Moving to San Antonio....

[MikkiStreak]

Long story short.... my favorite client called me yesterday and wants me to consider taking a job with their company, doing what I'm already doing for them, but at double the salary. They're moving forward with this pretty quickly (tonight I spoke briefly with the VP the position reports to) and want to fly Frank and I down there to meet the VP and Sr. VP over this business unit in the company. They've even mentioned the possibilities of bringing Frank on board in their company also, or at least having their relocation concierge get him networked and get his foot in the door with other companies in San Antonio.

 

So I'm seriously thinking this over. Here's my questions for those of you who live down there:

 

Are you from San Antonio, or did you move there? If you moved there, what made you WANT to move there?

 

What do you love about living in San Antonio?

 

What do you not like about living in San Antonio?

 

Without being a millionaire, where are the best neighborhoods to look at? (The company is located about 15 miles NW of downtown San Antonio. Our dream home area would be that "rural" feel inside the city; where the homes sit on 1/2 to 1 acre lot size; far enough from the city light pollution that we could stare at the sky and see some stars; and if possible, really close to a lake.)

 

What is the economy/job market like down there? I've heard comments from people that if a person is unemployed it can be very difficult to find a good paying job. We're both business professionals (I'm a tech geek, and he runs a call center.)

[Kat81]

I don't have any answers to your questions. I can say I love San Antonio. Congrats on the offer. I hope everything works out great! You never know unless you try right?

[Saraha]

That sounds like an amazing oppurtunity. Unfortunately I have never been there and don't know much about it. But wish you both the best of luck!

[Martha]

I'll answer best I can:

 

Are you from San Antonio, or did you move there? If you moved there, what made you WANT to move there?

I am from the Corpus area and we moved to S.A. last August. We moved because I would make more money and my sister and brother live there. We also wanted to live in a big city. We love visiting S.A. because it is so diverse and the culture is amazing.

 

What do you love about living in San Antonio?

Oh, the culture, so many cultural events, so much to do,free things to do, hiking trails, close to lakes, close to Austin, museums, downtown/riverwalk, it's artsy (but in a different way than Austin).

 

What do you not like about living in San Antonio?

We are moving back home this summer because we want to be closer to rest of our families and friends while raising a baby.

It's too big. Luckily, we live near all the places we shop and dine at but if we wanted to go somewhere else further away the highways are pretty easy to access....when they aren't doing CONSTRUCTION.

Crime. Used to be the only parts of S.A. that saw crime were the east, and west, now it's northeast, northwest, downtown, south, everywhere!

 

Without being a millionaire, where are the best neighborhoods to look at? (The company is located about 15 miles NW of downtown San Antonio. Our dream home area would be that "rural" feel inside the city; where the homes sit on 1/2 to 1 acre lot size; far enough from the city light pollution that we could stare at the sky and see some stars; and if possible, really close to a lake.)

Northwest is the nicest, but also most expensive. You could try medical center area, but you wouldn't get the rural feel. How would you feel about living outside of S.A.? Like maybe Castroville or Helotes (this might be kinda far now that I think about it). Those might give you a 30 -45 min. drive to work (maybe less) but you would get a more rural feel. Ciboloo is also very country and kinda where we live...but it's Northeast by Randolph Air Force Base. It's is a very nice/affordable area though. I wil say as long as you are close to 1604 you should be able to access work because it is a loop and easy to navigate.

 

 

What is the economy/job market like down there? I've heard comments from people that if a person is unemployed it can be very difficult to find a good paying job. We're both business professionals (I'm a tech geek, and he runs a call center.

This I don't really know about....I am a teacher so the job market is different for me....Just in our little area we had to telecommunication centers within a 3 mile radius....West Communications and Red something....crap, can't remember the name. I am not sure if they are inbound or outbound or both. There also used to be Calling Solutions and I actually worked in HR there when they were located in my hometown. I believe they are still open.

 

I will say that the cost of living in S.A. is very affordable and you would be amazed how little our light bill is every month. If you are going to be making double than what you do now, and the cost of living in Dallas is more expensive than S.A., you will be just fine.

 

 

You may have already checked it out, but this is a forum I used to get info before we moved there. San Antonio Forum - Relocation, Moving, Local City Discussions - City-Data Forum

Since I only lived here a year, they might be able to help you better than I.

[MikkiStreak]

Awesome! Thank you Martha! I hadn't found that forum, so I'll have to start digging through it.

 

We haven't been down there for about 3 years now, and our last trip was our first and only trip there so far. We stayed about 2-3 blocks from the Alamo and only did the touristy things, so we didn't get a good feel for what the real lifestyle of the city is like. But, I do remember having the impression the crime rates might be a little higher. But hey, compared it Dallas, it's still go to be a huge reduction to what we've been used to up here!

 

I wouldn't mind living outside the city and having a 20 minute commute. Up until last year when I started the job I'm in now, I had spent 7 years with 1-1.5 hour commute each direction with everything at a standstill the entire drive to/from work. Right now, I just have a 10 minute commute and am loving it. But if we could find a nice peaceful remote location to live, it would be worth the commute to have my sanity back in the evenings.

 

I'll have to start digging for info on the areas you mentioned and narrow down some places to look at. I think if things go well tomorrow evening, it sounds like they're going to fly Frank and I down there pretty quickly, so I want to have some ideas of where to go & look for the trip.

 

I appreciate your help!

[Martha]

No problem. Wish I could have been more help.

 

If there is something else you need help with or you need something more specific, I can ask my sister. She has been there the last 13 years.

 

Traffic is not too bad in S.A., not like Houston. I HATE Houston traffic. I have never driven in Dallas, so I can't compare the two. The only time it is bad is when there is construction and of course an accident. Rush hour is bad, but never too bad, if that makes sense.

 

I hope that other forum can help you more. Let me know if there is something you want me to find out for you.

[Sandra E.]

I don't know anything about San Antonio, but I do wish you the best. Sounds like a wonderful opportunity.

[JaimeLynne]

Oh no! You're leaving us! We still have to meet at the dog park and go shoot at the Arboretum! *pouts*

 

Hehe, jk. I lived there when I was a kid one Summer with my Mom & Step-Dad (he was stationed at Randolph Airforce Base). We lived in some random apartments. I couldn't even begin to tell you where they were. I have family that lives there but I have pretty much disowned the majority of them. Besides that, we have only gone there for the touristy stuff.

 

I hope you like it there, I know you've been dying to get the heck outta here!

 

When do you move?

[starchild]

Wow Maria that sounds like a great opportunity and I say go for it! I know squat about SA or Texas in general so that's all I got, but good luck