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About the San Antonio area
I work for you mainly in the areas of San Antonio and Bexar, Guadalupe, and Comal Counties. I can help you buy or sell property throughout the state of Texas, but the San Antonio metropolitan area is my main market, so if you are interested in real estate outside of this area, please let me know. I will be happy to refer you to another Realtor in my network, who will give you excellent service. Plus, I will remain available for consultation throughout the transaction.
I also refer business to real estate professionals in other states and even in other countries. I am a member of the Transnational Referral Network and the International Consortium of Real Estate Associations. If you are looking for a second home or are transferring with a job or the military, I can smooth your way by referring you to a Realtor or estate agent who can help you. Just click here to contact me.
Alamo City
San Antonio is a city full of culture and beauty, rooted in Texas history and traditions. You can enjoy the scenic landscape of northwest San Antonio, bordering on the Hill Country; the world-class golf courses of north-central San Antonio; the missions to the south; or the shopping and entertainment of downtown. The city shows the influence of Native Americans, Spaniards, Germans, Old Mexico, the Wild West, and the Deep South in its art and architecture.
And hey, we're bigger'n Dallas! The Alamo City is the eighth largest city in the United States, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. San Antonio had an estimated 1,214,725 residents as of July 1, 2003, and Dallas had 1,208,308. In addition, San Antonio ranks third in relocations nationwide for cities of 300,000 or more. Construction activity has increased by 63% in the last 10 years, although unemployment has stayed low.
Fiesta, held in the second half of April, celebrates Gen. Santa Anna's defeat at the hands of Sam Houston in the Battle of San Jacinto for Texan independence. Fiesta is like a huge block party, featuring a week of parades, food, drink, and music. The climax is Night in Old San Antonio, held in downtown's La Villita area. Other big parties include Margarita Pour-Off, Taste of San Antonio, Cinco de Mayo, the Stock Show and Rodeo, the Starving Artists show on the Riverwalk, and the Texas Folk Life Festival.
Coupled with its bright future and rich history—remember the Alamo?—San Antonio boasts upscale shopping, sophisticated dining, and an active nightlife. Sea World, Six Flags Fiesta adventure park, the San Antonio Zoo, botanical gardens, nature preserves, several city parks, the Alamodome (home of the Spurs), the historic missions, and the world-famous Riverwalk provide residents with plenty of activities.
If you'd like more information on San Antonio's neighborhoods, history, and economy, click here to request it by mail or e-mail (PDF file). Whichever you prefer, just fill in your address and I'll send it to you right away.
| Area communitiesFollowing are links to websites of some of the communities in and around San Antonio:
For more information on cities in Texas, visit Texas Online or contact me to request a free relocation guide to San Antonio.
| Rivers and lakes
San Antonio's nearby rivers and lakes are one of its biggest charms. Towns like New Braunfels, Boerne, and Seguin are close to the big city, but offer a small-town lifestyle and access to one of the most beautiful rivers in the state, the Guadalupe. Canoeing, rafting, or tubing on the Guadalupe can be either a hair-raising adventure or a relaxing event. In addition, New Braunfels is situated on the shortest river in the state, the Comal. To the west of San Antonio are Medina Lake and the beautiful Medina River.
The big sister of the Guadalupe River is Canyon Lake, which offers everything from swimming to water-skiing to sailboating to bass fishing year-round. Numerous bed-and-breakfasts and RV parks are available if you want to grill your catch and watch the sunset before bedding down.
| Hill Country
Texas Hill Country towns are a tapestry of cultures and traditions. Fredericksburg is said to be one of the most visited towns in the United States with its rich German heritage, as are Comfort and Boerne, just northwest of San Antonio and on the Guadalupe River.
Bandera, known as the Cowboy Capital of the World, is famous for its dude ranches and rodeo legends. Progressive Kerrville has maintained a unique balance with the new and its western roots.
The area offers plenty of recreational activities, including golf, swimming, horseback riding, hiking, water-skiing, and boating. In fact, there are 21 state parks and 6 lakes in its approximately 36,000 square miles of area. It is also the second-largest vinicultural region in the United States.
The region is also a popular shopping destination. Numerous antique shops and specialty boutiques offers shoppers a unique shopping experience. Small-town restaurants, cafes, and barbecue joints provide a welcome place spot for tired shoppers to relax and enjoy the country atmosphere!
| Texas Trivia
With thanks to www.50states.com
The Alamo is the state's most popular historic site.
Texas is the only state to have the flags of six different nations fly over it. They are: Spain, France, Mexico, Republic of Texas, Confederate States, and the United States.
Although six flags have flown over Texas, there have been eight changes of government: Spanish 1519-1685, French 1685-1690, Spanish 1690-1821, Mexican 1821-1836, Republic of Texas 1836-1845, United States 1845-1861, Confederate States 1861-1865, United States 1865-present
The King Ranch in Texas is bigger than the state of Rhode Island.
During the period of July 24-26, 1979, Tropical Storm Claudette brought 45 inches of rain to an area near Alvin, Texas, contributing to more than $600 million in damages. Claudette produced the United States 24 hour rainfall record of 43 inches.
More wool comes from Texas than any other state.
Edwards Plateau in west central Texas is the top sheep-growing area in the country.
Texas is the only state to enter the United States by treaty instead of territorial annexation, allowing its flag to be flown at the same level as the Stars and Stripes.
The state was an independent nation from 1836 to 1845.
Texas boasts the nation's largest herd of whitetail deer.
A coastal live oak located near Fulton is the oldest tree in the state. The tree has an estimated age of more than 1,500 years.
Sam Houston, arguably the most famous Texan, was actually born in Virginia. Houston served as governor of Tennessee before coming to Texas.
Caddo Lake is the only natural lake in the state.
The Hertzberg Circus Museum in San Antonio contains one of the largest collections of circusana in the world.
Austin is considered the live music capital of the world.
Dr Pepper was invented in Waco in 1885. The Dublin Dr Pepper, 85 miles west of Waco, still uses pure cane sugar in its product. There is no period after the Dr in Dr Pepper.
The first suspension bridge in the United States was the Waco Bridge. It was built in 1870 and is still in use as a pedestrian crossing of the Brazos River.
Five sites served as temporary capitals of Texas: Washington-on-the-Brazos, Harrisburg, Galveston, Velasco, and Columbia. Sam Houston moved the capital to Houston in 1837. In 1839 the capital was moved to the new town of Austin.
The dome of the capitol building stands seven feet higher than that of the nation's capitol in Washington, D.C.
Texas comes from the Hasinai Indian word tejas, meaning friends or allies.
The armadillo is the official state mammal.
Texas has the first domed stadium in the country. The structure was built in Houston and opened in April 1965.
The worst natural disaster in United States history was caused by a hurricane that hit Galveston in 1900. Over 8,000 deaths were recorded.
The first word spoken from the moon on July 20, 1969 was "Houston."
Texas's largest county is Brewster with 6,208 square miles.
Texas possesses three of the top-ten most populous cities in the United States: Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio.
El Paso is closer to Needles, California, than it is to Dallas.
Texas includes 267,339 square miles, or 7.4% of the nation's total area.
The state's cattle population is estimated to be near 16 million.
More land is farmed in Texas than in any other state.
More species of bats live in Texas than in any other part of the United States.
Laredo is the world's largest inland port.
Port Lavaca has the world's longest fishing pier. Originally it was part of the causeway connecting the two sides of Lavaca Bay; the center span was destroyed by Hurricane Carla in 1961.
The Tyler Municipal Rose Garden is the world's largest rose garden. It contains 38,000 rose bushes representing 500 varieties of roses set in a 22-acre garden.
Amarillo has the world's largest helium well.
The world's first rodeo was held in Pecos on July 4, 1883.
The Flagship Hotel on Seawall Boulevard in Galveston is the only hotel in North America built entirely over the water.
The Heisman trophy is named for John William Heisman, the first full-time coach and athletic director at Rice University in Houston.
Brazoria County has more species of birds than any other comparable area in North America.
The Aransas Wildlife Refuge is the winter home of North America's only remaining flock of whooping cranes.
Jalapeno pepper jelly originated in Lake Jackson and was first marketed in 1978.
Where can you go from San Antonio? Texas is a big place and has a little bit (or a lot, actually) of everything. Check out these driving tours!
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San Antonio area map
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Equal Housing Opportunity. This material is based on information which we consider reliable, but because it has been supplied by third parties, we cannot represent that it is accurate or complete and should not be relied on as such. This offering is subject to errors, omissions, change of price or withdrawal without notice.