Where are new homes being built inside 1604 on the north side (San Antonio: buyers, home inspection)

[inimeg22]

Just want to see if there are any communities you know of that aren't showing up in my web search.

[rynetwo]

Woods of Alon by KB Homes.

[heimerswt]

78232 Has a few. Look at Money Tree street, just across Jones-Maltsberger from the main entrance to McAllister Park.

[ashbeeigh]

There was one being cleared on Prue near Woodridge. I haven't driven by in a while, but i remember the builder was Meritage.

[kevcrawford]

There aren't a ton, unless you want to get into a really high price range. Alon is one, but that's about it. Most of the building is going on outside the loop. Inside has been developed for a long time.

[Newk]

Builders perpetuate sprawl because the land is cheaper further and further out from the city, so that is where new developments are being built. It will continue because builders want to build, but they want the cheapest price for land possible.

[dpantle]

Well, population growth is the driving force of suburban sprawl, not builders. They are business simply responding to the market need of reasonably priced housing to accommodate the population growth. To redevelop inner city areas is to increase the home pricing to a level that many can't afford.

That said, there are areas of new building (redevelopment) inside the loop. Pockets of Alamo Heights come to mind. There areas near Broadway and Sunset for example, which have been redeveloped to accommodate new home building. These enclaves are small, not the mass produced homes like those north of 1604, and their price reflects the property value they sit on. In AH, that price makes sense. Between 410 and 1604, it does not.

Demand for sprawl type building will always exist as the population grows. Property value dictates it.

[TrapperL]

Builders are not going to build inside of the city limits if they can help it. The issue is qualifying the buyers. Adding city taxes to a monthly payment can eliminate some buyers. Most of the land inside 1604 especially on the Northside is already in the city. Don't look for any residential developments on land that's available. It'll go to industrial or commercial as the land is far too valuable for residential now and it doesn't make sense to attempt to sell the same product inside 1604 for hundreds a month more in payment versus a development a few miles away. If you want inside 1604, look to the secondary or used home market.

[Montirob]

Originally Posted by TrapperL

Builders are not going to build inside of the city limits if they can help it. The issue is qualifying the buyers. Adding city taxes to a monthly payment can eliminate some buyers. Most of the land inside 1604 especially on the Northside is already in the city. Don't look for any residential developments on land that's available. It'll go to industrial or commercial as the land is far too valuable for residential now and it doesn't make sense to attempt to sell the same product inside 1604 for hundreds a month more in payment versus a development a few miles away. If you want inside 1604, look to the secondary or used home market.

The cynic in me would wonder if it is also to avoid the stricter City building codes... though a house built NOW outside 1604 is probably more energy efficient than one built 20 yrs ago inside 1604... before it was annexed.

[dpantle]

Originally Posted by Montirob

The cynic in me would wonder if it is also to avoid the stricter City building codes... though a house built NOW outside 1604 is probably more energy efficient than one built 20 yrs ago inside 1604... before it was annexed.

Absolutely this is the case. One should always insist on a comprehensive home inspection from an independent firm prior to shelling out a down payment. I will say that most (not all) homebuilders out there today adhere to current building standards. These corporate companies are far from the day of Ray Ellison and small time builders. They have stockholders to answer to as well as homeowners.

Unincorporated development is the way San Antonio has grown outside 1604 (and even inside) for the most part. Land is developed, homes built, advertised as "no city taxes". Then in 5 years, after a solid tax base is installed, most (not all) infrastructure is built, San Antonio annexes. Services for those new tax dollars then lag another 5 years or so.

The city coffers depend on the growth from suburban sprawl. There's an old business saying "grow or die", unfortunately, government is no different. The beast must be fed.

I will also say that SA's traditional building code and enforcement is not the be all and end all either. There are many areas inside loop 1604 which are suspect (as you have indicated), even if incorporated at the time of build.

So, to get back on topic, it doesn't matter if the home is 50 years or 50 days old, buyer beware. Do yourself a favor, and insist on an independent inspector, not one recommended by a builder or realtor.