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The 2013 San Antonio Board of REALTORS® Housing Forecast

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Last week 3 of our agents attended the San Antonio Board of REALTORS® 2013 Housing Forecast along with about 500 other local industry professionals. The event included a wide range of topics and data affecting various aspects of real estate in San Antonio and across the country.  From a mortgage update, to analysis of San Antonio’s water supply, to local, state and national market conditions there was nothing but positive news for real estate.

At the state level Texas continues to be a leader in job creation, which fuels the housing industry. Specifically in San Antonio, nearly every business sector saw growth in employment in 2012 including an 11.33% gain in the hospitality industry and a 4.36% gain in Professional services. Dr. Mark Dotzour, real estate economist at The Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, made additional positive remarks that suggest the Texas housing market is “a headwind heading toward a tailwind.” A few of his remarks were as follows: The fear of losing jobs is diminishing, there is 5 years of pent up demand for a home, price increases have been reported for many months in a row, and unbelievably low mortgage rates are creating positive leverage for homeowners.

The San Antonio Board of REALTORS® also released sales and market data at the event. A few of the highlights included sales being at their highest level since 2008, the market inventory being down to 5.6 months, and the number of days on the market  going down to an average of 83. Essentially this means people are buying and selling homes in San Antonio, demand is up in San Antonio and homes are selling faster! Furthermore, 2012 average prices per square foot continue to rise in many areas of San Antonio including Schertz/Cibolo, Encino Park, Stone Oak, Timberwood Park, The Dominion, Fair Oaks Ranch, Alamo Heights, Elm Creek, Deerfield and surrounding areas.

Other good news for the San Antonio market came with the announcement of Kiplinger.com listing SA as one of the 8 U.S. cities with surprising job growth over the next 5 years. They are predicting about a 16% increase in jobs right here in San Antonio! Trulia, one of the nation’s leading online real estate companies, ranked San Antonio as the #4 healthiest housing market in the United States! Finally there are only 2 U.S. metro areas that have seen increases in home values since the peak in 2007 and those are Houston and SAN ANTONIO!

Along with all this good news comes potential bad news for some. While mortgage rates are currently crazy low, they won’t stay that way forever. The mortgage update from one of the top industry professionals, suggests rates will begin to rise in Q3 and Q4 of 2013. Also, San Antonio rental rates are continuing to rise and the demand for rentals is insane. This is great news for investors, but bad news for renters.

I say it’s time to get off the fence in 2013 and get serious about buying a home. I truly believe there may never be a better time to invest in homeownership in San Antonio. Make 2013 the year you come up with the money, fix your credit, or just pull the trigger and make the move. Make a smart investment is your future by calling one of our REALTORS® today to learn about the buying process so you can get on your way to becoming a homeowner in one of the best markets in the country in 2013!

Sold: 5035 Casa Oro St

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This 4 bedroom home with 2 full baths is updated and move-in ready.  It’s nearly 2000 square feet and situated on a large corner lot in the North East Independent School District. The spacious kitchen boasts gas cooking, an in-wall oven, skylights, a 5×8 island and gorgeous marble countertops. You’ll also find fresh interior paint, tons of living space custom built-ins and new solar screens on all the windows, helping to keep energy costs down. Outside you’ll instantly fall in love with the curb appeal of the stone exterior and unique stone driveway. The exterior trim has been recently painted and upgraded to Hardie board and the roof has also been replaced. There is also a large sliding gate for backyard access for all your toys. This home is priced-to-sell and sure to move fast. To find out more or schedule a private showing call one of our REALTORS today at 830-443-4883.

We're sorry, but we couldn't find MLS # 975772 in our database. This property may be a new listing or possibly taken off the market. Please check back again.

 

Sold: 32995 Smithson Vly. Rd.

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Beautiful 31+ acre ranch perfectly located off Smithson Vly Rd! Just minutes from SA. 2bdr rock house w/ new roof (2012) and huge detached garage w/ RV storage! Private well, fully high fenced, current wildlife management exemption, hundreds of beautiful oak trees; the perfect spot for your next ranch or hunting lodge. Many level building sites w/hill country views, lots of room to fulfill your vision. Commercial ready property. Don’t let this opportunity to own part of the Texas hill country pass you by!

 

We're sorry, but we couldn't find MLS # 972521 in our database. This property may be a new listing or possibly taken off the market. Please check back again.

 

Alamo Ranch Community Spot

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It’s time to look at another one of San Antonio’s awesome communities. Today we are taking a trip over to the northwest side of town and exploring Alamo Ranch one of the newest and largest master planned communities in San Antonio.

Alamo Ranch was created to help meet the demand for houses, apartments, shopping, and dining that continues to pour into San Antonio. Located just outside Loop 1604 on Culebra Rd (also known as FM 471) this community offers plenty of new homes, nearby shopping, and easy access to Lackland Air Force Base, the Medical Center, Sea World San Antonio, and plenty of other areas to work and play! When the development is fully complete there will be over 15,000 homes built by a variety of different builders.  This basically makes it easy for you to find a home in the right price range, with the right amenities, built by someone you know and trust.

Alamo Ranch is also located inside the Northside Independent School District, which is considered by many to be one of the best in the nation. Your children will have plenty of opportunities to gain an incredible education, play sports on competitive teams, and be involved with others who share like-minded ideas for the future.

Another very nice feature of Alamo Ranch is where it’s located in San Antonio. The community is located out toward Medina Lake, which makes day trips into the beautiful Texas Hill Country very easy. Also, it’s practically next door to Government Canyon State Natural Area. This over 8,600-acre park features more than 40 miles of biking hiking and equestrian trails, beautiful scenic views, and abundant wildlife.

Finally, Alamo Ranch has a massive shopping center built just for you! With everything from HEB, Lowes, Target, to practically any restaurant you can think of it will be quick and easy for you to get all your shopping and dining needs and wants met within just a few miles of your front door.

Alamo Ranch is a wonderful place to settle down in San Antonio. It will absolutely meet and surpass your idea of what a perfect living environment should be.

Now, browse a few of our favorite listings below or click on the button to get full access to all the properties currently available in Alamo Ranch.

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(all data current as of 6/17/2026)

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

 
 

Sold: 9108 Pumpkin Ridge

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This well maintained 3/2 home is move-in ready. You’ll instantly connect w/ the curb appeal and southern style front porch. The home features an island kitchen w/ newer appliances, 2 eating areas and a spacious living room. The large master includes a walk-in closet and a garden tub. The backyard boasts a custom covered patio w/ seating area and a privacy fence. Buyers should also note the 2 car garage, security system and water softener loop. The community is conveniently located w/ lots of shopping nearby. This property won’t last long. To find out more or schedule a private showing call one of our REALTORS® at 830-443-4883 today!

We're sorry, but we couldn't find MLS # 971549 in our database. This property may be a new listing or possibly taken off the market. Please check back again.

 

Making Your Home Energy Efficient

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Have you ever had that experience when you got one of your monthly bills; water, electricity, etc. you open it, and the amount is way more than you expected? It’s shocking and a little discouraging! You wonder what in the world went wrong, and why is this basic necessity eating up so much of my paycheck, and is there anything I can do to lower this fee?

Today, we are going to be looking at a few areas in your home that you can make more efficient, and this in turn can drastically lower your energy or other monthly bills. Many of us haven’t taken the time to really consider what is costing us so much on these bills, and a few quick fixes, or home modifications can make a big difference. This not only helps to protect your checkbook, but creating an energy efficient home also helps the environment, and your entire community as a whole. Let’s get going!

 Most of us use thousands of gallons of water every single month. Unfortunately, in a place like San Antonio water can become very rare. Sometimes we go months without significant rainfall to replenish our lakes, rivers, streams, and aquifers. Here are a few things you can do to make sure you are always using water in the most efficient way possible.

 

  1. This first one is rather obvious, but I think it’s definitely worth throwing out there. You should regularly check for leaks. This doesn’t just mean checking under your sink to make sure all the pipes and connectors are firmly together. A slow dripping leak from an inconspicuous location can get very expensive and waste tons of water.
  2. Only water your lawn when it needs to be watered, and during water efficient times of the day (or night). Even before water restrictions are passed be aware of when you are watering your lawn. Doing so in the middle of a hot Texas day isn’t the best idea. Early mornings or late nights are the best times and will facilitate the largest amount of water being absorbed by the ground before it gets evaporated. Also, if you have an automatic system make sure you check this frequently so the programming doesn’t get messed up and you end up watering way more frequently than you realized.
  3. Installing low flow showerheads is another easy way to decrease the amount of water you use when you shower.
  4. Make sure you only run your dishwasher when it’s full; and fill up your sinks to wash your dishes instead of letting the water just run.

Some of these things may not seem like a big deal, but when you add their effects together it can be very dramatic.

 

Now let’s look briefly at a few ways you can reduce the amount of electricity you use:

  1. Turn off lights and other electric items when they aren’t in use. When you leave for work in the morning run around your house and make sure those lights and fans are all turned off.
  2. Use power strips and actually unplug items from the wall when they aren’t in use. Some televisions, computers, and other appliances continue to use small amounts of energy even when they are turned off. Unplugging them completely from the wall makes sure this isn’t happening.
  3. Update and maintain your appliances. Companies are constantly striving to make products that are more energy efficient. Updating, and at the very least maintaining your appliances ensures that they are running at the highest level of efficiency.
  4. In San Antonio a large cost of your energy bill is because of your air conditioner. Many of us are running these almost 24/7 in the hotter summer months. Doing things like putting curtains on your windows, installing more fans, adding insulation to your attic, and making sure there aren’t any gaps around your doors and windows can help you not run your AC quite as much and still keep you cool. Also remember to have your system serviced and maintained regularly. Change your air filters regularly; remember an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

 

It wouldn’t be hard to write a book about being energy efficient, but if you at least do the things detailed above it will reduce your costs and most definitely save you money. As you browse homes or rentals make sure you are considering what their energy costs will be, and whether you are comfortable with these charges. It’s something most people don’t think about, but considering these things now will make sure you aren’t surprised later on down the road.

 

 

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San Antonio real estate information provided by Becker Properties, LLC. We don't assume any liability or responsibility for the operation or content of linked resources, nor for any interpretations, comments, graphics, or opinions contained therein. All information deemed reliable, but not verified or guaranteed. Becker Properties is a licensed real estate brokerage in the State of Texas and supporter of Fair Housing law.