Southtown San Antonio: A Day in the Life

Southtown San Antonio

A day in the life

With so many wonderful areas in San Antonio, it’s easy for even the most demanding of families to find a great place to live. But if someone asked me choose a spot with the hottest restaurants, culturally diverse people, interesting neighborhoods and architecture, and the most exciting nightlife, I’d have to point them in the direction of Southtown. Currently a thriving bohemian district near downtown San Antonio, Southtown consists of the King William, LaVaca, and Blue Star neighborhoods collectively. And with so much to choose from and do, here’s a few suggestions on how to spend your day…..

Forget Starbucks. Start with locally roasted coffee beans and hand crafted drinks and pastries from the likes of White Elephant Coffee Company or Halcyon. Looking for something more substantial? Take a step back in time as you enjoy the ambiance and food offered at the home of the Pioneer Flour Mill’s founding family, The Guenther House, built around 1915.

With breakfast out of the way, your most exciting task will now be to decide how to spend the rest of your day taking in the city. Southtown provides a seamless thread between its neighborhood and downtown San Antonio. A literal common ground for both locals and tourists. Enjoy works from local artists at Blue Star Arts Complex or Gallista Gallery. If walking’s not your thing, enjoy a more contemporary experience of San Antonio offered by SegCity.  Jump on a Via trolley to tour the neighborhood or try the double decker busses offered by City Site Seeing Tours for a greater understanding of downtown’s history. Rent a bike if you didn’t bring your own already and enjoy the San Antonio Mission Reach Trails also accessible in Southtown.

Sightseeing and shopping are sure to work up a sweat. Cool yourself down with an ice cold drink from various watering holes including La Tuna and The Friendly Spot. Enjoy a mid-afternoon snack from either of their restaurants or head to B&D Icehouse for some world famous Bar-B-Q. I suggest the ribs over anything else.

As the sun sets in Southtown, sophistication is on the rise. Meet friends at Bar 1919 for the best cocktails in town or try the craft beers at Blue Star Brewing Co. Work up an appetite and head over to the higher end restaurants like Hearsay, Le Frite, or Bliss (voted San Antonio’s #1 restaurant).

Visiting Southtown is great. Living there is even better. Houses start at $245,000 to 1,950,000. Condos (very popular) start at $225,000 to $563,000. Rentals start at $925 to $2,500. Care for more information? Contact us today for details including photos and alerts to new listings. Allow us to schedule you an appointment to tour them first hand.

Written by: Oscar Felan, Realtor

Upgrade your Racks! A summer craft for the Huntress or wife of a hunter.

Being the wife of an avid deer hunter, I love the horns collected and well earned through the process of the hunt. Bill, my husband can tell you where, when and how the shot was made and in all its full glory. In our home the horns carry memories, traditions and a reminder of the next hunting season.

 Decorating with the trophies isn't anything new. Many lodges, country homes and farm houses hang them proudly. However, in recent years modern homes, eclectic homes , and even up scale restaurants are using horns as decor. I've seen them gilded, with rhinestones, sprayed white, and moss covered. The problem decorating with them, is that although I personally love the covered velvet and the 80's green and red, they just don't fit our interior styles today. I have one answer to upgrading those beloved "racks" so that they have a better chance of coming out of the man cave or garage and front and center in your living areas.

First, start by removing the cap (in green) by pulling out the top and bottom nails that keep it attached and the gold metal plate. Those both pop off easily. Then sand the wood. This will help the paint adhere to the wood. 

 After wiping off the wood plaque, I paint using a Black multi surface acrylic. It does take two layers which won't take very long to dry. *Use whatever paint color and finish you think will look best. I used the black satin because my bedroom has neutral colors with blacks and grey.


While paint is drying remove the velvet from the styrofoam cover. The older racks have little staples that I saved to re-use. Then, I cut out a square piece of my new fabric. For my racks I used a basic burlap but there were many choices like grey, black and brown. I chose natural because I didn't want to match exactly. I like the contrast of black, burlap and horn color. Move around the styrofoam re-pinning and hot gluing, pulling fabric taunt as you go.  All that's left now is to re-nail the cover with the new fabric back onto the plaque. Use the same nail heads which should back into the original holes.

Here are 5 sets that hang proudly in our bedroom.  * Please note that keeping them close together and in an odd grouping keeps them a focal without being overwhelming.

The real visionary in this of course is the hunter who tirelessly surrenders to the cold conditions every year to bring me deer meat and horns. So, I'd like to thank Husband Bill!


Written By: Mandy Barkley
with River Valley Real Estate

Kick Start Your College Dream!

    5 Tips for Going Back to College

1. Meet with a career counselor to determine what type of degree can further your career goals.    

You know how the real world works. At this point you’ve probably figured out that a degree in Philosophy, while interesting, won’t further your career in supply chain management. A career counselor can help narrow the scope of options out there and may even know of a few good programs. This is where adult learners have a huge advantage over the typical college student. You already have a bit of direction.

2. Look for an accredited school and do your research.

Not everyone is going to have the flexibility to physically head to the classroom. Online learning is a great option for non-traditional students. While online learning still has a bit of stigma attached to it, well known brick and mortar schools are helping to improve the reputability of online learning. Schools such as Penn State, UMASS, Boston University, Pace University, and University of Illinois just to name a few offer online programs.

3. Scholarships aren’t just for high school seniors.

One of the hardest aspects of returning to school is figuring out how to pay for it. Some big companies offer tuition assistance or reimbursement. Check with your benefits department to see if your job offers any assistance to workers wishing to further their education. Military spouses have options available to them as well. MYCAA and the transfer of G.I. Bill Benefits are potential game changers for military spouses hoping to return to school. Go to Fastweb.com and make an account ASAP. It’s a treasure trove of scholarships for everything under the sun. You can even get reminders as deadlines approach for scholarships you’re eligible for.

4. Figure out your support system.

Not everyone is going to have the luxury of handing over their adult responsibilities to focus solely on school. It doesn’t make much sense to clear the first hurdle of getting back into school if you don’t have a plan to get through it. Use your resources. Talk to family and friends about your desire to further your education. Reach out to others who have gone back to school. Look online for forum support groups. Everyone’s situation is unique. It won’t be easy but having a plan in place offers you the best chance for success.

5. Believe you can.

Yes, the last tip is straight off of an inspirational poster but don’t let that fool you. There will be moments of self-doubt along this journey. You’ll be tired and stressed out. You’ll miss your old schedule. You’ll lose some of your support system along the way. Be selfish and do this for you. To throw another cliché at you, in the end it will be worth it. If that didn’t help here’s something else to consider. According to a study back in 2011 by Georgetown’s Center of Education and the Workforce, people on average earned 84% more over a lifetime with a Bachelor’s degree than those with a high school diploma.

Written By Erika Mellema

Office manager with River Valley Real Estate

19202 Huebner Rd. Suite 100

San Antonio, TX 78258

210-853-5327

Basics to Real Estate Investing

Basics to Real Estate Investing

 

  With interest rates being so low, putting your money to work at the bank just doesn’t provide the desired return.  The uncertainty and recent decline in the stock market makes such investments risky, and to employ a broker with quality knowledge is expensive per trade.  Real Estate is the other common alternative.

  Today, you can’t turn on the radio or television without hearing someone advertise about their program for easy real estate investment with little or no money down.  I wish it was really that simple. The plain truth is that it is not easy or simple, and if it were, those same people would not be selling their program.  They would be sitting on their private island counting their money.

But don’t let me discourage you completely because I confidently believe real estate is one of the best available investments.  Why do I believe this?  

                                     Let me give you four core reasons:

•             Real Estate is finite.  Meaning, we cannot make any more land, so the supply is limited.
•             Demand is constant.  It fluctuates for sure due to the current economic conditions, but there is always demand.
•              Values for the most part always appreciate.  Like all things, they go up and down, but historically speaking land values ultimately only go in one direction.
•              Real Estate has utility.  You can use it unlike a stock or bond.

  So what do you really need to know to be a successful investor?  First you need a plan. Second, you need capital to support you investment.  Third, you need experts, and I would recommend a seasoned Realtor, a trusted lender and a qualified contractor.

 

The Plan – Your plan has to have both an entry strategy and an exit strategy.  Most failures occur due to not following the entry strategy, and not having an exit strategy. By the way, buy low and sell high is not a plan. 

  Any investment plan revolves around the capital available to invest.  You must anticipate all costs associated with the investment.  Down payment, insurance, taxes including income taxes on profits, repairs and maintenance, association dues, city and county permits, selling and closing costs. 

  

Each investment has to have a timeline.  House flippers typically do not account for delays to their timelines, and wind up making no return or even losing the investment entirely.  Your timeline has to be practical, and it must account for unexpected delays.  If there is no margin for error, there will be no profit in the end.

An exit strategy is the way you will realize your return.  The obvious answer is to sell for a profit, but a good strategy has a contingency plan such as rental income.  So during the investment evaluation process, the investment must be able to cash flow as an income producing rental property.

This article scratches at the basics of real estate investing which is a personal passion of mine.  I have been at it for over 20 years, and I still don’t have all the answers.  I do encourage those interested to jump in, and I enjoy assisting my clients in establishing their own person investment plans.  

So, if you have been considering becoming a real estate investor, let’s schedule a meeting. I won’t tell you it is easy.  I won’t promise that you will soon be a millionaire, but I will help make sure you have made the best investment decisions based on your plan and capital, and I will be with you every step of the way.

Bill Barkley, President and Broker of  River Valley Real Estate
19202 Huebner Rd, Suite 100 San Antonio, TX 78258
210-853-5327
www.rivervalleyre.com

 

Remodeling. Being your own Contractor!

 
    Taking on a home remodeling project is not without its stresses but can offer many rewards. Whether it’s a project to make the home more your own, adding a long desired additional space, or a forced remodel due to a repair issue or fixing it up to sell...there are certain things that you'll need to consider before diving in. It is a matter of what you are wanting to accomplish in the end?

    Before starting a remodel project, you need to consider if this is something that you can do and manage on your own? Or do you need to hire a contractor to plan, purchase and coordinate to get this done?
   When doing a project on your own you need to have contacts for electricians, plumbers and people who can do the work that you are wanting.  You also need to be able to purchase the materials for these workers, such as the flooring, tile, counters, fixtures, the grout for the tile, paint, etc.   If you feel you have the contacts and know where to purchase these items then perhaps you are ready to be your own contractor!  If you feel this would be too much for you then it may be wise to interview a few contractors and hire one to help in making your vision a reality.   *For both routes, you will want to make sure you have at least 2 bids on costs to determine that you are not overpaying. 

Kitchen Before

When I found my home I knew there were things that needed to be done to make me happy and that a remodel was in my future as a home buyer. As an agent I also wanted to keep it within reason, always keeping resale values in mind.
 The kitchen is where I started, the cabinets were really old, appliances outdated and I really believed that this would have to be a total redo.   Then I stepped back and considered what I could restore myself which would save me money in the long run.  The cabinets may have been old and a little dirty but they were real wood and nothing was broken! So with a little elbow grease and $40 in paint I was able to transform the cabinets which left only the counter and appliance update cost. 

            

Kitchen After Remodel

I chose a granite counter top that pulled all my colors together really giving my kitchen a traditional and warm look. *Often granite stores will sell remnants of granite at a much cheaper price...just ask! 

 As with many in San Antonio, TX foundation issues can come up.   If you have a slab and your foundation starts to slope, the only way to fix is to specifically place jacks (lifting equipment similar to a car jack) to level the home.   Many times the foundation repair company will have to open up your floors and drill into the slab inside to properly level your home.   This may be traumatic for you as additional damage is necessary to repair the issue but I see this as a way to do another remodel to the home.   In this case, the company had to drill into the hallway ripping up the tile in the process. 

   As you can see, the foundation repair was extensive.   The entire time I told myself these holes will be covered up and soon I will be able to enjoy new floors.   For a while I wondered should I replace what was originally there or do something different.  As it is me, I went for something different and give it a more upgraded feel.   The living room was already redone with wood flooring and only the hallway and family room were left as tile, due to the cost of ripping up the tile.   So I took the opportunity to expand the hardwood to include the hallway as the tile was now ripped out.  The result came out great. 

Hallway Floors Before

*When going through an issue like this, always remember to check with your insurance company.  Most of the time they will cover the full cost or give you a cash out if wanting to make changes that are more expensive. 

As the tile was ripped out by the foundation company that cost was saved which allowed the hardwood to be put in.   

Hallway Floors After

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    Remodeling can be a major project but the reward can be even greater.   As the market goes up and availability starts to become less buyers have to think outside the box in order to find the kind of home they're looking for.   As we all know area is the biggest aspect in all buyers’ minds, but the home you are wanting may not exist or be available. Which is why to remember that if the home is the right size and in the right area then think if you did some remodeling, will this home be perfect for you.

Travis Reed, Associate Broker for River Valley Real Estate

19202 Huebner  Road, Suite 100
San Antonio, TX 78258
210-853-5327

San Antonio's East Side....Getting down and Diggy with it!

There seems to be an abundance of activity surrounding The City of San Antonio’s historic

Dignowity Hill neighborhood these days. Named after Dr. Anthony Michael Dignowity, San Antonio’s first residential suburb was established during the later part of the nineteenth century and was considered home to most of SA’s prominent merchants and business owners who constructed large estates. By the year 1914, Dignowity Hill had the railroad, an iron works factory, a streetcar trolly line, and an extended water and sewer system. By the 1930s, the neighborhood eventually grew to include small Folk Victorian style houses and Craftsman Bungalows. Most home builders will agree that these early homes were built of the highest quality, skill, and pride at the time. It’s no wonder most are still around today.

After years of neglect, many investors eventually saw the potential of these homes, the neighborhood, and the desire of city residents to return to the core of San Antonio.  With urban renewal becoming a priority, the neighborhood currently finds itself in flux with 20 new homes being built and remodeled at the moment.  Ready to become the next new resident of such an amazing neighborhood?  If so, you’ll find (in various states of restoration) house prices in Dignowity Hill that range between $65,000 and $275,000. 

It is safe to say that living downtown allows for one to partake in the best of San Antonio. With downtown revitalization came new restaurants, shops and cultural activities. The heart of the city is literally within walking distance from this neighborhood.  On any given day you’ll see residents of Dignowity Hill strolling down to breakfast at Pancho and Gringo’s or lunch at DignowityMeats.  Others might be found shopping at Good Goods (home décor) store, owned by local designer D’Ette Cole.  For those who walk or cycle across the Hays Street Bridge there is the Luxury, Augie’s Alamo City BBQ & Steakhouse or you can check out the up and coming chefs selling their wares out of the coolest food trucks you’ve ever seen at Pink’s Food Park and Bar.  The SanAntonio Museum of Art always makes for a great afternoon.  Or a walk with your pup, in a very dog-friendly neighborhood, around Dignowity or Lockwood Park.  Some might wrap up the day with friends and a taste of San Antonio’s best craft beers or one of the finest cocktails in town.  The nearby options are vast and abundant….Big Hops; Alamo Beer Hall; VFW Post 76; the Brooklynite or Paramour are only a few of the establishments nearby.  Some of us simply visit with neighbors as we sit on our Porch and enjoy the beautiful sunset and downtown skyline….which is the reason I moved into this neighborhood.

 Care to learn more about San Antonio’s East side and Dignowity Hill? Contact me today! Oscar Felan with River Valley Real Estate, 210-853-5327

Dreaming of a Mystic Life?

Mystic Shores @ Canyon Lake

Featured by River Valley Real Estate

Mystic Shores is rich not only in its fertile river valley land, but with its heritage and ties to Texas history.  Remnants of earlier settlers can still be found today, from the old German school house, rock formations and Lipan Indian arrowheads discovered throughout Mystic Shores.  Anita Lindsey, daughter of the “711 Ranch” owners, the original name of Mystic Shores said, “that the land was meant to be lived on and loved”, and the current property owners and association are doing just that, making a place to fall in love with!

Historical information about Mystic Shores was found @ www.mysticshorespoa.com. Rieker, Paula (History of Mystic Shores at Canyon Lake) October 2015.

Just a quick drive up 281 North to Highway 306 you’ll find Mystic Shores in Spring Branch, TX. Charming towns like Gruene, Fredericksburg, Boerne and Luckenbach are all within a 45 minute proximity.

River Valley has eight gorgeous lots offering a variety to its buyers. Some have views of Canyon Lake and the 140 acre nature preserve, while others are interior lots closer to the exclusive and incredible amenities.  The larger lots are livestock approved adhering to what Mystic Shores was originally, a cattle ranch.

Living in Mystic Shores is hill country living at its best. The active community has exercise groups, gaming nights, community barbecues and much more. They can do these because of the countless amenities available to the owners:

Open air pavilion

2 swimming pool areas

140 acre nature preserve

Concrete walking paths

2 volleyball courts

Playground

2 tennis courts

RV and boat storage

As San Antonio continues to grow, more families will look for such communities like Mystic Shores. If you’re one of those in search of your piece of Texas history call us at River Valley Real Estate, 210-853-5327. Or visit our website @ www.rivervalleyre.com