Wilshire Park

Wilshire Park homes were built in the 1950's to 1970's, have 3 to 4 bedrooms and many only have 1 bathroom perhaps with a half bath as well; square footage varies from less than 1,000 sqft to over 2,000 sqft. The neighborhood is located right outside Fort Sam, on the northeast side and right off I-35.

Here's the sales price trend:


Zip code 78218. You can find more info on that zip code here but please understand that the information is for the entire zipcode and not just Wilshire Park.

Mahncke Park

Named after City Park Commissioner Ludwig Mahncke, the neighborhood offers homes that were built in the 1910's to 1940's with a few earlier and a few later. It is surrounded by Fort Sam Houston, the San Antonio Botanical Gardens, San Antonio Country Club, and the prestigious community of Alamo Heights.

Mahncke Park has a great deal of variety with square footage varying from less than 1,000 to over 3,000 square feet and the number of bedrooms/bathrooms from 1/1 to 5/3.

Residents love the proximity to downtown and the fact that they have a "walkable" neighborhood. Note that craftsman's bungalows similar to those of Mahncke Park can run about $200,000 cheaper in nearby areas.

For more information check out the Neighborhood Association website; use the following link for a little history.

As of November 22nd this year, 22 homes were sold in this neighborhood with a median selling price of $185,250. Price remained quite stable through the recent housing crisis.

Zip code 78209. You can find more info on that zip code here but please understand that the information is for the entire zipcode and not just Mahncke Park.

Buying property in Texas? Who's on the team?

The listing agent is a licensed real estate professional who lists and markets the property for sale, after conducting market research in order to set the appropriate asking price. This agent works strictly for the seller and can show the property to prospective buyers but will not represent the buyer in the transaction.

Nowadays, buyers often choose to work with a buyer agent who will represent them (and not the seller) throughout the transaction. The buyer agent locates suitable properties based on the buyer’s criteria, shows them, prepares a contract to make an offer, and works with the listing agent to coordinate inspections and the closing. The buyer agent also often works with the mortgage loan officer (the person who puts your loan together) to make sure all the required documents are provided in a timely manner in order to close on schedule. The buyer does not usually pay the buyer agent commission.

The inspector works for and is paid by the buyer. After a thorough inspection he prepares a detailed report of his findings and discusses them with buyers.

The escrow officer works for a title company and is essential in keeping the transaction moving along smoothly by working with both real estate agents involved, the mortgage loan officer, and real estate attorneys. The escrow officer and title company are the keepers of all the paperwork and money transfers. Any earnest money provided at the time of contract should be deposited with the title company, where the escrow officer will prorate taxes and calculate how the money is to be distributed to pay off outstanding loans, commissions and other fees, and of course write a check to the seller. A disorganized escrow officer can easily cause the transaction to fall apart.

Buying a home in Texas

If you live in a state that doesn't have Buyer Representation or if you haven't purchased real estate in recent years, you may not know about buyer representation. In the past, a listing agent represented only the seller, and the buyer had no representation. Nowadays, buyers can have their own real estate consultant to protect their interests in the purchase of real property. The advantage is that the buyer has by his side a knowledgeable professional, who understands the business, to search for properties that have all the desired characteristics, verify claims, take care of paperwork, inspections, final walk-through, etc., and to keep the lender and title company on schedule (some tend to procrastinate). The buyer agent, unlike the listing agent, tries to create the best possible situation for the buyer. How much does the buyer have to pay for this service? Usually nothing. Sellers normally pay the commissions, unless other arrangements have beennmade. So if you’re going to buy a home in Texas or perhaps some land, find your very own REALTOR® who will have your best interest at heart and work for YOU.

Lavaca

Lavaca, a neighborhood of homes built between the 1870's to the 1940's, with the many built in the 1910's and 1920's, neighbors the famous King William Historic District. The great variation in home sizes, with some around 600 sqft and some over 4,000 sqft, means that there's something for everyone. Smaller homes may only have one or two bedrooms and one bathroom, whereas the larger homes will typically have four bedrooms and two bathrooms or more.

Thirteen homes sold so far this year in Lavaca with prices ranging from $59,000 to $580,000. Square footage ranged from 714 to 3,044.

The graph below shows the median sales prices for homes (single residential) from January 2004 to November 18, 2009.

Zip code 78210 (mostly). You can find more info on that zip code here but please understand that the information is for the entire zipcode and not just Lavaca.

Homes sold in Dignowity

Here are a couple of examples of what you can buy in the Dignowity Hill Historical District...without breaking the bank. I was the buyer's agent in both of these transactions.

The first home is over 3,000 sqft, built in the early 1900's. It sold for $140,000 in April 2009.

Now you might expect the house to have been the kind no human could possibly move into. But here are a few pictures of the inside. (The seller wasn't very tidy, so I'm not posting all the pictures I took.)

The kitchen

The dining area, coming out of the kitchen.

From the dining area (which opens into another sitting area) to this living-room which extends to a small office.

Upstairs, the house has 5 bedrooms (2 used for storage) and more living space to match the downstairs. There's a total of 3.5 bathrooms and plenty of porch space. There's also a secret room the buyer discovered during inspection; imagine the excitement. And one more thing - in 2004, the house belonged to actor Peter Gonzales Falcon, who played Frederico Fellini in Fellini's 1972 movie, Roma.

The second home featured in this post is within walking distance from the first. Built in 1921, the craftsman's bungalow has been completely renovated - plumbing, electricity, walls, you name it. With over 2,300 sqft, there's space for 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. The master suite extends into a small 'reading room" and a large walk-in closet. With solid wood floors throughout, a big backyard, three living areas, it's easy to impress and entertain. The sales price: $130,000 in September 2009. OK, enough waiting...here's a taste with the pictures:

Wilshire Terrace

This neighborhood is located just north of Fort Sam Houston, near the prestigious communities of Alamo Heights and Terrell Hills.

Homes in Wilshire Terrace were built in the 50's mostly. They are smaller homes, many under 1,500 sqft with 2 or 3 bedrooms and typically only one bathroom. On the higher end of the price spectrum, square footage approaches 2,000 and the number of bathroom jumps up to 2. A few homes have 4 bedrooms.

Nineteen homes sold so far this year with prices ranging from $50,100 to $112,650. Square footage ranged from 858 to 2,000.

The graph below shows the median sales prices for homes (single residential) from January 2005 to November 14, 2009.

Zip code 78218 (mostly) and 78209. You can find more info on 78218 here and 78209 here but please understand that the information is for the entire zipcode and not just Wilshire Terrace.