SA International (not the airport)

When most people think about the area around the Medical Center they think about hospitals, ambulances and traffic.  But there's another side to the area, an area that includes one of the most heterogenous populations in the region and perhaps the closest thing to urban living outside of downtown. I moved into my condo in Mockingbird Hill three months ago, and the intervening time has unveiled an area brimming with life and people from around the globe.

For those not familiar with Mockingbird Hill, it is the area roughly between Fredericksburg, Callaghan, I-10, and USAA.  The area was built during the 70's and 80's and with the exception of some estate properties is almost entirely multi-family properties (i.e. apartments, condos, townhomes).  That's amazing in a city as house-and-yard oriented as San Antonio.

While high-rise living is currently missing, apartments and apartment style condos are stacked densely enough to make up for that.  You'll find everything from entry level, and slightly sketchy apartments, to hilltop condos with views of the city lights and the high-rises of the Medical Center and Colonnade. Price varies widely and some properties need updating, others keep up with modern amenities.  It's a mixed income area and the popularity with students and young professionals makes the area attractive for investors.

Mixed is the word.  Houses next to apartments next to townhomes next to condos.  The people you see are everything from 19 year old college students to 70 year old doctors.  People from every life stage seem to find something here, and it's easy to see why.  The location is central to everything important in town, and the nearby amenities are fantastic.  Shopping, biking, hiking, high-paying jobs, good food are all within reach.

And the food, Oh Lord, the food.  The area is heaven for a fan of world cuisines.  While Mexican restaurants and taquerias predominate in most other areas inside 1604, MH is a gastronomical crossroads.  There are numerous Thai and Indian restaurants, local burger joints and bagel shops, and one of the best sandwich shops in town - Druther's.  For good Mediterranean there's the popular Pasha.  And of course the requisite American fare.

The housing and culinary diversity reflects the racial and ethnic diversity of the area's population.  The hospitals in the Medical Center, USAA, UTHSCSA and the proximity of UTSA attracts people from around the globe.  The population is truly international and sitting in a restaurant or pumping gas you can hear any multitude of languages being spoken.

The one thing that could use some work is the retail sector.  While shopping at Northstar, La Cantera or Huebner Oaks is only 10-15 minutes away, there is something to be said about being able to walk to do your shopping. MH proper has no bookstore and aside from a store dedicated to authentic Indian attire, nary a place to pick up jeans or a t-shirt. Oddly, most shopping centers appear to be full or nearly so.

What continues to amaze me is how many people are out walking in the streets.  Medical, Frdericksburg and Wurzbach aren't exactly quiet country roads, and still people here walk.  They walk to dinner, they run after work to exercise, they walk to the grocery.  By the way the small area boasts THREE independent grocers, including Mustafa.  The area is compact enough and the population dense enough to make walking feasible in car-oriented SA.  Bus routes run along all three major thoroughfares.  In fact a friend from a neighboring complex lives without a car.

For those who revel in big city life and long for the diversity of larger locales, Mockingbird Hill offers a small slice of that life. If BRT or Light-rail makes its way up Fredericksburg you can expect this area to boom into a true urban center.

Location, Location, LOCATION!

The clock is quickly ticking away for two things - the deadline for the first-time home buyers' credit and time for me to sublet my apartment.  Those two things and the concept of location intertwined this week creating a conundrum that should be a lesson for all those soon to be homeowners and even those looking to rent.

I'm currently showing my apartment in the Huebner Oaks area of SA, convenient to everything you need - shopping, dinning (bring you fat pants), UTSA, La Cantera, The Medical Center, bike trails.  Great area, cheap rent, awesome unit.  Easy sell.

I've been advertising through Craigslist and I have trouble keeping up with all the responses I’ve been getting.  I have interior pics on the ad and people like the interior so much a few have asked if I can leave the furniture because they like what I've done.  All these years of watching HGTV are paying off big, and boosting my designer ego.

This awesome unit is located in Forest Glen, built in the 70s like many of SA’s apartments.  The units are well kept, but the grounds haven't seen a water hose since sometime before the 80s real estate crash.  As you drive in you’re welcomed by grey-green buildings and a whole bunch of dirt and gravel.  No grass, no ground cover, the trees are large, but somehow odd.  It’s not the best first impression.  The property owners clearly haven’t been watching Curb Appeal (but you should).

The Glen is a very economical place to live.  I’m here because it’s super affordable in a great area.  The floor plan is perfect and aside from my balcony, I don’t spend much time outside so the grounds don’t bother me.  I didn’t foresee buying a home when I leased in December, several months before the Administration gave life to the home buyer credit.  Had I known, I probably would’ve signed a shorter lease (which was offered, but I said no, a year is perfect).

I get prospects all jazzed up to see the place and when they come in person I have to fight the grounds, and I’m losing the fight.  By the time they make it to my door they’ve already driven through a good portion of the complex alone, gathering an impression and making judgments.  By the time they’re inside the apartment you can tell they’re not as excited as they were when they called you lost 20 minutes ago.  Add to this having to tour the grounds to show them the pools and laundry.  They see more untidiness and whoever designed the place clearly did not think people would be walking anywhere, anywhere.  But that’s an urban planning issue for another post.  The interior is awesome, but my cause isn’t helped by the location.  And there’s nothing I can do about where the place is.

So two important lessons to learn this week – whether buying or renting, make sure you take a hard look at the neighborhood and think about the impression it gives prospective renters; and always make the shortest commitment possible.  You never know what’s around the corner and it’s best to be prepared and know where your towel is.