Northwest

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About

Northwest San Antonio is where folks go to get away from the hustle and bustle of the Alamo City. This outlying area offers the best of both worlds: rural yet with access to plenty of shopping and entertainment, and quiet neighborhoods close to some of the area’s largest employers. Bounded by Loop 1604, Northwest is at the outer edge of San Antonio and enjoys views of the stunning Texas Hill Country. While still very suburban, Northwest has a more rural feel. It’s not uncommon for homes to sit on acres of land and for horses to roam in Northwest.

This business hub is home to several major corporations and military-friendly businesses like USAA, NuStar Energy, and Valero. The Northwest also includes the University of Texas at San Antonio, the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, and the Northwest Campus of the University of the Incarnate Word, drawing students from all over. The La Cantera District, a master-planned development with a renowned shopping center, and Six Flags Fiesta Texas are also here, as well as two other popular shopping centers.

You’ll find most military commuters in Northwest stationed at JBSA-Lackland. Living in this area makes it easy to hop on one of the loops and reverse commute, while most of your neighbors will be headed east and south into the city. Those stationed at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston or Randolph most likely live elsewhere—that drive in traffic is no joke.

Neighbors

Because of the universities, corporate headquarters, and businesses that anchor in Northwest, many career-minded or degree-seeking spouses gravitate to this area. As with most of San Antonio, you’ll find a good mix of military-affiliated folks and local San Antonians in Northwest.

Neighborhood Feel

Northwest neighborhoods have a rural feel with their spacious lots but are replete with modern suburban amenities like pools, playgrounds, and community centers. There’s a bit more space here, and you’ll find everything from historic bungalows to grand, master-planned communities with brand new homes. Most communities enjoy the scenic backdrop of the rolling Hill Country.

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Neighborhood Location

Neighborhood Info

Northwest San Antonio - JBSA Lackland - San Antonio, TX - gomillie.com

Helotes
Leon Valley

Helotes

Just outside Loop 1604 lies the quaint town of Helotes (pronounced “heh-LO-tez”). This rugged enclave was once a small farming community but has seen a lot of development in recent years. It is referred to as the “Gateway to Hill Country” and has a distinctly rural feel. Old Town Helotes offers a fully-stocked farmer’s market and several independently owned shops and restaurants. You can easily find horse feed, ammo, or tractor tires in Helotes—if you’re so inclined. Walmart and a drive-thru Starbucks are two staple retailers located here if you need a brand-name fix. A short 10-minute drive can deliver you to the nearest Target and Super H-E-B (groceries). Development and city sprawl will surely bring more chains to Helotes in the future.

Perhaps the most famous establishment in Helotes is the John T. Floore Country Store. Originally opened as a dance hall/cafe—not a store—Floore’s is a unique entertainment venue that has attracted renowned musical acts for over 70 years. Legends like Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, B.B. King, Little Richard, Willie Nelson, and many more have played this iconic honky tonk.

Family friendly is an understatement in Helotes. It was named “The Best Place to Raise Kids in Texas” by Bloomberg BusinessWeek in 2013, and it’s easy to see why. Quiet neighborhoods, a desirable school, homes with acreage, events like the summer movie in the park, rodeos, and festivals are all draws to this community.

Home Prices in Helotes

The median price for all homes currently listed in Helotes is $320,000 according to the Zillow Home Value Index. According to Zillow’s Rental Index, the median rental rate for single family homes in Helotes is $1,975. Single family homes in Helotes range from about 1,800 to around 4,000 square feet, with the average home measuring 3,000 square feet.

Homes in Helotes are full of charm. Even the new homes are markedly unique—a departure from the ever-present cookie-cutter neighborhoods found elsewhere in the suburbs. Most houses occupy multiple acres, and having a horse instead of a dog in the yard isn’t uncommon.

Helotes - Northwest San Antonio - JBSA Lackland - San Antonio, TX - gomillie.com

Commuting from Helotes

The commute time to JBSA-Lackland is 24 to 80 minutes and 35 to 90 minutes to JBSA-Fort Sam Houston and Brooke Army Medical Center. Living in Helotes provides quick access to Loop 1604 Interstate 10, but can be considered “a hike” to most of the JBSA installations.

Schools in Helotes

The public school in Helotes belongs to Northside Independent School District, which has an overall rating of 6, according to GreatSchools.org. Helotes Elementary School has a rating of 9, and the middle and high schools that draw from Helotes are also highly rated.

NISD provides an array of services for the over 7,000 children with military-connected parents in the district. Some interesting offerings for military families to note include a free Pre-K program for military kids, military pride clubs, guidance counselors with access to training specific to challenges military children face, and a task force that meets quarterly to discuss concerns and resources available to military families.

Leon Valley

Leon Valley is an insulated town that lies bit closer to the city center than Helotes, inside the Loop 1604 (outer loop) and adjacent to Loop 410 (inner loop). It’s secluded, yet close to everything. Wildlife sightings in quiet neighborhoods are common, yet it’s only a 10-minute drive to almost anything you could need by way of work, shopping, dining, and entertainment. Availability of some well-rated schools round out the “pro” column for families considering Leon Valley as their new home.

Home Prices in Leon Valley

The median home value for all homes in Leon Valley is $158,900 according to the Zillow Home Value Index. Home Values are forecasted to increase by 3.8% in the coming year. According to Zillow’s Rental Index, the median rental rate for single family homes in Leon Valley is $1,315. Single family homes in Leon Valley range from about 1,300 to 3,026 square feet, with the average home measuring around 1,925 square feet.

Leon Valley - Northwest San Antonio - JBSA Lackland - San Antonio, TX - gomillie.com

Commuting from Leon Valley

The commute time to JBSA-Lackland is 18 to 40 minutes, while the commute to JBSA-Fort Sam Houston and Brooke Army Medical Center is 20 to 75 minutes, depending on traffic. Getting to JBSA-Randolph takes 30 to 90 minutes. Living in Leon Valley provides quick access to Interstate 10 and Loop 410.

Schools in Leon Valley

Public schools in Leon Valley belong to Northside Independent School District, with an overall rating of 6 according to Greatschools.org. One of the highest rated schools is an open-enrollment charter school, the School Of Science And Technology Discovery (SST), with a rating of 7. Though the district maintain and SST have a good reputation, some of the schools in the Leon Valley boundary have not earned as high a score. The closer you get to the downtown, the more you need to research the schools and your student’s options.

SST requires an application to be considered for admission. Mark your calendar for January 10 through March 15—the application window for the upcoming school year. If the school fills up, a lottery will determine acceptance. They offer Gifted and Talented (GT) Programs, Science Olympiad Team, Art, First LEGO League, ESL, Special Education, and Dyslexia programs, but do not offer any bus transportation, so you’ll need to drive your children no matter where you live.

Points of Interest

Six Flags Fiesta Texas

The Shops at La Cantera

The Rim Mall

The University of Texas at San Antonio

Raymond Rimkus Park – Leon Valley

Historic Huebner Home – Leon Valley

John T. Floore’s Country Store – Helotes

San Antonio Aquarium

Big Plus

Northwest has an awesome job market and exploding economy. Some of the state’s most well-known employers are based here, and they love to hire military spouses and veterans.

You can live in peaceful communities with breathing room, yet still be close to all the shopping, dining, and entertainment options you can imagine.

As with most of San Antonio, homes here are relatively affordable. Your money can go a little farther in Northwest than it does downtown or in Stone Oak.

If you want to get away from the light pollution and the hustle and bustle of the city, the open spaces in Northwest will feed your soul. You can easily find a home with acreage, and if keeping horses is your thing—this is your place.

Things to Consider

Northwest is one of the most outlying areas in the San Antonio metro area and is considered to be quite far from the JBSA installations. Access to the loops that skirt the city help with getting to and from JBSA-Lackland and Randolph, and it is very close to Camp Bullis (training area) so those who will be spending time there should consider it.

Texas is hot. Like, sweltering hot. San Antonio has the added perk of experiencing humidity as well, so acclimate as quickly as you can. On the plus side, you can count on over 300 days of sunshine a year and relatively mild winters—the temperature rarely drops below freezing!

San Antonio is a sprawling city. What it lacks in height, it makes up for in circumference. The two Interstate loops that encircle the city and the various highways that pass through it help with getting around, but it still takes time. Be conscious of how far you are choosing to live from downtown, and how that will affect the amount of time you or your spouse will spend in the car. Northwest is sheltered from some of the hustle and bustle areas “inside the loop” have to deal with, but the city is steadily creeping outward.

How’s the Market?

The real estate market in San Antonio is competitive, and homes move quickly. Having an experienced AgentHero is of tremendous value in this aggressive market!

If you’re interested in renting, don’t feel like you are limited to renting sight-unseen. Our Scouts can help you out with a Facetime walk through, neighborhood “recon,” or by taking extra photos of the property you’re interested in. Like any urban area, you’ll find pockets of neglect that may get glossed over in real estate listings.

School Scoop

PCS’ing to the San Antonio area means parents have a lot of choices when it comes to picking a new school for their kids. We recommend checking out the subareas above to get a better idea of available education models.

We also recommend checking out our locale page to learn more about education models in San Antonio.

Highlighted Areas

Helotes – Iron Horse Canyon, Helotes Crossing

Leon Valley – Forest Oaks

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