Skip to content
Phyllis Domingo logo

Blog & Articles

San Antonio real estate, explained honestly

Practical, no-hype answers to the questions I hear from real families every week: where to live, what things cost, how the process works, and what actually matters when you move.

16 articles · updated monthly

Topic to suggest? Tell me
The San Antonio skyline at dusk, the Tower of the Americas glowing above the river
Moving to San Antonio 9 min read

What to Know Before Moving to San Antonio

The honest, practical list for a San Antonio relocation: affordability, the Hill Country lifestyle, property taxes, military roots, and how the moving process actually works.

Read the article

A welcoming single-story limestone and stucco home in a Hill Country suburb in the morning light
San Antonio Suburbs 8 min read

Best San Antonio Suburbs for Different Lifestyles

Boerne for schools and charm, Schertz and Cibolo for military commutes, Bulverde for acreage, New Braunfels for river life. Compare the best San Antonio suburbs by lifestyle.

Read the article

Boerne's historic main street with limestone storefronts and live oaks on a warm morning
San Antonio vs. Boerne 7 min read

San Antonio vs. Boerne: Which Is Right for You?

City energy or Hill Country charm? A fair comparison of San Antonio and Boerne covering schools, commutes, property taxes, and what your money buys in each.

Read the article

Golden-hour light across the Texas Hill Country with live oaks and a winding road
Cost of Living 8 min read

The Real Cost of Living in San Antonio

San Antonio's cost of living is about 9% below the national average, but property taxes change the math. A realistic look at what living here actually costs.

Read the article

A newly built two-story home in a developing San Antonio neighborhood in late afternoon light
New Construction 7 min read

New Construction Mistakes Buyers Should Avoid

Buying from a builder in San Antonio is popular, and it is easy to overpay or get tied to the wrong incentive. The mistakes I watch my clients avoid, and how to dodge them.

Read the article

A bright, airy living room with warm white walls and light oak floors in a San Antonio home
San Antonio Homes 7 min read

What Your Budget Can Buy in San Antonio

From entry homes in the $200s to Hill Country estates, a realistic look at what different budgets buy across the San Antonio market in 2026.

Read the article

The San Antonio skyline at dusk reflected across the river
California to Texas 9 min read

Moving from California to Texas: A Relocator's Guide

California to Texas is one of the most popular moves in America. What San Antonio offers, what to expect, and how to buy a home from out of state with confidence.

Read the article

A calm, uncluttered living room with a cream sectional and round dining table for two
Downsizing 8 min read

A Guide to Downsizing in San Antonio

Empty nesters and retirees ask me about downsizing more than almost anything. How to right-size, where to move, and how to make the change feel like a fresh start.

Read the article

A San Antonio residential street with ranch-style stone and brick homes at golden hour
Market Update 7 min read

San Antonio Housing Market Update: What Fall 2026 Brings

The latest SABOR numbers for the San Antonio area: a flat median price near $307,000, roughly six months of inventory, and what a balanced market means for buyers and sellers this fall.

Read the article

The Bexar County Courthouse in downtown San Antonio at golden hour
Property Taxes 8 min read

San Antonio Property Taxes in 2026: What Changed

The 2026 school homestead exemption jumped to $140,000, a typical San Antonio home carries an effective tax rate around 2.27%, and the 10% appraisal cap limits how fast your bill grows. Here is what it means.

Read the article

A new-construction suburban street in the Texas Hill Country at sunrise with flags on the porches
Military Relocation 8 min read

PCS to San Antonio: A 2026 Guide for Military Families

Orders to San Antonio? Here is what military families should know about JBSA, BAH, VA loans, property tax breaks, and the neighborhoods near Fort Sam Houston, Lackland, and Randolph.

Read the article

The Austin skyline glowing at dusk, the other booming Texas metro an 80-mile drive up I-35
San Antonio vs. Austin 8 min read

San Antonio vs. Austin: Where Should You Land in 2026?

The San Antonio metro median came in just above $299,000 in August 2026 while Austin medians run roughly 40% higher, and living costs land about 13% lower here. A fair comparison for relocating families.

Read the article

A Hill Country home with a standing-seam metal roof under a dramatic late-summer sky
Cost of Living 7 min read

Homeowners Insurance in San Antonio: The Hidden $3,000

The San Antonio metro averaged about $2,948 a year for homeowners insurance in 2025, roughly $291 above the national average. Why Texas rates run high and how to budget for it.

Read the article

New homes across a fast-growing San Antonio master-planned community at sunrise
San Antonio Neighborhoods 8 min read

The Fastest-Growing San Antonio Neighborhoods: Where the Action Is

A Southwest-side ZIP code ranked 15th among the fastest-growing new neighborhoods in the U.S., with housing inventory up 187% in a decade. The growth corridors worth knowing in 2026.

Read the article

A warm Texas ranch-style home glowing at dusk, the goal at the end of the home search
Mortgage Rates 7 min read

Mortgage Rates in 2026: What San Antonio Buyers Should Do Now

The 30-year fixed averaged 6.76% the week of September 10, 2026, and daily averages top 7%. What that means for buying in San Antonio, and the moves that still make sense.

Read the article

Rolling live oak hills in the Texas Hill Country near Boerne, with Hill Country-style homes on a distant ridge in warm afternoon light
Boerne & Hill Country 7 min read

Living in Esperanza Boerne TX | Is This the BEST Neighborhood in Boerne?

An honest look at Esperanza, the Hill Country master-planned community in Boerne: the setting, the daily rhythm, the trade-offs, and which households it fits best.

Read the article

Reading is a good start. A conversation is better.

Tell me where you are moving from, what you are looking for, and when. I will turn the articles into a plan.

Prefer email? realtorphyllisdomingo@gmail.com