Looking for Something Fun to Do in San Antonio for Valentine's Day?

Are you looking for something fun to do in San Antonio for Valentine's Day?  There's an excellent article on the KSAT website with ideas for "20 Dates For Under $20" for Valentine's Day.  Most are possible in or near Hollywood Park, weather permitting, on Sunday, Feb. 14th.  My favorites from the list include:

1. Visit the Botanical Garden.
2. Spend the day window shopping, and end it with a stop for ice cream. (The Rim?  La Cantera?)
3. Get a map and explore, looking at possible dream homes.  Pack a lunch and stop to eat when you run across a park.
4. Visit San Antonio's historical centers.  You probably haven't seen them all in San Antonio!
5. Visit the San Antonio Zoo, especially if you haven't been there in a while.

Be creative!  A good walk through the Park could be a good alternative on a pretty day!  Happy Valentine's Day.

10 Must -Have Features in New Homes

In the Styled Staged and Sold website, Melissa Dittmann Tracey writes that a survey was done on home buyer preferences and found the following hot home features that reign supreme in today's market:

1. Large kitchens with an island.


2. Energy-efficient appliances and high-efficiency insulation and windows. (These were the most sought-after “green” features from buyers.)

3. Home office or study

4. Main-floor master suite

5. Outdoor living room

6. Ceiling fans

7. Master suite soaker tubs and oversize showers with seating areas

8. Stone and brick exteriors

9. Community landscaping with walking paths and playgrounds.

10. Two-car garages

Now, we in Hollywood Park, for the most part, live in homes that are not new.  So why do we care about what buyers seek in a new home?  Because, someday we are going to want to sell our Hollywood Park homes and those same features will help us compete with the newer homes at that time.  So if you're thinking of spending money to update or remodel, wouldn't it make sense to incorporate some of these desired trends?

We actually compare pretty well with our stone & brick exteriors, our two car garages, and master suites being on the first floor (since the majority of our homes are one story!).  But where we often fall short is not having updated our windows and appliances, nor enlarged our often small kitchens.  Sure, those are the "big-ticket" items, but they are often the difference in a buyer's decision to purchase or not to purchase. 

We don't want to invest the money to enlarge or update, but neither do the buyers, unless they can buy cheap.  The homes that have had the updates sell higher and usually faster than those that have not updated.  And if you don't wait until you're ready to sell to do the work, you will actually enjoy those updates yourselves!

Hollywood Park HOA Tamalada and Board Election

Last Saturday, at noon, was the neighborhood tamalada put on by the Hollywood Park HOA.  About 70 residents were in attendance, and enjoyed a wonderful Mexican tamale dinner catered by Habaneros Grill. 

The 2010 board for the Homeowner's Association was elected and everyone enjoyed visiting with new and old acquaintances.  The tamalada is an annual event to welcome residents who have moved into the Park during the last year.

The tamalada was a great event to welcome 2010 with many other family oriented activities to come.  Thanks to the HOA board and volunteers who make all the activities possible.

Winter Home Maintenance Tips

So it's cold outside, and everything's frozen from the recent low temps.  Can't work outside in the garden, so what can you be doing in your home this winter to get it in tip top shape?  State Farm Insurance has a list of tips for that honey-do list!

• Clean out gutters and downspouts.
• Store firewood at least 30 feet away from your home.

• Clean the clothers dryer exhaust duct, damper and space under the dryer.
• Clean the kitchen exhaust hood and air filter.
• Check the water hoses on the clothes washer and dishwasher for cracks and bubbles.
• Test all GFCI outlets.

Use your time wisely... it will be Spring in Hollywod Park before we know it!

Hollywood Park Tamalada is On the Way!

The Hollywood Park Tamalada is coming soon!  Each year the neighborhood Homeowner's Association hosts a tamalada, or Mexican dinner, to welcome residents who have moved into the neighborhood the previous 12 months. 

This year's tamalada will take place Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 12 Noon at the Voigt Center at 701 El Portal.  All HOA members are welcome as well as any residents new to the neighborhood.  An HOA meeting will follow and new board members will be elected.

Come celebrate with us and enjoy a great Mexican dinner with your neighbors.  See you there!

Landscape Lighting is Not Just For Christmas!

The Christmas lights are mostly gone, packed away in the garages and attics in Hollywood Park.  It was a beautiful show this year, with lots of blow up characters, and the new LED brightly colored lights.  I think our relatively mild fall allowed more residents the time to comfortably get outside to put up the displays.

Now that Christmas has come and gone, our yards could still use a little enlightening!  Landscape lighting is becoming a more common investment by homeowners, whether the do-it-yourself installations, or by hiring a landscape architect to "do" the yard.  We are not blessed with lots of streetlights, so many areas of our streets are extremely dark at night, and the landscape lighting you put in your yard can be a very effective way to make your home stand out. 

Want more info on landscape lighting?  There's an excellent article at http://www.hgtv.com/landscaping/outdoor-landscape-lighting/index.html.  It tells you how to make your yard "light years ahead of others"!  Also, if you decide to get a quote on professional lighting, try Elite Lighting Designs.  You can reach them at 573-0594 or check them out on the web: http://www.elitelightingdesigns.com/.  Shawn George is a former client of ours and would be glad to give you a free estimate.

2009 Home Sales in Hollywood Park in San Antonio, Tx

So how were the sales in Hollywood Park in 2009?

The year 2009 was an average year for home sales in Hollywood Park.  There were 44 closed sales in the Park in '09, which was an increase over 2008, but not on the pace set from 2001 to 2007.  Sales ranged from $158,000 for a 1935 square foot three bedroom home built in 1967 to $500,000 for a 3703 square foot four bedroom four bath home with recent major renovations.  Homes were on the market an average of 106 days, mostly due to the slower market and abundance of available homes.

And how does it look for 2010 in Hollywood Park? 

As we begin the new year, there are 27 homes on the market and only 4 that are under contract.  So the buyer's market continues in Hollywood Park, at least for now.  Available homes range from $185,000 for a small 3 bedroom ranch style home to $789,900 for a stylish 5545 square foot home with canyon views. 

Are you looking for a home in Hollywood Park in San Antonio, Tx?  Give us a call and we'll help you find just the right property!