Last Updated on December 15, 2023 by Jason Nguyen
San Antonio is one of the most popular cities in Texas and an overall great city to live in. Hence, many people aspire to buy a house here. Data from Infogram show that house sales in San Antonio are expected to grow by 2.5% in 2023.
If you’re thinking about buying a house here, it’s essential to know how much homes cost and what kinds of neighborhoods they’re located in. This article has compiled data on all this information so you can make an informed decision when deciding where to buy a home.
San Antonio Housing Market Overview
With a population of over 1.5 million, San Antonio is the 7th largest city in the United States. The population has increased significantly since 2010 and is expected to continue growing through 2025.
The diverse economy supports many industries, including defense, energy, healthcare, and tourism. The healthcare and bioscience sector generated $44.1 billion in 2021 and has been a top employer. However, it’s important to note that these industries are not recession-proof.
If you’re interested in buying a home during an economic downturn or recession, consider buying something more affordable, like an apartment instead of a house.
San Antonio’s housing market has been stable for years, so homeowners aren’t likely going anywhere anytime soon unless they want something better elsewhere, like maybe another city closer to family members. Or perhaps even somewhere warmer during the winter months?
Overall, San Antonio is an excellent place compared to other cities across America because the cost of living here tends to be lower. Additionally, it is a metropolitan area offering everything necessary at close distances.
Pros of Buying a House in San Antonio
Buying a house in San Antonio is a great idea. The city offers an affordable cost of living, a strong economy, and a diverse community. It also has a stable real estate market that will help you easily find the right home for your family.
Houses in San Antonio Are Affordable
San Antonio is a great place to buy a house. The city’s economy is booming, with new jobs being created daily and the unemployment rate remaining at 3.9% in January 2023. San Antonio also has a lower cost of living compared to other major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Miami.
According to Realtor home listing prices, the average price for homes in San Antonio is $299,000. That’s less than half of what it would cost in places like New York ($725,000), San Francisco ($1.3 million), or Washington, DC ($630,000).
Hence, you can look for new homes in San Antonio. To find the right property for your requirements, it is best to do research before starting your job hunt. You can quickly go through builders’ websites to learn about their new projects. It is also wise to refer to only the websites and listings showing complete property details, including area, price range, location, and images.
Century Communities list multiple homes for sale in San Antonio. The company has decades of experience in building and selling properties. It has many community projects going on in San Antonio. All the listings on their website have extensive details to help you compare properties. This includes price range, area, available house plans, amenities, nearby places, etc.
Strong Job Market and Economy
The San Antonio economy is strong and growing. This means that there are a lot of jobs available in the area. In addition, San Antonio has a diversified economy and many industries that provide employment opportunities for residents.
For example, you’ll find healthcare professionals working at hospitals throughout the city or tech companies like Rackspace that specialize in hosting servers for businesses worldwide. While all industries are performing well, the auto repair and personal care services sector led to growth in the economy. Recent data shows that these two sectors contributed 15.5 percent to job generation.
The number of jobs available in San Antonio has continued to increase steadily. This means that even though your salary may not go up much each year, there will still be plenty of opportunities for finding work if something changes at your current job.
Good Quality of Life
San Antonio has a lot to offer. The city has several major universities and institutions, including the University of Texas at San Antonio and St. Mary’s.
San Antonio also boasts one of the lowest crime rates in Texas. In fact, it’s been ranked as one of America’s safest cities by Forbes magazine for four years running now. You’ll have peace of mind knowing that your family will be safe here while they attend school or work on their degrees.
Real Estate Market Stability
San Antonio’s real estate market is stable. It’s not volatile, cyclical, or in a bubble. In fact, it’s rarely even recessed and never for very long.
That doesn’t mean the local housing market has no ups and downs. But those ups and downs are generally mild compared with other parts of the country where real estate markets have seen dramatic swings over shorter periods.
Diverse and Welcoming Community
The city of San Antonio is one of the best places to live in America. With a diverse and welcoming community, it’s easy to see why people flock here from all over.
San Antonio’s culture is one of the best in the country, with plenty of festivals and events each year and a fantastic food scene named “America’s Top Food City” by USA Today three times since 2012. You’ll also find plenty of things to do outside your home. There are over 250 parks within city limits alone.
Cons of Buying a House in San Antonio
While San Antonio is a great place to buy a house, it has drawbacks. Knowing the cons and pros will help you make the right choice.
High Property Tax Rates
Property taxes are a con of buying a house in San Antonio. The city has some of the highest property tax rates in Texas and the United States due to its large amount of land. According to San Antonio Report, property tax revenue will grow by 13.8% in 2023. This is due to high property tax rates.
The high property tax rate is problematic in San Antonio and almost all Texas cities. Data from The Motley Fool shows that Texas ranks 5th in the list of states with the highest property tax rates. The property tax rate in Texas is 1.90%, the highest being 2.46% in New Jersey.
Traffic Congestion
Traffic congestion is one of the most significant problems in San Antonio. In fact, it’s one of the worst cities for traffic congestion in Texas.
The reason for this? The city’s growing population and limited roads result from years of underinvestment in public transportation infrastructure. This leads people to drive more often because they don’t want to be late or miss out on an opportunity, and since there aren’t many alternatives available right now, most people will continue doing so until something changes.
Conclusion
Overall, San Antonio is an excellent place to buy a house. The city has strong job growth, an affordable real estate market, and a diverse community welcoming newcomers. However, if you’re looking for affordable housing options outside of downtown or Southside neighborhoods, expect to pay more than average due to high property tax rates.
