SA neighborhood with military housing feel (San Antonio, Abilene: to rent, schools, living)

[liby]

Thanks everyone, I am just a nervous mom sometimes, and we lived in a neighborhood in California while at Travis and I cried almost daily. The neighbors were actually angry that we put a basketball goal outside and that we had kids in our yard playing. They felt children should play inside or at a rec center. We had just come from base housing at Keesler and always had kids at our house. We felt so out of place and signed up for base housing at Travis after that, and stay and loved it until we PCS'd to Hanscom, where we now live on base. We are a very friendly family and love company dropping in to see us, and kids coming over. We just don't want to have our boys regret buying a home and not living on base. But they are excited about it all, it's just us "worry wart " parents. Isn't that always the case? I think we worry too much. Thanks for all of your help.
Blessings,
Liby

[firstclassflyer]

Yeah...I'm pretty sure that a lot of the HOA's around here have some restrictions on the basketball hoops. I'm not sure exactly what they are, but I don't see them in the street very often. A lot of HOA's around here.

[txgirlinnd30]

I have my daughter on the waiting list to get back onto Lackland for her senior year. We are #1 on the list, so that is an option for you. You would just be a transfered student just as long as your orders state Lackland! She went to Stacey for 9th grade and moved off base , she is going to Stevens off of Potranco, she likes it but just misses her friends at Stacey..

We may be PCSing to Hanscom in the summer, so I might get with you for all that info if you don't mind.

Good Luck!!!

[liby]

Don't mind at all, hit me up. Hanscom is a great base.
Liby

[Tim Barnett]

I'm retired Air Force and a Realtor...I do think there are neighborhoods that you will like. Take a look at Trophy Ridge. The builder is Meadallion and the neighborhood is GREAT. I moved back to SA just over a year ago. I rented in another area until I found what I wanted...same your looking for. I want a closeness and knowing my neighbors are friendly. To get to the point I just moved into Trophy Ridge. My neighbor is a retired Chief, across the street are two military nurses, military is all over this place. There is new elementary school (just opened this year) and you can get a GREAT house for around $200,000.

Just a thought, thanks for listening.

[liby]

Thanks Tim,
I really appreciate that. I will look at Trophy Ridge. You are the second person to tell me that. I have a friend that just moved to Cibilo. (her husband is at Randolph), and she keeps telling me how great her area is, and that we should commute. I just don't see why she would think that the Lackland area isn't nice. I do know that her area is great, but we don't want to be that far away.
Thanks again

[jasonapr78]

Liby,

I myself moved from Hanscom AFB when I came here last August and I purchased a home in Redbird Ranch. I commute to Lackland (15 min) and it's a super easy commute with no lights (Potranco to 211 to 90 and you're there). Redbird Ranch is a DR Horton community that is really safe and there are LOTS of military familes there. With a cap of $250K you'd be able to get a really nice house there. Go to horton's website and look up the community. It's located about 5.5 miles outside Loop 1604 off Potranco. Good luck!!

Jason

[liby]

Thanks Jason,
I will check that out. Where did you live on Hanscom, we are on Patterson Rd? Did you rent first and did you buy right away? We are now thinking about renting first because of the schools. We want to be able to move schools districts if my boys don't like it. If you had kids here, you know how small Hanscom schools were.
Thanks again,
Liby

[jasonapr78]

Liby,

I don't have kids but I do know how the schools were from all my friends there that had kids. I lived in Newton, MA just down 95. If you've ever been there I was actually right off Newton Centre. I'm assuming you lived on base housing then? One of my best friends is still there at Hanscom and lives on base housing...can't remember the street though. I was about 15-20 minutes from work as well and it was a reverse commute so traffic was never a problem for me. As for San Antonio, if you were to be in Redbird Ranch for example, it's in the Northside School District which everyone here will say is one of if not the best school district in the city. Just due to the availability of housing here, I would buy rather than rent first just because it's more equity in your pocket. Depending on the age of your kids, they'd attend Ott Elementary, Luna Middle and Stevens High School. There is a new elementary school opening up next fall that will be right next door to us here in Redbird Ranch in a Master Planned Community called Stevens Ranch. The schools are really good if you ask anyone. My nieces are in Ott Elementary and they love it and one of my best friends just bought a house here on my same block in fact and he has two elementary-age boys that will be going to Ott when he closes on his house next month. There are some spec homes right now in our community and they're currently in Phase 2 of the community. You should definitely take a look. If you call, you'll either talk to Michael or Dana...just tell them I said hi...I've known them quite awhile and helped my friend I was telling you about (Rob) get a great deal on a spec he bought. I'm not in any way affiliated with DR HORTON either by the way...I still do the same type of work for the AF now as a civilian as I did when I was still active duty. If you have any other questions, just let me know.

Jason

[liby]

Jason,
I know exactly where Newton is. My son Plays AAU basketball for Middlesex Magic and we go to Newton/Watertown to eat at Ruby Tuesdays after the games. My boys are 14 and 6, so will look at Stevens and the elementary school. Thanks for all of your help.
Blessings,
Liby
P.S, I heard it floods a lot there, is that true?