economy mess into its own hands by lowering or freezing property appraisals in Bexar County. Although San Antonio certainly hasn't been hit has hard as other areas of the country when it comes to the housing market decline and the credit crisis, there are signs that Bexar County is struggling, and will continue to do so in the upcoming year.

The Bexar County Appraisal District certainly considered this sobering statistic when they decided to drop the average residential property appraisal value by two percent, compared to 2008. There certainly is a lot to be said for the drop in property appraisal values, as the last time Bexar County saw a decrease in property appraisals was during the savings…

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Texas is expected to lead the nation’s economic turnaround, beginning with slow and steady growth in 2010, and San Antonio is at the heart of this positive economic development. The San Antonio commercial real estate market will benefit as businesses and manufacturing try to meet the needs of an influx of new residents. Luckily the San Antonio commercial real estate market has fared better during the nationwide economic downturn than the rest of the nation, due largely to experiencing steady job growth while other places were facing rising unemployment. As we approach 2010, experts expect the overall economic health of San Antonio to improve, which will only serve to strengthen the San Antonio commercial real estate market.

New Businesses Bring More…

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San Antonio is home to some of the largest military tenants, likely because of its sheer size and its unique location, which serves as the cultural gateway to the American Southwest. The military installations of San Antonio include:

  • Brooks City-Base – As the largest tenant in the United States Air Force, Books City Base also has a strong presence in aerospace medicine.  The two, major units of the Brooks City-Base are the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine and the 311th Human Systems Wing.
  • Fort Sam Houston – Fort Sam Houston is a support post and medical training facility. It is therefore commonly known as the “Home of the Combat Medic” and the “Home of Army Medicine.” Fort Sam Houston is home to the U.S. Army North, 5th Army…

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Many sellers shy away from the idea of paying hefty realtor commissions on the sale of their homes, especially in these financially challenging times. This leads many people to try selling their homes on their own, without the assistance of a reputable realtor. While these sellers may be saving in commission fees, they are taking on a tremendous load of liability, hard work, and aggravation. The San Antonio flat fee MLS listing can ease much of the pain of trying to sell a home. 

Professional Help for One Low Fee

One of the biggest problems homeowners run into when trying to go it alone is exposure. In order to make the sale of their home known to the largest numbers of potential buyers, the homeowner needs to advertise. If a house is on the market…

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