san antonio: Home sales falter in February - 03/24/11 02:45 AM
It's not just my imagination. February seemed slower than the previous months, perhaps due to Spring Break.  Nationwide, home sales dropped 9.6% in February after three months of gains in a row.
As Lawrence Yun, the economist for the NAR, puts it:
Housing affordability conditions have been at record levels and the economy has been improving, but home sales are being constrained by the twin problems of unnecessarily tight credit, and a measurable level of contract cancellations from some appraisals not supporting prices negotiated between buyers and sellers.
A high number of resales were for cash. Home buyers have been finding it … (3 comments)

san antonio: Save money, get exercise, eat well, and encounter weird bugs - 03/15/11 12:41 PM
We have an organic garden, and it's been a source of delight mingled with frustration. Every year we try planting something different, and every year we are surprised at what happens. Tree-growing canteloupes! Poblano peppers for the masses! Basil plants popping up in the lawn!
Lots of vegetables like the long, hot growing season in the San Antonio area, especially peppers, squashes, and herbs. Other vegetables, like cauliflower, can't take the heat. Some varieties of tomatoes have to be babied along because they need to be watered on a schedule.
And the insects are different every year. Last year it was stinkbugs (leaf-footed bugs, … (9 comments)

san antonio: Do yourself a favor: plant a tree this spring - 03/08/11 01:17 AM
Some people are surprised when they visit San Antonio for the first time to see how many trees we have here. The River City is not in the middle of the desert. Live oaks, pecans, cedar elms, hackberry trees, and many other trees abound. Understory trees such as red buds and mountain laurel are the first to bloom, even before spring officially arrives. Peach and pear trees are next.
Trees add beauty, value, and shade to homes and yards in San Antonio. With summer on the way in a few months, now is the time to get out there and plant some more!

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san antonio: Sold! Another beautifully remodeled home at 426 Oak Glen Drive, San Antonio, TX 78209 - 02/27/11 01:39 AM
This home is in one of my favorite neighborhoods in San Antonio: Northwood. And now it has happy new owners!
It had been well maintained, but  there was carpet over the wood floors and original 50's tile in the bathrooms. The Florida room was an enclosed patio with another screened patio next to it. They effectively made the kitchen and dining area next to it very dark. My client opened up the space and created a sunny dining room and a third bedroom and a Jack-and-Jill bathroom to the original second bedroom. The roof of the second enclosed patio was replaced with a pergola, letting floods of … (3 comments)

san antonio: Home for sale at 8142 Shumard Oak, San Antonio, TX 78223 - backs onto woods of Republic Golf Course - 02/26/11 04:58 AM
This home is a real standout in the neighborhood of Woodbridge at Monte Viejo! Built in 2006 by DR Horton, the home is ready for immediate move-in. The sellers have lovingly maintained it and updated it with stylish light fixtures and ceiling fans. They have excellent taste in decor, too. The paint selections are both modern and neutral. A covered patio and sprinkler system make it easy to enjoy the back yard, with its view of the woods bordering the golf course.
Located on the city's southeast section, Monte Viejo is an easy commute to Lackland Air Force Base or Fort Sam … (2 comments)

san antonio: Fit for a chef: Home for sale at 178 High Oak, Universal City, Texas 78148 - 02/21/11 09:16 AM
The sellers of this home bought it just a few years ago and promptly updated the kitchen, which is fabulous. Now they are moving out of state to a new job and town that will bring their kids closer to the grandparents. That should help them get over the sadness of leaving their house and saying goodbye to all the friends they've made here.
Meadow Oaks is a small, established neighborhood on the northeast side of the San Antonio metro area. It is within easy commuting distance of Randolph Air Force Base and Fort Sam Houston, but tucked away from traffic. … (5 comments)

san antonio: Home for sale at 9611 Claudia Circle, San Antonio, Texas 78251 - 02/16/11 01:33 AM
Lots of folks need starter homes, and this one fits the bill for first-time buyers. It's in an established neighborhood, Creekside, with a swimming pool and community center, and it's close to some of Northside Independent School District's highly rated schools.
It's also in commuting distance to Lackland Air Force Base, the South Texas Medical Center, Sea World, and other large employers in San Antonio. While being conveniently close to shopping, services, and dining, Creekside is set off the main thoroughfares. And Claudia Circle is at the back of the community on a quiet street.
This isn't the biggest home in the neighborhood, but its … (5 comments)

san antonio: Surviving the snow in San Antonio - 02/15/11 02:17 AM
After an unusual number of cold snaps and hard freezes, the San Antonio area is back to what I consider normal conditions for this time of the year. It's now overcast in the morning and then sunny and warm in the afternoon, just the way it's supposed to be.
On February 3 and 4, there were more than 500 car wrecks around the city as drivers reacted to the total of 0.4 inch of snow that fell overnight. The morning was deceptively sunny and clear, although still bitterly cold. I ventured out into my herb garden to take this photo of the rosemary, already … (12 comments)

san antonio: Red, red walls: love 'em or hate 'em, here's what to do - 02/10/11 01:18 AM
I work with both home buyers and sellers, and I look at a whole lot of houses. I try to keep up with decorating trends in various neighborhoods and price ranges, too, since a couple of my clients are involved in remodeling homes for resale. One trend that is starting to fade away, at least in San Antonio, is painting accent walls or even whole rooms in shades of red, orange, or dark green. Bold colors were all the rage for a while, but lighter and brighter shades of green, pink, and turquoise are becoming more common.
But there is still a place for red … (8 comments)

san antonio: Realtor professional conduct issues - need your advice - 02/02/11 11:39 AM
No matter how long you've been in the business of selling real estate, I think you should always be willing to learn new things.

I think I might be getting a little set in my ways. I've tried these various approaches over the years, but I'm not 100% satisfied with the results, so I welcome your feedback. Here are some of the situations I've struggled with:
 1.     What should you wear when meeting new clients for the first time?
a.     Dress as a trusted advisor in a dark, conservative suit and tie; and for men, subdued makeup and classic jewelry
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san antonio: SOLD! Gorgeous updated home at 1 Camden Oaks in Inwood, San Antonio, Texas 78248 - 01/22/11 02:37 AM
My client did a fabulous job updating this home in the gated neighborhood of Inwood on San Antonio's north side. It is situated on a corner lot, with a greenbelt in back and a large lot next door. There are lots of beautiful live oak trees surrounding the home, and the patios and rooftop terrace take advantage of the shade they bring. My favorite is the master bathroom; it is sumptuous, with marble floors, a whirlpool tub, separate granite-clad vanities, and a large walk-in shower.
Check out the Real Estate Show below or click this link to see it if your browser … (5 comments)

san antonio: Red dragonfly brightens up a gloomy day - 01/16/11 09:57 AM
I found a photo of a red dragonfly I took a couple of years ago:
Since the weather in Schertz/Cibolo is still overcast and dreary, it's nice to be indoors working at my computer today. I will need to pull a lot more weeds once it clears up.
It's even better to be inside when I have some photos of one of my favorite insects to look at. They remind me that soon spring will be here and I'll be able to see dragonflies in my garden again.
 
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san antonio: What to do when you get a crappy lowball offer on your house - 01/11/11 09:47 AM
With the real estate market these days, even in San Antonio, it seems that no matter how nice your home is or how well priced, you might still get a lowball offer on it. Buyers are hoping to find a seller who is desperate to sell and will cut them a screaming deal.
But if you're a seller on the receiving end of a lowball offer, don't take it personally--it's actually good news. Somebody liked the house enough to go to the trouble of making an offer on it!
So here are some things you should think about, instead of wadding up the offer … (7 comments)

san antonio: 6 reasons you need to drop your price - 01/06/11 11:16 AM
Home buying activity normally slows down during the winter holidays and starts to pick up again by early spring. The San Antonio metro hasn't been as volatile as many others, but it is not immune to the competition from foreclosures and short sales. If your home has been on the market since last fall, it is time to review your asking price. Ask your listing agent for updated information on both the homes in your neighborhood that have sold as well as those that are competing with yours.
6 Reasons to Reduce Your Home Price
By G. M. Filisko
While you'd like to get the best … (10 comments)

san antonio: 8 ways to give your home more curb appeal (and add value) - 12/31/10 08:46 AM
Maybe one of your New Year's resolutions is to sell your house. If so, here are some ways to make it more appealing (and valuable) to future home buyers. With the short, mild winters in San Antonio, you could even get started this weekend!
8 Tips for Adding Curb Appeal and Value to Your Home
By Pat Curry
Appraisers and real estate agents offer advice for adding curb appeal that both preserves value and attracts potential buyers.
We asked real estate agents, appraisers, home stagers, landscape designers, and home inspectors which curb appeal projects offer the most value when your house is on the … (3 comments)

san antonio: Now is the best time to buy a brand-new home! What are you waiting for? - 12/22/10 03:33 AM
This is the very best time of the year to get a deal on a new home from a builder. Builders want to get as many houses off their books by the end of the year as they can, so they will cut deals now. Here are some things to keep in mind as you prepare to shop for a new home:
1. Builders don't like to drop their sales price, but may be forced to at the end of the year. Unfortunately, lowering the sales price to you will make your neighbors mad if they find out. It could also … (5 comments)

san antonio: Why live in San Antonio, Texas? More like, why not? - 12/13/10 04:49 AM
San Antonio is one of the four Texas cities cited in a recent Newsweek article about “the Texaplex” in the best position for an economic upturn. More people relocate to Texas in search of jobs than any other state right now, and they head for San Antonio as well as Austin, Houston, Dallas. San Antonio benefits from its historic connection to the military, expanded manufacturing capacity, and a growing health care and biotech research industry.
It doesn't hurt that San Antonio also has a low cost of living; a mild, sunny climate; numerous universities; easy access to all kinds of outdoor … (5 comments)

san antonio: What should real estate investors expect from their buyer's agent? - 12/03/10 02:50 AM
A question asked by a new real-estate investor on a real-estate forum got me thinking. Should you expect your agent to send you the hottest deals the instant they appear? What about lowering their commission as your buyer's agent, since you may be buying (and possibly selling) several properties? I disagree with many investors who think that there are no deals to be found on the MLS; that they are all FSBOs, wholesales, or REOs (which are also on the MLS). I've found plenty of deals on the MLS. The asking price is not the final sales price. Some sellers will negotiate. … (4 comments)

san antonio: I'm off to do listing maintenance on a dreary Sunday morning - 11/21/10 03:07 AM
One of my listings is scheduled for yet another second showing this afternoon. This home has been under contract twice, and both times the buyers have backed out for personal reasons. The worst part is that it has now been on the market for 82 days. Although that is way under the average time on the market in San Antonio, it is still dragging my average listing time down!
So today I am going to go over there again, as I do at least once a week, to water the flowers, check that it's clean (especially the bathrooms) and still smells good, remove … (10 comments)

san antonio: Good news and bad news for home sellers in San Antonio, Texas - 11/17/10 02:37 AM
Good news for home sellers in the greater San Antonio area. According to the Texas Association of Realtors, the average home prices in the San Antonio metro went up by 8.48% during the July-September quarter. At $195,817, this is a significant increase from $180,498 one year ago. The median price of a home in the third quarter 2010 rose to $156,600.
Here's the not-so-good news: there was a big decrease in the number of homes that have sold. From 5,457 this time last year to 4,585, this works out to almost a 16% drop. Time on market lengthened to 8.4 months, … (7 comments)

 
Robin Rogers, CRS, TRC, MRP - Real Estate Investment Adviser (Robin Rogers, Silverbridge Realty, San Antonio, Texas)

Robin Rogers

CRS, TRC, MRP - Real Estate Investment Adviser

San Antonio, TX

More about me…

Robin Rogers, Silverbridge Realty, San Antonio, Texas

Address: Cibolo, TX, 78108

Mobile: (210) 602-5402

Fax: (210) 764-5702



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