Shirley's San Antonio Real Estate Blog: March 2008

According to Census Bureau estimates released Thursday, four metropolitan areas in Texas were among the biggest population gainers in 2006 and 2007.  At the top of the list is the combined Dallas - Ft. Worth area which grew by more than 162,000 residents.  A report issued earlier this month by Global Insight reported that housing prices in the Dallas area were undervalued by as much as 30 percent.  16 percent of Americans who moved to other states between July 2006 and July 2007 came to Texas.  Much of the growth in the South is credited to relatively strong local economies and housing prices that are among the most affordable in the U.S.

Percentagewise, the Palm Coast, Florida, area was the fastest-growing in the nation.

Census Bureau: http://www.census.gov/

Waterford Heights is a luxury and exclusive gated community within the magnificent community of The Heights at Stone Oak offering you and your family an opportunity to enjoy peace and quiet in a tranquil environment that is only 15 minutes from the best schools, shopping, and entertainment. Each home site consists of one to one and one-half acres on which to build your dream home.

The Heights at Stone Oak is conveniently located in the fastest growing quarter of San Antonio's primary residential area.  This gated community of approximately 1,200 home sites is only 25 minutes from the San Antonio International Airport and located within the North East Independent School District (NEISD). In addition, you'll find a tranquility within the gates that will welcome you to the lifestyle you so deserve.

The community itself has a recreation center featuring a pavilion, 25 meter swimming pool, tennis, basketball, and sand volleyball courts, as well as a playground and 22 acre green belt. 

To search for home listings in San Antonio go to www.shirleyparks.com or call me at 210-414-0966.

Relocating can be stressful, expensive and time consuming.  Your move may be prompted by a new job, retirement, military orders, or a wish for a change in climate.  With relocation, you risk the expense of buying a new home and selling your existing home, and the time and effort of moving your family to a new location where you hope the entire family will be happy.

Relocation companies do a good job of specializing in helping manage the logistics of your move, such as making sure your furniture arrives in a timely manner.  But finding the right neighborhood or town is often left to chance, word of mouth, or a quick drive-by with an agent. Before you put your home up for sale and move your family, it is important to make sure the neighborhood you choose is right for you.

Trying to find a new home by simply searching on the internet is only a start.  This is where choosing the right Realtor comes in. Your Realtor should be able to find your ideal location, whether you want a neighborhood that is similar to the one where you now live or whether you are looking for a totally different environment.  Most people need information about school district ratings, the range of house values in a neighborhood, real estate appreciation rates, and demographics to include age, lifestyle and educational attainment of an area.  Once you have found your ideal area, you will want to look at homes in the neighborhoods you have chosen with the help of your Realtor.

Ask the Realtor who is listing your home for sale for a referral to a Realtor in the city where you will be relocating and establish a relationship with the new Realtor by phone and email to ensure that you have good rapport.  You need to feel confident that the agent is someone who understands your needs and will be have time set aside for you upon your arrival.  You deserve the best service possible.

To search for home listings in San Antonio go to www.shirleyparks.com or call me at 210-414-0966.

I just discovered the website designhergals, which lets you create a cute cartoon image of yourself or any woman you know and then have it printed on stationery, notecards, stickers, etc. I was playing around with it and created little cartoons of myself and my daughter. Adorable!

Design-her Gals was founded by Jeanne Fitzmaurice, an entrepreneur who recognized the importance of a personalized stationery line that expresses the multi-facets of a woman, literally and metaphorically. Fitzmaurice hopes to carve out her niche in the $7.5 billion dollar stationery industry, taking self-expression to the next level.  

To search for home listings in San Antonio go to www.shirleyparks.com or call me at 210-414-0966.

 ABOUT LUMINARIA

Luminaria is the first annual all day and evening celebration of San Antonio premiere artists and art organizations giving citizens of the community a chance to experience the city's diverse cultures through observing and participating in our world-class artistic heritage. Through visual, performing, multi-media, theatre, dance, music and other artistic forms, audiences will be engaged throughout San Antonio in a free, world-class celebration of the arts.

Luminaria is intended to be a cohesive celebration of the arts through a creative atmosphere showcasing San Antonio's diverse artistic community.

An artist-driven celebration of the arts, Luminaria is an unprecedented collaboration of over 40 non-profit organizations that will come together for 1 day to celebrate the dynamic vitality of San Antonio's creative spirit.

Based on the success of other international celebrations such as Nuit Blanche in Paris and Noche Blanca in Madrid, no other city in Texas has attempted to coordinate continuous artistic, educational and innovative programming for a city-wide arts celebration. To further highlight the name of this event, the traditional role of the luminaria is a clever small light that conjures up creative ideas which inspires waves of innovation.

Home Trends for Garden Ridge, TX

Quarterly Real Estate Activity & Trends 2007 for Shavano Park in San Antonio TX

The Texas Cavaliers River Parade, the most unique parade in the United States, is one of the premier events at Fiesta® San Antonio each year. Festive bands and costumed participants wind down the San Antonio river on professionally decorated barges.  These "floating islands," festooned with twinkling lights, float down the San Antonio River entertaining delighted spectators who are seated under the stars on a spring evening. While 17,000 reserve tickets are available, a great majority of the 250,000 spectators will see the parade free from restaurants, hotels, bridges and open public areas along the river. 

Founded in 1926, the Texas Cavaliers is an organization consisting of over 500 businesses and San Antonio community leaders. It preserves and promotes the ideals for which the heroes of the Alamo died and in doing so, raises money for charitable organizations. Since 1940, the Texas Cavaliers have provided San Antonio with the Fiesta River Parade.

During Fiesta, the Texas Cavaliers unveil their King Antonio at a public investiture ceremony. The investiture ceremony, which dates back to 1927, honors the memory of the matchless heroes who fell at the Alamo and also recognizes new members inducted into the Texas Cavaliers each year.

The Texas Cavaliers River Parade benefits the Texas Cavaliers Charitable Foundation. The foundation donates the money raised, along with generous contributions from the Texas Cavaliers members, to local children's charities in the San Antonio community.

Read more about the charities which benefit from the foundation on the Texas Cavaliers website.

~Texas Cavalier River Parade Tickets:
17,000 reserved tickets are available for sale. The majority of the people will see the parade for free from the public areas along the River Walk, as well as from restaurants and hotels. The 2007 Texas Cavalier River Parade will take place on Monday, April 23rd, 2007 at 7:00pm. Ticket prices range from $10-$22 each.