Should You Buy Now or Wait in San Antonio, TX?
Pre-filled with San Antonio's median home price of $300,000, a typical rent of $2,100/month, and a 2.1% property tax rate. Adjust the rate and price assumptions to see whether buying now or waiting comes out ahead.
Your situation
Negative = you expect prices to fall before you buy.
Waiting comes out ahead over 7 years
By $34,800 in net worth
🏠 Buy now — net worth at year 7
$135,764
⏳ Wait 18mo — net worth at year 7
$170,564
Break-even price
3.5%/yr
Break-even rate
—
Rent while waiting
$38,614
Waiting is ahead by $34,800 at year 7
Waiting ends with $170,564 in net worth — $34,800 more than the alternative — and holds up across a reasonable range of rate and price assumptions. Waiting only pulls ahead if prices move below about 3.5%/yr during the wait.
- ›Shortening the wait from 18 to 6 months cuts the $38,614 of rent you'd otherwise burn before owning.
- ›Waiting only pulls ahead if prices move below about 3.5%/yr during the wait.
⚡ Waiting 18 months means $38,614 paid in rent with no equity to show for it.
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The San Antonio market and the timing decision
San Antonio's low price-to-rent ratio (homes are cheap relative to rent) tends to favor buying for those planning to stay 5+ years, but the 2.1% property tax rate should be weighed carefully against that low purchase price.
Texas has no state income tax, but Bexar County property tax rates run above 2.1% — among the higher rates in this list — meaning the ongoing cost of ownership is proportionally significant relative to the purchase price.
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Educational content only — not financial advice
Local price, rent, and tax figures are estimates for San Antonio, TX and will differ by neighborhood and property. Future mortgage rates and home prices cannot be predicted. Consult a qualified mortgage, financial, or real estate professional before making a home-purchase decision.