Matt Stigliano

image courtesy of tilaneseven

KB Home's recent announcement of plans to build smaller homes in community stirs up a lot of feelings.

KB Home decided to build some new floorplans in their community at Sundance Trails and Sundance Ridge recently and it has been causing a bit of a stir. The communities, located off Potranco outside the 1604, started with brick front homes and two or three car garages ranging from $125,000 and went up into the $200,000s. Now KB Home is moving in with floorplans starting at $93,995 that are smaller and may be built with siding instead of brick. KB Home says they are reacting to the marketplace and the economy, but residents feel their getting the short end of the stick. By building these new homes, the current residents fear that their home values will drop and the neighborhood they thought they would be living in (based on similar homes), will be no longer.

Builders have to watch their bottom line.

Builder are in business to make money. That's the prupose of just about any business I guess. In doing so, they sometimes have to make decisions like this to make sure they can continue. As the housing market has slowed (and KB Home isn't just here in TX, so they're dealing with their bottom line in many different markets), KB has had to make decisions to adjust.

Residents have to be concerned about their community.

When a buyer purchases a home in a community, they are buying more than just the home. They are buying into the community and quite often, it provides them with a certain sense of pride. They chose this community for their own specific reasons and when the community changes in a way they don't agree with, I can imagine their frustration. These homeowners expecting one thing and are now getting another.

What can you do?

The residents of Sundance Trails and Sundance Ridge have been meeting and protesting the changes. Some residents have even said they would move as soon as possible to get out of the neighborhood. When buying in a new neighborhood, the best advice I could give you is to ask to see the deed restrictions. By looking at these you will know what is and isn't allowable in the new community. Of course, you have to think outside of those restrictions. If it doesn't mention "no mobile homes," then there's always the chance that someone could build a mobile home there. If it says "no horses," then you can forget your daughter's dream of owning a pony - at least in that house. Deed restrictions are a great way to look at the vision for a community before its completely built. It won't answer all your questions, but it will give you some knowledge that might lead you to ask some of the questions.

You can read more about the homeowner's point of view and ideas to solve the problem at www.sundancefamily.com.

I had taken some extra photos last week while at KB Home's Woods Of Alon that I wanted to share with everyone. These aren't quite as exciting as the photos of the house, because most of what they show are the empty lots, but I actually find this a bit exciting. Its an empty canvas, waiting for a homeowner to build their dreams and their lives in the most exciting community in San Antonio. A community designed around the theory that you should be able to walk to the shops, restaurants, and parks. A community that saves native trees on every lot, instead of clear cutting and rebuilding/replanting. A community with gorgeous homes and green areas. A community with walking trails to enjoy a fall-time stroll as the leaves begin to change. My goal? To buy a house there someday for me and my wife. Its quite a testament to a community really as typically, I don't like new homes as much. I hope everyone's gotten a great view of the community by now and enjoys it as much as I do. I'll probably be back there in a few weeks to do some more open houses, so if anyone wants to stop by, just let me know.

If the economy is faltering, the shoppers lined up at Kohl's certainly don't show it.

I'm not trying to be an economist here, I was just making a bit of a joke really. Sure the economy is having its problems right now, but as my wife and I went to do a bit of shopping today, I snapped this photo while waiting in line at Kohl's at Bandera Pointe. The line continues forward, then around the corner and well down another aisle. It was pretty long. (I apologize for the quality, but I hadn't eaten all day and was feeling a bit shaky, plus I didn't want anyone to think I was some weirdo snapping photos of them.) This is the line at the back of the store (where customer service is). I should have snapped a few of the lines at the front of the store, but by the time we were done, I just wanted out of there (I'm pretty impatient).

I hope people don't let the bad news affect them too much.

I really enjoy the Christmas shopping and wandering through stores looking for the perfect gift for my wife every year. We've always tried to keep gift simple and nice, but there's something to be said for the excitement I feel when I buy the gift, hide it and then reveal it on Christmas morning. The bad news constantly bombarding us on the housing market definitely has affected things, so I hope as the news of how people just aren't spending this year spreads, people don't get caught up in that bad news too. The true test of the economy is your personal economy. I hope its doing well and you have what you need in life. I'm a pretty simple guy and I know I do.

San Antonio is full of wildlife, but I never expected to see a coyote, even though I was sure we had them. Ok, so there probably were coyotes long before I ever settled in San Antonio and probably ten times as many before anyone really settled here at all. Nonetheless, I was impressed as I caught this picture a few days ago. I spotted this one as I was leaving my office, just by the side of the road. My office is over on Paesanos Parkway (right inside the 1604 between Bitters and NW Military) and as I was driving out to the access road, I saw something move out of the corner of my eye. As I turned to look, I had no choice, but to stop the car and put it in park. No less than 25 feet away from me was this coyote. At least I think its a coyote (could be a wolf I guess?). I pulled at my phone and cursed myself for leaving my good camera at the house. I took several photos all while he sat and stared back at me. He didn't move and even when he did decide it was time to move along, he sauntered back into the wooded area pretty slowly. I don't think I've ever been that close to a coyote, even while driving through the Hollywood Hills (we'd often see them crossing the canyon roads late at night). It was an awesome sight and I definitely feel privileged to have seen it. It did make me wonder how he would react if I had been heading to my car and not safe and sound in it. I will definitely keep my eyes open when heading out to my car late at night.

The other week when I went to my open house at 2919 Zurich in Woods Of Alon (KB Home), I finally brought my camera to get some good photos. In the past I only ever had my camera phone, so I didn't take many shots. Since I am constantly going on about this house and how much I love it, I thought I ought to actually get some photos to share with all of you. The community is growing lately (a new house went up a few weeks ago), but there still are plenty of lots (there will be 325 altogether) and I've been excited to watch it grow. I just hope it doesn't sell out before I'm ready to buy one of them. I hope you all enjoy the show I put together (using RealEstateShows of course!). The wood floors are incredible in the house and the photos don't do them justice. I have some more photos of the community in general that I'll probably do a show for, so keep checking back for more...