Buying land. Boerne vs Helotes? (San Antonio, New Braunfels: home, schools, live)

[mbutton85]

Hi everyone!
I've read the relocation "READ FIRST" documents, as well as a lot of the threads. I love how helpful everyone is in this group!

I have a few questions though, and would like your opinion. First, a little bit on our family, to give you a better picture of our situation.

Me and my husband are in our 30s, we have two boys, one 3 and one 1. We're relocating from TN, as soon as our current home sells. We are into a more suburban kind of life, but it would be nice to be within a reasonable driving distance to places to go out to dinner, or drinks or something every so often. We have family in San Antonio, some in Alamo Heights Area, some in Stone Oak, and some closer to where we would be, around Six Flags /UTSA area.


Now, we're trying to decide between a Boerne or Helotes to build. New Braunfels is also a choice, but the other two are our top ones.

In Boerne, it seems like the only area left to buy land in our budget right now, is an area called "The Crossing at Kenberg" and it's kind of far out, but kids still go to Boerne ISD, which is my preferred option. Bad part is that it's 45 min. without traffic from most areas I would visit in SA. Is it worth it?? Anyone has any experience in this specific community? Since we may have time before we move, I may luck out and find a posting for some land closer to the 78015 zip code, vs the 78006.

In Helotes, I am way closer, schools look nice, there's actually a lot more to choose from (land wise) in our budget, but I'm not sure schools are as great as the ones in Boerne. Although, it does look like a really nice area, and it's way closer to all our family in SA.

Anyone have any opinions on this? What's your personal preference and why? Both look like fantastic areas, and it's hard to chose without actually being there and driving around the area.

[flashfearless]

I think it depends on how attached you are to being near the amenities. If you find that you don't want frozen items to thaw out by the time you return from the grocery, then you stay out of Boerne.

[SAguy]

Originally Posted by flashfearless

I think it depends on how attached you are to being near the amenities. If you find that you don't want frozen items to thaw out by the time you return from the grocery, then you stay out of Boerne.

Huh?

[TXStrat]

Originally Posted by flashfearless

I think it depends on how attached you are to being near the amenities. If you find that you don't want frozen items to thaw out by the time you return from the grocery, then you stay out of Boerne.

What are you talking about? There is an HEB Plus on Bandera Rd. in Boerne. Unless you live a significant distance out of town how is this an issue?

[TexasRedneck]

Originally Posted by flashfearless

I think it depends on how attached you are to being near the amenities. If you find that you don't want frozen items to thaw out by the time you return from the grocery, then you stay out of Boerne.

Technology has come a long way over the years......you put your perishable purchases in a cooler (or an insulated bag), toss it in the car and drive the stuff home.

[CyVaquero]

Originally Posted by TexasRedneck

Technology has come a long way over the years......you put your perishable purchases in a cooler (or an insulated bag), toss it in the car and drive the stuff home.

LOL, I was going to say that unless you live right next to HEB, your frozen stuff is going to thaw before you get home in the Texas Summer heat.

[TexasRedneck]

Originally Posted by CyVaquero

LOL, I was going to say that unless you live right next to HEB, your frozen stuff is going to thaw before you get home in the Texas Summer heat.

See? I saved you.......where's my reward?!??? Even us ol' hillbillies done learned how to use some of this stuff for things other than keepin' the Lone Star cold!

[sapphire]

I'd choose Boerne over Helotes, simply for the distance from San Antonio. Helotes is not very exciting to me anyway. I'd even go further out than Boerne if I was buying land right now.

Oh, and buy a YETI for your frozen goods and slap the bumper sticker on your car. It apparently drives people crazy.

[mbutton85]

hahahahaha I love all of these responses.

I currently have a bunch of freezer bags for when I go out grocery shopping, but I may get something like a YETI.

Thanks everyone!

[StealthRabbit]

If you can deal with current and future growth,,,Go for Boerne, it has a lot of suburbia and nice events already 'built in', and is quite close / central to many real fun places.

If done properly, you could sell easily when you want to return to the city, or head for the hills.

You MUST buy right.

I bought my last Hill Country place sight unseen while working Thailand. I don't recommend that! but the price / time was right. It has been a few months more work that I anticipated, but is turning out very nice! At your age, time (and energy) is on your side. Our boys we 18 months apart and when they were 5&7 we moved to Asia, later to an Island in BC Canada. They had a really good time. Ironically, they remember, and are most endeared to our U-pick Fruit Farm and raising laying hens...

To do it over... More 4-H, more backpacking, and a lot less 'structure'!

Kids are resilient 25+ yrs later and they are doing well, & have yet to go berserk / have a rebellious stage. ! (subject to change any minute!)

BTW: I pack my cold food supplies in Bourne HEB made tortillas so they can survive the 40 more minutes out into the hills.