Would you like your house to be the coolest on the block without feeling like you’re donating your paycheck to the local utilities company?

Then read on as we cover some tips and tricks to lower your home air-conditioning bill during the blazing Texas summer!

Let’s start with the lowest-cost, fastest options first:

1. Keep the Blinds Closed

Did you know closing the blinds can save you up to 7% on your electric bill and lower temperatures in your home by up to 20 degrees, according to website Family Handyman?

While you’ve probably felt the difference this makes at some point in your life, it’s nice to know what kind of return you can expect for your efforts here! For added savings, install neutral-colored blackout curtains to the south- and…

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San Antonio was named the 3rd best place to retire in 2018 by U.S. News. Since Sarasota, FL and Lancaster, PA took first and second place (in that order), that means San Antonio is the #1 place to retire in Texas.

For generational Texans and newcomers alike, San Antonio offers the conveniences of living in a major city, without many of the big-city headaches. It’s a beautiful location for settling down, with reasonable housing prices that are appreciating.

Beyond our great restaurants, golf courses, and local attractions, it’s San Antonio’s neighborhoods that make it a great place to retire. Whether you’re looking for a quiet retirement surrounded by Texas golf courses in the Hill Country or an in-the-action retirement surrounded by stores,…

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the ultimate relocation checklist for moving to san antonio

San Antonio is a popular place to call home, even by the numbers. Beyond its famous landmarks that attract 31 million visitors every year, San Antonio is the second most populous city in Texas, after Houston.

It’s a sought-after place to visit and an even more welcoming place to call home.

If you’re thinking about moving to San Antonio, we created this checklist to help ensure your move is as smooth and straightforward as possible.

Is San Antonio the City for You?

It’s not easy to relocate to a new city. You must take on a lot of unknown unknowns, make new friends, and get to know an entirely new collection of roads, businesses, and local culture.

Fortunately, San Antonio has a little bit for everyone. The city offers a mix of luxury,…

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As your kids are out of school for the next two weeks, you may find yourself looking for San Antonio holiday activities and events. Whether you want to celebrate with children or entertain visiting relatives, we’ve got you covered:

Things to Do in San Antonio for the Holidays - 2018

1. Light the Way - Holiday Festival

Location: The University of the Incarnate Word

Now through Jan. 6th

The holiday lights turn on nightly at 6:30pm

Check out our Food Truck Yard, Kids’ Corner (take selfies with Santa!), munch on free cookies + cocoa, and try new activities from our friends at the DoSeum.

Learn more.

2. Santa’s Ranch Christmas Display

Location: 9561 I-35 North New Braunfels, TX 78130

Now through Dec. 30th

Nightly, 6pm-10pm…

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small san antonio towns

Down around San Antonio, the hill country brings rich character to small town life.

Perhaps it’s all due to the combination of gorgeous nature and celebrated small-town history. Many of these towns still have buildings that date back to the early years of the last century. German settlements in these homestead towns left roots that linger to this day.

There’s a little something for everyone in the Texas hill country. Here are four quaint small towns around San Antonio:

Kerrville

One of the most wonderful aspects of any small town on our list is the rich outdoors.

Kerrville perhaps stands out the most. Known by some as the capital of the Texas Hill Country, Kerrville rests alongside the Guadalupe River, with many beautiful parks, trails,…

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Real estate investment in San Antonio can be a passive or active means to growing personal wealth. As housing costs appreciate, simply owning a home in the area is a great way to invest for the future.

But some people wish to be more involved in their investments. For those who love fast turn around, manual labor, and problem solving, house flipping is a popular and fulfilling form of real estate investment.

HGTV popularized the art of house flipping by portraying this DIY renovation business in a way that seems highly accessible. As a result, there’s been a surge of ambitious investors entering the market across the country. Competition to buy undervalued homes has increased, but there’s still opportunity for the careful, savvy investor to make…

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top zip codes in san antonio real estate

Best Zip Codes for Purchasing a Home in San Antonio

San Antonio is a vibrant city with hispanic roots that run deep. If you’ve been in the city any length of time, you’ll be reminded to remember the Alamo. But don’t forget to visit all the San Antonio missions as well!

San Antonio has become a top destination in the Southwest for young jobseekers. Recent developments such as The Pearl Brewery have brought a trendy side to Alamo City. We’ve written about why buying in San Antonio can be a great investment in your future.

If you have kiddos, San Antonio is also a phenomenal city to raise children. Between the Doseum, the Natural Bridge Caverns, Seaworld, Six Flags, and the San Antonio Zoo, you will never run out of fun things to do.

If…

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bathroom design trends 2018Designing a home that you love begins with the spark of new ideas.

The right redesign project can add new character to a room and even increase the resale value of your home. One of the most popular rooms to change in any home is the master bathroom.

The master bath tends to start out so basic and non-descript, or simply becomes outdated in older houses. It is the perfect room to revamp when you're ready for a new look. 

When it comes to redesigning your bathroom, there’s a lot you can do to make yours unique.

We asked two designers and two architects about the latest trends in bathroom design. Here’s what they had to say:

2018 Bathroom Design Trends

With interior design trends, there is the perennial question, baked into the very fabric…

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top 5 waterfront patios in san antonio

The Riverwalk is one of San Antonio’s most popular tourist attractions. In fact, it is among those few local attractions that even first-time visitors know about long before they ever pay that first visit.

Dare we say, its tourist popularity even rivals that of the Alamo.

What many people don’t realize when visiting the Riverwalk, however, is that it is comprised of 15 miles of walkways! Far from the select few blocks most people know about, you have a wide array of choice cantinas, bars, and restaurants where you can grab a drink.

Whether you want to experience the popular tourist stops, or the hidden gems away from the most bustling districts, we’ve provided several popular waterfront patio eating options for you to consider as you explore…

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What will change about buying and selling homes within the next year, two years, or five?

Predicting the future of any industry isn’t easy. Fortunately, real estate generally offers more accessible and reliable data than other industries to use when making forecasts. That means making reasonable predictions about the not-so-distant future isn’t a complete shot in the dark.

Consider the Austin, Texas market as an example. We know that the U.S. government tracks population growth through periodic censuses. This decade to decade population data shows that Austin’s population usually grows by more than 20% every decade, with the single exception being the 1920s (16.8% growth). Someone could use such data to reasonably predict that this trend will…

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