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According to 2016 census data, San Antonio is the 7th largest city in the United States in terms of population. San Antonio has many of the characteristics that people love about big cities: diverse cuisine, interesting businesses, culture, and fun activities to do and places to explore.
But San Antonio stands out from other major cities because of one unusual big-city quality: its affordability. The city has a low cost of living, which enables more middle-income families to enjoy the homes and lifestyles that might be way out of their budget for a comparable property in another place.
Bestplaces.net is a website that compares the cost of living in cities across the United States. Its data reflects costs of transportation, healthcare, food, and other data—including housing! So we compared each of the ten largest cities from the 2016 census:
- New York City, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chicago, IL
- Houston, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- Philadelphia, PA
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego. CA
- Dallas, TX
- San Jose, CA
Of the top largest cities in the United States, San Antonio had the lowest average cost of living. We put together some simple tactics that can help your family find an affordable home in San Antonio. We hope these help:
Begin with a reliable online listing resource
Not all listing services are created equal. To find a comprehensive website that provides up-to-date housing information, simple browsing, and filtering features and clear next-step options for touring a home, the process might require some vetting. JB Goodwin recently remodeled its website to make sure every online service we offer is easy to find and even easier to use. The listing services are just one of many revamped components of the new website. Our listings can be filtered based on price, home size, community, specific house features, and more! Our goal is to offer a robust user experience that makes buying your next home a smooth process.Here’s how you can use the JB Goodwin website to find homes for even less than that median cost:
Start at the Listing page. Use the Filter options to set your top price to $200,000. Now, every home you browse will be below the national median!
Connect with an informed real estate agent
Online listings are a great tool for gaining ballpark information about homes and neighborhoods. But purchasing a home is too significant an investment to just rely on the limited information available online. It’s best to consult with a local housing expert.
In other words, add a human element to your home search by working with a reliable real estate agent. They can help you sift through the housing scams to find a wonderful home. With education and experience, real estate agents can tell you about the safety of neighborhoods, inform you about concerns others have had regarding certain properties, give an informed opinion about prices, and much more!
Add a personal touch to your home offer
Once you’ve found a home you love, the next step is making an offer the seller can’t refuse. If you’re on a budget, cash offers probably aren’t an option. However, recent stats in the Wall Street Journal say that the personal touch of writing a letter to the seller can increase your chances of winning a bidding war by more than 75%!
Introduce yourself to the seller. Tell him or her about who you are and why you’re interested in their home. A few words can go a long way.
Invest energy instead of cash
Another option for finding affordable housing is to buy a property that requires a little refurbishment. Sometimes a fixer-upper can turn into an enjoyable project. It allows families to build unique memories and make a house their own through the hours they spend contributing to its value through repairs.
Some people think of fixer-uppers as exclusively a task for professional house flippers like the ones we’ve all seen on HGTV. But you don’t have to be in the flipping business to buy a house that needs attention. The process allows lower-budget families to invest their extra energy instead of paying more money.
If this is an option you’re considering, be careful not to get in over your head. While flipping a house can be a great investment, it may also turn into a project too large for busy professionals or parents to realistically handle. Know the time and approximate cost of repairs before you go all-in with a property.
It’s a great time to buy in San Antonio. Housing prices are affordable and on the rise, making it possible for a home to also turn into a financial investment for your family. Of course, we used $200,000 as an example of what’s available in San Antonio.
Visit our San Antonio map to browse homes and communities, whatever your price -range! When that perfect home catches your eye, contact a JB Goodwin agent to learn more about it and schedule a showing.
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