San Antonio Texas Rental Property
Tampa, FL · Member since 2020 · 60 posts · 43 votes
San Antonio Texas Rental Property
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Spring, TX · Member since 2019 · 14 posts · 3 votes
6yWe lived in San Antonio for almost 8 years. All the "better" school district and areas are on the North side of town. But even then there are good schools and bad schools within the districts. NISD, NEISD, Judson, Alamo Heights (expensive area and probably out of your range), Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD, etc tend to be the better districts. The schools closest to downtown (beside Alamo Heights) tend to be worse and then get better as you move outside loop 410 and then best outside loop 1604 (but not a hard rule).... as with most cities as the money moved out to the suburbs, so did the better schools. SA traffic is terrible. Your best bet would probably be to look on the NE side of town (around HWY's 281, 35 or 10) to be within 20 minutes.
7 Replies
- 6yJoseph CacciapagliaBusiness MemberLender · San Antonio, TX · Member since 2020 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
This was a pretty easy question until you threw in the "good schools" at the end. You'll have to define good schools, because I've found that people have widely varying opinions on what qualifies as good. I just put a deal under contract this weekend for someone that's in almost the same situation. My client will be at Fort Sam for 1-2 years, and was primarily concerned with the investment potential of the home once he left. That particular deal was a 3/1.5 for $170K within 10 minutes of the entrance to Fort Sam. However, the schools in that particular area may not qualify as "good" to many people. If you have a minimum school rating in mind, it will be easier to provide some useful insight.
- Tampa, FL · Member since 2020 · 60 posts · 43 votes6y
Joseph, I think a 5/10 minimum would hit the benchmark for what I'm looking for. Generally a family friendly area that isn't sketchy at night is the biggest priority, military families can always use the education systems provided on base.
- Spring, TX · Member since 2019 · 14 posts · 3 votes6y
We lived in San Antonio for almost 8 years. All the "better" school district and areas are on the North side of town. But even then there are good schools and bad schools within the districts. NISD, NEISD, Judson, Alamo Heights (expensive area and probably out of your range), Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD, etc tend to be the better districts. The schools closest to downtown (beside Alamo Heights) tend to be worse and then get better as you move outside loop 410 and then best outside loop 1604 (but not a hard rule).... as with most cities as the money moved out to the suburbs, so did the better schools. SA traffic is terrible. Your best bet would probably be to look on the NE side of town (around HWY's 281, 35 or 10) to be within 20 minutes.
- Investor · San Antonio, TX · Member since 2019 · 576 posts · 307 votes6y
@Account Closed I think a decent bank-for-buck area in San Antonio is the 410/marbach area. Houses in Westwood Park tend to go for sub 90K if they need updates, and I believe they are in Northside ISD, which is decent. They have fantastic rental numbers when you move out. Only issue would be the proximity to Fort Sam, which may be just over 20 minutes.
- 6yJoseph CacciapagliaBusiness MemberLender · San Antonio, TX · Member since 2020 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
Originally posted by @Account Closed:
Joseph, I think a 5/10 minimum would hit the benchmark for what I'm looking for. Generally a family friendly area that isn't sketchy at night is the biggest priority, military families can always use the education systems provided on base.
The one I mentioned earlier is 4/10 for all 3 schools, but I like the neighborhood a lot. I think a lot of the school conscious residents are either using the base school or a private school that's nearby. That area is in the part of 78218 that's inside the 410 loop. It's a very short drive to Fort Sam, and most parts of that area are very nice (at least by my standards). My favorite doughnut shop happens to be over there too. To get to the 5+ schools, you need to either be further away or higher priced for the most part. There really are a lot of options, depending your your personal preferences and willingness to have a longer drive. I really like Schertz/Cibolo/Selma, but I wouldn't want to be driving that far personally. I know plenty of people that do though. Please feel free to reach out if I can be any assistance in narrowing your search further. - Investor · Member since 2019 · 110 posts · 51 votes6y
Jack, great question and very wise of you to place it. BP is the best.
So Ive been in SA since 2007 right after I left Air Force AD, So i know the pain of moving. Ok, so your budget is extremely reasonable but the best possible scenario to give you has many many options.
Let me explain, when I moved here to SA, without seeing the house My husband bought a 3/2 brand new home outside of Marbach/1604, that property was really good to us. But although it turned out to be good, now I know that it was a mistake. I should have done what you are doing now ASK QUESTIONS. Back then I didn't know or care to know anything about Real Estate.
So after many mistakes and nonstop research this is what I would do.
Depending on your money situation
If you have cash or are not afraid to use Hard Money- this would be my first choice
If with cash/or knowing how to obtain a fixer upper with a Wholesaler I would absolutely go this route all day long
The other way...
Let's say you are doing it the conventional way- bank finance. Then your are limited with the fixer upper you can get, in order for the bank to finance it, it would have to be very cosmetic.
Jack, I wouldn't get a home until you really know the market here, get to know wholesaler and get signed up for all the facebook RE investment groups. It looks like you have some time in your hands so thats great.
One more thing, again knowing what i know now, my very first investment would have been a newer 4 plex, live in one and really get to experience what is like to be a home owner and also a landlord. and the best part, getting the best possible Rates because is your personal home. There are plenty in SA, not at 180K but you just have know how that can happen. Remember your DTI ration can include the income from the other rentals, you just have to find the right lender that will include those Moneys in order to qualify.I don't know if you will be using the VA loan, but if not you can still save on the PMI, by using a friendly bank. There is one that I know of that as long as your are Military affiliated they waive the PMI, great terms and no closing costs. I'm very careful here about adding names because I don't want my post to be deleted. I'm really familiar with their rules yet lol.
Best places as for single homes,
Stone Oak, with the right wholesaler or studying Realtor.c you might hit the lottery. I often see 210K 3/2s. Schools here are 8-910
Alamo Heights, too expensive. Not an awesome rental market, best for flipping. TRUST me I know. expensive lesson
anything by NEISD is good in my opinion good luck!!! I'm always one call away.
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