Located in south central Texas between Austin and Houston, San Antonio is ranked as one of the top 10 “hidden gem” housing markets by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). Even though housing prices have increased by nearly 23% over the past year, the NAR still predicts that San Antonio will have stronger price appreciation in 2022 relative to other markets.
Median rents for 3-bedroom homes in San Antonio are also on the rise, growing by 17% over the past year. Some of the most popular neighborhoods for renters in San Antonio, including Westfort and Fort Sam Houston, have more than 80% renter-occupied households.
Investors thinking about purchasing rental property in Texas might just find San Antonio to be the ideal location. Here are 15 San Antonio neighborhoods and suburbs to consider, including several areas where more than half of residents rent their homes.
Key takeaways
- San Antonio is home to more than 1.4 million people in the city and nearly 2.6 million in the metropolitan area.
- San Antonio population growth was one of the largest among the top 10 metro areas between 2010 and 2020.
- Areas of San Antonio where more than 50% of residents rent their homes include Midtown, Tobin Hill, and Lavaca.
>>Explore Roofstock's San Antonio investment properties.
Why invest in San Antonio?
San Antonio ranks seventh among the major metros with the biggest population gains between 2010 and 2020, according to Culture Map San Antonio. People and businesses are moving to metropolitan San Antonio for the affordable cost of living, low tax rates, and pro-growth climate.
Metropolitan San Antonio is also outperforming other large metros with the increase in 6-figure jobs. Between 2015 and 2020, San Antonio had more than a 160% increase in high-paying jobs, helping to keep job growth strong and steady and the unemployment rate low.
A strong economy and consistent inbound migration are 2 likely reasons why home prices and the demand for rental property in San Antonio are rising.
The median value of a middle-price-tier home increased by 22.7% year over year, according to Zillow, through January 31, 2022. Median rent prices for 3-bedroom homes in San Antonio have also increased by 17% over the past year, based on the most recent report from Zumper (Feb 22, 2022).
15 great areas in San Antonio for investment properties
Metropolitan San Antonio is home to over 2.5 million people living in more than 170 neighborhoods, with median listing prices ranging from $158,300 to $1 million.
Although median home values in San Antonio increased by nearly 23% last year, investors thinking about purchasing rental property here may have a window of opportunity. According to Realtor.com, San Antonio is currently rated as a buyer’s market, which means that the supply of homes is greater than the demand.
Here are 15 areas in and around San Antonio in which to consider buying investment property. Demographic and neighborhood-level data comes from Realtor.com, Redfin, and Niche.com.
Midtown
The Midtown neighborhood in San Antonio is located immediately north of the city center, near San Antonio College and San Pedro Springs Park. Midtown has a dense suburban feel, and more than half of residents rent their homes:
- Population: 21,748
- Median sale price: $380,000
- Change in sales price (year over year): 6.7%
- Days on market: 41
- Median rent: $917
- Renter-occupied households: 55%
- Median household income: $58,991
- ZIP codes: 78201, 78212, 78252
Tobin Hill
Tobin Hill is adjacent to Midtown and also has a high percentage of renters. The neighborhood has an urban-suburban feel with a lot of restaurants and coffee shops, and is a few blocks from Methodist Hospital Metropolitan:
- Population: 7,121
- Median sale price: $399,000
- Change in sales price (year over year): 18.2%
- Days on market: 51
- Median rent: $1,053
- Renter-occupied households: 75%
- Median household income: $55,114
- ZIP code: 78212
Lavaca
The Lavaca neighborhood in San Antonio is located a few minutes south of Downtown, near the Tower of the Americas and the San Antonio River Walk. Lavaca has an urban feel with a lot of bars and restaurants, and most residents rent their homes:
- Population: 3,424
- Median sale price: $342,000
- Change in sales price (year over year): -8.1%
- Days on market: 65
- Median rent: $858
- Renter-occupied households: 68%
- Median household income: $44,105
- ZIP code: 78210
Westfort
The Westfort neighborhood is just east of Tobin Hill, adjacent to Brackenridge Park, where the San Antonio Zoo is located. Westfort has an urban feel and one of the largest percentages of renter-occupied households in San Antonio:
- Population: 2,135
- Median sale price: $551,000
- Change in sales price (year over year): 11.5%
- Days on market: 67
- Median rent: $1,306
- Renter-occupied households: 86%
- Median household income: $44,448
- ZIP codes: 78215, 78234
Monte Vista
Monte Vista is located a few minutes north of Downtown, near the Midtown and Tobin Hill neighborhoods. Niche.com ranks Monte Vista as one of the best places to live in Texas. It has a dense suburban feel, and more than half of residents rent their homes:
- Population: 6,048
- Median sale price: $548,500
- Change in sales price (year over year): -9.15%
- Days on market: 36
- Median rent: $1,159
- Renter-occupied households: 54%
- Median household income: $105,774
- ZIP code: 78212
Government Hill
Most residents of Government Hill rent their homes. Located just east of Downtown along either side of I-35, Government Hill has a dense suburban feel and a lot of bars, restaurants, and coffee shops:
- Population: 10,428
- Median sale price: $287,500
- Change in sales price (year over year): -6.8%
- Days on market: 99
- Median rent: $1,379
- Renter-occupied households: 81%
- Median household income: $54,022
- ZIP code: 78212
Oakland Estates
Oakland Estates is the fourth best neighborhood in San Antonio, according to Niche.com. Located about 30 minutes northwest of Downtown, Oakland Estates is near University Hospital-University Health and The University of Texas at San Antonio, and it’s a popular neighborhood for renters:
- Population: 8,109
- Median sale price: $405,000
- Change in sales price (year over year): -18.3%
- Days on market: 46
- Median rent: $1,102
- Renter-occupied households: 76%
- Median household income: $71,389
- ZIP code: 78240
Downtown San Antonio
The Downtown neighborhood in San Antonio is bordered by I-35 on the west, I-37 on the east, and Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard on the south. The San Antonio River Walk, the San Antonio Museum of Art, Tower of the Americas, and SEA LIFE San Antonio are all located in the neighborhood:
- Population: 22,923
- Median sale price: $548,000
- Change in sales price (year over year): -4.6%
- Days on market: 61
- Median rent: $791
- Renter-occupied households: 66%
- Median household income: $39,242
- ZIP codes: 78204, 78205, 78210, 78215
Mahncke Park
Mahncke Park is located just east of Downtown and is bordered by Brackenridge Park, where the San Antonio Zoo and Japanese Tea Garden are located, on the west. It’s also home to the San Antonio Botanical Garden. The neighborhood has an urban-suburban feel, and most residents rent their homes:
- Population: 5,010
- Median sale price: $395,000
- Change in sales price (year over year): -9.09%
- Days on market: 88
- Median rent: $993
- Renter-occupied households: 71%
- Median household income: $62,357
- ZIP code: 78209
Olmos Park
Located a few minutes north of Downtown near the San Antonio Zoo and Olmos Basin, Olmos Park is ranked as the third best suburb in San Antonio by Niche.com. The neighborhood has a sparse suburban feel, with a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks:
- Population: 1,832
- Median sale price: $675,000
- Change in sales price (year over year): -13.5%
- Days on market: 39
- Median rent: $869
- Renter-occupied households: 25%
- Median household income: $148,750
- ZIP code: 78212
Alamo Heights
Alamo Heights is located along the east side of Olmos Basin, and it’s ranked as the best neighborhood in San Antonio by Niche.com. Alamo Heights has a dense suburban feel, with a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks:
- Population: 5,502
- Median sale price: $532,500
- Change in sales price (year over year): -8.5%
- Days on market: 67
- Median rent: $1,331
- Renter-occupied households: 28%
- Median household income: $155,983
- ZIP code: 78209
Fort Sam Houston
Fort Sam Houston is about 15 minutes northeast of Downtown, along I-35. The neighborhood is adjacent to the San Antonio Botanical Garden on the west and home to the San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAMMC). It has a dense suburban feel, and most residents rent their homes:
- Population: 9,249
- Median sale price: $348,000
- Change in sales price (year over year): -8.3%
- Days on market: 105
- Median rent: $1,371
- Renter-occupied households: 82%
- Median household income: $55,320
- ZIP code: 78234
Live Oak
Suburban Live Oak is about 30 minutes northeast of San Antonio, along I-410, on the way to Selma. Live Oak is home to Methodist Hospital Northeast, has a dense suburban feel, and is popular with renters:
- Population: 15,855
- Median sale price: $230,000
- Change in sales price (year over year): 5.0%
- Days on market: 10
- Median rent: $1,133
- Renter-occupied households: 44%
- Median household income: $49,914
- ZIP code: 78154
Selma
Selma is a suburb of San Antonio along I-35/Monarch Highway, located just north of Randolph Air Force Base. The town has a sparse suburban feel, and more than one-third of residents rent their homes:
- Population: 10,419
- Median sale price: $307,000
- Change in sales price (year over year): 30.6%
- Days on market: 17
- Median rent: $1,442
- Renter-occupied households: 36%
- Median household income: $73,175
- ZIP code: 78154
Converse
The suburb of Converse is 15 miles northeast of Downtown San Antonio, bordered by I-10 on the south and Randolph Air Force Base on the east. Converse has a sparse suburban feel and a lot of parks:
- Population: 26,930
- Median sale price: $260,000
- Change in sales price (year over year): 25.9%
- Days on market: 32
- Median rent: $1,208
- Renter-occupied households: 28%
- Median household income: $72,911
- ZIP codes: 78109, 78239
>>Explore Roofstock's San Antonio investment properties.
