Moving into the Quarry at Iron Mountain (San Antonio, Hollywood Park: houses, rent)

[banker]

Originally Posted by datacity

Banker,

Along with the new Methodist Hospital being built at the corner of Sonterra and Hardy Oak will come the fairly large Agora Palms 69 acre mixed use Medical Plaza that will stretch from Hardy Oak to 281. It looks like its northern border will be just south of the Quarry (probably starting at the end of the green belt buffer that is part of the Quarry subdivision).

What are your thoughts on this development and its potential impact on the community in terms of views, traffic, noise, etc?

Well - I am on the opposite side of the community from the Agora Palms development - but there are a lot of factors that come into play for the future of that area. A big one that you left off is the fact that eventually Hardy Oak will connect bringing more traffic through the area. I don't mind being near commercial developments as long as their isn't a huge retail presense to give weekend traffic head aches. All of the development around the new Methodist Hospital has been very high end office condos occupied by profesionals and doctors - which tend to be closed on the weekend. In fact - those office areas are empty on the weekend when we go check on our house. As for the Hospital - it will have traffic and the occassional ambulance siren to deal with - but even in my last neighborhood off Blanco Road inside 1604 we heard sirens all the time for ambulances either headed to the North Central Baptist or down to Wurzbach to the Medical Center. That really doesn't bother me. The Agora Palms is going to be a mixed use development of office/retail - and it appears to be high end with a nice buffer zone/easement between the south side of the Quarry neighborhood and the development. Also - at some point the large quarry to the East of us will be developed as well.

So - to answer your question - I really don't mind it. The neighborhoods planned and developed so far have been high end as a result of the land around there being so expensive. That will protect the property values of the homes going forward. The fact that we will be near high end master planned commercial space in a highly sought after part of town is equally good. This land is in high demand - and I would rather be building in an area with new tightly controlled development than farther out 281 where the development is less controlled and not nearly as consistently high end. You can't avoid noise and congestion unless you move way out...or own a ranch!! So my family chose to build in an area that was planned to be high end with great architectural appeal.

[banker]

Exciting news - I went by the house yesterday to find that they had sheet rocked my house! They continue to do a great job on my home. The Brick Layers are to start today on the outside.

Saddly it looks like one of the homes near completion has lost a buyer - so yet another cancellation and soon to be inventory home. The home doesn't yet have carpet or fixtures so I'm not sure if buying now would allow you to select your carpet. The tile is already in. The house is a very attractive stucco and rock two story. It is an entertaining home with a large open floor plan. A neat feature is a small den off the entry that would make a great office.

[datacity]

Originally Posted by banker

Exciting news - I went by the house yesterday to find that they had sheet rocked my house! They continue to do a great job on my home. The Brick Layers are to start today on the outside.

Saddly it looks like one of the homes near completion has lost a buyer - so yet another cancellation and soon to be inventory home. The home doesn't yet have carpet or fixtures so I'm not sure if buying now would allow you to select your carpet. The tile is already in. The house is a very attractive stucco and rock two story. It is an entertaining home with a large open floor plan. A neat feature is a small den off the entry that would make a great office.

Do you know the lot location and the plan name?

[banker]

Originally Posted by datacity

Do you know the lot location and the plan name?

The only large two story that backs up to the ranch - 1235 Ashbury Bay (I believe) and the plan is the Washington. It has the stucco and rock elevation option - but not much else.

[ejf1mom]

Congrats Banker!!! After reading all your posts I wish I could convince my hubby to look out there!!!! I have been thru it myself awhile back. He just refuses anything outside the loop between Blanco & Bulverde. I agree on the price point drops its just the market, we looked at Cibolo Canyons when they first started & they have come down significantly too.

Good Luck!!!

[banker]

Originally Posted by ejf1mom

Congrats Banker!!! After reading all your posts I wish I could convince my hubby to look out there!!!! I have been thru it myself awhile back. He just refuses anything outside the loop between Blanco & Bulverde. I agree on the price point drops its just the market, we looked at Cibolo Canyons when they first started & they have come down significantly too.

Good Luck!!!

Thanks - the brick started on Friday - went out this morning and it looks great. The drywall is complete and the taping/floating is nearly done - so we are close to getting to the interior finish work. By the end of the month - the house will be textured and painted (most likely) and the exterior brick/stone will be complete. The house is really moving along quickly. Given that my house has already sold - I can close as soon as the house is complete. We can't wait to move in.

[ejf1mom]

Yay!!! Did your house sell recently? We are still on the market, but my showings have picked up dramatically in last week or so. If you don't mind me asking where is your current neighborhood? And the prices in the area? We are in Walker Ranch & nothing has sold here since like Oct.!!! I've heard anything $250 & under is really moving & above that is still somewhat slow.

That's great your buyers are ok w/your house being completed & not wanting you to move out 30-45 days!

[banker]

Originally Posted by ejf1mom

Yay!!! Did your house sell recently? We are still on the market, but my showings have picked up dramatically in last week or so. If you don't mind me asking where is your current neighborhood? And the prices in the area? We are in Walker Ranch & nothing has sold here since like Oct.!!! I've heard anything $250 & under is really moving & above that is still somewhat slow.

That's great your buyers are ok w/your house being completed & not wanting you to move out 30-45 days!

My house did sell. We spent the last six and a half years living in Churchill Forest in a quaint 1,732 square foot one store house. We bought in August of 2001 for $113,500 and sold this spring for $179,000 after listing it for $179,900. We actually have already moved. We listed it on January 22nd and had 14 showings and two offers by January 26th. We accepted an offer from a couple relocating from another city that had already moved into the area and needed to move fast. We closed on our house on February 14th and have been living in temporary quarters ever since.

You are correct - houses between $150,000 and $200,000 in North Central are moving fast - while houses over $200,000 are moving much slower. Churchill Forest is off Blanco Road between Bitters and Wurzbach Parkway. I believe your neighborhood is also off Blanco just south of Bitters.

How long have you been in Walker Ranch and where are you looking to move to?

Obviously since our house has sold and we have cash in hand - our builder is very motivated to get our house finished so they can get the house off their books and collect our money.

[banker]

Originally Posted by datacity

Do you know the lot location and the plan name?

The house contract has officially fallen through. Very sad. I hate to see builders have to deal with this ugly side of home building. It should be on the market soon.

[ejf1mom]

We have been here 2 years. We purchased for $287,000. Which was a steal at the time. Our appraisal just came in the mail for $320,000 but we are listed for $310,000 started out at $319,000. We have started a contract in Wortham Oaks w/Wall. We are prepared to move to an apartment too if it sells. I don't know how are tax appraisal can be so high, when the houses are selling below market right now for the most part???