Just visited New Braunfels! (Houston, San Antonio: real estate, house, established neighborhood)

[jjuranko]

Hello all! This forum has been so helpful regarding questions about SA, that I would like to add my recent experience to the greater San Antonio area (New Braunfels). What I am about to write are my opinions on likes and dislikes, but really the only way to get a flavor of SA is to go yourself as we are all different and what I consider good might not float your boat. With that said here is my list;

LIKES:

1. Housing. You really get a bang for your buck in SA. If you live in California like me, you will be ammazed at what you can get in SA.
2. People. For the most part people seem very friendly and polite. You here alot of "yes sir", "yes ma'aam". People actually open the door for you. That a little rare here in Los Angeles.
3. Lack of gangs. Now I know there are gangs everywhere, but in New Braunfels, I could not see them. Granted I was in SA for only a week but at least the places I visited there were no signs of gang activity. In talking with some friends that live in New Braunfels, they said that the police does a really good job at keeping gang activity down. My friend told me that the police will even pull you over if they here that your music is too loud. The whole week I was there I did not here a siren. Really, really rare for us!
3.Schools. Wow, some of the High Schools look like small colleges. They must really love football in Texas because even the school fields look like a pro team could play there. Now as for the quality of the schools, again my friend says that they are much better than most Los Angeles schools, and his kids are doing better than in L.A.
4.Clean. No smog, streets are clean. I did not see any graffitti, although I'm sure it exist.
5.Weather. It was very similar to our weather in L.A. My friends have told me that it gets humid in the summer. I talked with friends that lived in Ingelwood, Temecula, Santa Clarita and they all told me the weather is very similar to the Southern Californian weather.
6.Cost of living. Gas is much cheaper. In L.A. I am paying between $1.73 to $1.89 a gallon. In the SA area I payed $1.35 to $1.49 a gallon. Food prices are the same although my wife said fruit is more expensive.
7. Kid friendly. I was worried about the amount of activities for kids, but SA has got that covered. There is Landa Park (in New Braunsfels). This place should be the pattern for other parks to follow. There are 3 or 4 caverns. We visted the Natural Bridge Cavern. Also visited the animal park at the same location. They have a huge water park called Schlitterbaun. With in close distance is Sea World and Six Flags theme parks. The are many historical places to visit as well as the River Walk. I saw skate parks, BMX tracks. Plenty of kids playing soccer, footbal, and baseball. Floating on the river (waist high water) on inner tubes, Canyon Lake has all kinds of things you can do. Well I only had a week but I'm sure there is more.

DISLIKES;

1. Sub-divisions. Although the homes were nice, the area looked cookie-cutter. I much preffered the homes that were established. Again we did not have time to visit everyone, but the ones we did we did not like.
2. Travel. I did not mind the traffic, it was not as bad as L.A. traffic, but everything seemed to be 20 Min. away. If you wanted to go to IHOP, CVS, car wash, Walmart, ect. it was 20 min away. Now this could be to the fact we stayed with friends that lived in rural NB. My friends said that they have gotten use to it, they just have learn to plan better.
3.Traffic signs. Maybe we need to get use to it but the traffic signs were very confusing. A liitle hard to navigate around if you are new or don't have a GPS. Thank God we have one!
4.Resturants. We only ate at IHOP, Denny's, and a small mexican resturant, and some fast food places. Texas or at least SA and the surrounding area do not have a grading system for cleaniness of resturants. The glass's in all of the sit down places were dirty. We found a long hair in my kids burger and when we confronted the manager, he looked at the hair and said "huh?" Maybe I just had bad luck.
5.Lack of public transportation. Again maybe because we were in New Braunfels and not SA, but there did not seem to be alot of public transportation.

Overall, we enjoyed our stay in New Braunfels. We are seriously considering moving there. For me and my family it seemed to be a very good fit. I hope this info helps anyone considering relocating.

[lemonfresh]

I'm happy you enjoyed your visit. I have to first say that you visited New Braunfels. New Braunfels is in Metro SA but it isn't SA. New Braunfels is its own town.

Originally Posted by jjuranko

1. Sub-divisions. Although the homes were nice, the area looked cookie-cutter. I much preffered the homes that were established. Again we did not have time to visit everyone, but the ones we did we did not like.

I agree, cookie-cutter subdivisions are blah! However, New Braunfels does have established neighborhoods so finding a home to your liking shouldn't be too tough.

2. Travel. I did not mind the traffic, it was not as bad as L.A. traffic, but everything seemed to be 20 Min. away. If you wanted to go to IHOP, CVS, car wash, Walmart, ect. it was 20 min away. Now this could be to the fact we stayed with friends that lived in rural NB. My friends said that they have gotten use to it, they just have learn to plan better.

I'd have to assume to were quite a ways away from New Braunfels (rural area) because nothing really should take 20 minutes to get to in New Braunfels.

3.Traffic signs. Maybe we need to get use to it but the traffic signs were very confusing. A liitle hard to navigate around if you are new or don't have a GPS. Thank God we have one!

That's one of the first things people complain about, how confusing driving is. But people get used to it after awhile.

5.Lack of public transportation. Again maybe because we were in New Braunfels and not SA, but there did not seem to be alot of public transportation.

That's a New Braunfels thing.

[jjuranko]

You are right Lemonfresh, I was in rural New Braunfels about 10 min from I35 on FM306. The little time we spent in SA was also very nice. I was born in Chicago and have lived in L.A. for about 20 years and I can say SA has more to offer in my opinion.

[LiveUrban]

I think Austin or San Antonio would be a better fit for you in this area.

[jjuranko]

Thanks Liveurban. I think Austin is a little like California and is a little more expensive. I do like SA but wanted a house with a little bit of real estate. Does the greater SA area have homes with 1 to 2 acres?

[ashbeeigh]

Originally Posted by jjuranko

Does the greater SA area have homes with 1 to 2 acres?

If you want the 1-2 acres in a less expensive area you're probably going to end up south of SA, floresville, pearsall, etc.

However, depending on what you want in a home you can find that in the New Braunfels area and the surrounding area as well, Seguin, Kyle, Buda, San Marcos, Canyon Lake. They are all within an hour and a half of SA.

Some will also suggest Castroville and Medina Lake. I'm not sure about the prices over there, but I know the area is growing.

[jjuranko]

Thanks Ashbeeigh. I do like the Cayon Lake area, but new Braunfels seemed to have homes with the 1 + acres. The only thing we would have to get used to is the traveling to get to things. It's a trade off that we are willing to accept.

[ashbeeigh]

Originally Posted by jjuranko

Thanks Ashbeeigh. I do like the Cayon Lake area, but new Braunfels seemed to have homes with the 1 + acres. The only thing we would have to get used to is the traveling to get to things. It's a trade off that we are willing to accept.

No problem. After living in a big city a lot of people get used to things being so close, but having the land and everything is nice. Giving up the ease of getting places is something you'll have to deal with. New Braunfels does have quite a bit of things though. It continues to grow day by day. Don't be fooled by some posters who make it sound like a completely different "city" it's being eaten up by San Antonio very quickly.

If you do indeed decide on moving to the area good luck!

[TX_AGGIE13]

Glad you were happy with what you saw! As for the cookie cutter homes I agree, but in comparison for what you could get a home on an acre that is not "cookie cutter" to even a 3/2/2 cookie cutter 1300sqft. home in the LA metro im sure you will do just fine. I have a friend who just paid $675k in Glendale for a home like this, and you could easily have a very established beautiful 4/3/3 on an acre here just about anywhere in the metro especially NB. I guess it all depends on price range, but even in NB you should be able to find a nice 70's, or 80's home with size on around an acre for under 350K.

You are right about the resturants here, and you just have to keep a mental list of the cleaner ones, and the not so. There are so many great resturants here in the SA metro though, I'd have to put SA in the top 10 in the Nation in good food. The only problem is that if your like me (somewhat of a health freak) your gonna have a little trouble. From what I've gathered visiting the LA area the people out there are healthy concious, and there is a good variety of sushi, delis, healty choices in general than here. I love Jason's Deli, and Panera Bread, but it gets kinda old after a while...lol.

On the topic of Public Transportation im one of the few who disagree with the San Antonians who believe that they are covered in this area. I don't see it as much of a public transportation infastructure at all outside of the proper areas, and freeway driving.

You made a great observation with the local football complexes too! Your right on the money about Texas and it's pride in football. It's more obvious in the smaller towns where Friday nights can seem like an extention to the weekend. In my hometown about 1/3 of the local businesses close ther doors early. I've been to a couple games at the Coliseum, and the Rose Bowl, but you absolutely have to attend a game at Kyle Field and DKR Memorial whenever you guys get settled in. Not sure if that's up anyone in your family's alley, but if it is.

The schools are also very much as you stated. I have a very young one, and one on the way so I have not had to ultimately make the decision of where to place them, but I am somewhat anti 5A schools (5A being the larger, and 1A the smallest). I was raised in a 3A school which had around 425 students at the HS campus, and personally perfer that for my children. I also coached the swim team for The Woodlands HS outside of Houston and thought it was a nightmare. The new campus had graduating classes over 3 or 4K, and the food court was like a megamall. No individualism! If this is a factor for you you may want to look into the ISD's serving your home. There are also very good private schools in San Antonio, but im not too sure about NB.

Gangs as you said are not very evident, but I will assure you that they are there. There are not as many "younger" teen gangs around here, but there are several "prison" excon gangs, and the Mexican Mafia is headquartered in San Antonio. Don't let this scare you because they stay to themselves, and in their known areas in general, but just be aware. This is directly related to the graffiti you mentioned, and it is present in areas of San Antonio. Keep in mind the gang issues of LA deffinately are more widespread, and evident.

As for kid friendly....this is the main reason my wife and I decided that the San Antonio area would be our home. As I said we have a young one, and one on the way so this is one of the most important factors, along with cost of living, and general happiness with our area that we thought about. There are so many of the big "tourist" parks like Sea World, Six Flags, Splashtown, Schliterbauhn, Natural Bridge Caverns, etc....but there are also so many nature, and historical points of interest from the Guadalupe, Frio, Comal, rivers, Enchanted Rock, Perdanalles Falls, Old Town Gruene, The Riverwalk, The Missions, and the list just keeps going.

Anyway, I hope you and your family decide to make this area home, and love every minuite of it!

[adtobias]

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