Home Buying Do's and Don't's in SA (Center: wood floors, house)

[JohnNHL]

Hi Everyone,

New set of questions, so I'm starting a new thread. I was wondering if there are any obvious do's and don't's for what to get or not get in a home in SA. For instance:

1. pool or no pool?
2. one- or two-story?
3. wood deck or cement pad deck or something else?
4. attached garage or not?
5. newly built home or rennovated old home?
6. Brick or siding?
7. etc...

Is there anything obvious that we should avoid at all costs based on personal experience?

Thanks!

[Chaka]

I think all of those things are personal preference.

Re #1 - know that pools don't always increase resale value (and in some cases decrease it). Black bottom pools are very popular these days, but in full sun in Texas summers = bath tub water or worse. All our friends' pools with black bottoms are too warm to swim in during the heat of the day in summer and only moderately better after 6pm. We still do ;-), but they're anything but refreshing. It doesn't get cool enough at night to cool them off. Otherwise, having a pool is just a personal preference.

Clarification: I am not sure if this is also true in the Hill Country, where it is typically a bit cooler at night. it's definitely true in and around downtown and far west side (where my friends with pools live ;-))

[JohnNHL]

Thanks, that's good to know about the black bottom pools...I wouldn't have thought of that. I'm not sure if we'll get a pool because of the hassle and expense, but I would use it all the time if we do, so it might be worth it to us. What percentage of homes have a pool in SA?

I've heard the second stories get hotter than the first floor. Is that true? I think I'd want to avoid that...

Thanks!

[Azure110]

I have a pool with black pebble tec. I never had any issues with the water being like warm bath water and most of the pool is in direct sunlight. I live in the medical center, not out in the hill country.

The only issue I have had with the dark colored bottom is that it attracts snakes. I have found a few snakes in the pool.

[Chaka]

Originally Posted by MattTx

I have a pool with black pebble tec. I never had any issues with the water being like warm bath water and most of the pool is in direct sunlight. I live in the medical center, not out in the hill country.

The only issue I have had with the dark colored bottom is that it attracts snakes. I have found a few snakes in the pool.

Lucky you! Maybe the Med Center cools down more at night than I thought!

[LindaGrace]

Originally Posted by JohnNHL

Hi Everyone,

New set of questions, so I'm starting a new thread. I was wondering if there are any obvious do's and don't's for what to get or not get in a home in SA. For instance:

1. pool or no pool?
2. one- or two-story?
3. wood deck or cement pad deck or something else?
4. attached garage or not?
5. newly built home or rennovated old home?
6. Brick or siding?
7. etc...

Is there anything obvious that we should avoid at all costs based on personal experience?

Thanks!

My personal opinion?

Yes to the pool (our house didn't come with one so we are feverishly saving up to put one in)

One story only

Cement pad (I don't really care, to be honest - we have cement and I might prefer tile, but eh)

Yes to the attached garage

Yes to the renovated older home (my gorgeous MCM home was built in 1959 - original wood floors, original bathrooms but updated kitchen)

Yes to all brick, all the way around

My other big must haves included a lot of character (which is why we only looked at older homes), good sized yard (including side yards), mature landscaping, and big old trees.

[Azure110]

Originally Posted by Chaka

Lucky you! Maybe the Med Center cools down more at night than I thought!

That or downtown is too much of a concrete jungle retaining all that heat.

[Chaka]

Originally Posted by MattTx

That or downtown is too much of a concrete jungle retaining all that heat.

That could be, but our friends on the far west side also have this experience.

[Hedgehog_Mom]

An attached garage is pretty much standard here.

If you get a newer house, the one stories usually have less back yard, if that matters to you. The lots they're building on now are fairly small, so only the two stories end up with a big back yard.

[Azure110]

Originally Posted by Chaka

That could be, but our friends on the far west side also have this experience.

Then it is all a big mystery to me why some get too hot and others don't with black colored gunite.