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The real estate market may be booming in Texas, but that doesn't mean you have to spend a ton of money on a house. At least not here in San Antonio. We've been digging around town and found some beautiful homes at an even more attractive price.
Here are five of our favorite houses on the market for under $200,000:
1. 11907 Flame Tree Cove is 2,033 square-feet of airy space with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The stone exterior has serious curb appeal, but it's the floor plan and high ceilings that makes us swoon. And so does the price: $199,999.
2. Located in Universal City, 362 Kimberly Dr. is ready for move in with an updated kitchen, floors, and a beautiful stone fireplace in the living room. There are four bedrooms and two bathrooms within the 2,515 square foot home priced at $189,000.
3. Enter 9323 Overland Way, a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house with 1675 square feet of open space. Though it's not large, the open floor plan and natural light \ make the home feel bigger than it actually is. Our favorite part? The covered patio in the back. It's on the market for $182,500.
4. Zero in on the details of 27 Rainy Ave. and you'll be sold. This three-bedroom, two-bathroom home has beautiful wood and tile flooring throughout the first floor. Within the 1,750 square feet is ample closet space in the master bedroom (two walk-in closets), a loft area upstairs, and a sizeable laundry room. It's located by the Leon Creek Greenway and offers great views from the multi-level deck for $162,500.
5. 18922 Lookout Mountain Trail is a small sanctuary for folks who want to escape the city. Nestled in Helotes, this 587 square-foot home — with one bedroom and one bathroom — makes for the perfect cozy getaway. There's a small balcony perfect for dining outside under a starry sky. It's listing price? $129,900.
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bang for your buck
Trying to afford buying a home in San Antonio is difficult enough with current mortgage rates, and doubly so if you're already paying high rent on an apartment or a house. But there are six San Antonio ZIP codes where renters can get the most bang for their buck, according to a new study by financial services company CashNetUSA.
To find the most affordable ZIP codes for renters in the U.S., analysts compared median household incomes by ZIP code to the average annual rent costs in those areas using the Zillow Observed Rent Index. ZIP codes where the average annual rental constituted the lowest percentage of median household income were considered the "most affordable."
San Antonio's 78248 ZIP code specifically stood out as the No. 4 most affordable in the country, and the No. 1 most affordable in Texas. This area encompasses the north San Antonio neighborhoods of Inwood, Forests at Inwood, Oakwood, The Park at Deerfield, Canyon Creek Bluffs, Canyon Creek Village, Blanco Village, Deerfield, Cadillac Drive, and Churchill Estates.
According to the study's findings, the average monthly cost of a rental in 78248 comes out to $1,259.17, and the median annual income of a household in the area is $122,986. Analysts then calculated that the annual rent of a home in this ZIP code only takes up 12.29 percent of a household's median income, which is the fourth-lowest in the nation.
CashNetUSA found the No. 1 most affordable ZIP code for renters nationwide is 66224 in Leawood, Kansas, where annual rent only takes a 10.57 percent cut out of a household's median annual income.
Elsewhere in Texas, two Houston-area ZIP codes – 77401 and 77094 – ranked No. 9 and No. 12 nationally, while Allen's 75013 ZIP code fell two spots behind to claim the No. 14 spot.
The most affordable San Antonio-area ZIP codes for renters
CashNetUSA further unveiled the five most affordable ZIP codes across major U.S. cities, including in San Antonio, Austin, and Houston.
Following 78248 (which took the No. 1 spot citywide) is 78261 (No. 2), which spans east of Highway 281, across Smithson Valley Road. Rent costs in this ZIP code averaged out to $1,698 per month, the report found.
Landing in the No. 3 spot is 78258, which includes Rogers Ranch, The Vineyard, Stone Oak, Summit, Hidden Canyon, and Big Springs neighborhoods. The report said average rent in the area comes out to $1,507 per month, which takes up 17.54 percent of a household's median annual income.
The remaining top two most affordable ZIP codes for San Antonio renters are located in 78259 (Encino Park, Encino Ranch, Cavalo Creek Estates, Northwood Hills, Summit at Bulverde Creek, Roseheart, Redland Woods) and 78260 in Timberwood Park, which is about 25 miles north of downtown San Antonio.