Moving to San Antonio, TX

[Katsmeow]

All that being said, looking for any advice for moving in this area to really focus on? Obviously we want a little land that we are not constantly maintaining, and, not right next to our neighbor but at the same time, not 30 min from restaurants or hospitals either?

Yes, well, good luck with that. Finding acreage homes (let's say 1 acre to maybe 5 acres) that are not 30 min from restaurants or hospitals will either be challenging to impossible.

As a lifelong Texas, I struggle to find a reason for anyone right now to move to Texas unless it is for a job or they have a lot of family here. But, to each their own...

Before I moved to my current location (NE Tarrant County) we kept trying for what you wanted (a little land and not 30 minutes from stuff) and it was tough and expensive (it was closer to possible in Houston area than DFW in my opinion). You can probably get what you want but it may cost you.

FWIW, I might check out the Boerne area for your requirements. That said, I would suggest renting for at least 6 months and maybe a year before you decide where you want to be.

 

[MrsHaloFIRE]

I live that area. Its all a big blob of traffic and sprawl. Austin and san antonio will tpuch very soon. Also look boerne and la vernia directions for land. Med centers are kinda north and west. Its called all collectively "medical center" part if town. Unless youre military and are treated on base. Bring some money. My house went up 30k this week alone in zillow. Ka-ching!

 

[Breedlove]

Texas Grand Ranch north of Houston , the fastest growing community in Texas ( they say )
One to two acre lots …starting at 59,900 . We stopped once and all they had were 89,900 an acre.

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

I live that area. Its all a big blob of traffic and sprawl. Austin and san antonio will tpuch very soon. Also look boerne and la vernia directions for land. Med centers are kinda north and west. Its called all collectively "medical center" part if town. Unless youre military and are treated on base. Bring some money. My house went up 30k this week alone in zillow. Ka-ching!

Ah, the "medical center" area of San Antonio. And let's not forget that USAA is over in that area as well...so traffic? Eh...it SUCKS! The more I think about it, there isn't much I miss about that area (except the food and Wurstfest).

Texas Grand Ranch north of Houston , the fastest growing community in Texas ( they say )
One to two acre lots …starting at 59,900 . We stopped once and all they had were 89,900 an acre.

Our primary lot is about an acre and a quarter. There are several lots behind us that are platted as rural/ag and were divided into 5 and 10 acre lots. We purchased a 5 acre lot that runs along the back of our primary lot for $50,000 when we bought in late 2018. The 5 acre lot next to it sold about a month ago for $80,000 and a 2.5 acre lot down the road sold last week for $75,000...so land prices seem to be going crazy in a lot of places.

Yes, well, good luck with that. Finding acreage homes (let's say 1 acre to maybe 5 acres) that are not 30 min from restaurants or hospitals will either be challenging to impossible.

That is very true in that area. We are now live on the outskirts of OKC and have been very happy with our choice. It is relatively inexpensive to live here, we have a little over 6 acres but are within 15 minutes of two hospitals (one of which is one of the highly rated heart hospital in town) and can be sitting in the seats of the baseball stadium (downtown) 25 minutes after we leave the house. It's really the best of both worlds and traffic isn't too bad, either.

BUT...Texas is so much better in SOOO many ways, so everyone should move there and stay away from Oklahoma...we have tornadoes.

 

[Beststash]

You might consider Wimberley - it has a village atmosphere and only about 30min. from San Marcos which has the hospitals, etc. Years ago it was mostly just "cedar choppers" but has a lot of Hill Country beauty and culture. Maintenance would be pretty low becuase it doesn't have a lot of soil, mostly rock. Does have lots of deer.

 

[REWahoo]

Ah, the "medical center" area of San Antonio. And let's not forget that USAA is over in that area as well...so traffic? Eh...it SUCKS! The more I think about it, there isn't much I miss about that area (except the food and Wurstfest).

Let's hope reason prevails and anyone thinking about moving here comes to their senses before it's too late!

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

Let's hope reason prevails and anyone thinking about moving here comes to their senses before it's too late!

I hear Colorado has it all, so everyone should move there.

 

[cnocmmz]

Hi.... Long time contributor and fan of this knowledge base . Here is the situation:
DW and I thinking of moving to San Antonio, Tx area...Specifically New Braunfels.
Background: I am 61 and DW is 67 we have been in San Antonio some 4 years back and liked it, and we were supposed to go visit the area last year; although, COVID was bad then and so we had the scheduled changed until 19th of July this year. So, we are set to go as scheduled. Speaking with our real estate agent in New Braunfels, he had mentioned that homes are now in the high 500's or low 600's :-(. DW has a brother in San Antonio and we liked the area some years back and we loved the view of the hills and so forth .
We are ready to pull the plug on working here in Virginia by this Dec 31st with nice pensions and SS income being over 10K monthly and over 1-MM in investments.
All that being said, looking for any advice for moving in this area to really focus on? Obviously we want a little land that we are not constantly maintaining, and, not right next to our neighbor but at the same time, not 30 min from restaurants or hospitals either?

It is all so overwhelming, because we have to sell our home in Virginia first which should be quick; however, need to find a temporary place to live while the home is getting built if we go that route.
I guess we are just asking if anyone lives in that area and has some advise or recommendations of where to move too.
Bottom line, we enjoy Virginia, although for several reasons we would like to move to Tx
Thanks so much!!!!

Good day,
After reading all the responses on the post, it seems that this area is not that favorable, and so, I will let you all know after I return in about 10 days.
FYI: I am medically retired military after 25 years and so It seems that the property taxes (which seem to be quite high) should not be a problem since I am severely disabled? I want to thank all of you for your time and honesty and will respond back when I return.

 

[Midpack]

I lived in SA growing up (a long time ago), my parents retired in SA (now passed), and my sister lives/retired in SA/Alamo Heights. VERY hot, but mild winters in return. And the COL is still relatively low there. One of my uncles was a longtime time dean and professor at Texas State University-San Marcos, and I have relatives in New Braunfels - but I never considered it part of SA.

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

..I am medically retired military after 25 years and so It seems that the property taxes (which seem to be quite high) should not be a problem since I am severely disabled? ...

It depends on the level of disability. If you are 100% disabled (according to the VA) then you pay ZERO on property taxes. Other levels depend on the locality as they can offer different exemptions.

https://gov.texas.gov/organization/disabilities/tax_exemptions

Tax Code Section 11.131 requires an exemption of the total appraised value of homesteads of Texas veterans who received 100 percent compensation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) due to a 100 percent disability rating or determination of individual unemployability by the VA. This exemption can only be applied to a residence homestead of a disabled veteran.

A disabled veteran who owns property other than a residence homestead may apply for a different disabled veteran’s exemption under Tax Code Section 11.22 that applied according to the veteran’s disability rating of 10 percent or higher.

 

[W2R]

It is both interesting and somewhat horrifying to read this thread and learn what has become of the towns discussed. I haven't lived in Texas (or even visited) for a quarter century, but back in the 1980's we visited Boerne and New Braunfels, and felt these Texas towns were just about as close to heaven as mankind could attain.

Ah, for the "good ol' days". Meanwhile, I love living where I am. We're happy here, for now.

BTW, we may not have acreage but we are close to restaurants and hospitals, does that count? On a 50'x120' lot, on a quiet residential street in an urban inner suburb with everything anyone could ever need less than two miles away. We like the small lots because there's almost no maintenance required; luckily our neighbors are extremely considerate and non-intrusive.

Oh, and a second postscript - - when I lived in College Station, Texas (1984-1996), we had both a multi-thousand dollar property tax and a SEPARATE multi-thousand dollar school tax. So, the property tax sounded hefty but not as gargantuan as it actually was, unless you looked into it. It was a real punch in the gut. That said, our daughter got a good education in the College Station public school system, amazingly enough. Guess she should have, for that price.

 

[REWahoo]

I am medically retired military after 25 years and so It seems that the property taxes (which seem to be quite high) should not be a problem since I am severely disabled?

Yes, you will likely pay little or no property tax. My next door neighbor has a 100% disability from his time in the Navy and pays $0. Note he still has to fight the traffic and deal with the scorpions, rattlesnakes, and other local and state politicians.

 

[NW-Bound]

Ah, San Antonio. I first visited it back around 2000. Then, in 2013 passed by the city on an RV trip. Could hardly recognize the place, because it had grown so much.

No, SA is too crowded now. You want to go to Terlingua, where there's lot of land.

 

[jr6035]

New Braunfels is the best spot to live. I lived in Texas for 30 years, 4 in San Antonio. If I moved back to Texas, that would be the place. Be advised, it gets damn hot there. New Braunfels used to be pretty much by itself, but now San Antonio to Austin is one big place.

 

[tfudtuckerpucker]

We just moved from that area, to the PNW. We bought a similar priced house, and our property tax is now nearly half that of our Texas home. Neither state has income tax. I think you get more house for the money, in general, in Texas. The difference in tax rate seems a bit ironic, moving from a conservative state to the left coast, but I'm not complaining.

 

[Car-Guy]

Note he still has to fight the traffic and deal with the scorpions, rattlesnakes, and other local and state politicians.

I really wish folks would quit grouping our native scorpions and rattlesnakes in with our states worse inhabitants. I fully expect a scorpion or rattlesnake to sting or bite and generally try to do me harm.... I know how to deal with them.

 

[Montecfo]

I really wish folks would quit grouping our native scorpions and rattlesnakes in with our states worse inhabitants. I fully expect a scorpion or rattlesnake to sting or bite and generally do me harm.... I know how to deal with them.

Don't look now but some of those inhabitants are now adding to the prevailing hot stake air coming from the east up here. Never saw a scorpion just up and leave the state...

 

[jr6035]

You're set in the San Antonio area then. Lots of military bases. I would still check out New Braunfels.

 

[jr6035]

Good day,
After reading all the responses on the post, it seems that this area is not that favorable, and so, I will let you all know after I return in about 10 days.
FYI: I am medically retired military after 25 years and so It seems that the property taxes (which seem to be quite high) should not be a problem since I am severely disabled? I want to thank all of you for your time and honesty and will respond back when I return.

I forgot to add your quote. You would be fine in New Braunfels. Randolph AFB is close. You have Wilford Hall, Brooks and Ft Sam for healthcare. Though I hear Wilford Hall may be closing. The San Antonio area is the only place in Texas I would live again. 26 of my years were in Dallas, stay away. I live in SoCal now, so the traffic there is like a country road compared to where I live.

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

I forgot to add your quote. You would be fine in New Braunfels. Randolph AFB is close. You have Wilford Hall, Brooks and Ft Sam for healthcare. Though I hear Wilford Hall may be closing. The San Antonio area is the only place in Texas I would live again. 26 of my years were in Dallas, stay away. I live in SoCal now, so the traffic there is like a country road compared to where I live.

Wilford Hall isn't going anywhere. As a matter of fact, there is going to be a "new" one. Most of the JBSA (Joint Base San Antonio)

Info on Wilford Hall: https://www.59mdw.af.mil/Portals/50/documents/WHASCFLYERAPRIL2016.PDF

Info on all the mil med facilities in/around JBSA: https://www.59mdw.af.mil/

 

[MrsHaloFIRE]

Ah, San Antonio. I first visited it back around 2000. Then, in 2013 passed by the city on an RV trip. Could hardly recognize the place, because it had grown so much.



No, SA is too crowded now. You want to go to Terlingua, where there's lot of land.

Lol yeah but pack a lunch!

 

[MrsHaloFIRE]

Yeah Wilford hall has a brand spanking new building. Doubt its going anywhere. Also, robust VA healthcare here. Main hospital and lots of clinics spread throughout the area for primary care. Same at Brooke Army. Primary care sprinkled throughout the city as well as on ft sam and Randolph. Specialists at wilford and Brooke

 

[NW-Bound]

Lol yeah but pack a lunch!

For a while, I followed a couple of blogs of people who bought land out in Terlingua, and erected their own homes. Tough living condition, particularly as it is dry. There's no water, and it has to be hauled in. Wells can be dug, but the water is slightly saline and loaded with minerals.

Only tough people can live out there, and you can get many acres for cheap.

And another reason you have to be tough to be out there:

Terlingua is in the 4th percentile for safety, meaning 96% of cities are safer and 4% of cities are more dangerous. This analysis applies to Terlingua's proper boundaries only. The rate of crime in Terlingua is 101.98 per 1,000 residents during a standard year.

Telingua has only 150 residents. So, the crime rate is actually 15 crimes/year for the 150 residents.

 

[jr6035]

Thats good to hear. My son was born there.

 

[REWahoo]

Thats good to hear. My son was born there.

Wow. Not many folks can claim to have been born in Terlingua, TX!