San Antonio Tops State Appreciation Rate

Submitted by: Reagan Greer, Broker

The Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University recently completed a comparison study that re-enforced that real estate in Texas continues to be strong and healthy.

Nationally the stories are not quite the same and Texas is an area many are focused on as a result.

The study showed that San Antonio is leading the state in appreciation with an 11% increase from February 2006 to February 2007 with a median price of approximately $145,100. It also revealed Austin is second in the state increasing 7% with a median of $177,400, Houston 3rd with a 3% increase median price $146,900, and Dallas with a 1% gain median price $156,000.

San Antonio and the surrounding area continues to enjoy growth spurred by favorable economic conditions, low interest rates and reasonable home pricing per square foot compared to other areas.

The growth has also placed an importance on adequate schools and many area school districts are faced with an inadequate number of facilities to handle the influx of homeowners. This has resulted in a number of current Bond proposals being considered by voters. The early voting period is underway, with the election being held May 12th.

Texas, specifically San Antonio, are bucking the National trends and this continues to be a great time to buy & sale property.

Green Up Your Lawn And Get More "Green" For Your House

Submitted by: Rebecca Lowther - Marketing Department

Its been said a hundred times that first impressions are important. Whether going to a job interview, on a date or meeting the future in-laws, those first few moments are crucial in establishing yourself as a person of worth. The same principle applies to houses as well. Any potential buyer begins judging your property the minute they drive up and that first view could be a deal breaker. While fresh paint and clean windows can go a long way in making your house appear more valuable and inviting, don’t make the mistake of neglecting your lawn. An overgrown or sparce yard could ruin the first impression of an otherwise immaculate house. All it takes are a few simple touches to make your yard and your house more inviting; no green thumb required.

The first and perhaps most important item for your attention should be the lawn itself. Flowers and shrubs will do little to hide brown or bald spots in the grass itself. Use grass seed or sod in sparce areas to fill in the lawn and seasonal weed & feed products to green up and thicken your grass. Also, keep the lawn mowed. Tall weeds and an overgrown lawn give the impression that the property as a whole is unkempt.

If you wish to add a splash of color to give some zing to your curb appeal, there are numerous hardy plants available to make your yard pop. Annual such as Petunias come in a wide array of colors, but bloom only once and will have to be replanted. If you are putting your house on the market and need a “quick fix”, annuals are a great way to get color bang for your buck. If you want a more permanent solution, perennials such as lantana are hardy and will continue to grow. They usually bloom once or twice a year.

The best advice for lawn care is to visit your local gardening or home improvement store. There, you can find professionals to help you pick the right grasses, plants and shrubs for your particular yard, whether it be sunny or shady. They will also be able to help you pick water-saver and native plants to minimize watering costs and maintenance. Gardening is one of the easiest ways to freshen up your lawn and improve the look of your home. It’s amazing what a few flowers can do.

Redefined Bradfield Properties Website

Submitted by: Sherry Settles - Marketing Department

Welcome to our redefined Bradfield Properties website. We launched our updated website this morning, April 17th. Our site currently offers property searches from 3 different MLS feeds, San Antonio, Central Texas and Kerrville and soon we will be adding Highland Lakes. This means you have the ability to search over 20,000 listings in our area. Once you have located properties that you are interested in, take a moment to click on the Home Clips feature which provides a tour of the property with photos and description. Contact any of our 285 realtors to assist you with more information or to schedule an appointment for viewing the properties you are interested in.

Boerne Land a Good Investment?

Submitted by: Jack Jones, Realtor- Boerne Office

Hill Country landowners (and folks thinking about becoming landowners) will be encouraged by a recent article written by Dr. Charles Gilliland, a research economist with the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M.

In the January issue of “Tierra Grande”, Dr. Gilliland writes that land prices in Texas increased in 2006 by 18% over the previous year. That means that prices saw double-digit increases in each of the past four years.

Getting top-heavy? The article suggests otherwise. Here are some of the points Dr. Gilliland makes:

• Many people are paying cash for land, so there’s not the danger inherent in a highly leveraged market.
• Texas’ population is expected to increase by 16% in the next ten years, which means the demand for land (and prices) will increase as well.
• The population over 65 will increase, and many of those are increasingly well off and in the market for land to enjoy as a place to live and invest in.
• The Texas land market, while at record levels, is according to historical statistics not over-heated.
• Other parts of the country are seeing land prices much higher than Texas, and folks from other states are turning to Texas as a good place to invest!

Bradfield Properties’ experience in the Boerne area certainly confirms these findings. The beauty of the Texas Hill Country, the culture and quality of life here in the wide open spaces and the proximity to San Antonio combine to attract more and more people to Boerne, Texas, as the place to personally grow, raise kids and enjoy life!

Bright Lights, Big City

Submitted by: Barbara Blackburn, Realtor- Bulverde Office

Are you thinking about heading back downtown? If you are attracted to the bright lights and big city energy you are not alone. Downtown areas across the country are enjoying a revitalization and San Antonio is no exception. One of the most popular downtown addresses is right on the river walk, the La Cascada Condominium located at 230 Dwyer just a block south of the courthouse. Stroll along the riverwalk south toward the King William area for the relaxing beauty of the riverside landscaping or take a short walk north and you will find yourself at the heart of the dining, shopping and entertainment center of San Antonio. Enjoy it all from the last penthouse available at La Cascada, this southwest corner unit has a wrap around balcony with awesome sunsets and views to the south, west and east. Ride up one level to the rooftop patio and pool to gaze at the bright lights of the San Antonio skyline, beautiful both day and night.

Drive Right Out to Heaven, Texas Style

Submitted by: Rex Blackburn, Realtor - Bulverde Office

Take a 10 minute drive north out Blanco Rd to Ammann Rd, turn right and you’ll see that work is underway at the new Stonefield Subdivision. The main and only road into Stonefield is being cut this week, weather permitting of course. Soon you’ll be able to just drive right in and pick out your very own slice of heaven, if you’re one of the lucky 6, that is. That’s right, Stonefield is only offering 6 tracts, approximately 10 acres each tract. Build your home among majestic old oaks, some tracts have views, one tract has a pond and old windmill.

Technology is Changing the Face of Real Estate

Submitted by: Ruben Cortez, Realtor - Churchill Office

Almost every day there is a new and exciting method to the madness of buying or selling Real Estate. Gone are the days when the Realtor had all the information on a property and the customer was at the mercy of the Realtor and owner of the property. With the click of a mouse, the consumer can find out as much or more information as any Realtor. Consumers demand it and they have the ability to make choices as never before. Try it! www.bradfieldproperties.com! On this site you will find out information about any property in San Antonio and the surrounding area that is listed in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Once, only Realtors had access to this information, but because of Technology, almost anyone can access this system in some fashion. There are many other systems out there to help you find information, moving to another city? Try www.realtor.com. Not always as up-to-date as direct access to MLS but better than most systems. With all the Technology today, you can buy a home over the Internet without ever seeing the actual property! Crazy? Ten years ago, who would have ever thought of buying anything under the sun on E-Bay? Crazy like a fox! Next time. Some dangers of the new and improved Technology.