One Hot 'Hood

This affordable San Antonio neighborhood has it all, real estate experts say

Lafayette Place has it all — including this four bedroom, three bath home on sale for $282,000.

Prospective homebuyers in search of a neighborhood that "has it all" should look no further than San Antonio's Lafayette Place. That's according to Redfin's 2018 list of the 25 neighborhoods in the U.S. that have everything a buyer wants: affordable homes, lots of inventory, good schools, an easy commute, and low crime.

To determine the rankings, the real estate website's analysts looked at ZIP codes with a median home sale price below $291,700 (the national median) and selected those with homes on the market for at least 46 days. Redfin required a GreatSchools rating of 5 or higher and a transit score of 50 or more, and the ranking "favored places with lower reported violent crime."

Lafayette Place ranks No. 19 on the list. The 78229 ZIP code has a median sales price of $142,500. As of December 2017, there were 59 homes for sale, and houses in the area spend a median 52 days on the market.

The neighborhood, located on the northwest side of San Antonio, also boasts a school ranking of 5.5, transit score of 51.2, and crime rate of 75.

Lafayette Place isn't the only Texas neighborhood that "has it all," according to the study. Also on the list are Houston's Independence Heights (No. 13), Dallas' Cadillac Heights (No. 21), and Fort Worth's 76102 ZIP code (No. 23) — all that's missing is a hip Austin 'hood.

While Texas fares well, Illinois shines with 14 neighborhoods on the list, 11 in the Chicago area alone.

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Take A Walk

New multifamily community opens near Stone Oak restaurants and shopping

Rendering courtesy of Greyson Luxury Living

The new community offers 291 units.

A new multifamily community is now open to prospective residents in San Antonio. Greyson Luxury Living comprises 291 units at 1734 N. Loop 1604 West, with a focus on lifestyle amenities. But the location will be the main draw for many.

Apartment floor plans range from one to three bedrooms, starting at $1,317 for one bedroom and one bathroom, and working up to a base price of $2,611 for three bedrooms and two baths. The community's pet policy according to the website is: "We welcome all your furry friends at Greyson."

Residents will get reserved parking and a garage with EV charging stations, but it might not always be necessary to hop in the car. The apartments are directly adjacent to restaurants like Cover 3, Eddie V's Prime Seafood, and Blü Prime Steakhouse — not exactly everyday eats, but there's tons more at the Vineyard Shopping Center and the Stone Oak neighborhood's Blanco Market Shopping Center across the highway.

In addition to restaurants, the community is less than a five-minute drive from H-E-B Plus, Whole Foods Market, Target, fashion and furniture stores, and multiple fitness studios like StretchLab and LA Fitness.

A press release promises wood-style flooring, quartz and granite countertops, and ceramic tile backsplash. On the more utilitarian side, it offers single-basin sinks, kitchen islands, "spacious" pantries, a stainless-steel Energy Star appliance package, and washer and dryer connections. (Images shared by the complex so far appear to be more illustrative of the desired vibe than the actual space.)

Every floor plan also shows a private patio or balcony. The most expensive floor plan — the three-by-two — has a wraparound outdoor space.

For shared spaces, a resort-style pool with a tanning shelf (a very shallow area for placing lounge chairs) and bike storage encourage residents to get outside, and a dog wash station makes it easy to leave dirt and hair outside of apartments. There's also a fitness center, a clubhouse with wi-fi, elevators, and concierge services.

“We developed Greyson as a luxury multifamily community aimed to fit any type of lifestyle, and we are grateful for all of our partners that helped bring this project to life,” says Ed Garahan, partner and CEO at Carbon Companies, the development firm heading the project.

Carbon Companies also sold the Addison Medical Center Apartments, Ventura Ridge, Triomphe Apartments, and Pecan Springs Luxury Apartment Homes, with more in the works in San Antonio.

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