San Antonio type and cost of living (Houston, Austin: crime, houses)

[justshelly69]

Hello, My name is Shelly I am seeking out the help of the local professionals...the folks who know the area of San Antonio Texas like the back of thier hands.

I am a DOD Firefighter looking for a place to purchase a home for my Parents, with plans that I can one day transfer to one of the bases out there and hopefully live near by. Doing it this way will save me the trouble of searching for a home right now for five people...talk about a budget stretch...it would snapp for sure!

As for my folks, they are wonderful people and I want to take care of them. My Father is a 27 year venteran retired SMSgt Air Force, and my mother is a sweet little lady...(his bride of 38 years) so I want them to take advantage of having bases close by for their medical needs and benifits.

However....these are my parents, flesh and blood...they are also elderly and I worry very much for them. So I want them to live in a place that anyone would want thier loved ones to live in...a Nice, Clean, Quiet, Safe and a Peaceful place that has warm temperatures that would be good for Arthritis...and a but slower paced living...no party animals here.

SO I have a few questions to throw out there about the areas that I may find resonable priced houses and the areas that are as I described above. I am on a stricted budget mind you, as I don't even own a home for myself yet...however I want to take care of them first. I have to keep it under 150,000 Max. What are desirable zip codes that I can search and visit?

That being said what could I expect as far as property tax, and utility costs? How does it all work? I'm afraid the last time I lived in TX was when I was two and my sister was born in Austin. So I'm going in a bit blind here, and ony remember that my folks spoke well about the time they lived there.

I look forward to any insite ya all may have. Thank you for the time. Shelly

[TXtrkgrl]

Hi Shelly,
I can't help you on your house hunting. But I wanted to commend you on what you are doing for your parents. I think it is great that you are putting their needs before your's. I mean really, how many people would buy a house for their parents before getting one for themselves.
I even repped ya for it~

I'm sure you will get some good ideas from the nice C-Der's here.

[Turtle_Mom]

I know nothing about how the medical stuff works, and what bases they would need to be by. But how about Converse, Live Oak, Cibolo, Schertz area? It's near Randolph Air Force Base and fairly close to Brook Army Medical Center. Reasonable home prices in that area as well.

[justshelly69]

Thank you for your comments, about made me cry. But what else can one do, Love of family and friends are all I have and all I can take with me in the end. They made many sacrafices to raise us kids, it is the least I can do to see them happy and well, I just pray that I find something. Thank you Again.

[Steel Man]

Hello Shelly,

Very commendable with finding a place for your parents. I'm trying to convince mine to move here from Southern California. As you probably know, there are basically two active Air Force Bases (Lackland and Randolph) and one active Army base (Fort Sam Houston). There's also Brooks City Base, but that is quickly turning into a civilian-run area and San Antonio is doing a good job helping it along. Randolph is in the Northeast side of Bexar County (San Antonio), Lackland is on the Southwest side, and Ft Sam is in the middle, just Northeast of downtown. There are many military retirees here in San Antonio as there are two military hospitals (Ft Sam and Lackland AFB). I'm partial to the Northwest side along Loop 1604 and so are many other military retirees. The Northeast side is also a growing area and expanding just like here. Check out new2sa's sticky at top of the page for many helpful links in your search. Here is one for the Lackland AFB Retiree Section:

Lackland Air Force Base - Retiree Activities Office

Cost of living, though going up as the rest of the nation, is still pretty good. Utilities, such as electric is cheap compared to other large cities in Texas. The property tax rates vary depending on where you live, but are generally 2 1/2 percent to 3 percent. Your parents (if the house is in their name) can qualify for the Over 65 exemption (basically freezes property values that are taxed on most of the taxing authorities) and they can also get the Homestead Exemption (saves a couple of hundred a year) and Disability Exemptions. Also, if you live in the county, then you do not pay city property taxes; however, you do not get all the services (cheap trash pick-up, street lights, etc.), though living in the county is still comfortable. Texas is very user-friendly toward Vets and appreciates them.
Look at mysa.com (realty section) to see what kind of houses you can buy for the amount you're looking to spend.

Good Luck on your search.

BTW: I'm a retired SMSgt (26 years).

[tgannaway89]

The Randolph Metrocom (cities near Randolph AFB which includes: Schertz, Selma, Live Oak, Kirby, Converse, Marion, Cibolo, Universal City, Windcrest, and Garden Ridge) is likely a good place to search. It may be worth your while to get into contact with the Randolph Metrocom Chamber of Commerce.

[ilmd]

May I ask what area they would be coming from? I have found out from my experience that what is 'safe' to some people can be listed as dang dangerous to me, as I come from a small town where crime is almost non-existant. What are they used to now, and do they request any particular wants/needs besides the medical? I think it is very dangerous and dirty here. Cost of living is sure cheaper, though. Soryy I cannot be of help, as I have not lived here long. Oh- I do have friends here whose parents live in Georgetown- just north of Austin. The medical care up there is supposed to be top-notch for elderly people. I forgot the name of the particular hospitals, but I think there are two sister hospitals about an hour from each other. I'll try to get the name. As an RN, and a recent patient in San Antonio, I was shocked/horrified/ whateverelse you can say about the poor nursing care I received both in the ER and after surgery. Am not sure if I am allowed to say the hospital where I was, but it is Methodist.

[Chaka]

Originally Posted by ilmd

As an RN, and a recent patient in San Antonio, I was shocked/horrified/ whateverelse you can say about the poor nursing care I received both in the ER and after surgery. Am not sure if I am allowed to say the hospital where I was, but it is Methodist.

FWIW - I've had 3 appalling experiences in 2 different ERs recently, and a few years ago at another ER. (3 different hospital systems) Two of those I was, at a different time, an in patient and both were excellent. The ER just was awful.

That's just to say I'm not sure the ERs are representative of the hospitals themselves.

Shelly - I can't offer much help on housing in the area you're looking, though I can say that people think the SA area is stellar for medical care. I'm not sure how true that is, but it does have a good reputation overall, my comments above notwithstanding.

[hello13685]

I think that your parents would be fine here IF you think that they will be able to drive themselves around long-term. Are they getting too old to nimbly handle the hectic driving conditions in this VERY spread-out city? Keep in mind that the things that your parents need may end up being spread out. San Antonio is not big on social services for seniors. If your parents are very healthy, nimble, and mobile, they should be fine here. I would probably have a more favorable view of San Antonio if I were an active senior. I suspect that there are less senior services here because Hispanic families tend to have parents move in with them. It sounds like you may be moving in with them to help later? If that's the case, then SA may be a good arrangement. If you buy the house out in the NW burbs or something, though, they will be driving forever to get to things.

[smuboy86]

My grandparents, grandfather is a retired Army Colonel, decided to make San Antonio their home to retire in. They chose to live in Northwood which is just north of Ft. Sam. They have great access to the Ft. Sam commissary and PX along with Brooke Army Medical Center. Northwood is in the 78209 zipcode, but unfortunately homes there have sky rocketed in price beyond 150K in the last 5+ years. I would look in the 78218 and 78239 zip codes which are adjacent to 09. Specifically in the City of Windcrest, which is known for it's military retirees and caters to them pretty well.

I would probably avoid the NW side lots of traffic and far from most bases. I would also suggest staying inside loop 1604 and to not go to far outside loop 410.