Stone Oak vs Schertz / Other Areas (San Antonio, Alamo: buying a home, safe area, buying)

[mommy1st]

We are looking into buying a home and are trying to narrow it down.


We are considering Stone Oak, (maybe even the area North of 1604 and 281 near the JW golf course) and Schertz but also considering even Alamo Heights, Shavano Park. Hollywood Park and maybe Converse.

I know this is a lot of areas and we are trying to narrow it down.

Safe area and good schools are priorities of course since we have a daughter.


I work basically in Converse ( husband works from home) so we do not want to be too much farther west.
Our pediatrician is in Stone Oak and prefer not to switch her dr.

What are the pros and cons about these areas? How about traffic and any other advice thoughts on these areas.

[TXsurburbanmom]

Do you prefer newer or older homes? What is your price range?

Stone Oak is mostly newer homes from high $100s to millions. Schools are excellent which is why we moved out here from another part of SA. Shopping is great and there are plenty of entertainment options. Lots of churches and activities for kids.

Traffic could be an issue. I'd make the drive during rush hour to see how you feel about doing it every day. Right now there is road construction but once done it will improve the flow. A lot of people live out this way so there will always be some traffic even when it get better.

A lot of people refer to SO as cookie cutter. Generally the homes in each neighborhood are of a similar age and often only one or two builders so it is not a mix. Most are 2 story to take advantage of space as yards normally run small. Some are gated but several are not. Some have pools/tennis courts but not all.

If that doesn't sound like an area you'd be happy in you might want to look elsewhere. I'll let someone who lives in the other area tell you the pros and cons of their area. I'm sure you'll get plenty of feedback about why you shouldn't move to SO. Some people love it (me) and others hate it with a vengeance. I think it really depends on your personal preferences.

[mommy1st]

Originally Posted by ddeel

Do you prefer newer or older homes? What is your price range?

Stone Oak is mostly newer homes from high $100s to millions. Schools are excellent which is why we moved out here from another part of SA. Shopping is great and there are plenty of entertainment options. Lots of churches and activities for kids.

Traffic could be an issue. I'd make the drive during rush hour to see how you feel about doing it every day. Right now there is road construction but once done it will improve the flow. A lot of people live out this way so there will always be some traffic even when it get better.

A lot of people refer to SO as cookie cutter. Generally the homes in each neighborhood are of a similar age and often only one or two builders so it is not a mix. Most are 2 story to take advantage of space as yards normally run small. Some are gated but several are not. Some have pools/tennis courts but not all.

If that doesn't sound like an area you'd be happy in you might want to look elsewhere. I'll let someone who lives in the other area tell you the pros and cons of their area. I'm sure you'll get plenty of feedback about why you shouldn't move to SO. Some people love it (me) and others hate it with a vengeance. I think it really depends on your personal preferences.

I do like older homes charm but love newer homes flow / floor plans more open. My husband prefers 1 story homes which usually means older homes from what I see around San Antonio. I am open to 1 or 2 stories. Our price range is about 150-200K. I do prefer not too cookie cutter but some of the amenities in the newer areas ( pools and playgrounds with in the subdivision) are better in my opinion unless I can afford my own pool but in this area I doubt it!!! LOL

I am very concerned about schools, and would like to be near shopping.

Traffic is pretty bad there. I am at work before 7AM and usually not too much traffic on the road at that time.

[Merovee]

I could very well be wrong but passing through, and at times into, both it seems to me Schertz is more sleepy while Stone Oak is not. This has to do with how near shopping is. It seems in Stone Oak there are choices everywhere but in Schertz you have to drive and get onto 35 for anything.

Which brings me to traffic which might be horrible in both at times but Schertz deals with national and international traffic (so accidents that shut down the expressway happen with greater frequency) while Stone Oak has plenty of local traffic. While there are projects around the roads leading to Stone Oak that will alleviate this I do not believe there is anything on the table for making 35 easier to travel other than the new toll road with the higher speed limit but I don't think that is going to really help...

Schertz will have older, one-story homes.

[Cuero]

Schertz is affordable, middle class families and people seem to enjoy living there. Homes are in your price range. Rapid growth in that area makes it an unknown in the long-term.

Shavano Park and Hollywood Park are established communities with some new and mostly older homes on large lots. Excellent schools, safe and quiet. Overall very stable. Mostly older homes on big lots. Hollywood Park is right across 1604 from Stone Oak so all of the conveniences of SO without the traffic.

Not much to say about 281 near the JW golf course other than that would be a really long commute to Converse through some of the worst traffic in the city.

[pobre]

Originally Posted by Cuero

Not much to say about 281 near the JW golf course other than that would be a really long commute to Converse through some of the worst traffic in the city.

True. I live in SO, but work on that side. Traffic on 281 N still backs up, and that is the primary way into that area. However, if you were commuting to Converse, you would probably take Bulverde Rd to 1604. Evans Rd also goes all the way over to 35, but would be a slower ride.

[ShadoAngel]

You might consider living in the residential areas on the Northeast side of town. O'Conner, Judson, etc. That would be not too far of a drive to Converse and not far from your pediatrician either. Also they have homes in your price range, some of them 1 story. Not sure about the schools though.

Alamo Heights, Shavano Park, and Hollywood Park are all way out of your price range. Most of Stone Oak and TPC is as well. Anything you find in that area for that price range is *definitely* going to be a cookie cutter house.

Also, for working in Converse, you don't want to live north of 1604 unless you really like commuting. I'd look for homes between 281/I-35 and 1604/410. Some older homes (but not too old), definitely more in your price range, and all of them are closer to Converse.

You could also live in Converse although I'm not familiar with their local schools.

[samvp]

Here's a somewhat recent (within the last year or so) picture of Stone Oak.

[TXsurburbanmom]

That's 281/1604 not SO Pkwy. The OP would be driving through there but SO is behind all those stores and back toward those hills. If you are showing her the traffic situation the photo makes sense (except the ramp and exit are open now and flow could be the same or better depending on construction) but the houses in SO aren't along the 1604 access road.

[samvp]

I meant "Stone Oak area", that's my fault.