HOME SWEET HOME

Win this $1.1M San Antonio house in HGTV's 2025 smart-home sweepstakes

The '50s home was modernized with an open layout.Photo courtesy of HGTV.
The living room uses earthy neutrals.Photo courtesy of HGTV.
Two-tone cabinets make the kitchen pop.Photo courtesy of HGTV
The media room's television is a work of art.Photo courtesy of HGTV.
The main bedroom is a dark and moody retreat.Photo courtesy of HGTV
The bathrooms boast smart storage ideas.Photo courtesy of HGTV.
Even the back yard is high tech.Photo courtesy of HGTV.

Dreaming of an escape from small-space city living? Home and Garden Television is giving away a massive $1.1 million, 3,000-square-foot San Antonio house as part of its 2025 Smart Home sweepstakes.

According to a release, the network chose Alamo City for its rich blend of history and modern attractions. The contest's planners chose an unnamed historic San Antonio neighborhood with old-growth oak trees and a sprawling lot.

"The HGTV Smart Home inspires viewers with clever solutions that will enhance their lives and elevate their homes," said HGTV Head of Content Loren Ruch via a release. "Our fans can't wait to see the home reveals, as well as learn about the cities we select, and we are so excited to highlight San Antonio."

The three-bedroom, three-bath estate, originally built in the '50s, was renovated for contemporary living. KM Builders updated the space with energy-efficient skylights and an open floor plan, while acclaimed interior designer Poonam Moore paid homage to the home's midcentury roots with sleek lines and an earthy color palette.

"This home is the perfect mix of fun, luxury, functionality, and effortless living," said Moore in the release. "When designing it, I wanted to blend touches of midcentury modern influences with a playful Texas twist, creating a fresh, fun, stylish aesthetic that sets this home apart."

The common areas include a vast central kitchen with black quartz countertops and trendy two-tone cabinets. The cushy living room is anchored by a wood-paneled storage wall, while a built-in nook provides a comfortable perch for reading or napping.

In a nod to San Antonio's Spurs obsession, the home also includes a basketball-themed media room. A storage station, converted from changing room lockers, offers easy snack access. Sporty touches like a fitness mirror and an art installation of mounted basketballs keep the space game-ready.

Of course, this high-tech hacienda wouldn't be a smart home without an array of technological bells and whistles. Modern conveniences include smart TVs, integrated phone charging stations, a home management system, and motorized blackout shades.

The lucky future owners, however, will have plenty of room to unplug. The backyard is as beautifully decorated as the interior, showcasing three sitting areas and an outdoor kitchen. A custom basketball court boasts a smart hoop for pick-up games.

If the above wasn't enough reason to enter, HGTV sweetened the pot with a 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC Plug-In Hybrid SUV and a $100,000 cash prize. The latter ought to soothe some concerns about property taxes.

Homebodies can now enter the sweepstakes twice daily, once through the HGTV website and once through the Food Network website. The entry period ends at 4 p.m. on May 23.

giveaways hgtv home and garden innovation san antonio san antonio real estate smart home sweepstakes technology home design

Home At Last

Here's how many days Texans work to afford their monthly mortgage

It takes Texans eight workdays each month to unlock homeownership. Photo by Jakub Żerdzicki on Unsplash

For homebuyers, a mortgage payment is likely their biggest monthly expense. Fortunately, Texas sits below the national average for the number of workdays required per month to afford a monthly mortgage payment, according to a new analysis from Realtor.com.

In Texas, it takes eight workdays to come up with enough money for a typical mortgage payment, the analysis shows. The national average is 10 days.

Realtor.com’s estimate for Texas is based on the median list price for a home in February ($355,000) and assumes a 6.65 percent interest rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage with a 20 percent down payment. The analysis factors in property taxes and insurance premiums using a 1.7 percent annual rate. January wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics rounded out Realtor.com’s calculation of the eight-workday figure for Texas.

“The number of workdays required to afford a home today stems from a couple factors. First, home prices have risen faster than incomes, widening the gap between earnings and housing costs. Second, elevated mortgage rates have increased borrowing costs, further stretching monthly budgets,” says Charlie Lankston, executive editor of Austin-based Realtor.com. “As a result, prospective buyers must allocate more of their income, and consequently, more workdays each month, to afford mortgage payments.”

Mortgage payments are a concern for many homeowners. In a 2024 survey commissioned by personal finance website Bankrate, 13 percent of homeowners complained that their mortgage payment was too high. Nonetheless, 74 percent of first-time homebuyers indicated in a recent TD Bank survey that they were optimistic about today’s housing market.

Despite the optimism about the market overall, 64 percent of buyers surveyed by TD Bank were worried about their ability to afford a home due to current interest rates.

In the Realtor.com analysis, Texas fares much better than many other states. What follows are the four states where it takes the most workdays to afford a monthly mortgage payment: