San Antonio Housing Blog » Uncategorized

New TPC Golf Courses in San Antonio

Rex Blackburn — Sun, 16 May 2010 21:36:24 +0000

The new TPC golf course is hosting the Texas Open this weekend. Watching the last round on TV and seeing aerial views of not only the course, but the J W MARRIOTT Hotel, reminds me of the impact this development is having on the San Antonio metro area. Cibolo Canyons is a series of gated communities ranging in price from the mid $200′s to well over a million dollars. It is an absolutely beautiful area. There is quite a bit of commercial development surrounding Cibolo Canyons and the TPC, with all the retail stores and restaurants that you would expect, as well as the new Lady Bird Johnson High School. As a result, several thousand new jobs are being created and a great place for families to raise their children, or retirees to enjoy all the amenities of the area.

The J W MARRIOTT has 1002 rooms, making it the largest hotel in the MARRIOTT system. It also offers 138,000 square foot of convention space, a 26,000 square foot Spa facility, gourmet restaurants, a lazy river water feature, and of course the two 18 hole courses designed by Greg Norman and Pete Dye. Sounds like a nice vacation destination and should attract golfers from around the world. For information on the area, the website is www.cibolocanyons.com. If you want to see homes for sale, please use the MLS home Search feature on the right of this site. Or feel free to contact THE BLACKBURN GROUP directly.

Real Estate Negotiation

Rex Blackburn — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:04:15 +0000

Having just closed two real estate transactions this past week, I am reminded of the various issues involved in the negotiation process. It should go without saying that the ability of Realtors to understand the art of negotiation is critical to their clients. In today’s real estate market in San Antonio, Realtors must be able to distinguish between a buyers or sellers market. It is not as simple as it might appear. In order to help your clients make an educated decision when either making an offer on a home or a seller responding to an offer, the Realtor must convey the correct information to his or her client. Obviously, the buyer or seller makes the final decision, but if that decision is based on incorrect data or information, then the ability to successfully negotiate is greatly impaired, and may result in no transaction at all. Then no one wins. A buyer does not get the home they wanted and the seller must wait for another offer. The reality is that once an offer is submitted, it is in everyone’s best interest to work diligently to make it work for all parties. Are compromises by both buyers and sellers part of the process? Absolutely! It’s a “give and get” deal. In order to get something, you typically have to give something, and vice versa. The bottom line is that Realtors need to understand the “ART” of negotiation in order to properly prepare their clients for the process. It’s amazing how smoothly a transaction can happen when everyone involved is knowledgable, prepared, and understands the processes from start to finish. As always, I welcome any questions or comments.

New Home Owners, Change Locks or Not?

Barbara Blackburn — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:23:20 +0000

As a Realtor, I always suggest to new home owners that they have the home rekeyed as soon as possible. There is no way of knowing how many keys exist to your home. While it is easy to think that nothing will happen, the consequences of a third party actually entering your home could be traumatic. I asked Don Myers to comment on this topic, his remarks follow. He owns THE KEY DEPOT here in San Antonio. We refer all of our clients to him as this is a priority in our mind.

“The all too often call came in just a few minutes ago. The new homeowners were excited about getting moved into their new home as soon as possible after closing. Certainly the reminder from their real estate agent to have their house rekeyed should have been enough but it was not. Maybe the reminder from a new neighbor that suggested that they get the house rekeyed before they move anything into their house…well, that was not enough either. However, the person with a key to their house that came in while they were away over the weekend was what did it. Now they are calling to get their house rekeyed. We hear this story repeated way too often. As soon as you are given the keys to your new home, get it rekeyed. This is true even if the previous owner says he has given you all the keys. Did he forget about the neighbor across the street that watered his plants while he was on vacation? Maybe he did not know that the daughter’s ex-boyfriend has a copy. What about the babysitter? Keeping your home and possessions safe is what we do. Give us a call. We even offer a discount for homeowner’s getting their house rekeyed within 30 days of closing. Our suggestion…do not wait that long.”

Don Myers

www.thekeydepotsa1.com

210-340-1850

Forbes Says Texas Poised for Swift Recovery

Rex Blackburn — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:09:01 +0000

An article in Forbes by Joshua Zumbrun (on 06.10.09) titled “THE BEST and WORST CITIES for RECESSION RECOVERY”( http://www.forbes.com/2009/06/09/recession-economy-cities-business-beltway-recovery-cities.html ) indicated that many cities in Texas are positioned for a speedy recovery. Mr. Zunbrum specifically mentions Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, and McAllen. His analysis is based on multiple factors which are cited in the article. The reality is that we have not been affected here in Texas like other parts of the country. With that said, we still have felt the impact of a slower housing market.

What is interesting is how various areas and price points are affected in different ways. Just as California, Florida, and other parts of the country have been hit worse than Texas, areas and price points within the cities are impacted differently. For example, in San Antonio, homes priced under $200,000 are selling much faster than homes priced over that. As the price goes up, the time on the market increases accordingly. If you are in more rural areas, you have the issues of gas prices and commute times. A buyer’s market is typically determined by the inventory levels. If you have an inventory of 7 months or more, you have a buyer’s market. So, to be specific here in San Antonio, we have a buyer’s market above $300,000. We tend to be in a seller’s market under $200,000, and a balanced market in between the $200 to $300k range.

Buyers and sellers need to understand the market as it affects them. Too many times, they are fed the generalities of the market and not the specifics as it should be. For anyone needing a detailed market analysis, we are available.

By the way, at our last OPEN HOUSE, three open houses actually, we gave away a $25 gift card and the winner was Thea Platz. Congrats!

Open Houses for June 7th, San Antonio Texas

Rex Blackburn — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 18:48:07 +0000

We will be holding 3 homes open on June 7th from 2 to 5 pm. For those of you out and about, please come by , view our homes and register for a free gift certificate. Here are the addresses that will be open:

30885 Retama Ridge, Bulverde, Tx, Mls # 774372. This home is for those wanting to live in the country but have the convenience of the city.

1993 square feet, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath with a study, single story in Rim Rock Ranch. Has great views on almost 2 acres, and large deck on back including hot tub. A great value at $229,000. Hosted by Joy Myers, 210-259-6643

7045 Laura Heights, Schertz, Tx, MLS #773778. Great northeast location. Two Story custom home with the master bedroom down, opening to a covered private patio. Open floor plan with fireplace and island kitchen. Game room and media room upstairs. 3242 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, and 3 car garage. Well priced at $365,000. Hosted by Eileen Jones, 210-216-6789

20714 Cactus Loop, San Antonio, Tx, MLS #732101. For those looking for a large lot, lots of privacy, and a beautiful home, this is it. Located in a gated, guarded community near 1604 and 281, on .6 acres, this home is a single story, 3156 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, with a large, covered deck to enjoy the outdoors, built by Sitterle homes. The price has been reduced to $369,900. Hosted by Barabra Blackburn, 210-823-9049

For more information, please visit www.bradfieldproperties.com . Enter the MLS # to see pictures and details of these homes as well as to get directions. Please come by and visit.

OPEN HOUSE at Sterlingford Place, San Antonio, Tx 78217

Rex Blackburn — Sun, 31 May 2009 15:46:28 +0000

An Open House on the northeast side of town gave folks a look at 4526 Sterlingford Place in the British Commons subdivision on Saturday, May 30. A 3 bedroom, 2 bath foreclosure priced at $108,900, it has approximately 1700 feet, pricing it at $64 per square foot. Very attractive pricing for a one story home.

It offers two living areas, one with a fireplace; two eating areas, a conveniently located kitchen and inside utility room. There are two patios, one on each side of the house and a two car garage. It is set on a large lot on a cul-de-sac street. This is a great home for anyone , just starting out or downsizing. The carpet was replaced recently but it could use a little TLC. If you want to take a look at this home, call Joy Myers at 210-259-6643 for a personal tour or visit www.bradfieldproperties.com/780274 for photos of property. Don’t wait , foreclosures are selling fast.

Also, if you are in the market to buy soon, ask about the tax credit for first time home buyers up to $8000. And check back here on Wednesday to find out who won the drawing from this open house for a gift card and to find out when and where the next open house will be. We will be doing open houses on a regular basis with drawings for free gift cards as well. Again, if anyone has any uestions on foreclosures or real eatate in the SanAntonio area, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Dave Ramsey’s Town Hall For Hope

Rex Blackburn — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:20:00 +0000

My wife Barbara and I have been big Dave Ramsey fans for a long time. The response to his Town Hall meeting was phenomenal! Those of you who did not get a chance to view it should visit his site, www.townhallforhope.com . It is well worth a few minutes of your time. When asked how long this depressed economy would last, Dave stated that the economy will turn back around when the housing market rebounds. And, he empahsized that it was a great time to buy, as long as you can afford to. Interest rates are extremely attractive right now, hovering around 5% and of course, there is a large inventory of homes to choose from. He quoted numerous statistics during his talk, many focused on foreclosures. It should be noted that one half of all foreclusures are located in twelve states. The stats are available to review on the site mentioned above. The doom and gloom reported by much of the media is misleading. Not all areas are experiencing the severe real estate conditions that you keep hearing about on the news. San Antonio and Texas in general has a very strong economy. While we are affected by national economic factors, which has put our real estate market into more of a buyer’s market, it is not a “fire sale” market. Sellers’ are realizing that homes are taking slightly longer to sale than in the last few years and they have to be more aggressive in their pricing, but seller’s in most cases are not “giving their homes away”. On the other hand, buyers’ are in a position to take advantage of the aggressive pricing and usually can negotiate a very attractive price; advantage buyers’. As a Realtor, I firmly believe that as Dave stated, real estate is a sound investment and now is agreat time to buy, if you can afford to. I also believe in Dave’s message last night.

At the end of the town hall meeting, Dave said there were 3 things we can do: GET UP AND TAKE ACTION; STOP LISTENING TO LOSER TALK; and START GIVING.

I think that too often we have the mindset that we cannot change or control what happens; we simply accept the decisions of others, whether it be the government of people around us. Nothing could be further from the truth. We as individuals can control what happens to us. We can make smarter choices, take smarter actions, and produce better results in our lives. The question is whether we are willing to make the effort or accept the status quo. It is time for each of us to look “within ourselves” and ask ourselves some hard questions. Are we willing to get out of our comfort zone, start making smarter choices, and taking action to get the results we want? We can, we just have to make the commitment, have the conviction in our hearts, and the courage to make it happen. Again, take a little time and visit www.townhallforhope.com . You won’t be disappointed.

How is the San Antonio Housing Market?

Rex Blackburn — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 22:37:45 +0000

It’s interesting how everyone has a different opinion of the market. People that rely soley on the news from various media sources talk only of doom and gloom. If you talk to realtors, the answer typically depends on their individual situation. Those that are busy, working with buyers and sellers, writing offers, and having those offers accepted, of course, think the market is good and getting better. Those sitting around with nothing to do and no sales think we are in another “Great Depression.” If as a typical consumer, you are laid off, then the economy is terrible. If you’re working and nothing has changed, it seems to be okay.
A good example of that is the relocation of one of Caterpillar’s main manufacturing facilities to Seguin, Tx. (just 30 miles east of San Antonio). This will bring 1400 jobs to our area and obviouly have a major economic impact. Those people employed will believe the economy is great; those people laid off by Caterpillar in Illinois and South Carolina will not.
The reality is that San Antonio has been affected by the economic situation. Our real estate market was down over 15% from the previous year. Inventory levels are up about 20% over last year. We are now in a buyer’s market, but we are in an active market. Since the first of the year, we are seeing greater activity and more offers being made. Many sellers’ are gradually lowering their pricing to find the market value, More buyers’ are seeing the prices come down and realize that the value is now there. Interest rates are hovering around 5%, a great opportunity for buyers’.
While the San Antonio real estate market is not what we have been used to, it is still a good place to be in this business, especially when you look at other areas of the country. And it’s a great opportunity to invest in a home in San Antonio, Texas!

Thanksgiving 2008

Barbara Blackburn — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 21:35:35 +0000

The bird is in the oven, the TV is tuned to the football game so now is my chance to say a quick “thank you” to all our clients and friends. Thank you for the privilege of working for you, thank you to all for enriching our lives with your laughter, companionship, and friendship. Following are two poems that I found online through google.com at John Mark Ministries. Enjoy.

A Thanksgiving Poem, by CJ Beaman
IT was the night of Thanksgiving, but I just couldn’t sleep
I tried counting backwards, I tried counting sheep.
The leftovers beckoned– the dark meat and white,
but I fought the temptation with all of my might.
Tossing and turning with anticipation,
the thought of a snack became infatuation.
So, I raced to the kitchen, flung open the door
and gazed at the fridge, full of goodies galore.
I gobbled up turkey and buttered potatoes,
pickles and carrots, beans and tomatoes.
I felt myself swelling so plump and so round,
till all of a sudden, I rose off the ground.
I crashed through the ceiling, floating into the sky
With a mouthful of pudding and a handful of pie
But, I managed to yell as I soared past the trees…….
happy eating to all—pass the cranberries, please!
May your stuffing be tasty, may your turkey be plump,
May your potatoes On gravy have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious may your pies take the prize,
May your thanksgiving dinner stay off of your thighs.

By CJ Beaman, c 2001
~~~
I AM THANKFUL… For the teenager who is complaining about doing dishes– Because that means he is at home not on the streets.
For the taxes that I pay– Because it means I am employed.
For the mess to clean after a party– Because it means that I have been surrounded by friends.
For the clothes that fit a little too snug– Because it means I have enough to eat.
For my shadow that watches me work– Because it means I am out in the sunshine.
For a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need fixing– Because it means I have a home.
For all the complaining I hear about the government– Because it means we have freedom of speech.
For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot– Because it means I am capable of walking and that I have been blessed with transportation.
For my huge heating bill– Because it means I am warm.
For the lady behind me in church who sings off key– Because it means I can hear.
For the pile of laundry and ironing– Because it means I have clothes to wear.
For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day– Because it means I have been capable of working hard.
For the alarm that goes of in the early morning hours– Because it means I am alive.
And finally, for too much email– Because it means I have friends who are thinking of me!
–Author unknown.

San Antonio Housing Market – Good or Bad?

Rex Blackburn — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:32:12 +0000

With the continued negative information regarding our economy nationwide, including the housing industry, the stock market, the failed banks, and whatever else you want to throw into the mix, one would get the impression that we should all go hide in a closet and hope one day that it will be safe to come out. Perception is our Reality. While there is no doubt that we are experiencing difficulties based on the above mentioned issues, the world is not coming to an end. Is it as bad as you hear and read? As a Realtor in San Antonio, Texas, I will say to you that we are not in bad shape. In fact, I would say that we are in a pretty good position for the future.

Like the rest of the country, San Antonio has certainly been affected by the tough economic conditions that exist today. We are experiencing a correction in our market as a result. Here are some numbers to consider. Overall, sold homes for the last 12 months are down approximately 28% over the previous 12 month period. These numbers come directly from the San Antonio Board of Realtors. That is a serious downturn in sales. However, keep in mind that 2006 was a record year, 2007 was almost as good. Business cycles. The upside to these numbers is that homes are currently selling for 96 to 98% of list price, the same as in the previous 12 months. In addition, homes are maintaining their value or slightly increasing in value, NOT DECREASING! Homes are staying on the market for 30 to 60 days longer than in the past, but that simply makes for a good buyer’s market at this time. Sellers need to be patient; buyers should look seriously at the opportunities right now as the leverage is on their side. But, what is our future?

In San Antonio, the future is very strong. We anticipate the housing market coming back in 2009. Forbes.com just rated San Antonio as the number TWO BEST-VALUE CITY in the country, right behind Austin. The military is bringing in additional personnel to handle the medical training for all of the services, which will infuse millions of dollars into our local economy. Microsoft just opened a data center that also will have a major economic impact on San Antonio. It is projected to become the single largest user of power in the area. We have 2 PGA golf couses being built as well as a 1000+ room J.W. MARRIOTT Hotel. This will attract golfers from around the world. All in all, I cannot think of a better place to buy or invest in real estate than San Antonio, Texas.