San Antonio's Rockstar Turned Realtor®: December 2008

photo courtesy of infandum

There is that magic hour on Christmas morning, when the world goes silent.

Ever since I was a kid I noticed it.  Even when I was up before my parents, itching to tear in to that large box under the tree that I had no clue as to what it was.  There was always a moment or two...sometimes minutes, sometimes hours...where all was quiet.  I always respected that silence and even though I often broke down quickly and ran into my parents bedroom to force them out of bed so that I could play with my new toys, I always took a minute or two to enjoy the quiet and stare at the tree.  As an adult, I have become even more aware of it.  Right now, my wife is asleep and I just came inside from sitting in the crisp morning air with a cup of coffee.  My neighborhood is quiet.  Sure, there was the occasional dog bark, bird tweet, or squirrel jumping from tree to tree, but I didn't hear a human sound.  I didn't hear cars, TVs, radios, or even voices.  All is quiet.  Kids all over San Antonio are sitting by the tree and unwrapping their gifts, some are still asleep.  No matter what they're doing, they're not outside...yet.  Soon (by my estimates it usually starts around 10AM) a kid will ride down the street on his new bike.  A group of kids will gather to see someone play with their new remote controlled car in the driveway.  Whatever it is, they will begin to congregate in small groups outside their homes and play with the new toys.  Some will sit inside with their new video games, but they will holler with delight when they play with it.  Families will feel the effects of the morning coffee and start making preparations for their meal.  Pots will clang and showers will run.  Cars will start to head to the local convenience store to get the items that they forgot in the mad dash through the HEB last night (I was there twice).  Things will begin to happen.  But for now, its quiet.  After I hit send, I will refill my coffee and rejoin the silence on my deck out back.  I will soak it all in, itching to go wake my wife up to see what's in that box.  I will resist and enjoy the quiet.

photo courtesy of Invisible Hour

As if flying wasn't traumatizing enough.

I've flown a lot in my 36 years.  By my last count, I have logged over 300,000 miles.  I forgot how many miles I've spent over the years on trips, so the estimate may even be a bit low - 300,000 are the miles I know I've flown.  Over all those flights, everything from puddle jumpers, to long haul commercial flights, even to a few private jets; I've come to realize something.  Flying is not fun.  When I was a kid, I loved the idea of getting on an airplane and going somewhere new.  Over the years though, I've changed that thought to nothing but bad.  I hate flying.  I'm grumpy, miserable, and in no mood just at the thought of having to go to the airport.  Being a seasoned traveler, I know all the routines - I can zip through security in no time at all, know where to locate the best coffee spots in just about any airport, and have been through the custom's search more times than I can count.  I know how to deal with airports.  I consider myself an expert on the subject.  Whether its LAX or London Heathrow, Moscow's Domodedovo or Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport; I've rushed through them all.

Recently, I've seen more and more news reports on an alarming idea.  Karaoke.  In the airport.  Not just in a bar in the airport.  That I can avoid.  Nope, karaoke in the middle of the airport for all to see.  I like to think that those people singing are having a good time, but the fact is when I'm in an airport, I want to hear one thing and one thing only..."Flight 232 now boarding at Gate 62."  Sure maybe a little soft music in the bars and restaurants or perhaps some Christmas songs around the holidays over the main terminals speakers, but some happy person singing karaoke when I'm in a miserable state because the airline just told me that my bag isn't on my connecting flight but instead on its way to Reykjavík, Iceland instead or that they've oversold my flight and the next flight isn't until tomorrow, but they might be able to put me up in a hotel?  Not a good solution.  Not at all.

So George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, I say to you, "Please, cut out that racket."  I'm begging.  We're practically neighbors, please stop it before it spreads to our little safe haven of flying.  Perhaps you could instead concentrate your efforts elsewhere (running on time, not losing my bags, not canceling my flight - all things which you have personally done to me).  Please.

photo courtesy of Paul L McCord Jr

Rivercenter Mall in downtown San Antonio getting a new look.

Construction is underway for the new look for the Rivercenter Mall in downtown San Antonio.  In what is supposed to take up to five years, the Rivercenter Mall (or "Rivercenter" as its called locally), will undergo some updating, restyling, additions, and historical remodeling.  The first segment of the process will begin at the "lagoon" of the Rivercenter (Commerce Street) and is expected to take about 14 months to complete.  It is expected to house several upscale restaurants and the first tenant is Fogo de Chao (a Brazilian steakhouse - which I recommend highly if you've never been to one) expected to take residence in Fall of 2009.  The new renovations are meant to shift the focus of the mall to entertainment, although all the plans have not been revealed yet.  The old Joske's building (last housing department store, Dillard's) will also be refurbished for new occupancy and expansion.  This part of the project is still awhile away though, projected to at least 18 months away.  I look forward to the new expansion and refurbishing...the Riverwalk area is one of the best features of San Antonio's tourism market and this expansion will give more people a reason to come and experience our beautiful city.

photo courtesy of Mr. J Doe

A tweet by someone I follow showed me something I hadn't seen yet.

I follow a local here in San Antonio named @gharman who is a writer and journalist (who has his own blog, "harman on earth") and he's always full of interesting environmental tidbits and facts.  His own website sums it up best; "Dedicated to surviving the next hundred years in South Texas, with an eye to border & environmental justice."  I always enjoy his tweets although I haven't done much interaction with him, but today he sent out a tweet that caught my eye.

San Antonio's very own "cutting edge."

It seems the San Antonio Water System (SAWS as we call it down here) has recently approved a contract which will allow the water company to capture and sell upwards of 900,000 cubic feet of methane gas to Ameresco Inc. (based in Framingham, MA).  Now while the idea of collecting our own waste produced gases and recycling them might seem a little gross to some, I'm excited about the prospect.  According to Steve Clouse, SAWS chief operating office, our city generates enough gas to fill 1,250 tanker trucks a day.  That's a lot if you think about it.  In return SAWS expects to receive about $250,000 a year for the rights to the methane.  Making money, helping to improve air quality in San Antonio, and providing an alternative source of fuel...it just makes sense.  It seems like we may be the first city to do so and we're already selling treated waste water and fertilizer converted from some of the waste.  I have always thought that water was important in San Antonio, but it looks like clean and dirty water is becoming important to us!  Kudos for San Antonio and SAWS for making this happen.  I am proud to live in a city that sees the future  of renewable energy and is working towards making it a reality.

Special thanks to @gharman for the tweet that inspired this.

Please read the original article he posted about on Twitter and the CNN article it was based off of.

photo courtesy of ittybittiesforyou

Animal Defense League of San Antonio, Texas.

In light of my recent posting about the stray cat living under my deck and the response to it, I thought I'd write a little about my favorite place in San Antonio for pets and the care for the animals that get left behind.  I'm speaking of the Animal Defense League.  I had never heard of the ADL when I moved to San Antonio, but thanks to Mike Osterhage and KSAT12 News, I quickly became familiar with them.  Every Thursday morning on "Good Morning San Antonio" at around 6:15AM, Mike sits down with Ian and his furry friends from the Animal Defense League and pulls at my heart strings with the various animals looking for a loving home.  Its really hard to get dressed for work when you're dreaming of home much fun you could have with the collections of dogs and cats paraded on your television screen at that hour.

A bit of history.

The Animal Defense League came to be when a group of individuals decided in 1934 to open a place "for the prevention of cruelty to animals; to promote kind and humane treatment of animals; and to aid and assist the enforcement of laws enacted for the prevention of animal cruelty."  From humble beginnings and a few chicken-wire cages, the ADL has become a big name in San Antonio's pet adoption, protection, and care.  They currently are located on twelve acres on Nacogdoches Road just north of Wurzbach Parkway.  The complex includes a two acre pet park, a clinic, and an adoption center.  They've been running a "no-kill" shelter since their inception and I applaud them for their efforts in pushing all of San Antonio to become "no-kill" as well.

My personal experience with them.

After my last cat, The Molly, passed away, my wife and I decided to drop off her unused food, toys, bedding, litter, and medicine at the Animal Defense League.  We thought it might help another stray out in their quest to find a loving home (she was a stray as well).  When we stopped in the ADL after work one night, the staff were very helpful and even helped us carry some things from the car.  They were so thankful and appreciative of the donation and stopped to chat with us for a moment about our cat and why we had come.  We even met Ian, who is the public face of the ADL on KSAT12 News' adoption segment.  He's English (I seem to remember he's from Wolverhampton) and my wife an him chatted for a few moments (she's English as well) about life in the States.  Everyone was friendly and seemed to really love what they do, which is important when dealing with so many animals who need loving homes - I remember being in a shelter once where everyone seemed miserable and the pets seemed depressed and miserable too.  I left there feeling great that not only had I done something good, but that the people there were doing great things and loving what they did.

Thinking of how you can help?

There are many ways you can help the Animal Defense League in their mission to continue to provide quality care, love, and homes to the animals of San Antonio.  They are always appreciate of gifts and donations, whether monetary or material items.  You can check this page on their site to see what they need and are always looking for.  The ADL also relies heavily on volunteer time to take care of the animals and perform the office duties.  I'm actually considering some volunteer work there in 2009, as I really want to get more involved in the community and give back where I can.  If you're interested in volunteer opportunities check this page for a list of some of the things they need help with and then contact Laura Richter, Volunteer Coordinator at (210) 655-1481, ext 110, or email her at lrichter@adltexas.org.

Contact information for The Animal Defense League:

11300 NACOGDOCHES ROAD - SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78217-2318
Information: (210)655-1481 - Fax: (210)655-4498
Winter Hours: MON - FRI, 11:00AM to 6:00PM . SAT - SUN, 10:00AM to 5:30PM

2903 Zurich has just become available at Woods Of Alon.

"The Overland" floor plan from the Trails Collection of KB Home, this house has the optional fourth bedroom upstairs. A total of four bedrooms and three baths, an open floor plan connecting the kitchen, dining room, and living room in one giant living area, and spectacular views make this an amazing "move-in" ready home in the Woods Of Alon community. Check out the views of the lake available from almost all the downstairs bedrooms (including the master) and relax on the covered patio out back. While sitting out side, enjoy the scenic views of the native trees that KB left behind while building the community (instead of the usual clear cutting of the land before construction). Easy access from this home to the walking trails through the greenbelt that will eventually connect to the Alon Towne Center (HEB, Barnes and Noble and more) with gated access so residents can still enjoy the privacy of a gated community. This gorgeous corner lot backs to the greenbelt in the back of the home and more greenbelt and the lake to the left. If you're looking for more space than 2919 Zurich offers, this is the perfect place for you. Also check out this post for some views of the community.

 

I usually try to stick to my own writing on my blog, but this morning I came across this post from Christopher and Stephanie Somers from Philadelphia.  The post says it is written as it relates to the Philadelphia real estate market, but in my opinion, it relates to just about everywhere and certainly to the San Antonio real estate market.  I think its sound advice for anyone looking to sell a home and applies to today, yesterday, and tomorrow as well.  Enjoy it and feel free to stop by their site to leave them some comments.

 

photo courtesy of joelwillis

2009 is a great year to be in construction here in San Antonio, Texas.

New projects that will begin (or have already started) are all over our great city and with that comes jobs, population growth, and more tax revenue.  San Antonio's low cost of living, warm weather, short winters, and the work of various people through the city are bringing in new business and a need for expansion.  University Health System will begin work on the South Texas Medical Center and add a million square feet of space to the area (at the cost of $899 million), construction has already begun at Brooke Army Medical Center (an expansion costing $724 million), North East Independent School District (NEISD) is expected to bring about $69 million worth of new construction, and thanks to the Base Realignment and Closure Committee (BRAC), San Antonio is set to build over $700 million of construction projects.  Predictions for 2009 call for about 1 billion in new projects.  That's over 3 billion total in construction projects.  Now excuse while I go find my hammer and saw.

A new home available for immediate move-in on Zurich at Woods Of Alon.

Recently I received news that another house at KB Home's Woods Of Alon community would be entering the market as an inventory home.  I will get some photos of it this week if possible to show you a sneak peak of it, but in the meantime, I thought I'd send the news out.  Its a gorgeous 1 and 1/2 story 4 bedroom home, right on the edge of the community's greenbelt.  The back of the home faces onto the greenbelt, as does the right side of the house, meaning one side of the house has no neighbors.  Many of the windows face out to the greenbelt and offer great views of the man made lake that KB Home has built.  The covered patio out back was a smart upgrade as it allows for some relaxation while staring off towards the lake.  Huge kitchen, gas cooking and built in oven and microwave make it perfect for the cook in the family.  They just lowered the price on it as well and its now being offered at $345,434 (it was up at $377,000+ when it first was released, but they moved it down and incorporated a large incentive on the home, so that the price reflects everything at once).  There are now 7 houses in Woods Of Alon (out of a planned 325), one is still being built and 2 are in different stages of final finishes.  I just saw the new neghbors moving in on Saturday, so the community is starting to show some signs of life (and those neighbors put some great flowers outside their garage in large pots...I will have to stop by and mention that to them).  Woods of Alon is growing and now with interest rates going so low, I have a feeling there will soon be some new houses popping up in there.  The interest level is definitely high, so I expect to see quite a few homes going up within the next few months.  I'll try to get those pictures back to you soon.

photo courtesy of cliff1066

(the photo is of Brooke Army Medical Center)

Warrior and Family Support Center work completed.

A 12,000 square foot community center built for the use of families of wounded soldiers, at the cost of $5 million, is finally finished.  What started as a simple room in the post's guest house became a great gift to these soldiers families as builders, contractors, and donors gave time and money to complete the project.  The center first opened in 2003 at 1,200 square feet, but as the war grew in scope (and sadly, injury to soldiers) and the families of wounded soldiers began to pour in the cramped space was too small to handle it and volunteers and staff were overworked and understaffed.  The Bob Woodruff Family Foundation generously donated $100,000 and have announced an additonal $100,000.  If you don't know who Mr. Woodruff is, you should read about him and his inspiring story (I was always a fan of his work at ABC) and the work he has done to help wounded soldiers.

In an effort to pay off $500,000 in debt and build a new park next to the center (to the tune of $1,000,000), Returning Heroes Home, is accepting donations in order to help.  They are a non-profit on the grounds of Fort Sam Houston and have dedicated their time, energy, and money to helping "wounded warriors and their families heal and reconnect their lives."