My husband and I are relocating to San Antonio early spring, and are looking for input on neighborhoods either in San Antonio or the surrounding areas. We love the Alamo Heights area, but it is a little out of our budget right now. We want someplace that is clean, safe, and close to parks for young children...any input on Live Oak or Converse? My husband will be working at Ft. Sam Houston. Thanks in advance for your help!
Heather

Try a realtor.

Try going north of the city. Less expensive housing.

My husband also works at Fort Sam and we live in the north end. If I could buy a house all over, I would live in a fantastic wooded park-like gated community called Roger's Ranch that is in the NEISD, one of the best school districts. It is just off of Loop 1604. The Vineyard is also pretty, but not as wooded and park-y. Good Luck! You'll love SanAn and have lots of fun here.

I just read Jack's post and I have to really disagree. I'm not sure if he actually lives here, but North San Antonio is most definitely not cheaper. Like most cities the north end is last to develop so has some of the newest, nicest homes and shopping. It is also near the medical centers, university etc. and so draws lots of doctors, lawyers and young professional families. The Sonterra, Greystone, Roger's Ranch, Stone Oak, Vineyard area is lovely! Great shopping, fun restaurants and good schools.

IMHO, to work at Ft. Sam and live in the 1604 area is insane. Aside from the gruesome traffic, it is an area with very little, if any, charm. What you'll find is just more of the cookie-cutter suburban sprawl found in virtually any city these days. To top that off, even the nicest homes tend to be built far too close together. Overall effect is residential clusters interspersed between glorified strip malls.
The areas closest to Ft. Sam (Government Hill, Mahncke Park) are starting to gentrify but far from inviting. Unless you are particularly adventurous and/or have no children probably best to avoid that. If Alamo Heights is out, try one of the neighborhoods that abut AH but are actually located in SA - e.g., Northridge. (Don't confuse this with Northwood, an area beset with airport noise!) There are lots of homes that "empty nesters" are selling, and a lot of renovating/ updating happening.

Hi Heather. First off, you will definitely enjoy living in SA. Great city. As for Live Oak and Converse- they are nice areas but also recently growing and very busy. If you don't mind the drive, anything outside of loop 410 is worth looking into. Some people may ask you not to venture or even think about the south side, but you should see for yourself. I have worked in this area of the city for over 10 years and really love it. San Antonio is growing as a whole, but the south side will have more affordable homes compared to the north side. Hope you find that home!

I moved to SA 16 years ago for a job position from a northern state.

The Best news is that home prices in SA are among the losest in the country. I resently sold my 3br, 2bath home on a large lot in a nice cummunity for $73,000! It was the going price. Concentrate on the north half of the city. Bad news: SA is one of the worst places for parks per capita. And they ain't that great! But almost all of the new developments are gated and guarded subdivisions...most with there own small park. Be prepard for hot humid weather. Its relentless!

Local joke is that San Antonio is the cleanest city in northern Mexico. Rich with history and culture, it is a great place to live if you can adapt to the culture. Do expect lower housing prices, also expect smaller houses for the most part. Those godawful "gated communities" are becoming endemic in SA just as everywhere else, but mostly in the newly developing suburban sprawl areas. An increasing problem is that the homeowners who initially buy in such places don't want to pay the cost to maintain the gates, guards, mini-parks, etc., and they get a bit shoddy.
You can find some great neighborhoods in the "inner Loop" areas - try ZIP code 78209, 78212, 78216 areas. If you want funky hip, look in the King William area just south of downtown. Do avoid the south and west side of town inside the loop - both are disgraceful and dangerous.