Area Real Estate News & Market Trends

You’ll find our blog to be a wealth of information, covering everything from local market statistics and home values to community happenings. That’s because we care about the community and want to help you find your place in it. Please reach out if you have any questions at all. We’d love to talk with you!

Nov. 9, 2022

MARKET TRENDS IN SAN ANTONIO – NOVEMBER 2022

Some may think the market is slowing down but not in San Antonio, TX where market trends show rates are still on the rise! Homes are being sold in only 27 days average. Housing prices continue to test new highs and inventory remains tight. Every day, more and more people are moving to San Antonio, which means the housing demand is continuously rising.

Home values in the San Antonio real estate market have risen for ten consecutive years, dating back to the last recession. Rents are up 12.5% in as little as 12 months. If you’re still renting, don’t expect this trend to change. The best time to buy your own house was yesterday but the second-best time to invest is NOW.

The Fed has already increased the benchmark interest rate to fight inflation, and more increases are on the way. It is safe to assume higher rates will increase the cost of homeownership in the San Antonio housing market sooner rather than later.

If you qualify for a good rate on a traditional loan, now is the time to consider becoming a landlord. As Fortune Builders states, “Rental investments offer investors the ability to offset today’s high prices with equally impressive rental rates. Given the right property with a proper cash flow, there’s no reason to avoid homes that cost considerably more than they did one year ago. Rent checks could easily make the acquisition well worth the price in a relatively short period.”

In San Antonio, you can bet the demand for rentals will only continue to increase due to San Antonio’s fast economic grow, great job market and quality of life.

…Did you know?

As great as this sounds, not all areas in San Antonio have the same demand. Some areas are standing still price wise. That is why it’s important you talk to a good broker before investing. At Houses in San Antonio, we have over 25 years of experience in this market. Don’t rely on just anyone, give us a call, we would love to help you reach new heights with your Real Estate investments.

Posted in Market Updates
May 13, 2022

clean your home with baking soda

Tips & Tricks

Clean your home with these 5 all-natural baking soda solutions. When it comes to an all-natural cleaner that cuts through grease and grime, baking soda is a total rock star. Get your home sparkling from top to bottom with these quick and effective tips.

1. Unclog Slow Drains Pour a cup of baking soda into the drain, then heat up a cup of vinegar and pour it on top of the baking soda. After approximately 10 minutes, flush with a pot of boiling water. (Don't use this solution on a clogged drain.)

2. Scour a Ceramic Stovetop Baked-on food residue tends to build up on cooktops no matter how hard you try to keep them clean. Luckily, a paste of warm water and baking soda spooned onto the surface will help loosen the residue. Let it sit for several minutes, then scrub to remove the gunk. Finish by spritzing with glass cleaner, then wipe dry.

3. Clean Toilets You’ll need a 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup of borax and 1 cup of vinegar. Pour the vinegar onto the toilet stains, then sprinkle with the baking soda/borax mixture. Let it sit for about 20 minutes, then scrub and flush.

4. Microwave Cleaner Help remove stuck-on food by applying baking soda to a damp sponge and scrubbing residue.

5. Shower Curtain Cleaner Are you cleaning your shower curtain enough? It’s easy! Sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge, scrub curtain and rinse off with clean water.

Posted in Tips & Tricks
April 8, 2022

Best tips to Clean your oven

Tips & Tricks

Here are the best tips to clean your oven!!!

There are many practical reasons to keep clean your oven. Old food stuck to the inside could be a fire hazard and may make your oven inefficient. Your food will take longer to cook and your freshly baked cakes could taste a bit funny too.

Let's get the job done in 8 easy steps...

  • Make sure your oven is cool & remove excess dirt. Using a paper towel or old cloth, remove all those pesky little bits of burnt food.
  • The best oven cleaner, is baking soda. YES. Mix up 1/2 a cup of baking soda with water to form a paste. Spread the paste all over the bottom of your oven (avoiding the heating elements).
  • Time to think about those oven racks! Pour some washing powder into a very hot water bath and put your oven racks into it overnight.
  • Now for the satisfying part: cleaning oven glass. Use the same baking soda and water mixture and apply the paste to the inside of your oven window. Let it sit for half an hour then, using a cloth, wipe the window clean.
  • Sort out the stovetop!!!.
  • The next morning. It's time! Head to your oven and with a damp cloth wipe away the dried paste. Grab a rubber spatula if you need an extra hand to remove the paste.
  • Use vinegar & a damp cloth. Finally, pour some vinegar into a spray bottle and spritz the areas that still have baking soda on them. Grab your damp cloth again and wipe the excess bits away.
Posted in Tips & Tricks
March 25, 2022

Declutting Tips

Tips & Tricks

Learning a few practical clutter-busting methods can keep your home from looking like a mess with minimal amounts of effort.

If your home is overrun with clutter as far as the eye can see, it’s time to take action and focus on getting your home organized once and for all.

How to do it:

  • Clear off all flat surfaces—and keep them clean!
  • Pick a decluttering strategy that best suits your lifestyle. Have limited time? Work on one room in the house each week.
  • Make the most of underutilized storage spaces. Underbed storage is a lifesaver in small spaces.
  • Ask yourself what items you actually use and ditch the rest!
  • Designate a place for the clutter to go, have a designated small closet shelf.
  • Establish a “one in, one out” rule, you don’t buy anything new until you let go of something you already have.
  • Evaluate one room at a time.
  • Make sure everything you own has a “home.” Once you start designating spots for specific items, it will become easier to put things back where they belong.
  • Create a decluttering checklist. It’s easier to stay on task when you know exactly where you are at a glance.
  • Decide what to keep. Take inventory of your closets and say goodbye to anything you haven’t worn in over a year.
Posted in Tips & Tricks
March 18, 2022

The best way to clean gutters

Tips & Tricks

Doing your annual gutter cleaning? Here's the best way to do it.

When gutters fill with leaves, sticks, and other debris it can cause clogs that result in water creeping under the roof and eventually into the foundation.

How to clean gutters:

-Make sure you have a good, sturdy, extendable ladder. Always place the ladder on a sturdy surface. Also, it's best to have a helper around in case you drop something or need a hand with the ladder.

-Dress for the job. Wear a long-sleeved shirt, work pants and rubber gloves.

-To remove the gunk from the gutters, use a small plastic scoop. Gutter scoops are available at the hardware store.

-Spread a tarp underneath your workspace to collect all the gutter gunk and protect your lawn and landscaping.

-Flush the gutters and downspouts and clear out any remaining debris. This will also show you if you have any leaks.

-Once the gutters are clear, repair any sagging metal. You can do this by mounting a gutter hanger.

-NOW YOU KNOW HOW TO CLEAN OUT GUTTERS!!!

Posted in Tips & Tricks
Feb. 24, 2022

Irrigation system tips

Tips & Tricks

When was the last time you had your sprinkler system inspected? Irrigation leaks and failures can result in high water bills and costly damage to your property.

These are some of the signs that your system might be in need of a checkup:

- Uneven watering leads to dry patches or pooling water.

- A lack of water pressure.

- Overspraying or misdirected sprinkler heads.

- Dripping or leaking valves.

- System not running as programmed.

- An unusually high water bill.

Additional Useful Tips:

After you purchase a home, we recommend periodically watching your sprinkler system in operation to assure proper spray angles and shutoff. Also, have a professional remove all excess water from the lines before winter to avoid your waterline cracking from freezing.

 

Posted in Tips & Tricks
Feb. 17, 2022

How to keep your house clean

Tips & Tricks

Everyone hates to clean but everyone loves a clean house, So here are some quick tips to keep your house clean by doing daily, weekly or monthly tasks.

 

Posted in Tips & Tricks
Feb. 10, 2022

Start of 2022 Home Maintenance Tips

Tips & Tricks

The new year is here, and there are some things we can do to make our home much more comfortable and safe.

This time we are going to talk about some basic home maintenance tips and how you can do them by yourself.

It's really just keeping an eye for the little things, so they don't turn into bigger things.

Here are the awesome tips!!

1. Don’t skip regular preventive maintenance visits for your home’s major systems.

2. Review your home insurance coverage annually to ensure it meets your needs.

3. Keep an eye out for water damage and erosion throughout the year.

4. Review warranty or service contracts and test appliances used less often.

5. The simplest of changes can often make the biggest impact.

 

Begin the remodels you've been postponing, or even better, keep an eye out for more tips and tricks and start on your own!

Posted in Tips & Tricks
Feb. 10, 2022

Dryer Maintenance

Tips & Tricks

If it's been a while since you've performed a dryer vent cleaning, it may be time for some routine maintenance. In addition to helping your dryer run more efficiently, cleaning the dryer vent regularly will reduce the risk of a clogged vent, which can result in a fire hazard. 

Follow these awesome steps!!

STEP 1: Clear the lint screen:

Clean the lint screen or filter EVERY time you dry a load of clothes. Pull the lint screen straight out to
remove it from the dryer.
Remove as much lint as you can with a brush, then wipe the screen with a used fabric softener sheet to pick up
any remaining pieces of lint.


STEP 2: Remove leftover lint inside the trap:

You occasionally need to clean the lint trap, this is the area in which the filter fits. Use a long flexible dryer lint brush and a gentle twisting motion to clean the cavity. Vacuum the brush clean, then repeat the process until you can't remove any more lint.

STEP 3: Clean the vent hose and pipe.

Once a year or so, clean the dryer's vent hose and pipe to keep the machine running efficiently. To start, pull the dryer away from the wall and unplug it (or shut off the gas if you have a gas model). Disconnect the duct from the dryer and the wall, and use the vent brush to loosen any lint or dust inside. Vacuum up any lint on the floor and inside the holes in the dryer and wall using a crevice tool attachment. Repeat this process on the outdoor vent where the exhaust exits your house.

 

With these simple steps, you can keep your dryer in top shape.

   

Posted in Tips & Tricks
Feb. 8, 2022

Valentine's Day Recipe

 

Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookie Bars!

February 14th will be here before we know it and baking these sugar cookie bars for your loved ones is a great way to celebrate. 

Plan to make a lot of people happy this Valentine's Day because this recipe makes 32 bars!

Posted in Tips & Tricks