Converse, TX: Where is it, How is it? (San Antonio, Seguin: crime, new home)

[TXFeller]

Yes, I know Converse is NE of San Antonio, but when I ask "where is it?" I'm asking mainly what the city boundaries are. Depending upon which map I refer to, sometimes Converse goes as far east as 1604 and abutts Randolf AFB. Sometimes it only goes as far east as Toepperwein Rd (hope I spelled that correctly). And sometimes it goes so far east that it skirts around the south end of Randolf then swings north again on the east side of Randolf, up towards Cibolo.

Does anyone actually know where Converse begins and ends?

And the reason I want to know this is because I want to ask how is family living in Converse, TX? If I were to buy a single family home there, what should I expect?

I read that Converse is considered "slum" or "low rent." OK, but ***which*** Converse?

When I look at crime statistics on City-Data, N*ighb*rh**dsc*ut, and h*mef*cts web sites, it consistantly shows to be lower than Texas in all measured categories, and likewise lower than USA. Looking at Google's satellite images over the area, I don't see much at all in the way of:

* Tons of cars parked in the streets.
* Trash and junk and all manner of refuse in back yards

Street views here and there (I don't have the time to use Google's street view on 100% of all streets) seem to show well maintained streets and house facades, yards are mowed, fences visible between houses seem to be in good shape.

And yet home prices seem to be way, way, WAY below those in surrounding cities.

So what gives? Why the clean streets and roads but low prices?

Did Converse flood in 2010? Does it normally flood when the general SA and Seguin areas flood? Is there a recent gang problem suddenly appeared which is causing people to flee the area and dump their homes, but the crimes aren't yet showing up on crime data bases?

If I move there, I'll be commuting to Hollywood Park via 1604, and from everything else I can see, Converse seems like a dream location: low home prices, low density population, reasonable commute to northern or central SA, clean neighborhoods with homeowners who seem to care about their property.

And yet I read on several forums, including City-data, that Converse is an undesirable area. Some even disparage it by calling it a slum. Why?

Richard

[shoe01]

The questions should probably be asked on the San Antonio forum.

[badhornet]

I live in San Antonio, and Converse has really gone downhill. Twenty years ago it was a desirable place in San Antonio. The last 6-7 years has really taken a nosedive. The city itself looks ok, but its the residents to watch out for. I dont know how else to put it unless you direct message me

[en28so]

I was looking into converse too to buy a new home, but I guess it's not a good place to live from what I have read.

[Dopo]

Converse is right next to Randolph AFB, so I bet there's a lot of military people there.
I believe the SouthWest side of Converse is the area where that was given to the Katrina victims.

[thenewtexan]

Hopefully you don't have kids. It's in Judson ISD. If you don't it's pretty cheap. So, there's an up side.

[ejco]

My dad has lived in Converse for about 16 years. He has great neighbors and lives in a nice subdivision. Its a fine place to live. He's even been involved in the city council and city planning over the years. The real issue with Converse as compared to other areas is economic growth... which has improved quite a bit, and is steadily improving, but has not been as explosive or dramatic as the surrounding areas. Selma and Live Oak have literally exploded economically due to their proximity to 35 and 1604 interchange. Converse being 4+ miles east has not had the economic boom the other small cities have had in recent years. They have however, had a huge construction and housing boom due to the excess of undeveloped land... unfortunately not very many large retailers and chain stores have invested in the economic development. Additionally, there have not been many large employers opting to move into the city to help to stimulate the local economy. The economic growth is slowly and steadily catching up... which is why the housing is so inexpensive when compared to other areas. There are just a lot of houses that were built, but not as many new residents moving in. There are a few pockets of not-so-great areas, but those are actually part of City of San Antonio which encroaches on parts of what people consider Converse. The city of Converse does not have an excess of fire/police funding and so some areas were relinquished to the City of San Antonio so that the Converse population has adequate personnel to accommodate the safety and welfare of the citizens.

[ejco]

I cant see how anyone living outside of Converse can make such wild assumptions... some of the replies I've seen here are just laughable. Yes, there are nicer, newer, higher income areas that you can find in the San Antonio area, but there are also many, many far worse areas. In my personal opinion, the huge increase in traffic in the I35 corridor, combined with the distance and lack of a direct thoroughfare to central San Antonio or alternate route aside from 1604/35 makes the commute from Converse a little bit excessive. San Antonio is just such a large spread-out area, and if you've lived in any major city outside of Texas (you would already know) that the roads and highway set up in Bexar county is horrific... even the new road work that is supposed to relieve traffic is so poorly designed and takes so long that by the time it is finished it ultimately has zero impact on the traffic situation... if it doesn't actually contribute to it. I think there are plenty of other options for people to find a decent place closer to where they work than Converse.

So no, Converse is not a flood plain, or Katrina refugee camp, nor is it a gangland. There is not much crime reported, because there is not much crime going on. Most people in Converse are stable families with children who have been in the area for a long time. Converse used to be on the edge of open country, with a lot of undeveloped pockets of land and trees. Most people here are the type that wanted to stay out of the big city. Its a good family town.