Realtors are excited about reports of new jobs coming to the city of San Antonio, Texas, which is making real estate hotter than a jalapeño pepper.

"The charm and traditional appeal will make you fall in love with San Antonio," says Realtor Rebecca Hobbs. "The city has retained it's rich history while carefully blending in its cosmopolitan progress."

Hobbs reports, "In 2005, San Antonio is expected to add 18,500 new jobs, for 2.5 percent job growth," said Keith R. Phillips, senior economist with the San Antonio branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. "In 2004, the city added 12,000 new jobs," he said. "San Antonio saw dramatic growth in 2004, with $2.2 billion worth of construction permits issued," said Mario Hernandez, president of the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation. "The city usually is in the $1.4 billion to $1.6 billion range. The construction momentum will continue in 2005 with the building of a new Texas A&M campus on the city's south side, a new convention center hotel, the Toyota plant, and several retail projects underway."

"According to the local newspaper, a 9.1 percent jump in listings in 2004, year-to-date 2004 figures compared to 2003 year-to-date reflects continued confidence in the San Antonio housing market," she says. "This month the average price of new "spec" homes is $255,199 up $15,275 from last month. The average overall price of inventory for new homes is $295,964, up $15,803 from last March." [SA Research Corp]

"The Alamo City version of the interactive hunting and fishing retail center will be developed across from Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Bass Pro Shops will anchor a new 700-acre retail, and family entertainment center called The Rim that will employ 3,140 full- and part-time workers when it is completed. The acreage runs from the intersection of I-10 and Loop 1604's northwest corner to Old Camp Bullis Road," she continues.

"A master-planned community that will include 5,000 residences is coming to far West Bexar County," notes Hobbs. "Stevens Ranch, a community of single-family houses on 1,349 acres, will stretch from the Texas Research Park north, along proposed Texas 211 to Medio Creek in Medina County. A project of Thompson Realty Development Corp., it recently bought the land for $10.65 million. The tract is the largest of three sections of land related to a development comprising almost 2,400 acres. As part of the deal, McCombs Legacy held in reserve 710 acres for commercial development. The commercial tract has frontage on both sides of the proposed road just north of Potranco Road and stretches three miles into Medina County. In early summer, SR Holdings acquired 324 acres adjacent to the southeast boundary of the property it acquired from McCombs Legacy. SR Holdings' plans to develop the 324-acre tract are under way. In June, it obtained a $7 million loan to develop 881 single-family lots." [San Antonio Express-News]

Suggest Realtors David and Mary Bowman, "Few places in the San Antonio Metro offer the unique family lifestyle of Alamo Heights. The location alone sets it apart from it's neighboring communities, nestled near Hwy. 281, just minutes from downtown and the airport. Upscale services at The Quarry cater to your every whim. In Alamo Heights, schools are serious business as evidenced by achievement records. All of this accounts for decades of Alamo Heights' stellar history of rising property values."

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Published: March 14, 2005

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