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The National Association of Realtors recently released their 2011 3rd Quarter Housing Report. In the report, they showed that combined sales of single family homes, condos and co-ops increased in EVERY state as compared to the 3rd quarter of last year. Here are the state-by-state numbers. 
The next time someone says houses aren’t selling, ask them which state they live in and show them the chart.
(information cited from www.kcmblog.com)
Med-Center Condo FOR SALE in San Antonio
3 Bedrooms
2 Full Baths
1544 Square Feet
Incredible 1st Floor Condo w/ large living & dining area, fireplace, eat-in kitchen, Tile Floors Throughout (except bedrooms) & lots of upgrades!
Master Bath has whirlpool tub & great cabinet built-ins!
2 Covered Parking Spaces, Front & Rear Entry Doors…Plus French Doors of the Dining to a Private Patio!
This condo is just minutes from the Med-Center & has super easy access to I10 & 410.
Be Downtown or to The Rim & La Cantera in no time!
Community features a Pool, Clubhouse & tranquil Pond with Turtles, Ducks & Swans!
Northside Schools – Mead Elementary, Hobby Middle & Clark High School
$107,900
mls# 922365
Call (210) 209-8711 or email today for more information & to set up your private showing!
The City of San Antonio has announced there will be No Christmas Tree Collection Again This Year!
Last year we discussed how the City of San Antonio had decided to not offer curbside Christmas Tree pick up & instead would offer drop-off sites around the city on certain dates. This change would save an estimated $30,000. Well, they have decided that they will follow suit again this year.
“Like clock-work, each year just after Thanksgiving, we venture out to pick out our Christmas Trees.
We set them up in our homes & adorn them with twinkling lights & festive ornaments.
We gather around them with family & friends over the next several weeks as we celebrate the holidays.
Then as we sleep on Christmas Eve, SANTA loads them up with gifts for all to enjoy opening on Christmas Day.
Then as the 1st of the New Year rolls around, we grudgingly remove all of the lights & ornaments & then toss them out on the curb…fully expecting that they will magically disappear.
Well…Not This Year!! This year, the city of San Antonio will no longer offer curbside collection of discarded Christmas trees. They will instead set up some 20 different drop-off sites throughout the city. So, that means you will need to find a way to get your tree to one of these sites during the pick-up days for that site.” (last year’s post)
The Christmas Trees will be recycled into nutrient-rich mulch.
Drop-Off Dates will Be January 7-8 and 14-15 from 8am – 2pm.
To find your closest drop-off site, visit CLICK HERE
Now…an exception to this is if you have private garbage pick-up. So, check with your provider to confirm!
Holiday Home Safety Tips
Tis the Season…Christmas Tree Shopping & Decorating, a Cozy Fireplace, the aroma of fresh baked cookies (or a pumpkin spice candle)…all signs that the holidays are here!
As we prepare our homes for family filled gathering and other holiday festivities, it is important that we keep safety in mind.
There are many helpful guidelines to follow to help keep you, your family & your home safe during the Holidays… We have previously discussed Holiday Fire Safety Tips & Holiday Lighting Safety Tips…Here are some additional Holiday Safety Tips…
Candle Safety (Home Safety Council)
Candles are very popular. Most homes in America have them. Candles are very pretty and often smell good, but they can cause serious home fires. Here are some tips on how to enjoy your candles and keep your family safe.
Christmas Tree Safety (Home Safety Council)
Trimming the tree is a traditional holiday pastime. However, if they are not properly cared for, Christmas trees can pose a serious danger. The Home Safety Council offers the following tips to keep in mind when selecting and caring for your Christmas tree this holiday season:
When finding and caring for your Christmas tree this holiday season, just remember the word “STAR”:
Tips for Holiday Electrical Safety (Home Safety Council)
Holiday lights help make the season beautiful. They can also cause home fires. To keep your family safe:
** H A P P Y H O L I D A Y S **
San Antonio Housing Market Statistics – October 2011
The San Antonio Board of REALTORS® (SABOR) has just released our sales & market numbers for October and they are reporting a total number of single family home sales of 1349, which is a 5% increase over October 2010′s sales number of 1285.
Throughout the year, we have seen an increase in average & median prices each month, when compared year over year. However, in October 2011, both did see a slight 1% decrease with an average price at $182,304 and median price at $149,500.
This slight drop is not alarming and when you look at year to date numbers we are still up. Year-to-date, the average price ($186,815) and median price ($152,400) have seen a one and two percent increase respectively.
Our current inventory stands at roughly 7 months. With 6 months being considered balanced, we are looking pretty good. Plus we had 1199 pending sales going into November.
All in all, San Antonio’s real estate market has stayed steady throughout the year. We continue to hear news of new employers coming to San Antonio & bringing new job opportunities for our residents.
“Forbes Magazine recently named San Antonio the best city in the nation for jobs, citing strong employee bases in a diverse roster of industries.”
Another reason why we are also seeing new residents flocking to San Antonio & calling San Antonio home!
The San Antonio Riverwalk is a San Antonio attraction that can be enjoyed by locals & visitors 365 days a year.
It is lined with restaurants, hotels & other businesses that showcase our city culture & focus on entertainment, recrea
tion & relaxation.
One great tradition that is enjoyed annually is the Holiday River Parade & Lighting Ceremony.
The Parade is always held on the Friday following Thanksgiving…So, the 2011 Parade will be on November 25th.
“At 7:00 p.m. on the Friday following Thanksgiving, the switch is thrown and approximately 1.4 million LED lights create a holiday wonderland on the San Antonio River Walk.
The lights shine brightly every evening through January 1.
The lighting ceremony is the official kickoff to the Paseo Del Rio Holiday Festivities.
It’s a Texas-size celebration that’s Pure San Antonio!
For over 27 years, the spectacular one-hour parade along San Antonio’s River Walk has featured illuminated floats with celebrities, bands and lavishly-costumed participants.
Over 150,000 people will gather along the River Walk to watch the spectacle live along the parade route. Millions more will join in the fun watching the television broadcast.” (The San Antonio Riverwalk)
The San Antonio Holiday River Parade & Lighting Ceremony is always a great event & it really does showcase our beautiful Riverwalk!
For ticket information contact the Paseo Del Rio Association at (210) 227-4262.
The US 281/ Loop 1604 Interchange project is beginning its eighth month of construction.
As the project continues to make progress the community will see more lane closures in the near future.
There are several ways drivers can stay up to date on all future construction closures:
Visit www.AlamoRMA.org for daily updates on closure announcements, follow the Alamo RMA on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AlamoRMA) and/or Twitter (www.twitter.com/AlamoRMA).
If you want to receive instant text messages to your phone text “follow AlamoRMA” to 40404 – and stay up to date with lane closures and other notices from the Alamo RMA.
Source: Leroy D. Alloway, Director of Community Development, Alamo Regional Mobility Authority
Buying vs. Renting – Why NOW is the time to BUY in San Antonio!
Here are the top 10 reasons why you should buy NOW!
1. Affordability: Even though San Antonio’s housing market has been much more stable than other areas of the country, there has not been a tremendous amount of price appreciation. This is actually a good thing for buyers. We are sure to start seeing prices increase as things on the national level stabilize. Now is the time to get in, before the prices do go up.
2. Interest rates are low! Seriously…Interest rates are historically low…as low as they have been in 50 years! Which means lower payments! Basically, you can afford more home! Plus, rates will most definitely be going up in the near future.
3. Save on taxes: If a buyer itemizes on their federal tax return they can deduct mortgage interest and property taxes. Taking the tax deductions may mean the effective cost of owning is less than renting. For example, if someone paid $10,000 in mortgage interest in a year and was at a 25% federal tax rate, they may receive up to a $2,500 annual tax deduction.
4. Supply: There is a fantastic supply of homes on the market…Meaning you have some great homes to choose from.
5. Negotiating power: Even though we are getting closer to a balanced market, we are still in a buyer’s market. This makes it easier to negotiate with the seller or builder to pay some or all closing costs and prepaids.
6. Zero or Low Down Payment Loan Programs: With USDA Loan Programs offering a Zero Down option & FHA only requiring as little as 3.5% down, you do not necessarily need a large amount of money saved up in order to close on a home. Who knows when these programs will be going away!
7. Save money: It may be cheaper to own than rent. Your mortgage payment may be less than your rent payment. With some of the lender requirements having tightened up, rental rates are on the rise. So, with good prices & interest rates at all time lows, it is very possible that your mortgage payment could be lower than rent! Plus, the money you pay towards principal each month is essentially forced savings!
8. Ownership & Personalization: When you own a property you are able to enjoy personalizing it and really making it home! Don’t like the color of the walls? Paint them! Want a deck in the back? Build it! The possibilities are endless!
9. Sense of Community: You’ll be able to put down roots in a community. Renters tend to come & go…When you’re a homeowner, you’ll get to know your neighbors, participate in community events, meet potential baby-sitters and you & your children will be able to make lasting friendships!
10. The real estate website Trulia.com recently conducted a study on the “Top 10 Cities to Buy vs. Rent.” They studied the top 50 cities by population and came up with this list of the top 10 cities where it is more affordable to buy versus rent:
1. Minneapolis, MN
2. Arlington, TX
3. Miami, FL
4. Fresno, CA
5. San Antonio, TX
6. Mesa, AZ
7. Jacksonville, FL
8. Phoenix, AZ
9. El Paso, TX
10. Las Vegas, NV
Let us know if you would like more information on San Antonio Real Estate and buying a home in San Antonio.
Are you Relocating to San Antonio? Let us help you get to know the area!
Give us a call (210) 209-8711 or shoot us an email today!
ZERO DOWN – USDA Qualified – Townhomes in Stone Oak & Far North San Antonio
Did you know that there are communities in Stone Oak & Far North San Antonio that qualify for USDA Home Loans?
This means ZERO DOWN PAYMENT!
Take a look at these NEW CONSTRUCTION TOWNHOMES that are located just North of Stone Oak & Canyon Springs…offering residents a hill country feel while still being super convenient to all that the Stone Oak & Far North San Antonio area has to offer…Great Shopping & Fabulous Restaurants, close proximity to Major Employers, Medical Offices & Hospitals, and easy access to HWY 281!
Each of these 3 homes qualifies for USDA Financing!
Plus, with pricing in the $130′s & $140′s, they are very affordable!
2 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths, Open Loft, Stainless Appliances, Covered Patio, Comal ISD
1532 sq.ft.
Priced in the $130′s
READY NOW!
*****
2 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths, Open Loft, Covered Patio, Comal ISD
1532 sq.ft.
Priced in the $140′s
READY NOW!
*****
3 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths, Granite Kitchen Counters, Covered Patio, Comal IDS
1532 sq.ft.
Priced in the $140′s
READY NOW!
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For more information on any of these great townhomes, including photos & incentives, call (210) 209-8711 or email today!
With prices this low, interst rates at all time lows, and a zero down payment program available…YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE to take advantage of this incredible opportunity to buy a home in one of San Antonio’s most desirable areas!
There are several other communities in the Stone Oak & Far North San Antonio that are USDA Home Loan Qualified that offer New Construction & Pre-Owned Homes.
WE CAN HELP YOU WITH ANY OF THEM!
We will be happy to answer all of your questions, set up a private tour of the properties & even get you in contact with a mortgage officer that can assist with the loan process.
These programs & low interest rates are not here to stay…so don’t wait!
Give us call (210) 209-8711 or shoot us an email today.
Homes with Walk-Out Basements are definitely a rare thing to find in San Antonio.
It is a little surprising, given our much of topography…especially in the foot-hills of the Texas Hill Country! It s more common to see homes built with huge rear foundations…
Well…that is not the case in some new homes out in the Stone Oak / Far North San Antonio area. We are finally seeing some homes with Walk-Out Basements instead of this large foundation….And, they are really cool!
Now, of course the lot needs to have the right topography in order to accommodate the walk-out basement. It needs to slope generously from the front to the back.
When added to a single story home, the walk-out basement will make the rear of the home 2-stories. When added to a home that is already 2 stories, then you end up with a 3 story home! The homes can be a little deceiving from the street…as they look smaller than they are.
What all will you find in these finished out walk-out basements? The basements offer as much as nearly 1000 additional square feet…Bringing some of these new homes over 4100 square feet! Many include a large game room and a bedroom & full bath. Other cool options include built-in bars, fireplaces & covered patios…
These homes are incredible! What a great use of space!
GOOD NEWS: There are currently several new construction homes with walk-out basements in the Stone Oak / Far North San Antonio area that are ready for move-in as well as several lots available to accommodate homes with walk-out basements. However, they are going fast!
For more information on Homes with Walk-Out Basements in Stone Oak & North San Antonio, shoot us an email or give us a call at (210) 209-8711. Let us take you on a tour today!
