Hill Country Adventure

            I’ve always been fond of the Texas Hill Country for the nature is breathtaking yet familiar. Luckily, our company lists plenty of lots out in the surrounding Hill Country of San Antonio and assigned me with the fun task of going out and photographing them. This week, I visited properties out in Canyon Lake and Spring Branch area and got to bask in the trees and shrubberies among the wildlife.

As we all know, this summer we have been fortunate (and unfortunate) to have plenty of rain storms to beat the drought away. Because of this, grass fields are lusher than ever and the lakes and rivers are high, boasting plenty of summer fun for our boat loving neighbors. This is evident over in Canyon Lake. There is an abundance of wildlife, tall, mature trees and blooming wildflowers that paint the landscape in a myriad of bright colors.

After perusing the area to find hilltops to gaze out at the forested land, I was envious of the those that built their homes on these hills for they get to enjoy the most impeccable views. The sunrise and sunset out in this part of Texas alone must’ve been the motive behind their decisions to reside in the Spring Branch and Canyon Lake area.

I look forward to my next Hill Country Adventure. Make sure to find it here. 

Written By Tim Ellis, Intern with River Valley Real Estate

#TimTern

 

Repurposed Living

 On the hunt for a good deal! That's my motto and something I've gotten pretty good at. Most of my home has been furnished by thrift store finds. I'm lucky in that here in San Antonio I can always find some pretty neat things. 
But Be Careful...a cluttered home is a direct effect from hanging out at thrift stores for too long. 
Anytime I have an empty space in my home I run right over knowing I'll find some sort of treasure. This time it was a chair. I wanted a little reading nook, cozy and inexpensive. Sure enough, I found a wooden folding chair. Only 6 bucks! This is perfect because I get to make it my own.

All the materials I needed:

·       Foam paint brush

·       Old towel

·       Fine grit sandpaper

·     Dark walnut oil-based stain (Minwax from Lowes)

I've been preparing this space for a while. Adding pieces slowly, but surely. I already have a mantle I stained and want to make sure the chair is the same color.  The first thing I have to do is sand the chair a bit.  Easy peasy, not too much!
After sanding the chair I like to wipe it off completely.  The staining part is easy to. Just make sure to do this outside if possible and try not to get it on your clothes. I say this, but I always make a mess. I used a foam brush to paint the stain on the chair. I've used regular brushes and even rags but I like the sponge brush the best.  It's probably best to stain the chair in sections, however me being me I don't wait. I give the whole chair one good coat and let it sit over-night.  Letting the stain really soak in helps me decide if I need another coat or not.  Again I'm impatient, so I'm satisfied with just the one coat.

I put my new piece in the corner, toss a blanket on it and my empty space isn't so empty anymore! This little project only cost me $6 for the chair, $5 dollars for the stain and $1 for the foam brush. TWELVE DOLLARS! 


Written By: The Treasure Finder, Hannah Caterina

Fiesta Decorating

Fiesta time in San Antonio means parties, parades, food, fun and Mexican themed decorations. With my background in design I've had to find the best sources for supplies. I thought I'd share some of my favorite shopping spots for all things Fiesta!

Travis Wholesale , located near The Pearl, has paper flowers in all shapes, colors and sizes. In this picture of my foyer I've used the flowers around the base of a large red vase. I've also added white and green branches (Styrofoam secures branches) to hang Mexican ornaments.  Travis Wholesale will also have the wide net ribbon, and wreath base for your fiesta wreath , which I sprayed bright blue. Start with your focal point then layer trays with candles and flowers, something fresh like a Bromeliad from Loews and paper garlands.

Tin ornaments and Girl bought at Fiesta on Main

Candles bought at HEB

Fiesta on Main now called Alamo Fiesta, is the number one hot spot for everything Fiesta. They have Guayuberas for men, dresses, sashes for medals and everything you'll need to decorate. I buy the small sombreros, and small ornaments there as well as the paper animals, garlands and Fiesta flags.  This is their busy time of year so allow enough time for parking and shopping. Oh by the way....The BEST pinatas ever!   As mentioned earlier, I've sprayed my wooded wreath bright blue, added loops of mesh ribbon (not bows) and started hot gluing flowers, hats and ornaments until it was full. Use hot glue and lots of it! 

 
                        Other hot spots for Fiesta...

Lilys Cookies is my absolute favorite for iced cookies in the shapes of Fiesta. They are edible masterpieces. Order early!

Nativa for gorgeous Mexican dresses and accessories. Their pieces are authentic and a little more in price but absolutely worth it. Each piece has a story of origin and are unique.

Hope this help in narrowing your search for Fiesta decorations. Have fun and Happy Fiesta!

Mandy Barkley with River Valley Real Estate

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