Top area for family? 500K+ Budget (San Antonio, Alamo: how much, best schools, gated)

[smuboy86]

Originally Posted by rynetwo

Boerne and Helotes are not exclusive either they just have very nice areas with cheaper new areas.

The only exclusive areas are going to be olmos park, Terrell hills and parts of Alamo heights. If you have a high enough credit score you can live in the dominion or stone oak.

[Cuero]

Originally Posted by smuboy86

The only exclusive areas are going to be olmos park, Terrell hills and parts of Alamo heights. If you have a high enough credit score you can live in the dominion or stone oak.

Agreed. We hit those areas earlier in the thread. Now we're really reaching...just to cover all the options. My gut tells me a commute from Legacy Ranch in La Vernia would be much easier than one from Fair Oaks Ranch.

[TXsurburbanmom]

I was not aware there were requirements other than the funding to purchase in those "exclusive" areas. What pray tell are they and aren't there laws about that sort of thing

Honestly, La Vernia would probably be a better drive but Fair Oaks truly does have the best rated schools in the metro. Even better than the schools my children attend which are top 10 in most ratings. Does La Vernia have private school options? I have family and friends out there so it was briefly on my radar but I couldn't pull my kids from their current schools considering the info I found. Also I need more big city shopping. My friend has to drive to the Forum in San Antonio and I'm too spoiled for that.

[smuboy86]

Originally Posted by ddeel

I was not aware there were requirements other than the funding to purchase in those "exclusive" areas. What pray tell are they and aren't there laws about that sort of thing

As to not offend anyone, I'll use an analogy. Most upscale new constructions areas are like a leased BMW perfectly nice, you aren't emberassed to valet park it, but they are hardly exclusive anyone with a moderately good job and credit score can get one and in 3 years you just lease another new one. On the other hand old money areas are like a vintage restored Rolls-Royce, they didn't make too many to start with and even fewer are now available. The people that own them take pride in them to the extreme and never let them go and usually hand them down to the next generation. That's exclusivity.

[Azure110]

Originally Posted by smuboy86

As to not offend anyone, I'll use an analogy. Most upscale new constructions areas are like a leased BMW perfectly nice, you aren't emberassed to valet park it, but they are hardly exclusive anyone with a moderately good job and credit score can get one and in 3 years you just lease another new one. On the other hand old money areas are like a vintage restored Rolls-Royce, they didn't make too many to start with and even fewer are now available. The people that own them take pride in them to the extreme and never let them go and usually hand them down to the next generation. That's exclusivity.

I have seen some really funny analogies but this one really hits the spot.

[TXsurburbanmom]

This is just too ridiculous for words. I've known lovely 09ers and trashy losers, but they came from sort of "old money" so I guess they don't have to be embarrassed at valet parking. True class is not showing off and acting like you are better than everyone else regardless of when you got your money or if you even have it.

[smuboy86]

Originally Posted by ddeel

This is just too ridiculous for words. I've known lovely 09ers and trashy losers, but they came from sort of "old money" so I guess they don't have to be embarrassed at valet parking. True class is not showing off and acting like you are better than everyone else regardless of when you got your money or if you even have it.

You either get it or you don't We weren't talking about class, but exclusivtivity. We weren't even talking about people.

[TXsurburbanmom]

So OT (my apologies to the OP) but true exclusivity, especially comparing old and new money - let's say George HW Bush's familily vs Donald Trump - would be the epitome of true class.

[Chaka]

Originally Posted by smuboy86

As to not offend anyone, I'll use an analogy. Most upscale new constructions areas are like a leased BMW perfectly nice, you aren't emberassed to valet park it, but they are hardly exclusive anyone with a moderately good job and credit score can get one and in 3 years you just lease another new one. On the other hand old money areas are like a vintage restored Rolls-Royce, they didn't make too many to start with and even fewer are now available. The people that own them take pride in them to the extreme and never let them go and usually hand them down to the next generation. That's exclusivity.

love love love this analogy! So spot on.

(for the naysayers - doesn't mean it's "better" just that it's "exclusive.")

[Cuero]

Originally Posted by ddeel

Honestly, La Vernia would probably be a better drive but Fair Oaks truly does have the best rated schools in the metro. Even better than the schools my children attend which are top 10 in most ratings. Does La Vernia have private school options? I have family and friends out there so it was briefly on my radar but I couldn't pull my kids from their current schools considering the info I found. Also I need more big city shopping. My friend has to drive to the Forum in San Antonio and I'm too spoiled for that.

For private school and 'exclusive shopping' you would have to commute to San Antonio but would be going against traffic making that a viable option.

The public schools there while not as highly rated as Fair Oaks are still quite acceptable. School is like anything, it's what you make of it. Smart motivated kids will do well anywhere. Plus with the extra time a parent has from not sitting in traffic they can spend time with their kids.

La Vernia/SE of town is just another option that hadn't been mentioned outside the usual SO and Boerne recommendations. The OP has many options and will need to do his own investigation to narrow those down. The OP should really rent for a year before buying anything especially since he is looking at buying into a small market should he ever want to sell.