Hot Real Estate

Local real estate experts reveal San Antonio's hottest neighborhoods in 2018

San Antonio's real estate market is red-hot.

Courtesy of San Antonio Board of Realtors/Redfin

As it celebrates 300 years, San Antonio is having a moment. According to the San Antonio Board of Realtors, home sales rose 3.8 percent in 2017 to a record 30,715, up from 29,596 in 2016. And things just keep growing with 2018 growth expected to continue its upward trend.

If the city's housing supply can provide enough inventory to slow down price gouging, there are plenty of homes to be had in the Alamo City. We talked to some of the area’s most notable realtors to get their picks on the city’s hottest spots for real estate purchases in 2018.

Alamo Heights
With access to the city’s hottest school district, it’s no shocker that this old standby makes the cut. With an eclectic mix — no two homes are alike — this walkable area is chock-full of personality and old school charm that’s modern meets Mayberry.

“Homeowners in Alamo Heights can choose their homes to reflect their personality,” says Kathy Ripps with Sotheby’s Realty. And with old San Antonio favorites like La Fonda and the McNay Art Museum mingling with new school hangouts like Local Coffee and Bird Bakery, there’s something for everyone. “With proximity to the River Walk, theater, and museums, this area truly is able to enjoy the heart of San Antonio,” says Ripps.

Lavaca
Along with King William, Lavaca makes up Southtown, one of city’s coolest neighborhoods. Adjacent to the recently revived Hemisfair on the edge of downtown San Antonio, Lavaca offers eclectic home options, as well as walkability to restaurants, the River Walk, and downtown. “Homeowners have their pick of historic homes to modern high-rises in this up-and-coming area,” says Sotheby’s Realty’s Debra Maltz.

Dignowity Hill
Part of the East Side revitalization, Dignowity and adjacent Government Hill are two historic up-and-coming gems ripe for the picking. “The bustling East Side is full of beautiful homes waiting for restoration,” says Maltz. Easily navigated by bike or on foot, Dignowity offers residents easy access to the Pearl, nearby restaurants, and more.

Terrell Hills
Listed by Forbes in 2016 as one of the U.S.’s most expensive suburbs, Terrell Hills has seen even more growth in recent years. “The eastern side of Terrell Hills has seen very positive growth and improvement in general,” says Patrick King of Keller Williams Realty. “Buyers can expect a wide mix of older homes, mid-century modern, and new.”

Highlands Ranch
This large-lot neighborhood is a favorite among buyers seeking spectacular views and custom homes, all with close proximity to the city. “The I-10 corridor has grown and continues to do so,” says King. “This secured access community allows you to live privately in the Hill Country and still have everything at your fingertips, just outside the gated entry.”

bang for your buck

San Antonio ZIP code is 4th most affordable place for renters in U.S.

Photo by Florian Schmid on Unsplash

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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.

rent rent prices affordable housing