Loop 1604 / US Highway 281 Interchange is Under Construction Near Hollywood Park

Construction has begun by TXDOT on the long awaited interchange between the two major highways that border Hollywood Park.  Loop 1604 which encircles a large portion of San Antonio borders the Park on the north side, and US Highway 281 borders the Park on the east side.  While the actual interchange is about a mile away from the HP boundaries, the construction has and will continue to impact the traffic patterns in our area.

Once completed, the hope is that the volume of cut-through traffic seen on some of our Hollywood Park streets will be lessened if motorists have easier and faster ways to get from one highway to another.  Meanwhile, it looks like we have a year or two to look forward to traffic delays, detours, noise and dust!

55 Closed Sales in Hollywood Park in 2010!

 The real estate market in Hollywood Park in San Antonio was a strong market in 2010.  There were 55 closed sales, a number larger than 2009. 2008 amd 2007. 

Prices in the Park ranged from $136,500 to $501,000.  As a small township, Hollywood Park includes homes of all sizes - from around 1200 square feet to 6000 square feet +.  The homes range in age from approximately 60 years to approximately 2 years.  The lots range from garden home size lots to 2 acres.  And there's just as much of a range in the levels of upkeep and updating.  So in the Park, there's really no such thing as an "average" home, or average $$ per square foot.

The other good news in our Hollywood Park market is that the number of available homes has lessened from the high of 40 at one point in 2010, to just above 20 at the current time.  It remains to be seen what the rest of 2011 will bring, but there are already two homes that have closed, and two others that are pending at the moment.  So prospects look good for another strong year.

111 Canyon View in Hollywood Park... Something for Everyone!

Wonderful family home, just listed, in Hollywood Park for $284,900.  This home includes lots of features your family will enjoy.  Like:

• Four large bedrooms (18x12, 16x15, 17x12, and 13x12)
• Master bedroom is split from the others and is downstairs
• Over 2800 square feet of space per the appraisal district
• Located on a .41 acre treed lot
• Large in-ground swimming pool for those warm Texas summers
• Multi-purpose Florida room overlooks the backyard
• Recent updates include crown molding, wall textures and paints, custom colors
• Pool recently re-surfaced
• Septic system recently replaced - now an aerobic system



The Latest on the Deer Feeding Issue

From the website, My San Antonio.com:

The city of Hollywood Park has worked up an initial list of acceptable food that residents may feed a specific number of deer on their own property.  An amended deer management ordinance, approved by City Council last month, is now in effect.  Council on Sept. 7 reviewed a preliminary, limited list, recommended by Councilman David Swan, of acceptable supplemental food.  The list includes apples, pears, figs, pumpkins, turnips, alfalfa, oats, wheat and sunflower seeds.  The list suggests protein deer pellets for supplemental protein.  The list is being made available to residents via such outlets as the city website, www.hollywoodpark-tx.gov.

A newly formed deer committee, made up of two residents appointed by each council member, will help advise the city on local deer-related matters such as suggestions of acceptable supplemental deer food. 
“We're micromanaging something that doesn't need micromanaging. We have so much more to worry about in (Hollywood Park) than what to feed the deer,” said Councilwoman Ellen Alkire.

Councilman Gary Miller expressed concern about residents' willingness to turn to what he called “high-dollar alternatives” on the feed list, such as oats and wheat.  “The idea here is that people going to a store could pick up these things for themselves first,” Swan responded.  Swan added that people who buy any of this food might have leftovers, which they could leave out in single-serving portions. 

A resident may feed up to a four deer at a time on his or her property.  Neither hand-feeding nor commercial feed stations are allowed.  According to city officials, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department urges residents not to leave out any food with beef by-products, such as cat or dog food.

Dog Days of Summer

It's HOT.  That's because it's August in south Texas.  We've finally reached (and crossed) the 100 degree mark for the first time this summer, so, can Autumn be far away? 

Meanwhile the HP real estate market remains crowded with 40 available homes still, and only 9 homes under contract.  There have been 36 sales thus far, so we're continuing at the 50 to 60 sale pace that was set earlier in the year, even though we have a LOT of homes on the market. 

Buyers are still out there shopping, even with the hot humid weather, so sellers are encouraged at the moment.  Interest rates are now an unbelievable 4. something rate, a real boon for buyers looking to qualify for a larger home than they expected.  We'll see how long that continues, and whether our larger than average inventory begins to dwindle.

A Questionable Milestone in Hollywood Park

We've reached a questionable milestone in my neighborhood, Hollywood Park.  For the first time in my memory, perhaps ever?? there are 40 homes on the market in the Park.  In a township of approximately 1300 homes, that's 3% of our neighborhood for sale at once.  We didn't reach that number overnight of course, we've been steadily building the number of active homes for quite some time.

There are a couple of positive sides to this milestone.  For buyers looking to purchase a home in Hollywood Park, there's plenty to choose from.  Our list prices range from $189,900 to $789,000!  About half of the 40 are priced at $300,000 and below, and the other half are priced above $300,000.  Along with these 40 homes, there are an additional 6 homes that are under contract, hopefully soon to be sold.

Meanwhile in 2010 from January through June, there have been 31 sales, which could indicate that our 40 homes is about a 7 to 8 months supply if the sales trends continue.  Time will tell whether the sales keep up the same pace in the second half of the year as they did in the first half, when they were perhaps aided by the tax credit incentives which have now ended.

4th of July Parade and Picnic

Long for an old fashioned 4th of July experience?  You could have been at the annual 4th of July Parade and Picnic in Hollywood Park.  We had families parading through the Park, dressed in their red, white and blue attire, escorted by kids on bikes & scooters, family dogs with colorful bandanas, all following the Park's big red fire engine. 

Once at the Voigt Center, the kids enjoyed a free swim, and everyone chowed down on hot dogs, hamburgers and sausage, followed by snow cones and cold watermelon slices.  There was even an egg toss led by the Mayor.  Lots of fun for all the Hollywood Park families today!