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Lifestyle: Style of Housing: |
Real Estate & Homes in San Antonio- Texas - San Antonio, Texas Homes and Communitiies San Antonio
Founded before Texas won its independence from Mexico, San Antonio is a city deeply rooted in history and committed to celebrating its culture. Its Native American, Spanish and German influences can still be enjoyed today. The city offers a wide variety of cultural festivities year around as well as a multitude of excellent restaurants, casual riverside cafes, and outstanding shopping. Fast Facts With a population of more than one million, San Antonio is far from feeling overcrowded. Remarkably, it has managed to keep its small town Texas charm and leisurely pace despite its continual economic growth and sprawling size. It is spread out over 3,000 square miles fed by four interstates, three U.S. highways, and four state highways. Two of these highways, Interstate 410 and Texas Highway 1604, actually form loops around the entire city making it easy to get from one side of town to the other. And unlike other major metropolitan cities, traffic jams are not common. Downtown San Antonio is a reminder of the city’s upbringing which stemmed from a small Native American settlement along the San Antonio River to a land of great Spanish missions which includes the famous Mission San Antonio de Valero or The Alamo. The cobblestone streets are lined with ornate Spanish cathedrals scattered amongst historic hotels, German delicatessens, and old department stores that are now occupied by upscale retailers such as Macy’s, Dillard’s, Nordstrom and many others. Neighborhoods and Communities The King William Historic District, located south of downtown, is considered the upper crust of neighborhoods. Established by the Germans in the late 1800s, this district is the city’s first suburb and is highlighted with elaborate mansions. Many of the older homes have been converted into quaint bed-and-breakfasts. Another historic district is the Monte Vista National Historic District, located just north of downtown. Much of the housing in this area is occupied by professors and students from Trinity University and St. Mary’s University. The south side of San Antonio is mostly Hispanic and is split into two neighborhoods, Southtown and South Side. Southtown is a revitalized commercial district - a pocket of hip coffeehouses, swank boutiques and mom-and-pop restaurants. South Side, however, has remained largely untouched and is home to many of the city’s historic missions. Areas to the north are newer and mostly Anglo, African-American and Asian. San Antonio has a unique infrastructure because it has "cities" within the city. These mini cities have their own city offices, aquifers, police and fire departments, and more. The city of Alamo Heights, for instance, is situated in north central San Antonio and was incorporated in the 1920s. It is considered the most exclusive community and is home to one of the best public schools in the area. Castle Hills is another upscale community that sits north of Alamo Heights. Residential lots in these areas feature hundred year old Live Oak trees and limestone bluffs. Other communities include China Grove to the southeast and Windcrest to the northeast. Attractions When most people think of San Antonio, they think of The Alamo and the courageous men who sacrificed their lives for liberty within the mission’s walls. Millions of visitors from around the world tour The Alamo and its gardens year around. A few blocks away is perhaps one of the most popular spots in San Antonio - Paseo del Rio, or the River Walk. The River Walk is a three mile cobblestone walkway that lines the banks of the San Antonio River as it meanders through the downtown district. This area has experienced a renaissance over the years sprouting up riverside hotels, cafes, restaurants, bars, clubs and shops. Listen to a jazz ensemble while sipping a martini or take the kids to the Hard Rock Café. During Christmas time, the city hangs thousands of lights in the trees along the river and riverboat cruises are the perfect way to enjoy them. Hemisfair Park, originally created for the 1968 World’s Fair, is another attraction complete a water park and the 750-foot high Tower of the Americas. At the top of the tower, you can enjoy outstanding cuisine in a revolving restaurant while watching the sunset over the Texas Hill Country. San Antonio also boasts two theme parks – Sea World and Fiesta Texas. Sea World is the world’s largest marine animal park. There are only three Sea World parks in the world and San Antonio is home to one of them. It is open March through November and recently added a state-of-the-art water park to its facility. Fiesta Texas is part of the Six Flags chain of theme parks and is home to the Rattler, one of the world’s tallest wooden roller coasters. Sports fans can catch the three time NBA champions, the San Antonio Spurs, at the new SBC Center. When the Spurs aren’t playing, this facility turns into a world-class ice hockey rink which is home to the San Antonio Rampage. Recreation and Leisure The San Antonio Zoo is located on the edge of Brackenridge Park at the corner of St. Mary’s and Tuleta Street. It has over 3,000 animals and a wide variety of exhibits. Plans to develop a four acre African Safari exhibit are also on the horizon. The River Center Mall offers over 120 stores and restaurants, an IMAX theatre, and the Rivercenter Comedy Club. After a full day of shopping, mall goers can step outside and enjoy an evening on the River Walk. The city is also becoming a haven for both recreational and professional golfers. It has four resort courses and 11 surrounding courses stretching from the beautiful Texas Hill Country up to Canyon Lake. Dining Texans are known to take a day trip to San Antonio just to grab a bite to eat. Every style of cuisine from Chinese to Italian to home style bar-b-que is available, but hands down, San Antonio cooks up the best Tex-Mex cuisine in the world. Tex-Mex food evolved from the recipes of Northern Mexico combined with the zesty spices of Texas and consists of hearty meat and bean dishes like crispy tacos, chalupas, chili con queso, and sizzling fajitas. One of the most famous Tex-Mex restaurants in the city is La Margarita in the Market Square. It is packed every day of the week but is well worth the wait. Sip a homemade margarita on the patio while listening to Mariachi Estrella, a well-known local mariachi band. Blanco Café on Blanco Road is another hot spot, especially for breakfast. Menudo, a Mexican soup made of tripe, hominy, tomato and hot chili stock, and homemade flour tortillas stuffed with tender barbacoa are best sellers. Another must is Schilo’s Delicatessen located on East Commerce Street downtown. They are famous for their homemade root beer served in icy cold mugs and rich split pea soup. It’s a perfect place to take a break from work and grab lunch. The Arts There is an event for every month of the year in San Antonio. The annual Tejano Music Awards, held in March, draw over 90,000 people to the city. Probably the most popular event is Fiesta de San Antonio in April. This nine-day street festival, held all over the city, is filled with music, flowers, over 150 parades, food booths, arts, crafts and amusement rides. The streets are packed with entertainment for all ages. For those who are inclined to stay indoors, the Majestic Theatre is a perfect place to catch a Broadway show or listen to the symphony. The city is also recognized as one of the top 25 arts cities in the U.S. with everything from hot glass studios and Mexican folk art galleries to the San Antonio Museum of Art. The Carver Community Cultural Center on the east side of the city is a performing and visual arts center with an emphasis on African American art. The center hosts the annual Carver Jazz Festival which has featured artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton and many other famous names over the years. There are also several outstanding museums and gardens in the area including the Institute of Texan Cultures, the Witte Museum, the San Antonio Botanical Gardens, and Japanese Sunken Tea Gardens. Housing Residents of San Antonio enjoy a much lower cost of living than other major metropolitan areas of the country. The average price for a single family home is around $100,000, less than half the cost of an equivalent home on the east or west coast. Part of what helps drive down housing costs in this area is the extended building season in central Texas and the vast amounts of undeveloped land that surround the city. Neighborhoods in the northeast and northwest are your best bet for finding affordable and relatively new homes as opposed to spending a hefty sum for an older home in areas like Alamo Heights and Castle Hills. Education There are many choices when it comes to education. San Antonio is made up of 15 independent school districts and a handful of exceptional private schools. The largest school district is Northside ISD with over 65,000 students. Schools in lower income neighborhoods receive first-class support and technology from one of Texas’ 20 education service centers. There are also superior choices for higher learning including Trinity University, St. Mary’s, Our Lady of the Lake, University of Incarnate Word, and University of Texas San Antonio, one of the University of Texas system’s fastest growing schools. Employment Biomedical, military, and tourism are the major industries in the area. Biomedical is a flourishing $12 million industry fueled by the South Texas Medical Center located in San Antonio which provides research and medical care to San Antonio and all of South Texas. The city is also one of the country’s largest military centers with four military bases – Brooks Air Force Base, Fort Sam Houston, and Lackland and Randolph air force bases. Other industries are moving into the area including the high-tech and automotive industries. SBC Communications, the nation’s largest telecommunications carrier, recently moved its headquarters to San Antonio and Toyota will be opening its fifth U.S. automobile manufacturing plant as well.
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