San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Pro tips for virtual house hunting
If you’re planning to buy a home but you’re not quite ready to view several dozen homes in person, start by looking at homes online. You’ll be surprised by the number of online showrooms, photos and even 3D videos available of homes to help you narrow down your search. Websites such as Realtor.com, Redfin.com, Trulia.com and your local custom home builders have detailed information about home interiors. Below are a few expert tips to help you organize and find information to support your virtual house hunt.
Create a list. If you are navigating many websites or watching hours of home videos online, make a list of the homes you enjoyed viewing. Keep careful notes of the listing descriptions. By creating a note taking system that works for you, you’ll be able to easily compare properties when you are ready to narrow down your list. Don’t forget to make a list of questions about the property you may have for the realtor.
Ask about floor plans.
If you’re not physically walking through the home, it might be challenging to visualize the space by only scrolling through photos online. Ask a realtor for a copy of the home’s floor plan. Once you have an idea of the layout and size of the space, you’ll be able to get a better grasp of the photos or videos of the home.
Research the neighborhood.
Not all websites with home listings will give you a sense of the neighborhood.
To help get a complete profile of the home and make an informed decision about the area around your home, conduct a general online search about the neighborhood. You’ll be surprised the amount of information you can learn about the activities that happen in the area or the local school system.
Drive by the home. If you are ready to get out of the house while maintaining social distancing, what better way than to drive by the homes you are considering. You’ll gain a better understanding of what amenities are nearby and a sense of the community. If you are not working from home or will be returning to work soon, try out your work commute.
For more information on how to find a builder in the greater San Antonio area, please visit www.sabuilders.com.
at Kissing Tree than we’ve made in a lifetime,” Kathy A. says. “Everyone seems to want to get to know each other, and Kissing Tree has given us the amenities to be able to do that.”
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When it comes to amenities, Kissing Tree has something for everyone. The heart of activity happens at The Mix, the 20-acre amenity campus in the center of the 1,300-acre community.
Visitors will find an expansive Welcome Center as well as Independence Hall, an open concept building that is home to classrooms and social gathering spots as well as a bar, café with demo kitchen, and an outdoor biergarten with a full stage and firepits. This is the place where everything happens, and it’s steps away from the pickleball courts, bocce ball courts, and horseshoe pits.
Sports-minded residents have lots to keep them busy, starting with the semiprivate 18-hole golf course and a 9-hole short game course. The par-72 course follows a landscape of rolling terrain, and both nines end with drivable downhill par 4s (289 yards and 321 yards from the tips), albeit each with water in play around the green.
In August of 2020, Kissing Tree opened a beautiful two-story fitness center with free weights, cardio machines, dance and yoga studios, and massage rooms. The neighborhood also opened an outdoor resort-style pool and party cabanas, as well as an indoor junior-Olympic lap pool with rolling doors that open to wide Hill Country views.
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It’s not just The Mix that’s conveniently located—it’s the whole Kissing Tree community. San Marcos is a small town with a big town feel, and it was named one of Forbes’ 25 Best Places to Retire three years in a row. “We love San Marcos,” says Kissing Tree resident Jim, “and Kissing Tree is just a plus to go along with it.” His wife Elizabeth adds, “We love being in a college town!”
San Marcos is home to Texas State University, the fourth largest university in the state, making Saturdays a great time to cheer on Bobcat football. Locally, you’ll find 1,200+ acres of parkland, with cool rivers and springs to float and fish, clear lakes for boating, amazing scenery and wildlife, and winding backcountry roads for exploring. Kissing Tree is just down the road from a huge outlet mall that attracts visitors from San Antonio and Austin, and the area is full of great restaurants and legendary spots like Gruene Hall and Cheatham Street Warehouse that offer live music almost every night of the week.
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Not only do all roads lead to Kissing Tree – it’s also easy to get anywhere from Kissing Tree. Tucked just off the IH-35 corridor, Kissing Tree is only 49 miles to San
Antonio and 31 miles to Austin, giving you lots of options when you’re booking flights or looking for a change of scenery.
“We don’t have to go to a resort or a destination, although we do like to travel,” Kathy A. says. “We can stay right here and just do things together that are fun.” Her husband Larry adds, “We know it’s the right spot because when we do travel, we’re always anxious to get back here.”
Ready to find out more? Go visit Kissing Tree for yourself, or checkout the homes that are available at kissingtree.com