San Antonio Areas
East Side & Southeast,
San Antonio
East of downtown and I-37, from century-old porches just below Fort Sam Houston to brand-new streets past Loop 410 and acre lots in St. Hedwig, with two main school districts and three small towns along the way.
Questions about the East Side? Call or text me at (919) 800-9870
San Antonio's East Side and Southeast Side cover the land east of I-37 and downtown and south of Fort Sam Houston, from the historic districts of Government Hill and Dignowity Hill out past Loop 1604 to Elmendorf, China Grove and St. Hedwig. Government Hill is about 1.5 miles from Fort Sam's Walters Gate. San Antonio ISD serves the close-in neighborhoods and East Central ISD most of the rest. Combined 2026 tax rates run about $1.79 to $2.51 per $100 of value, and builder base prices start around $136,000.
Tiffany Reed, REALTOR® | MRP · Data current as of October 2026 · Sources: Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector · Bexar Appraisal District · OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM)- Fort Sam Houston is close to the older neighborhoods: its Walters Gate is about 1.5 driving miles from Government Hill, 2.5 from Dignowity Hill and 3.5 from Denver Heights. Off I-10 near Loop 1604, Flora Meadows, Vista Real, Savannah Place and Catalina are about 7.5 to 8.5 miles from Randolph's Lindsey Gate.
- Government Hill and Dignowity Hill each contain a City of San Antonio historic district, though the district line doesn't take in every house in the neighborhood. Inside it, changing the outside of a house, windows and doors included, needs the City's approval first.
- On a $250,000 house you live in, with the homestead exemption filed, 2026 taxes come to about $2,880 a year in unincorporated subdivisions such as Agave, Red Hawk Landing and Flora Meadows, about $3,980 inside the city with San Antonio ISD, and about $4,290 in Sapphire Grove and Stone Garden, where a special improvement district adds its own line to the bill.
- Lennar's base prices start at about $136,000 in both Stone Garden and Flora Meadows. At the other end, Meritage Homes starts at about $335,000 in Catalina and D.R. Horton at about $352,000 in Hickory Ridge Estates near Elmendorf.
Where are San Antonio's East Side
and Southeast Side?
Start in Dignowity Hill, just east of downtown, and go north to Government Hill at the edge of Fort Sam Houston. From there the area runs east and south, below Fort Sam Houston and I-10 East and east of I-37, out past Loop 410 and Loop 1604 to Elmendorf, China Grove and St. Hedwig. I-37 is the line with the South Side, and I-10 East is the line with the Northeast and Randolph area.
Close in, you're on a grid of older streets like N. New Braunfels Avenue, E. Commerce Street and S. New Braunfels Avenue, in ZIP codes 78202, 78203, 78208 and 78210. Past Loop 410 the roads that matter are S. W.W. White Road, New Sulphur Springs Road and SE Military Drive around Brooks, US-87 toward China Grove, US-181 toward Elmendorf, and FM 1346 toward St. Hedwig. Most of the newer subdivisions are in 78222 and 78263, Brooks is 78235, Elmendorf is 78112 and St. Hedwig is 78152.
The range of what you can buy here is wide. A 1920s bungalow inside a historic district, a condo on a former Air Force base, a new two-story on a 45-foot lot and a house on three acres are all part of the same East Side search.
More about the area's edges and addresses
On the City's own planning maps, this part of town falls into four pieces: the Eastside community area (Government Hill, Dignowity Hill, Denver Heights), the Southeast community area (Highland Park and the streets around Spanish Trails and Blue Ridge Ranch), the Brooks regional center, and the Far East community area along I-10 near Loop 1604. Subdivisions outside city limits, like Agave, Red Hawk Landing, Sapphire Grove and Flora Meadows, fall in no City plan area at all.
Mailing addresses out here can point you the wrong way. Savannah Place, Vista Real, Catalina and Flora Meadows have Converse addresses, but they sit south of I-10 and none of them is in the City of Converse: Savannah Place and Catalina are inside San Antonio city limits, and Vista Real and Flora Meadows are in unincorporated Bexar County. Stone Garden has an Elmendorf address and sits outside Elmendorf's city limits. To know for sure, check which taxing units are listed on the home's Bexar Appraisal District record.
Orders to Fort Sam Houston?
The PCS to San Antonio Guide maps out the JBSA gates and the neighborhoods around each installation, plus a countdown you can start as soon as orders come in.
Get the PCS GuideIs the East Side a good fit for you?
The East Side and Southeast are a good fit if you want:
- A short drive to Fort Sam Houston, or to Randolph from the subdivisions off I-10 near Loop 1604
- A house from the 1910s to the 1940s with a front porch and original wood details, and you don't mind City review before you change the outside
- A new build with the builder's warranty still running, at starting prices from the $130,000s to the $350,000s
- An acre or more of land in China Grove or St. Hedwig, still inside Bexar County
- Downtown close by, if you choose one of the neighborhoods right next to it
Which communities are on the East Side and Southeast,
and who is building there?
Eighteen places, in five groups: the historic neighborhoods closest to downtown and Fort Sam Houston, Brooks and the new subdivisions around Loop 410, the newer ones farther out on the Southeast Side, four subdivisions off I-10 near Loop 1604, and three small towns. The close-in neighborhoods are almost all resales, with a new house on an empty lot here and there. Past Loop 410, at least one builder is selling in nearly every community on the list.
A base price is the builder's entry point: its least expensive plan on a standard lot, with no upgrades, lot premiums or incentives figured in. Expect most homes in a community to sell above it. Some builders name a series for its lot width, and a 45-foot series sits on lots roughly 45 feet across. In the table, "Unincorporated" means the home is outside every city's limits, whatever its mailing address says.
| Community | City limits | School district | Building now? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government Hill | San Antonio | San Antonio ISD | Mostly resales; a few new |
| Dignowity Hill | San Antonio | San Antonio ISD | Mostly resales; a few new |
| Denver Heights | San Antonio | San Antonio ISD | Mostly resales; a few new |
| Highland Park | San Antonio | San Antonio ISD | No, pre-owned only |
| Brooks | San Antonio | San Antonio ISD | Few for sale; mostly rentals |
| Spanish Trails | San Antonio | East Central ISD | Yes, from about $191,000 |
| Blue Ridge Ranch | San Antonio | East Central ISD | Yes, from about $242,000 |
| Agave | Unincorporated | East Central ISD | Yes, from about $250,000 |
| Red Hawk Landing | Unincorporated | East Central ISD | Yes, from about $205,000 |
| Sapphire Grove | Unincorporated | East Central ISD | Yes, from about $153,000 |
| Stone Garden | Unincorporated | East Central ISD | Yes, from about $136,000 |
| Savannah Place | San Antonio | East Central ISD | Yes, from about $215,000 |
| Vista Real | Unincorporated | East Central ISD | Yes, from about $234,000 |
| Catalina | San Antonio | East Central ISD | Yes, from about $335,000 |
| Flora Meadows | Unincorporated | East Central ISD | Yes, from about $136,000 |
| China Grove | China Grove | East Central ISD | No builder community; resales |
| St. Hedwig | St. Hedwig | East Central ISD | No builder community; resales |
| Elmendorf | Elmendorf | East Central ISD | Yes, from about $233,000 |
Close in, between downtown and Fort Sam Houston
Government Hill, in ZIP 78208, grew up alongside Fort Sam Houston between about 1890 and 1930. After World War II, I-35 was cut through the neighborhood, and the 86-acre historic district covers part of the neighborhood between the fort and the highway. Most of the houses date from the 1910s through the 1940s.
Dignowity Hill, in 78202, is the big one: a 359-acre historic district, often called San Antonio's first residential suburb. Settlement began in the 1850s, and most of its houses went up between the late 1870s and about 1940. New houses do go up on empty lots, and each one goes through the City's historic design review first. What the City reviews, how long it takes, and what the houses in both districts are like is on my Government Hill and Dignowity Hill page.
Denver Heights spreads south of Dignowity Hill through 78203 and 78210, with homes mostly built from the 1910s to the 1940s on lots around 7,500 square feet. Most of it isn't in a historic district, but the 21-acre Knob Hill district sits inside it, so check which side of that line a house is on.
Highland Park, farther southeast in 78210, was built mostly between about 1925 and 1950 on lots near 6,500 square feet. It isn't a historic district, and it's pre-owned only.
Brooks and the new streets around Loop 410
Brooks was Brooks Air Force Base from 1917 until the last military operations ended in 2011. The base was conveyed to the Brooks Development Authority in 2002, and today it's a 1,308-acre mixed-use campus inside San Antonio, with Mission Trail Baptist Hospital on site. For-sale homes are scarce. Southlake at Brooks, built starting around 2022 by Terramark Urban Homes, is a 60-home condominium community on about five acres next to the 43-acre Greenline park. Most other housing on the campus is apartments, and Los Cielos at Brooks is about 490 single-family homes built for rent. The School of Aerospace Medicine buildings form a 48-acre historic district of their own on the campus.
Spanish Trails is inside city limits in 78222, off S. W.W. White Road near Loop 410, with homes going up since 2023 on compact lots of about 4,000 square feet and a park and playground on site. KB Home is building from about $191,000.
Blue Ridge Ranch is close by, off Sinclair Road and New Sulphur Springs Road, also inside the city. Building started in 2021, on lots of about 4,200 to 6,500 square feet, with a park and playground. D.R. Horton is building from about $242,000.
Farther out on the Southeast Side
Agave sits off S. W.W. White Road in unincorporated Bexar County, with homes since 2023 on lots of about 4,800 to 7,800 square feet. HOA dues are $30 a month. M/I Homes is building from about $250,000 on 45-foot homesites, Century Communities from the mid $200,000s, and Davidson Homes from the $250,000s.
Red Hawk Landing, just south of Agave off Hildebrandt Road, is also unincorporated, with homes since 2023 on lots of about 4,500 to 5,700 square feet. Lennar is building from about $205,000 and First America Homes from about $306,000.
Sapphire Grove is Lennar's community off New Sulphur Springs Road in 78263, with homes since 2024 on lots of about 3,900 to 5,500 square feet, a pool, a community center and a fitness center. Every lot is in the Sapphire Grove Special Improvement District. Lennar's base prices start at about $153,000.
Stone Garden, another Lennar community, has an Elmendorf address and sits off Old Corpus Christi Road near US-181. Homes have gone up since 2024 on lots of about 3,700 to 6,100 square feet, with a pool, community center, fitness center and playground. Like Sapphire Grove, it has a special improvement district of its own. Lennar starts at about $136,000 here; only its Flora Meadows community off I-10 starts as low.
Off I-10 near Loop 1604
These four have Converse mailing addresses, but none of them is in the City of Converse, and all four are in East Central ISD. My Converse page covers the city itself.
Savannah Place, off Green Road, is inside San Antonio city limits, with homes since 2020 on lots of about 4,500 to 7,000 square feet. LGI Homes lists a playground, splash pad, disc golf course and walking trails. Lennar is building from about $215,000 and LGI Homes from about $247,000.
Vista Real sits along Loop 1604 about two miles south of I-10, in unincorporated Bexar County, with homes since 2024 on lots of about 4,800 square feet and a community pool and playscape. Centex is building from about $234,000.
Catalina, also off Green Road and inside the city, has homes since 2021 on lots of about 5,400 square feet. Meritage Homes' base price there is about $335,000.
Flora Meadows is the farthest east of the four, off Pfeil Road on the south side of I-10, east of Loop 1604, in unincorporated Bexar County. Its first homes went up in 2024 on narrow lots of about 2,250 square feet, the smallest typical lot on this page. Lennar is building from about $136,000.
The small towns
China Grove is a town of about 1,150 people along FM 1516 and US-87. Its homes mostly date from the 1960s to the early 2000s, usually on about an acre. None of the production builders has a subdivision inside the town limits.
St. Hedwig, a town of about 2,400 on FM 1346 east of Loop 1604, is the most rural place on this page: most homes have an acre or more around them, and the typical property is about three acres. Like China Grove, it's resales and the occasional custom build rather than a builder community.
Elmendorf, on FM 327 near US-181 and Loop 1604, grew from about 1,860 people in 2020 to about 3,100 in 2025. The older town has lots of every size, from small town lots to acreage. Its newest homes are in Hickory Ridge, inside the city, where D.R. Horton is building from about $233,000 and Davidson Homes from the $270,000s, with a pool, lazy river and loop trail. Hickory Ridge homes also pay a public improvement district assessment, a set yearly amount rather than a rate. Nearby, D.R. Horton's Hickory Ridge Estates starts at about $352,000 for homes of 2,100 square feet and up.
Farther out, Floresville (about 9,100 people, the Wilson County seat, on US-181) and La Vernia (about 1,500, on US-87) are in Wilson County, so their homes are appraised by the Wilson County Appraisal District and taxed by Wilson County units instead of Bexar's.
Plan on an HOA in the new subdivisions. Few builders post the dues, so ask for the amount, plus any special district on the lot, before signing with a builder.
A new build out here is a house to keep for a while. Most of these builders are still selling, several within a few miles of one another, so a house you list in the next few years would be up against their brand-new homes and incentives. If orders could come before then, plan to hold it longer or rent it out once you've moved.
Before you walk into any builder's sales office or model, call me. I attend the model visits and negotiate for you, and my commission is paid by the builder. The rest of how I handle a new build is on my new construction page.
Leaning toward a new build?
The New Construction Buyer Guide explains the builder's contract and incentives, how a brand-new house gets inspected, and what to settle with the builder before signing.
Get the New Construction GuideSources
How far is the East Side from Fort Sam Houston,
the Medical Center and downtown?
From the close-in neighborhoods, Fort Sam Houston is about 1.5 to 4 driving miles away. From the subdivisions past Loop 410 it's about 6 to 12, and from St. Hedwig, Stone Garden and Elmendorf about 15 to 20. Randolph is the closer installation from Flora Meadows, Vista Real, Savannah Place and St. Hedwig, and it's a near tie from Catalina. Each figure is rounded driving miles to that installation's nearest 24/7 gate, and the communities are listed by their distance to Fort Sam Houston.
| Community | Fort Sam Houston (nearest gate) | Randolph (Lindsey Gate) | Lackland (Luke East Gate) | Camp Bullis (main gate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Government Hill | 1.5 mi | 14 mi | 13 mi | 20 mi |
| Dignowity Hill | 2.5 mi | 15 mi | 13 mi | 19 mi |
| Denver Heights | 3.5 mi | 18 mi | 11 mi | 20 mi |
| Highland Park | 4 mi | 18 mi | 12 mi | 23 mi |
| Spanish Trails | 6 mi | 17 mi | 16 mi | 27 mi |
| Blue Ridge Ranch | 7.5 mi | 17 mi | 18 mi | 30 mi |
| China Grove | 8 mi | 11 mi | 19 mi | 30 mi |
| Catalina | 8.5 mi | 8.5 mi | 22 mi | 32 mi |
| Agave | 9.5 mi | 19 mi | 18 mi | 28 mi |
| Brooks | 10 mi | 22 mi | 14 mi | 24 mi |
| Red Hawk Landing | 10 mi | 20 mi | 18 mi | 28 mi |
| Vista Real | 11 mi | 8 mi | 25 mi | 31 mi |
| Savannah Place | 11 mi | 8.5 mi | 25 mi | 31 mi |
| Flora Meadows | 11 mi | 7.5 mi | 25 mi | 30 mi |
| Sapphire Grove | 12 mi | 21 mi | 21 mi | 34 mi |
| St. Hedwig | 15 mi | 12 mi | 29 mi | 35 mi |
| Stone Garden | 16 mi | 26 mi | 22 mi | 33 mi |
| Elmendorf | 20 mi | 24 mi | 26 mi | 36 mi |
From Government Hill and Dignowity Hill, Walters Gate is a short run up I-35 to N. Walters Street. From Denver Heights and Highland Park, S. New Braunfels Avenue and E. Commerce Street lead to the same gate, and from Brooks it's I-37 and I-35. Everywhere else, the closest Fort Sam gate is the BAMC/I-35 Gate, reached by W.W. White Road or Loop 410 from the Southeast Side and by I-10 and Loop 410 from the I-10 subdivisions. Randolph is to the north: Loop 1604 to FM 78 from the I-10 subdivisions and St. Hedwig, and FM 1516 to FM 78 from China Grove. Lackland and Camp Bullis are across town. Out in Wilson County, La Vernia is about 22 miles from both Fort Sam Houston and Randolph, and Floresville about 32 from Fort Sam. For gate hours, visitor centers and on-base housing, see my Fort Sam Houston page and Randolph page.
How far is it from the East Side to downtown, the Medical Center and the airport?
Downtown is the easy one: about 2 to 4 miles from the close-in neighborhoods and 6.5 to 16 from Brooks and the newer subdivisions. The South Texas Medical Center, on the far side of town, is about 10 miles from Dignowity Hill and 20 or more from everything past Loop 410.
| Community | Medical Center (University Hospital) | Downtown (City Hall) | Airport (SAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dignowity Hill | 10 mi | 2 mi | 8.5 mi |
| Government Hill | 12 mi | 3 mi | 7.5 mi |
| Denver Heights | 13 mi | 3 mi | 10 mi |
| Highland Park | 16 mi | 4 mi | 12 mi |
| Brooks | 17 mi | 6.5 mi | 15 mi |
| Spanish Trails | 20 mi | 8.5 mi | 16 mi |
| Agave | 20 mi | 10 mi | 18 mi |
| Red Hawk Landing | 21 mi | 11 mi | 18 mi |
| Blue Ridge Ranch | 22 mi | 11 mi | 17 mi |
| China Grove | 23 mi | 12 mi | 18 mi |
| Catalina | 23 mi | 13 mi | 18 mi |
| Stone Garden | 25 mi | 15 mi | 22 mi |
| Vista Real | 25 mi | 15 mi | 21 mi |
| Savannah Place | 26 mi | 15 mi | 21 mi |
| Flora Meadows | 26 mi | 16 mi | 21 mi |
| Sapphire Grove | 26 mi | 13 mi | 21 mi |
| Elmendorf | 28 mi | 19 mi | 26 mi |
| St. Hedwig | 29 mi | 19 mi | 24 mi |
Just below this section are live East Side and Southeast listings, with century-old houses and brand-new builds in the same search. Open any one for its photos and details, or save the search to hear when something new comes on.
(SEP 27, 2026 - OCT 27, 2026)
What are property taxes
on the East Side and Southeast?
For 2026 the combined rate on a Bexar County home here is about $1.79 to $2.51 for every $100 of value. What a given house pays comes down to three things: whether it's inside San Antonio, inside one of the small towns or in unincorporated county; whether it's in San Antonio ISD or East Central ISD; and whether its subdivision carries a district of its own.
- Unincorporated: the home sits outside every city's limits and pays no city tax, whatever its mailing address says (San Antonio, Converse and Elmendorf addresses included).
- ESD (emergency services district): a district that taxes for fire protection and ambulance service. In the unincorporated subdivisions it takes the place of a city line on the bill; China Grove, St. Hedwig and Elmendorf pay one on top of their town tax. Bexar County ESDs 9, 10 and 12 all levy $0.100000 in 2026.
- SID (special improvement district): set up for a single subdivision; its tax pays back what was spent on that subdivision's public improvements. Sapphire Grove and Stone Garden each have one, and both charge $0.562880, matching the City of San Antonio's rate. The difference is that a homestead exemption doesn't reduce an SID line: on a $250,000 homestead it comes to about $1,410 a year, while the city's line on the same house would be about $1,130 once its 20% exemption comes off.
- PID (public improvement district): another way to pay for a subdivision's improvements. Hickory Ridge in Elmendorf has one, billed as a set yearly assessment instead of a rate, so ask for the amount on the lot you're considering.
- Homestead: your principal residence, the house you actually live in. Filing for the exemption cuts $140,000 from the school district's taxable value and trims most of the other lines.
The listings above show asking prices. Here's one $250,000 house, priced out in each setup, by year and by month.
| Where the home is | 2026 rate per $100 | Where you'll see it | Yearly tax, $250,000 homestead | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unincorporated, East Central ISD, an ESD | $1.794184 | Agave, Red Hawk Landing, Vista Real, Flora Meadows | About $2,880 | About $240 |
| Town of China Grove, East Central ISD, ESD 9 | $2.048734 | China Grove | About $3,390 | About $285 |
| City of Elmendorf, East Central ISD, ESD 10 | $2.122696 | Elmendorf, including Hickory Ridge (plus its PID assessment) | About $3,700 | About $310 |
| Inside San Antonio, East Central ISD | $2.257064 | Spanish Trails, Blue Ridge Ranch, Savannah Place, Catalina | About $3,760 | About $315 |
| Town of St. Hedwig, East Central ISD, ESD 12 | $2.314184 | St. Hedwig | About $4,180 | About $350 |
| Unincorporated, East Central ISD, ESD 10, an SID | $2.357064 | Sapphire Grove, Stone Garden | About $4,290 | About $355 |
| Inside San Antonio, San Antonio ISD | $2.511964 | Government Hill, Dignowity Hill, Denver Heights, Highland Park, Brooks | About $3,980 | About $330 |
Look at the last three rows: the highest rate doesn't make the highest bill. Exemptions change the order. San Antonio ISD takes another $5,000 off the school value, the City of San Antonio exempts 20%, and St. Hedwig, Elmendorf, the ESDs and the SIDs exempt nothing.
Those monthly figures are property tax only. Your full payment also carries principal, interest, homeowners insurance and any HOA dues, so get an insurance quote early, especially on an older house.
The yearly figures count these homestead exemptions: $140,000 off the school district value, with another $5,000 in San Antonio ISD; 20% off for Bexar County, University Health, the City of San Antonio and China Grove; $3,000 plus 20% for Road and Flood; 4% for the River Authority; and $5,000 for Alamo Colleges.
If you move out and rent the house while living somewhere else, the homestead exemptions drop off. At Red Hawk Landing's $1.794184, the same $250,000 house goes from about $2,880 a year to about $4,490.
More about the taxing units on an East Side bill
Every Bexar County bill carries the same five county-wide units, $0.762184 combined for 2026: Road and Flood $0.014036, San Antonio River Authority $0.019300, Alamo Colleges $0.166650, University Health $0.276235 and Bexar County itself $0.285963. On top of those comes the school district (San Antonio ISD $1.186900 or East Central ISD $0.932000), then either a city or town (San Antonio $0.562880, China Grove $0.254550, Elmendorf $0.328512, St. Hedwig $0.520000) or an ESD, plus an SID where there is one.
East Central ISD's $0.932000 is on the November 3, 2026 ballot as Proposition A. It raises the district's operating rate by about 6 cents, while a lower debt rate keeps the total close to last year's $0.9319. If voters turn it down, the 2026 rate comes in lower than the figure used here, so check the final rate after the election.
To see every unit on a particular house, search it at bcad.org and read the taxing jurisdictions on its record. A new build's first tax bill often covers only the lot or a half-finished house. The completed house is taxed the next year, so budget with the year-two bill.
More about Floresville, La Vernia and Wilson County
A Floresville or La Vernia home is appraised by the Wilson County Appraisal District and taxed by Wilson County units, its city and its school district, not Bexar County's. The district's contact details and website are in the Wilson County appraisal district listing on the Texas Comptroller's county directory.
More about exemptions for homeowners and disabled veterans
Apply for the homestead exemption on Bexar Appraisal District Form 50-114 once you're living in the house as your main home.
When yours starts depends on the home. Buy a resale partway through a year and that year's bill usually still carries the seller's exemption; yours takes effect January 1 of the next year, with April 30 as the filing deadline. Buy a new build, or a resale that had no homestead exemption that year, and you can claim it for the remainder of your first year, provided you apply within one year of closing.
Starting in your second year with the exemption, the value your homestead is taxed on can rise no more than 10% a year, except for new improvements. If you're 65 or older or disabled, San Antonio ISD and East Central ISD each take another $60,000 off the school value.
Form 50-135 lets a disabled veteran exempt part of one property's value, from $5,000 for a 10% to 29% rating up to $12,000 for 70% to 100% ($7,500 for 30% to 49%, $10,000 for 50% to 69%). If you're rated 100% disabled or individually unemployable and receive 100% disability compensation, your homestead is fully exempt, and an unremarried surviving spouse can keep it.
Data current as of October 2026 · Sources: Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector, 2026 Official Tax Rates and Exemptions · Bexar Appraisal District property records · East Central ISD, Proposition A · Texas Comptroller, exemptions · Texas Tax Code, Chapter 11 · Texas Tax Code §23.23 · Texas Comptroller, disabled veteran exemptions
Taxes, schools and city limits vary by address. Confirm them for any home before you make an offer.
Which school districts serve
the East Side and Southeast?
Mainly two. San Antonio ISD serves the close-in neighborhoods and Brooks, and East Central ISD serves nearly everything past Loop 410, the three small towns included. At the far southern edge, south of Loop 1604 around Sandy Oaks, Southside ISD takes over.
- San Antonio ISD is the city's central district, with more than 42,000 students. It sets attendance zones by address, so ask the district's enrollment office at saisd.net which campuses serve a house before you settle on it.
- East Central ISD had about 13,000 students last school year. In August 2026 it opened Victory Elementary in Elmendorf and Valor Middle School in the St. Hedwig area, bringing it to nine elementary and three middle schools. Its school locator shows the assigned campuses for an address.
Once you know the assigned campuses, each one's state report card is on tea.texas.gov.
More about East Central ISD's growth and zone changes
East Central ISD redrew some attendance lines for fall 2026 to fill the new campuses: some addresses zoned to Oak Crest and Harmony elementary schools moved to Victory Elementary, and some Heritage Middle School students and incoming sixth graders from Tradition and Honor elementary schools moved to Valor. The district plans a tenth elementary school next fall and a second high school campus the year after, and each new campus can move lines again, so check the zone for next school year too.
Data current as of October 2026 · Sources: East Central ISD, boundary changes for 2026-2027 · KSAT, East Central ISD new schools · San Antonio ISD · Bexar Appraisal District (school district by parcel)
What is daily life like
on the East Side and Southeast?
Close in, downtown is a few miles off, and the houses sit on a street grid that's been there for a century. Past Loop 410, errands run along S. W.W. White Road and SE Military Drive, and out in China Grove, St. Hedwig and Elmendorf the store is a drive, so plan on the car.
The green space is the surprise. Salado Creek runs down the east side of town with a greenway trail beside it, Brooks built a 43-acre park into the old base, and Calaveras Lake, southeast of town, has boat ramps and campsites.
Shopping and groceries
- W.W. White H-E-B, 1015 S. W.W. White Road
- Military and Goliad H-E-B, 3323 SE Military Drive
- La Picosa, the restaurant and retail district at Brooks
Parks and outdoors
- Southside Lions Park, 3100 Hiawatha Street: 600 acres with a 10-acre lake, tennis, a dog park and a skate park. The City first bought the land for a landfill; a petition from the Highland Park Lions Club and the neighborhood turned it into a park instead.
- Salado Creek Greenway South, a multi-use trail that runs 7.2 miles from Jack White Park to Southside Lions Park
- The Greenline at Brooks, 43 acres of open space with restored prairie and community events
- Calaveras Lake Park, with camping, picnic areas, fishing and boat ramps (fees apply)
Events and culture
- Frost Bank Center, 1 Frost Bank Center Drive: Spurs games, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo and big concerts
- Carver Community Cultural Center, 226 N. Hackberry Street, a City-owned performing arts venue near Dignowity Hill
More about utilities on the East Side and Southeast
CPS Energy, owned by the City of San Antonio, provides electricity and natural gas inside the city, and SAWS provides water to most homes there. If you're moving on military orders, ask CPS Energy whether it will waive your deposit.
Outside the city and in the small towns, the water provider depends on the address: it can be SAWS, East Central Special Utility District (based on US-87 in Adkins) or another system, and some acreage homes have their own well. Confirm the electric, water and sewer or septic setup for the specific house before closing.
Data current as of October 2026 · Sources: H-E-B, W.W. White · H-E-B, Military and Goliad · Brooks · City of San Antonio, Southside Lions Park · City of San Antonio, Salado Creek Greenway · U.S. EPA, Brooks profile (Greenline) · Texas Parks and Wildlife, Calaveras Lake access · Frost Bank Center · City of San Antonio, Carver Community Cultural Center · CPS Energy · SAWS · East Central Special Utility District
Before you tour the East Side and Southeast
Settle these first, because a 100-year-old house in a historic district and a new build past Loop 410 raise very different questions.
- A monthly payment that works once taxes are in. A preapproval shows the most a lender will lend, not what feels comfortable each month. Across the setups in the tax table, taxes alone on a $250,000 house range from about $240 to about $355 a month.
- Historic district rules, if you're looking close in. Inside the Government Hill, Dignowity Hill and Knob Hill historic districts, the City's Office of Historic Preservation has to sign off on exterior work, windows and doors included, with a Certificate of Appropriateness before it starts. OHP staff sign off on many minor projects; anything larger needs a public hearing in front of the Historic and Design Review Commission. Interior-only work isn't reviewed. If a new porch, windows or an addition is part of your plan, find out what's involved before you write an offer.
- Which school district, if that matters to you. Check San Antonio ISD or East Central ISD by address, and with East Central ISD's new campuses, check next year's zone as well.
- HOA rules you won't live with. The new subdivisions have HOAs. Tell me what would rule a house out for you, such as limits on leasing it after your next PCS, where a trailer or work truck can park, or fence and pet rules, and I'll get the HOA's answers ahead of the showing.
- The house itself, and the land under it. Original wood floors and a deep porch, or a warranty and a two-car garage? On acreage in China Grove or St. Hedwig, add where the water comes from and whether the house is on septic. Decide which items you'd truly walk away over.
- The commute at the hours you'll drive it. If your gate or office is already known, make that drive from the neighborhood you're leaning toward, at your real departure time and again at the evening rush.
What working with me looks like
on the East Side and Southeast.
I'm Tiffany Reed, REALTOR® with Real Broker and a certified Military Relocation Professional (MRP). On the East Side, one search can turn up a 1920s bungalow and a model home, and many of my clients have closed here before their first trip to San Antonio.
- Older houses get their homework first. Before you tour a resale, I get the seller's disclosure, plus any inspection reports the seller already has, and I pin down the install dates for the roof, the HVAC and the water heater.
- Tours by video. Can't be here in person? I'll walk you through each house on video.
- New construction. Before you visit any builder, call me. I'm at the model visits, I negotiate price, incentives, closing costs and upgrades, I stay on top of the build, and I'm at every walkthrough with the inspection report. Already visited a builder on your own? I'll ask the builder whether I can still represent you.
- Renting it out after your next PCS? Tell me early. On homes you're serious about, I run rental comps to show what the house might rent for next to your mortgage payment.
- Financing. I'll introduce you to lenders, including ones who handle VA loans.
- Offer, inspections and walkthrough. I write and negotiate your offer, coordinate the inspections the house calls for, and do the final walkthrough with you.
Questions buyers ask about
the East Side and Southeast
Which ZIP codes cover San Antonio's East Side and Southeast?
Close in, 78202, 78203, 78208 and 78210. Past Loop 410, most newer subdivisions are in 78222 and 78263, and Brooks is 78235. Elmendorf is 78112, St. Hedwig is 78152, and Savannah Place, Vista Real, Catalina and Flora Meadows use Converse's 78109.
How close is the East Side to Fort Sam Houston's gates?
Government Hill, about 1.5 driving miles from Walters Gate, then Dignowity Hill at about 2.5, Denver Heights at about 3.5 and Highland Park at about 4. Among the new subdivisions, Spanish Trails is about 6 miles from the BAMC/I-35 Gate. Drive times vary by time of day, traffic, and gate. Check current conditions for your route before deciding.
What does buying in a historic district like Dignowity Hill or Government Hill mean?
You can buy and live there like anywhere else, but before you change the outside of the house, windows and doors included, the City's Office of Historic Preservation has to approve it. There's no fee for a residential application. Start work without approval, though, and the City can issue a stop-work order and charge a $500 post-work application fee. Designated properties can also qualify for a City tax incentive after a substantial rehabilitation.
Where is new construction on the Southeast Side of San Antonio?
Mostly past Loop 410: Spanish Trails, Blue Ridge Ranch, Agave, Red Hawk Landing and Sapphire Grove off S. W.W. White Road and New Sulphur Springs Road, Stone Garden and Hickory Ridge near Elmendorf, and Savannah Place, Vista Real, Catalina and Flora Meadows off I-10 near Loop 1604. Base prices start around $136,000.
Are Savannah Place, Vista Real, Catalina and Flora Meadows in Converse?
No. All four have Converse mailing addresses, but Savannah Place and Catalina are inside San Antonio city limits, and Vista Real and Flora Meadows are in unincorporated Bexar County. All four are in East Central ISD.
Why do property taxes change so much from one Southeast Side subdivision to the next?
City limits, the school district and special districts. An unincorporated East Central ISD home pays $1.794184 per $100, a home inside San Antonio with San Antonio ISD pays $2.511964, and Sapphire Grove and Stone Garden carry a special improvement district on top, $0.56288 for every $100, charged on the full value.
Does buying on the East Side make sense if I'll get orders again in a few years?
Buying can still be a great move. Keeping the house as a rental when your orders come is one upside, not a requirement. Whatever VA entitlement you haven't used can go toward a VA loan at the next duty station, though the lender may want money down, based on your remaining entitlement and that county's loan limit. Selling after about two years is the tougher plan, since the costs of buying and then selling likely won't be covered by then, and every situation is different. In the subdivisions where builders are still selling, an early resale would also compete with their new homes and incentives, so plan on a longer hold or a rental.
Data current as of October 2026 · Sources: Bexar Appraisal District · Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector · City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation, project review · City of San Antonio, historic districts · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VA loan limits and entitlement
Ready to see the East Side
in person or on video?
Tell me whether the older streets near Fort Sam or the new subdivisions past Loop 410 are pulling you, and when you'll be in town. I'll line up the showings and model visits and handle the offer once you've picked a house. Not there yet? Browse East Side homes for sale.
Let's Talk About Your Next MoveMRP · Licensed since 2022 · 35+ closed transactions · $12M+ in sales volume
Tiffany Reed, REALTOR® | MRP | Real Broker LLC
(919) 800-9870 | tiffany@tiffanyreedtx.com | tiffanyreedtx.com
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