Rather like the city itself, San Antonio’s real estate market is lively and varied. Buyers have a great deal of choice in price range and in the kind of homes that are available. Whether you are looking for an inner city apartment, an artist’s studio warehouse, a historic colonial in an older neighborhood, an exclusive modern home with river views, a “start-up” or retirement condominium, or an affordable family home in a new sub-division, San Antonio has it all.
Property is a good investment in popular San Antonio, which has seen housing prices rise by 20.9% between 1999 and 2004. San Antonio’s thriving economy and comparatively good wage rate also means that buyers have a favorable rate of housing affordability. At the close of 2003, 62% of households in San Antonio could afford to buy a median priced home there, in comparison to 54% in Texas total, and 55% nationwide. The rate for first time homebuyers was even greater. By the end of December 2004, San Antonio had the lowest median housing price ($90,543) of 100 comparable metropolitan areas across America.
An estimated 12,700 new homes will be built in San Antonio in 2005. 48% of new homes sold in 2004 were in the $100,000 to $150,000 price range, and 16% of units were priced less than $100,000. 16% were priced from $150,000 to $200,000. New housing went up by 34% in the West corridor, 22% in North Central, 19% in the Northeast, 6% in the South, 5% in the East and 14% split evenly between New Braunfels and the Northwest corridor that includes Boerne.
Property tax rates are around .58 cents per $100 of valuation in San Antonio, and disabled citizens can apply to receive up to $12,500 reduction on these fees.
As a landlocked community, Alamo Heights has relatively little space for new development. Most of the town was built between the nineteen twenties and fifties, so nearly all the homes for sale have delightful character. Backyards feature lovely old trees and plants, and streets and public spaces are similarly enriched by old growth. In 2004 a developer bought the town’s old run down quarry and was able to convert this land into a golf course surrounded by well constructed new homes. Most are aimed at executives in price and quality. Alamo Heights residents pay a property tax rate of around .32 cents per $100 of valuation.
There are a range of properties to be had in Boerne, from historic cottages, sturdy family homes and new properties in town, to historic adobe ranches and upscale designer homes in the surrounding countryside. There have been a number of new suburban developments since the year 2000; most are sensitively designed to fit in to the existing character of the pretty town, and most are well landscaped with trees. Prices range considerably, from around $60,000 for a three-bedroom home in a new suburb to almost four million for a six-bedroom architecturally designed dream home in the countryside.
- NUMBER1EXPERT™ 
