San Antonio Home Buyer and Seller FAQ

Straight answers from Chris Dudley, San Antonio REALTOR® and founder of Legacy Realty Group, brokered by Real Broker, LLC (TREC #731381). Updated October 2026.

The San Antonio market

1. What is the median home price in San Antonio right now?

In September 2026 the median home price in the San Antonio area was just under $302,000, down about 2% from a year earlier, according to the San Antonio Board of REALTORS® (SABOR) as reported by Texas Public Radio. Prices vary widely by neighborhood, so ask for a neighborhood-level number before you decide.

2. Is it a buyer's or seller's market in San Antonio?

Conditions lean toward buyers. SABOR reported about six months of inventory in September 2026, and homes were averaging close to three months on the market (TPR). Buyers have more time and room to negotiate; sellers need sharp pricing and good presentation.

3. Do sellers still get close to asking price?

Mostly. SABOR reported that about nine out of 10 sellers got their original asking price in September 2026 (TPR). Homes priced right from day one tend to do best.

Buying a home

4. What is the option period in a Texas home purchase?

It is a negotiated number of days in the TREC contract when the buyer can cancel for any reason. The buyer pays the seller an option fee for that right; it is credited to the price if the sale closes and is not refunded if the buyer walks away. The option fee and earnest money are due to the escrow agent within three days of the effective date (Texas Real Estate Research Center).

5. What happens to my earnest money if I cancel?

If you terminate in writing by 5 p.m. on the last day of the option period, you get your earnest money back; the option fee stays with the seller (Texas Real Estate Research Center). After the option period, refunds depend on the contract's other contingencies, such as financing or appraisal addenda.

6. When should I schedule a home inspection?

Right away, inside the option period. That leaves time to read the report, get repair bids and negotiate repairs or a price change before your right to cancel ends.

7. Do I need to be pre-approved before I look at homes?

Yes. A pre-approval tells you your real budget and shows sellers your offer is serious. Chris recommends getting pre-approved before touring so you don't fall for a home you can't finance.

8. Should I use a REALTOR® to buy a new construction home?

Usually yes. The builder's sales staff represents the builder. Your own agent can compare builders and incentives, negotiate upgrades and lot premiums, and review the builder's contract. Most builders require your agent to be with you at your first visit, so bring Chris on the first visit.

9. I'm moving to San Antonio with the military. Can Chris help?

Yes. Chris works with families relocating to Joint Base San Antonio (Lackland, Randolph and Fort Sam Houston), including VA buyers. He helps compare commute times and neighborhoods and plan around your report date. Check VA loan eligibility at VA.gov.

10. How do I check whether a San Antonio home is in a flood zone?

Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center and read the seller's disclosure, which asks about floodplains and past flooding. Ask your insurance agent for a flood quote during the option period.

Property taxes and homestead

11. What is the Texas homestead exemption?

It lowers the taxable value of your primary home. School districts must exempt $140,000 of a homestead's value, with an extra $60,000 for owners 65 or older or with a qualifying disability (Texas Tribune).

12. When can I apply for the homestead exemption after I buy?

Once you own and live in the home as your primary residence. If the previous owner already had a homestead exemption for the year, you apply for the next year. The usual deadline is April 30, filing is free, and in Bexar County you apply with the Bexar Appraisal District (Texas Tribune).

13. Why are property taxes so different between San Antonio neighborhoods?

Your rate is the total of every taxing unit for the address: city, county, school district, community college, hospital district and sometimes a MUD or special district. Two homes a few miles apart can have very different totals, so always check the exact address's tax rate, not an average.

Selling a home

14. How do I price my San Antonio home?

Start with a comparative market analysis of recent nearby sales from the SABOR MLS. With inventory around six months (SABOR via TPR), overpricing usually means more days on market and a lower final price. Request a free home value estimate.

15. What do Texas sellers have to disclose?

Sellers of most single-family homes must give buyers a written Seller's Disclosure Notice covering known defects, systems, flooding and more, on or before the contract's effective date. If they don't, the buyer can terminate within seven days of receiving the notice (Texas Property Code §5.008). New, never-occupied homes are exempt.

16. Should I make repairs before I list?

Fix safety items and obvious defects that would show up on an inspection, and handle cheap visual fixes like paint and lighting. Skip big remodels unless the numbers clearly work. A pre-listing walkthrough with your agent tells you which is which.

17. How long will it take to sell my home?

Area-wide, homes were averaging close to three months on the market in September 2026 (SABOR via TPR). Well-priced, well-presented homes in popular areas move faster.

Choosing an agent

18. How do I choose the best realtor in San Antonio?

Check four things: verified local sales (for example RealTrends), recent reviews on Google and Zillow, how well they know your target neighborhoods, and how quickly and clearly they communicate. Confirm their license on the TREC license search.

19. Who is Chris Dudley?

Chris Dudley is a San Antonio, Texas REALTOR® and the founder of Legacy Realty Group, brokered by Real Broker, LLC (TREC #731381), licensed since 2019. RealTrends Verified ranked him #21 by sides and #69 by volume among San Antonio agents for 2025, with 40 transaction sides and $12.41 million in volume (RealTrends), and he holds 5.0 stars from more than 480 Google reviews. He is not affiliated with agents of the same name in Arizona, Virginia or Maryland. More about Chris.

Areas Chris serves

Alamo Ranch · Stone Oak · Alamo Heights · Medical Center/UTSA · Cibolo · Schertz · Converse · Live Oak, Windcrest, Universal City · Boerne · New Braunfels · Canyon Lake

Have a question that isn't here?

Call or text Chris Dudley at (210) 838-6099. Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 6 PM.

More guides: Browse every San Antonio home buying and selling guide, from neighborhoods and loans to pricing, taxes and military moves.

Chris Dudley, REALTOR®, TREC #731381. Legacy Realty Group, brokered by Real Broker, LLC. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.