Where to live in SA? (Dallas, San Antonio: sales, HOA, home builders)

[mignonster]

My husband and I may be moving to SA (he is originally from there but he's been living in Dallas for the last 7 years) he is looking at getting a job with Zachry. We are looking for a house to start our family in that is in a good neighborhood. We are not too overly concerned with being close to his work since it is on the southside and neither of us wants to live there. However SA has changed so much since he lived there that niether of us really knows the upper middle class places to live anymore. Schools are not important as we have no children yet and when we do they will go to private school. His parents live in 78228 and I love their house and their neighborhood but don't think I want to live down the street from them if you know what I mean? So i'm just looking for advice on where to look for homes if you can help please do i'm feeling alittle overwhelmed right now at all of the zip codes thanks!

P.S. In terms of him communting to work i would like to limit is to an hour at most (that is what he has now so he is kindof used to that)

[Steel Man]

Middle Class in Northwest San Antonio (IMHO):

Potranco north to Culebra: Middle Class

Culebra north to Bandera: Middle-Upper Middle Class

Bandera north to I-10: Upper Middle Class

I-10 North (The Dominion): Uppity-Upper Middle Class

Of course, you have blending among these areas (except the Dominion).

Here is a description of the different neighborhoods in San Antonio:

Neighborhoods of San Antonio - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[adtobias]

I 10 between 410 and 1604 is nice area

[banker]

I live in North Central SA right in the middle of 281 to the east, 410 to the south, 1604 to the north and IH10 to the west. Great location - in a mature neighborhood - Churchill Forest off Blanco Road. We are about a mile from Wurzbach parkway which gives great access to IH10 from our house. Many people in our neighborhood commute to the south side. I am looking to move in the coming year because we need a large home due to a growing family - check out the neighborhood on Zillow.com.

[mastercone]

I really liked the Wikipedia link. Here is another that let's you view San Antonio, among other large Texas cities, by neighborhood:

House Almanac - San Antonio housing trends and values

Originally Posted by Steel Man

Middle Class in Northwest San Antonio (IMHO):

Potranco north to Culebra: Middle Class
Culebra north to Bandera: Middle-Upper Middle Class
Bandera north to I-10: Upper Middle Class
I-10 North (The Dominion): Uppity-Upper Middle Class
Of course, you have blending among these areas (except the Dominion).

Here is a description of the different neighborhoods in San Antonio:
Neighborhoods of San Antonio - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Big Guy]

It is my understanding that Zachry's next big job will be building the Riverwalk up to the Pearl Brewery and the HQ will be just north of Downtown, which leaves the ballpark wide open. Mancke Park is great for that location as you just have to drive down Broadway. Homes are 1920's, heavy construction bungaloes.

Alamo Heights is just north of that and the school district there demands premium pricing.

Monte Vista is another SAISD alternative close to town.

Among new home builders, Newmark, Ryland and David Weekley seem best. Sitterle has interesting "retirement type" garden homes that include keeping your yard in the HOA fee.

Whatever you get, be sure to get water treatment. Moving from Dallas was a rude awakening to us as the water is 3x harder here. It ruins everything. My neighbor, an Army colonel, clued me into AvantaPure - Enhancing Home and Health, a GE top of the line product. It has better valves than the Sears unit I bot that lasted 2 years and, I found, was the same as Lowe's and Home Depot units. I learned it pays to spend a little more on your water treatment to get a trouble free unit. I was on the 3rd valve rebuild when I replaced the Sears unit.

Oh, and to get back to places to live, if you have time to build, and you play golf, the Bandit golf course in New Braunfels(south on 725) has great lots and you have 2 options to drive into town I35 or I10, and a third is Hwy 78. It is also near Lake McQueeny and Lake Dunlap. I have eyed that area as a good lot/home investment location.

[SnappyBob]

Yes, live on the North side of town. 281 and 1604 is a great area.

[banker]

Originally Posted by mastercone

I really liked the Wikipedia link. Here is another that let's you view San Antonio, among other large Texas cities, by neighborhood:

House Almanac - San Antonio housing trends and values

Interesting site. However I question the accuracy. I pulled up mine and it showed it near what I paid six and a half years ago at about $80/square foot. Houses have been selling in my neighborhood and on my street for bewteen $95-100/square foot. Since Texas is a non disclosure state for home sales - sites like this are really a shot in the dark for true values. Same goes for Zillow. They only work in states where the actual sales price is recorded for public record.

[Steel Man]

Originally Posted by banker

Interesting site. However I question the accuracy. I pulled up mine and it showed it near what I paid six and a half years ago at about $80/square foot. Houses have been selling in my neighborhood and on my street for between $95-100/square foot. Since Texas is a non disclosure state for home sales - sites like this are really a shot in the dark for true values. Same goes for Zillow. They only work in states where the actual sales price is recorded for public record.

You're right about Zillow's house values. However, it does have nice overhead pictures of properties. Kind of like "Big Brother" watching!

[sapphire]

Originally Posted by banker

Interesting site. However I question the accuracy. I pulled up mine and it showed it near what I paid six and a half years ago at about $80/square foot. Houses have been selling in my neighborhood and on my street for bewteen $95-100/square foot. Since Texas is a non disclosure state for home sales - sites like this are really a shot in the dark for true values. Same goes for Zillow. They only work in states where the actual sales price is recorded for public record.

This is old info pulled off bcad.org. It doesn't even show us as owners and we've been here over a year now.