Thinking Of Relocating... (San Antonio, Boerne, Center: apartments, to rent, countertops)

[Z06Girly]

I was in San Antonio just a month ago and was amazed at how nice people are out there. Huge difference compared to where I am currently from Miami (born & raised) here. So I have a few questions...

I have done some research on places to live and what area would be best for me. I currently have a 25-30 minute commute to work which is about 32 miles one way from where I live, but it's all highway. Also I like driving so that doesn't bother me. Although I would like to have a shorter commute if possible. I went to the mall in La Cantera and seemed like a nice area, sooo curious if that would a good area to look for a place? I also found a few places that look really nice by the Stone Oak & Encino Ranch area, but not sure if that would be to far north of where everything is. Any ideas would be a great help, I do have a friend that lives out there but don't want to ask them for help since I kind of want to surprise them if I decide to make the move.

I do have a few job offers out there so I would like to start seriously looking at the best places to live.

[Soviet]

I would recommend living close to work. It's great! I have a 5-minute commute and I love it! Of course, if you would rather not have that, then there are tons of great neighborhoods on the North and West sides of the city that might be right for you. Or you could live in downtown? It's all up to you!

Welcome to San Antonio! It's a great place when you're not being harassed by incompetent law enforcement in podunk municipalities!

Oh, that's another note: any jurisdiction that's not "San Antonio"? Odds are they'll have artificially low speed limits for the purpose of revenue generation. Just a heads up! No one wants to part with their money due to incompetence.

[Paul56]

Yup, I 2nd living close to work as possible... it gives you more time for other things.

[makiten]

The issue with La Cantera is that it is right across the street from a university, so the surrounding area has a large population of college students.

If you're into urban surroundings, neighborhoods north and south of downtown/CBD are interesting. Stone Oak/Encino Ranch are where many commuters are, so it has quite a bit of foreseeable congestion. However, the area in between Stone Oak and La Cantera is actually fairly nice from Bitters Rd inside Loop 1604 to outside 1604 if you like the Stone Oak and Encino Ranch neighborhoods. It can give you a shorter commute because you don't have to contend with 281, 1604, or I-10 congestion if you are working near the Medical Center.

Based on the companies where you've gotten the offers from, I could make better suggestions for closer areas.

[ShaneSA]

I would think it is easier to live close to work and then the occasional travel to the malls would be an adventure. What kind of "everything" do you want to be near? There is downtown, southtown, St. Mary's Strip, Sea World, Fiesta Texas. All kinds of things are all over the place. Museums, arts, fairs, it's everywhere.

[Z06Girly]

Maybe I should make a few things a little more clear. I live in Miami, FL so dealing with traffic is nothing new to me. I also commute to another county for work so driving is not an issue, being close to work is a plus but I don't want to live close to work if it's not a nice area. The area I currently live, in Miami the cheapest house is around $875,000. Sooooo I would like to be in an area similar to that and it looks like Shavano Park might be a good idea to look into?

Also I would like to rent my first my year and if I decide I like it there I will stay and buy a home. Looking for something newly built 2 bed/bath with a garage would be awesome and even better with wood flooring & stainless appliances. Oh yeah and pet friendly since I have a dog.

[Z06Girly]

Originally Posted by makiten

The issue with La Cantera is that it is right across the street from a university, so the surrounding area has a large population of college students.

If you're into urban surroundings, neighborhoods north and south of downtown/CBD are interesting. Stone Oak/Encino Ranch are where many commuters are, so it has quite a bit of foreseeable congestion. However, the area in between Stone Oak and La Cantera is actually fairly nice from Bitters Rd inside Loop 1604 to outside 1604 if you like the Stone Oak and Encino Ranch neighborhoods. It can give you a shorter commute because you don't have to contend with 281, 1604, or I-10 congestion if you are working near the Medical Center.

Based on the companies where you've gotten the offers from, I could make better suggestions for closer areas.

Yeah I saw that it was right near the University...

Offers from Honda & Acura Dealers, so whatever areas are close to those dealers would help.

[Soviet]

I'm guessing you mean the Honda & Acura dealers of I-10. So your budget range is $800,000? That will give you a lot of options, certainly. Some Medical Center homes (Donore Place, Tupelo Lane) might be good if you want to be somewhat closer to downtown. Shavano Park is an option if you want to go up North, but be aware of the disgusting speed traps: if you ever have visitors or guests, STRESS to them that they absolutely have to drive 30-35 mph so they don't get taxed by pathetic revenue generators! I wish my friend did that to me before I showed up!

The Dominion would be too far out, unless you're fine with that, again. Not much reason to live that far north, though.

As for nice apartments to live in for a year while you "try out" the city, there should be a few here and there around La Cantera. My friend lived in an apartment building by the Rim and it was pretty excellent: wood flooring and stainless appliances, granite countertops plus one garage spot, if I remember correctly. He's moved out to Boerne since, so my memory may be a bit fuzzy.

Just come on out and check things out yourself! Good luck!

[makiten]

Originally Posted by Z06Girly

Yeah I saw that it was right near the University...

Offers from Honda & Acura Dealers, so whatever areas are close to those dealers would help.

Gunn Honda and Acura are actually close to where I work, and I live in the area between SO and LC, so my commute is 15 on surface streets. Those aren't the only Honda or Acura dealerships, but most Honda dealerships I know are still within a short distance from 78230, 31, 48, and 49 zip codes, which I'd recommend, and 58, which is Stone Oak, Roger's Ranger neighborhoods.

For entertainment and other amenities, it's maybe a 10-20 minute drive depending on where you're going (I'm thinking places near downtown and uptown, La Cantera, Park North, which are all in different areas of town), so those zip codes are definitely good.

[smtimelevi]

Originally Posted by Soviet

I'm guessing you mean the Honda & Acura dealers of I-10. So your budget range is $800,000? That will give you a lot of options, certainly. Some Medical Center homes (Donore Place, Tupelo Lane) might be good if you want to be somewhat closer to downtown. Shavano Park is an option if you want to go up North, but be aware of the disgusting speed traps: if you ever have visitors or guests, STRESS to them that they absolutely have to drive 30-35 mph so they don't get taxed by pathetic revenue generators! I wish my friend did that to me before I showed up!

The Dominion would be too far out, unless you're fine with that, again. Not much reason to live that far north, though.

As for nice apartments to live in for a year while you "try out" the city, there should be a few here and there around La Cantera. My friend lived in an apartment building by the Rim and it was pretty excellent: wood flooring and stainless appliances, granite countertops plus one garage spot, if I remember correctly. He's moved out to Boerne since, so my memory may be a bit fuzzy.

Just come on out and check things out yourself! Good luck!

I think what she was saying is that homes in her area are 800,000. I'm pretty sure she wants to move somewhere that housing is more affordable,like San Antonio