Here's what's blooming in our back yard so far:
Sprightly columbines that did nothing last year
Rampant dill, overwhelming the coriander and parsley. The swallowtail caterpillars love it
The three-year-old clematis vine, which suddenly produced the most and largest blooms in its life so far
Along with the flowers we want, we have plenty of weeds that we don't want. Pulling them keeps me busy and gets me out into the fresh, somewhat muggy, air. Plus, the hummingbirds are back already, at least a pair of them, so I've put out a feeder and it's emptying quickly. I love spring!
If you're in the Air Force, chances are you've been to Lackland Air Force Base for basic training, but if you are coming to San Antonio for a longer stay, you might be interested in this overview of the local housing market.
Lackland is located on the west/southwest part of San Antonio, where for a long time new residential development has languished. Many of the neighborhoods close to the base were built in the 60s and 70s, before Kelly AFB was decommissioned, and prices today range around $50,000 to $80,000. These include Lackland Terrace (and other neighborhoods with the name "Lackland"), Indian Creek, Valley Hi, and Sky Harbor. Shopping and restaurants are readily available at Ingram Park Mall off Loop 410 (San Antonio's "inner" loop) and at South Park Mall, off S.W. Military Drive. Major employers nearby include Southwest Research Institute, HEB Foods headquarters, and Boeing (a facility is at Kelly USA); and the Toyota Tundra truck manufacturing plant is within commuting distance.
In the past few years, however, builders have "discovered" the city's far-west side and have developed neighborhoods in price ranges averaging $120,000 to $280,000. Shopping, services, restaurants, new employers, and new schools have followed.
You may have to get a little farther away from Lackland to find more established neighborhoods, but they'll still be in easy commuting distance. On the city's northwest side, the homes average 15 to 25 years old, and are typically built on larger lots. Oak trees shade the streets and yards, and although the neighborhoods often feature pools and parks, the homeowners association dues tend to be under $200 a year. These neighborhoods include Braun Station/Heights/Oaks, Northwest Crossing, Great Northwest, New Territories, Mainland Oaks, and Village in the Woods. Shopping and dining are available at all four corners of the intersection of Bandera Road and Loop 1604, and other nearby attractions are La Cantera Mall and Fiesta Texas, as well as major employment magnets such as the South Texas Medical Center, West telemarketing, Valero oil, and insurance giant USAA.
On the other hand, if you're looking for a newer or possibly larger home, you'll find plenty to choose from to the west and southwest. Familiar names such as KB Home, Pulte, DR Horton, Continental, and Centex offer new subdivisions, as well as many locally known builders. You may have to sacrifice garage and yard space, and wait for the shade trees to grow, but you'll have a better chance of getting a more modern floor plan. This would include higher ceilings, an open-plan kitchen, dining, and living arrangement as well a game room. These neighborhood names include the words Westover Hills/Crossing/Creek and others, Westcreek, and Westwood (are you sensing a theme here?); as well as Sierra Springs and Spring Vistas, Brycewood, Laurel Mountain Ranch, and Hunt Crossing, among many others. Sea World is located in this part of the city, as are major employers such as Citibank, the Hartford, Capital Group, and World Savings, as well as the Hyatt Hill Country Resort and QVC.
Well, last night I participated in the Texas Two-Step. I had already voted, so I went back to caucus last night, showing up 15 minutes early for what I thought would be a half-hour process. As a result, I only had to stand in line in the parking lot at my polling station for 2 hours. It was cold last night, too!
Thanks to some friendly and funny folks I waited with, I managed to survive the ordeal--one of them very kindly lent me his jacket. Once I got inside the building (which was warm, and mostly empty, since only a dozen people at a time were being let in), it only took 5 minutes to register my selection. By that time, I was too tired and hungry, plus my feet were killing me, to hang around afterwards to caucus and choose delegates. At 8:45, the two lines of people waiting still stretched from the doors all the way across the parking lot to the street. Next time, I think I will volunteer to help so that this doesn't happen again! And at least I'd get to be inside.
Earlier in the day, I went to the post office in Cibolo and took my camera with me. Cibolo, like Schertz, is one of the fastest-growing towns in Texas. The contrast is not as great, because the original town is smaller, but it's still interesting. Builders have bought cheap land all around Cibolo and built homes ranging from entry-level homes in the $120,000 range up to spec and custom homes in the low $300,000s.
Many home buyers (and renters) live in the area because of the town's convenient proximity to Randolph Air Force Base. It's also an easy commute to Fort Sam Houston and Brooke Army Medical Center via IH-35. Farther to the north along IH-35 is a nice older community built around a golf course, Northcliffe, and an over-55 neighborhood being built on the north side of the course.
I hope you enjoy these scenes from Cibolo! Click the Details button at the end of each show for more information.
Texas is one of the few states to be continuing to add jobs, just one of the reasons that the real-estate downturn has not had as much of an effect here as in other states. And two companies headquartered in San Antonio have made it onto Fortune magazine's annual list of top 100 employers. They include Valero Energy, the largest oil refining company in North America that nobody's ever heard of, and Rackspace Managed Hosting, which Microsoft designated Worldwide Hosting Service Provider of the Year in 2007.
Valero's campus is on the northwest part of San Antonio, close to the University of Texas and a little farther from USAA and the Medical Center, two other major employers. The average annual salary for Valero employees is $97,730 and for Rackspace is $55,883.
Rackspace is relocating its headquarters near the Medical Center to the repurposed Windsor Park Mall on the city's northeast side. In the process, it is planning to double its workforce to approximately 3,000 in the next few years. It was just named tenth-best company to work for in Texas by Texas Monthly magazine.
Finally, Boeing, with facilities located at the decommissioned Air Force base now known as Kelly USA and Lackland AFB on the city's fast-growing west side, recently announced that they are doubling their production of 787 Dreamliners. Average salaries are $68,700 companywide, and Boeing will be adding another few hundred jobs to the San Antonio area with the new 787 contracts.
A couple of weeks ago, I had to kill some time and run a couple of errands in Schertz. (According to the US post office, I live about 200 feet from the boundary line of Schertz, in Cibolo, to the east.)
Since I had my camera with me, I thought I'd try to capture some of the contrasts between the old city of Schertz and just a small portion of the rapid development that has been taking place in the last few years.
Last year, Schertz was ranked one of the best places to live in Texas by Money magazine. So far, it's been good to me. Many people stationed at Randolph Air Force Base live in Schertz or the nearby cities of Universal City, Live Oak, Converse, and Cibolo. I'll be driving around there soon, too.
Click the Details button after viewing the shows for more information.
 |
|
|
I specialize in residential properties in the north San Antonio metro and Schertz - Cibolo areas, second homes near the Guadalupe River, military relocations, and rehabbing older homes
I was born in Texas and grew up in San Antonio. I came back to my hometown in 2003 after moving to Hawaii in 1990 and then England in 1996. I managed a rental property in Hawaii and invested in real estate in England, so my market niche became property management and sales of single- and multi-family homes. San Antonio changed a lot in the 14 years I was away, and continues to grow and diversify--geographically and culturally. Despite its healthy economy, the cost of living here is still low compared to similar-sized cities, and real estate is very affordable.
I enjoy working with international clients who are attracted to San Antonio and the Hill Country for their excellent investment possibilities and vacation properties, especially waterfront homes. I am an Advisor for the National Association of Residential Real Estate Investment Advisors (NARREIA). I also work with military transferrees, relocations, and foreign buyers who are delighted to find out how much real estate they can buy in affordable San Antonio. I'm a Certified Residential Specialist and an Accredited Buyers Representative, and have a Transnational Referral Certification.
I work mainly in the northwest, north-central, and northeast sections of San Antonio, Bexar County, as well as in the Cibolo/Schertz area, where I live. I also help buyers and sellers in Guadalupe and Comal counties, and I love the Guadalupe River area around New Braunfels and Lake McQueeney.
I recently joined the By Referal Only network, becoming a real estate consultant for my clients' lives!
I specialize in buying and selling single-family homes, many for residential investment as rental properties, and helping with relocations, including military, to the San Antonio area. I also help with rehabbing and remodeling in some of San Antonio's beautiful older neighborhoods. I mainly work with buyers, since I love finding the "right" property, but also really enjoy the marketing side of listing homes for sale or rent.
I especially enjoy welcoming people to San Antonio who are relocating here in the military or with a job transfer and need to find a home in a city they may not be familiar with. San Antonio has several military installations, including Fort Sam Houston Army Base, home of the world-renowned Brooke Army Medical Center; Lackland AFB, where most of the Air Force trainees go at one time or another and Wilford Hall VA hospital is located; Randolph AFB, with its pilot training; and the former Brooks AFB, now Brooks City Base and host to a Centers for Disease Control facility.
For my investor clients, I take the long-term approach to invest in single-family homes for break-even or positive cash flow and/or future appreciation. Rehabs and remodeling projects can be rewarding; especially those that could be rented after, or even during, rehabbing to take advantage of lower capital gains rates after one year's ownership. All of the properties I help my clients acquire must have features that would appeal to both good-quality tenants as well as future home buyers for resale purposes.
I look for good investment properties in the northeast and northwest parts of the San Antonio metropolitan area, near major employers and the Medical Center, which is where I grew up and where I still work with a lot of my investor clients. Neighborhoods close to Fort Sam Houston and Randolph AFB are others that attract tenants. The city is growing in practically every direction now, but I still have a fondness for the older neighborhoods with lots of trees.
For sellers, I am a convert to staging to make a vacant home more appealing and I offer this service. Most buyers--and prospective tenants--are unable to see past the cosmetic issues of a house. I'll give my recommendations for preparing a home for sale or lease, and I have assembled a terrific team of people who do excellent work for a reasonable price. I want every home I list for sale or lease to look better than the competition.
From the buyer, and then later the seller, of a duplex:
I wanted to share the fantastic experience I had working with Robin Rogers buying my first investment property in Texas. I found Robin's contact information from an article, gave her a call and within a day or so we were in action over phone and e-mail looking for my investment property. Robin is a fantastic communicator, always quickly answering my questions via e-mail. She connected me with extremely helpful folks (inspector, appraiser, property manager) who all worked closely with Robin and myself to make my long distance investment process very smooth.
From a couple in the Air Force who saw the home I found for them for the first time when they arrived to move into it:
We love the house and the area. We couldn't be happier! We very much appreciate all your help in finding it.
From the sellers of a home I managed and subsequently listed for sale (a couple of my many clients whom I've never had the pleasure of meeting):
We have truly enjoyed working with you and we truly appreciate all of your hard work. I know you are moving away from the property management business but if any of your clients ever ask for a business reference, don't hesitate to give them my name.
From the sellers of a home and lot, both near the Medical Center, who transferred out of state:
Where do we begin? We will start with a huge thank you for making the real estate business simplified! You made everything seamless! From our very first interaction as buyers a few years ago to our recent transaction as sellers, you have been not only a wealth of resourceful information, but also courteous, patient, and determined. With everyone's busy schedule these days, what a client wants and needs is someone who can break down the complicated real estate jargon, set reasonable expectations, and possess good follow-through. You absolutely shined in every one of those aspects!
From the buyers of two rental homes so far, the second of which they have not seen (and since they moved out of the country, they may never see):
If there's a Robin Rogers fan club, sign us up! When we found Robin's name through an internet search for San Antonio Realtors, we had no idea what a terrific experience was in store for us. As out-of-towners, we depended on Robin's expertise to guide us through the San Antonio real estate market. Both times we worked with Robin to buy rental properties, Robin steered us to winner houses that quickly generated income for us. Her advice was unbiased and spot on, and her commitment to us and our expectations was unsurpassed. You would be hard pressed to find a more competent and caring Realtor in San Antonio.
From anxious first-time home buyers from California who wanted to move closer to the kids' grandparents in Schertz:
I want to say thank you so much for all of the help you have given us. You were so wonderful throughout the process and found us great lenders as well. We couldn't have made it without you, so thank you so much!
From an investor in the military from Chicago whose wife is from San Antonio:
What was I looking for in a Realtor? I'm concerned about a few things. They have to deal with a lot of investors. I think it's a completely different thing for a buyer's Realtor to deal with someone looking to buy a house they will live in compared to a house they will rent out. They have to respond to your calls, emails, questions and concerns in a timely manner. This goes without saying, but I was surprised that I have called or emailed at least three other active Realtors and did not receive calls back from them. Obviously a Realtor needs to be familiar with the area, neighborhoods, schools, crime statistics, where appreciation is most likely to occur, and basically which neighborhoods are improving and which are declining. My other requirement is that the Realtor doesn't agree with me all the time. I would like my ideas to be thoughtfully challenged. I don't want to be surrounded by people who do nothing but agree with me. Why do I need another me? I require someone who ultimately carries out my will, but who helps to clarify my thoughts and plans by not blindly agreeing with me on everything.
I was lucky to find Robin Rogers. I Googled San Antonio investment Realtor and found her blog as well as some articles she had written for the National Association of Residential Real Estate Investment Advisors (NARREIA). Got that? It's a mouthful. I liked her right off the bat for a few reasons: she responded to me very quickly and we opened up with a very nice conversation about my investing goals and what she was able to provide; she understands the area; she spends time blogging and connecting with other bloggers which, I think, is like a form of continuing education; she owns investment properties herself; and she independently offers her advice even when she knows it is different than my thoughts.
Robin has been great about dealing with the seller, sending me listings that I may be interested in, and having a great network to recommend to me. She recommended a great inspector, which helped me to get a new roof from the seller, as well as a mortgage broker, accountant, and handyman. These were particularly helpful since I was new to the area.
If you're looking for a Realtor that focuses on investment properties, I would recommend looking for someone that has these traits. If you're in the San Antonio area, you should contact Robin and see if she would be a good fit for you. Check out her blog at activerain, and check out her Web site for more information.
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
Powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network
© 2009 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
