Texas Builder, Jan/Feb 2016

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Area Spotlight
FEATURED ASSOCIATIONS
BA of Corpus Christi
Greater San Antonio BA
Greater New Braunfels HBA
BA of Victoria
Rio Grande Valley HBA
Laredo BA
At 790 by 660 miles, Texas is a GIANT piece of land,
and the concerns of a home builder in one area can
greatly differ from those of another builder across
the state. That’s why, in this issue of Texas Builder,
we’re taking a closer look at one section: the Greater
San Antonio and South-Central Texas region.
The Hill Country, the Gulf Coast, the Alamo—this is
iconic Texas and a must-see region for all true-blue
Texans. San Antonio is the obvious tourist hotspot
with loads of area attractions including the idyllic
River Walk, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, the Tower of the
Americas, and the aforementioned Alamo.
But South-Central Texas has plenty to offer outside
San Antonio.
Head south to Corpus Christi and the Padre Island
National Seashore to enjoy miles upon miles of sandy
beaches. Continue down the coast to the gorgeous
resort town of South Padre Island and the Rio Grande
Valley, known to most Texans as simply “The Valley.”
This eight-county region comprises the southernmost
tip of the state. Snake up along the Mexican border
to Laredo, the largest inland port in the U.S. and one
of the oldest border crossings. This is rugged and
beautiful country with a strong building industry.
Read on for a closer look…
According to the National Association
of Realtors, over 30 percent of
U.S. home sales now come from
millennial home buyers (those born in
the early ’80s through the mid ’90s), and
this number is sure to rise at a steady rate.
A commonplace, media-perpetuated
stereotype depicts millennials enjoying
urban, big-city lifestyles. But not all
millennials are downtown yuppies and
uptown hipsters. Census data actually shows
a larger population of those in their twenties
and early thirties move out of big cities every
year rather than in, suggesting today’s young
adults might— gasp—actually desire to live
like their parents…back in the ’burbs.
As today’s twentysomethings enter their
thirties and leave the cultural riches of the
city for the comforts of spacious yards, ample
parking, and highly-rated school systems,
home builders can look forward to a steady
stream of new business. The San Antonio
metro area in particular is well-prepared
for the next wave of suburban expansion,
especially in terms of new community
development building. Community home
builders, such as Lennar, rely on the suburbs
to continue to pull in home buyers. Lennar
alone has over 30 community developments
spread across the San Antonio metro area
with hundreds of floorplans available,
including many appealing to first-time
home buyers and young families.
Lennar’s latest master-planned community
is being built now in the San Antonio
suburb of Bulverde. This development is
expected to be ready for home buyers in
2017. Along with constructing over 1,800
new homes, Lennar is also creating the
community’s parks, trails, pools, and other
amenities. There will be a range of pricing
and home-size options, and perhaps most
appealing of all, this new community is
located on a former ranch in the Texas Hill
Country. Talk about a change of scenery
for those young city dwellers looking for
something different.
New housing is booming outside San
Antonio’s city center, and the millennials
are coming. Maybe today’s young adults
really aren’t so different from their
elders. Technological advancements and
a loosening of societal expectations have
probably given them more life options
than their parents had “back in the day.”
It’s no longer so abnormal to stay single,
to have kids later in life (or not at all), to
move out to Marfa, or buy a tiny house.
But whether a young man or woman
decides to take the road less travelled
or realizes they want to follow in their
parents’ footsteps, the freedom to choose
is always a good thing, and for the time
being, the suburbs continue to thrive.
By Chad Andycha
THE SUBURBS Live IN SAN ANTONIO