Opinions on East Terrell Hills? (San Antonio, Austin: apartments, rental homes, condos)

[buffy888]

My husband and I are currently looking at rental homes (we still own a home where we used to live - houses in the area in our price range have not been selling - have found someone to rent it so we can take it off the market for now, but don't want to take on another mortgage and buy a house here right now). We have been back in San Antonio for a year. I teach in Edgewood and he works near North Star, but we are renting an apartment in Universal City right now (since I hadn't lived here for several years and grew up in Live Oak in between military moves, we wanted to initially rent somewhere near the area with which I was most familiar). I would like to be at least a bit closer to school without putting him at a longer distance from his work. Due to our mortgage situation and having our house on the market for so long while also paying rent here, we really can't afford more than about $800 a month for rent.

Anyway, long story a bit shorter, I went to the Jimmy John's on Austin Hwy the other day and was driving around in some neighborhoods near there. There are a few houses for rent in the area which are described as being in the East Terrell Hills area on the realtor websites (a couple of them are on Radiance Ave if that helps pinpoint). The houses are modest, but look well-kept from the outside as well as pics online. Most other houses in the area look similar - mostly well kept up, houses built in late 50s/early 60s... Does anyone have an opinion on living in this area? My main concern is safety both in the general area and being close to Austin Hwy. We don't have kids, do have 2 dogs. I usually get home from school around 5:30 - 6:00; husband gets home some nights around 6:30 and others around 9:00.

We do have some other areas in mind, but this is one we hadn't considered and one with which I am not familiar (unlike the others we are thinking of), so any input would be much appreciated.

[smuboy86]

East Terrell Hills is fine. Austin Highway has been cleaned up to a huge degree, Luxury Apartments a spring up on every open plot of land. In the evening in the area you will often see people walking for fun. You are close to many amenities, wal-mart, HEB, Central Market isn't too far, and you have a restaurant strip along walzem.

[ShaneSA]

That area has been a nice pocket of homes. It's mainly populated by older retired, some military, persons. It's been well maintained and is going through a transition. As people die, the homes are turning over to younger people who are first time buyers and starting a family. It's convienent to downtown and also has the Austin Hwy. corridor nearby.
I'd go for it. Your situation sounds like the ideal candidate for the area.

[wCat]

ditto to both! Average rent in the area is about $1 per sq ft per month.....but worth a look. If it's outside the AH school district, (which you don't seem to need), then you might get a bit more square footage for your money.

Good luck!

[fierce_flawless]

And some of those 50's homes are just adorable. I almost rented over there once, the place was just cute cute cute. My ex nixed it for some reason. Who knows.

[atmhype]

I rent an apartment not far from there (next to the McNay) and love that area. The houses you are talking about can be very very small... Im talking 980 sq. ft. small. If that is fine with you, then there is nothing really wrong with the area. The luxury apartments and condos will be up and running soon, which is nice. No more pay-by-the-hour motels.