Kristen Smith, Realtor

08/30/2026

More than 2,200 San Antonio home sellers changed their price in ONE week.

That’s the number that caught my attention in this week’s market.

From August 24–30:

🏡 6,352 active homes
🆕 934 new listings
📉 2,243 price changes
🔑 733 homes sold
💰 $300K median sold price
📆 65 median days on market
🤝 $10,238 average seller concessions
🏦 6.81% average 30 year mortgage rate
🇺🇸 6.37% average VA rate

For buyers, especially those relocating to San Antonio, this is why looking beyond the asking price matters.

A home that has been sitting for 60+ days, experienced multiple price reductions or is competing against new construction may give us opportunities to negotiate on price, closing costs or an interest rate buydown.

But relocation adds another layer.

Two similarly priced homes can have very different monthly payments because of property taxes, HOA fees and special taxing districts. And two homes that look close together on a map can give you very different daily commutes.

I’ve helped 225+ families relocate to San Antonio, and my process doesn’t start with scrolling listings.

We start at the gate.

Where do you need to commute? What payment are you comfortable with? What does your family need from the area?

Then we find the house.

If San Antonio is on your relocation radar, I’m always happy to be a resource.

08/27/2026

Downpayment Assistance for First Time Home Buyers! 🏡 💰

Learn how to qualify for downpayment assistance from available government and financial Programs! 😃 🙏🏻

🎯 Go to https://KristenSmith.StopRentingStartOwning.org to get the FREE Information Now!

Office: (210) 784-6527

Learn how to qualify for downpayment assistance from available government and financial programs!

08/23/2026

San Antonio Housing Market Update 🏡

If you're moving to San Antonio, this week's numbers show buyers still have something valuable: negotiating power.

For August 17 through August 23:

🏡 6,501 active homes
🆕 999 new listings
📉 2,059 price changes
🔑 663 homes sold
💰 $305,000 median sold price
🤝 $9,934 average seller concessions
📆 61 median days on market
🏦 6.77% 30 year mortgage rate
🇺🇸 6.35% VA mortgage rate

The number that stands out to me? Sellers contributed almost $10,000 on average toward buyer expenses.

Depending on the transaction, those concessions could potentially help with closing costs, prepaid expenses or an interest rate buydown.

For buyers relocating to San Antonio, remember that the purchase price is only part of the equation. Property taxes, commute times, HOA costs, builder incentives and neighborhood location can dramatically change what makes sense for your budget.

I've helped 225+ families relocate to San Antonio, and I help my clients understand the numbers before we ever write an offer.

Planning a move to San Antonio? Reach out and let's build a strategy around your move.

08/20/2026

What is Your Home Worth NOW 🏡

Recent home sales have affected your home's value! 💰 📈

Click to get your new home value estimate FREE and INSTANTLY! 🎯

Office: (210) 784-6527

https://KristenSmith.FreeValues4Home.com

Recent home sales have affected your home's sale potential! Get your new list price range instantly for free!

08/17/2026

Most relocation advice stops at closing.

I think that's where some of the most useful help should begin.

When a family moves to San Antonio, getting the keys doesn't answer questions like:

🚗 When do I register my car in Texas?

🏡 When can I file my homestead exemption?

💧 What are San Antonio's watering restrictions?

❄️ How often should I be checking my HVAC?

📚 How do I confirm my child's actual school assignment?

🦂 And yes…what do I need to know about South Texas pests?

I've helped more than 225 families relocate to the San Antonio area, and one thing I've learned is that a successful relocation isn't just about finding the right house. It's about helping a family actually get settled once they're here.

That's why I created a new First 30 Days in San Antonio Checklist covering the things newcomers should tackle during their first month, from Texas paperwork and utilities to insurance, schools and home maintenance.

If you're considering a move to San Antonio, save this one. And if you know someone relocating here, send it their way.

08/16/2026

What does $10,415 mean to a San Antonio home buyer?

That's the average amount sellers contributed toward buyer expenses on homes that closed this week.

And it's one of the numbers I think deserves more attention than the headlines about interest rates.

For August 10 through August 16:

🏡 6,690 homes were active
📉 2,161 properties had price changes
🔑 578 homes sold
💰 Median sold price was $316,000
🤝 Average seller concessions were $10,415
🏦 30 year mortgage rates were around 6.71%

For buyers, especially those relocating to San Antonio, this is why negotiating only on price can be a mistake.

A strong offer strategy might include negotiating closing costs, a rate buy down or other allowable expenses instead of simply asking the seller to reduce the sales price.

The bigger picture matters too.

San Antonio is a huge market. Property tax rates, commute times, new construction incentives and neighborhood options can change dramatically depending on which side of the city you're considering.

I've helped 225+ families relocate to San Antonio, and my job isn't simply to send listings.

It's to help my clients understand the numbers, compare their options and figure out where their money makes the most sense.

If San Antonio is on your relocation radar, this is a market where having a strategy matters.

08/13/2026

San Antonio has a way of making an ordinary weekend feel like a reason to get out and explore.

This weekend, August 14–16, is a perfect example.

You can watch Ringling Bros. take over the Alamodome, celebrate local culture at the FREE 10th Annual San Antonio Frida Fest, catch live Texas country at Floore's, shop local farmers markets, experience a candlelight concert, or head to the Briscoe for a free film exploring the story of Tejano Hollywood.

And one event is trying to make a little San Antonio history.

🌺 On Saturday at 3 PM, Frida Fest is attempting a Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of people dressed as Frida Kahlo.

That's the kind of event that makes San Antonio, San Antonio.

I talk a lot about real estate and relocation, but choosing where to live isn't only about square footage, property taxes, or commute times. It's also about what your life looks like once the boxes are unpacked.

Can you take your kids to a cultural festival on Saturday afternoon?

Is there a farmers market you actually look forward to visiting?

Can you drive to New Braunfels for a morning on the Comal and still be home that evening?

Are there traditions and experiences that make you want to put down roots?

Those are the things you don't necessarily see when you're scrolling through homes online.

It's also why I share these weekend guides. I want families considering a move to San Antonio to get a better picture of what living here can actually look like.

If you're new to San Antonio, what's one local event or place you've discovered that made the city start feeling like home?

08/10/2026

🚗 Moving to San Antonio? Don’t choose a neighborhood until you understand the commute.

One of the biggest mistakes I see relocating families make is looking at mileage instead of actual drive time. In San Antonio, 10 miles doesn’t always mean 10 minutes.

Loop 1604, I-35, US 281, I-10, SH 151, Loop 410 and Alamo Ranch can all create very different commuting experiences depending on where you live, where you work and what time you’re on the road.

After helping 225+ families relocate to San Antonio, I look at more than the house. I help my clients consider commute routes, schools, property taxes, neighborhood amenities and how an area will actually fit their everyday life.

I just put together a new guide covering 7 San Antonio traffic bottlenecks you should understand before choosing where to live.

Planning a move to San Antonio? Read the full guide on my website, or reach out and I’ll help you narrow down the areas that make the most sense for your family.

08/09/2026

The biggest mistake I see buyers make when relocating to San Antonio has nothing to do with interest rates.

It's choosing a house before choosing a location.

Every week I review the market, and this week's numbers tell an interesting story:

📊 August 3–9, 2026

🏡 799 homes sold
🏠 6,562 active homes
📉 2,383 price reductions
💰 Average seller concessions: $10,757
🏦 30-year mortgage rate: 6.74%

These statistics tell us buyers have choices. But having choices isn't the same as making the right decision.

San Antonio is one of the largest cities in the country by land area. A neighborhood that's perfect for one family could add an hour of driving every day for another. Property tax rates, school boundaries, amenities, and even resale potential can vary dramatically within just a few miles.

That's why my process is different.

Before we ever schedule a showing, we talk about:

* Where you'll work
* What your ideal commute looks like
* Your monthly payment goals
* Your family's lifestyle
* Your long term plans

Only then do we narrow down the neighborhoods that truly fit your needs.

As an Air Force veteran who's helped 225+ families relocate to San Antonio, I've learned that the best real estate decisions start with a strategy, not a search.

The right home is important.

The right location is what makes it feel like home.

If you're planning a move to San Antonio, I'd be happy to help you build that strategy from day one.

08/05/2026

What makes a city feel like home?

It's not just the house you buy.

It's finding your Saturday morning farmers market, discovering the neighborhood festival you'll return to every year, knowing where to take the kids on a Friday night, and building traditions that make a new city feel familiar.

That's one of the reasons I put together a weekly guide to what's happening around San Antonio.

This weekend includes everything from the Garden Ridge Back-to-School Festival and the Spurs Back to School Bash to the final performances of Hamilton, the Peddler Show in New Braunfels, and the last weekend of the FiestaLuz drone show at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. There's something for every age and interest.

As an Air Force veteran, I've relocated more times than I can count. I know firsthand that settling into a new community is about more than unpacking boxes. It's about finding the places, events, and experiences that help you build a life.

Helping families relocate to San Antonio means helping them feel connected long after closing day. That's one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.

What's your favorite San Antonio tradition or annual event that every newcomer should experience?