Welcome to the Greater San Antonio Builders Association’s Spring Tour of Homes! We are excited to bring you forty new homes on this year’s scattered site tour. There are eight key communities in the tour located throughout the greater San Antonio area, all with different home price points and amenities.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) recently commissioned a study during the pandemic to find out what type of impact COVID-19 has had on the home building industry. The majority of the prospective home buyers surveyed were in the market for a single-family home (67 percent). Of those surveyed, 60 percent wanted to buy a new home over a preowned home, the largest share since 2007.
Households with teleworkers and/or virtual students confirmed that their housing preferences have changed because of COVID-19. The number of buyers who preferred to buy or build in an outlying suburb also increased drastically.

Interestingly enough, the laundry room and exterior lighting topped the list of the two most wanted features in a new home, both rated essential, or desirable by 87 percent of the buyers who took the survey. Ceiling fans, ENERGY Star rated windows and appliances, along with energy efficient lighting made the essential/must have list too. Patio’s, front porches, kitchens with double sinks, walk-in pantries and a bath on the main level were also on the “top ten” list along with hardwood floors for the main living area.

The survey rated the top five most wanted features in the kitchen with a double sink leading the way followed by a walk-in pantry, table space for eating, a central island, and a drinking water filtration system. These amenities were ranked as essential by over 75 percent of today’s buyers.

The top five most wanted specialty rooms were the laundry room, a dining room, a great room, a home office, and a separate living room. The exercise room did not make the top five list with only 47 percent of buyers ranking it essential, or desirable, but the results varied significantly with age groups. Over 60 percent of the Millennials and Gen X buyers wanted an exercise room and only 33 percent of the Boomers had it at the top of their list.

Builders are in tune with what buyers in all age ranges want in today’s market. Baby Boomers are interested in accessibility features to include a full bath on the main level of the home, wider doorways and hallways, non-slip floor surfaces and an entrance without steps. While the Baby Boomers rated these things as essential, over 60 percent of buyers in other age ranges ranked them as essential or desirable too.

Community features were a hot button in the survey regardless of age. The features buyers ranked at the very top of the list were amenities that allow residents to exercise and play sports outdoors while in the security of their own community. The top five most wanted community features in 2021 are walking/jogging trails, a typically “suburban” neighborhood, a park/playground/picnic area, being near retail services and a walkable community.

The Spring Tour of Homes has homes ready for move in, to-be-built and several model homes where you can see the latest in decorating and design trends. Join us April 17th and 18th and April 24th and 25th for the BIGGEST OPEN HOUSE IN CENTRAL TEXAS!

We want to extend a special thank you to CPS Energy for being the Presenting Partner of the 2021 Spring Tour of Homes. We also want to thank Keith Zars Pools for sponsoring our mobile app! We are also excited the New Braunfels Home Builders Association joined us to present this year’s tour so be sure and check out the new homes in the Vintage Oaks community in Comal County.

You can find more information about all of the homes on the tour online at mysa.com/stoh.

Enjoy the tour,