San Antonio Neighborhoods
Windcrest,
Bexar County
A small incorporated city on San Antonio's northeast side, known across the region for its Christmas lights: about 5,900 people on 2.15 square miles just east of the Loop 410 and I-35 interchange, served by North East ISD and about 5 driving miles from Fort Sam Houston and 7.5 from Randolph.
Questions about Windcrest? Call me at (919) 800-9870
Windcrest is a separate city of about 5,900 people (2020 Census) on 2.15 square miles, just east of Loop 410 and I-35 on San Antonio's northeast side. It's served by North East ISD. Most homes date from the 1960s and 1970s and sit on lots of a little over a quarter acre, and a smaller group of 2000s homes is in Winn Brook Estates and The Gardens of Windcrest. For 2026, the city's average homestead taxable value is about $312,100. Brooke Army Medical Center and Fort Sam Houston are about 5 miles away (to the BAMC/I-35 Gate), and Randolph about 7.5.
Tiffany Reed, REALTOR® | MRP · Data current as of October 2026 · Sources: Handbook of Texas · City of Windcrest 2026 tax hearing notice · U.S. Census Bureau- From City Hall, Fort Sam Houston's BAMC/I-35 Gate is about 5 driving miles away and Randolph's Lindsey Gate about 7.5.
- December is the city's busy month: the annual Light Up contest has 11 categories, and visitors drive through to see the displays, so expect extra traffic on some streets.
- About 77% of Windcrest's houses were built before 1980, and the median lot is a little over a quarter acre.
- Seven taxing units add up to $2.268679 per $100 of taxable value for a Windcrest home in 2026. The city's own homestead exemption is 5% of value (at least $5,000).
- Every Windcrest address is in North East ISD, and Windcrest Elementary (PreK through grade 5) sits inside the city on Faircrest Drive.
What makes Windcrest
different?
Windcrest began as a subdivision. The first house went up in 1954, and about five years later the neighborhood became its own city. It sits about ten miles northeast of downtown San Antonio, just east of where I-35 meets Loop 410. Today it covers 2.15 square miles of land and has its own city government and police department. The holiday lights go back almost as far: one of the original developers, Barbee Winn, came up with the idea of giving homeowners Christmas lights and inviting the public to "come see the lights of Windcrest." Windcrest is still known as the "City of Lights."
For buyers, the practical appeal is location: Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, and Randolph all sit within about 7.5 driving miles of City Hall. Most of the housing dates from the 1960s and 1970s, and lots are generous, with a median of a little over a quarter acre. Homes of that age come with the upkeep you'd expect, so the condition of a specific house matters more than its floor plan.
The city's small size shapes both its character and its limits. With about 2,300 houses in the whole city, there may be only a handful for sale at any given time, so be ready to act when the right one appears. Speed limits on most streets are 20 mph, and in December, barricades go up on some normally quiet streets to manage the crowds that come to see the lights.
Comparing northeast San Antonio communities for a Fort Sam or Randolph assignment?
The free PCS to San Antonio Guide covers neighborhoods near Fort Sam Houston, Randolph, and the other JBSA installations, with the trade-offs for each, plus a 90/60/30-day countdown for your move.
Get the Free PCS GuideIs Windcrest a good fit for you?
Windcrest is a good fit if you want:
- A close drive to Brooke Army Medical Center and Fort Sam Houston (about 5 miles from City Hall) and Randolph (about 7.5)
- A small city with its own government and police department, and 20 mph limits on most streets
- A 1960s or 1970s home on a lot that's often a quarter acre or more, and you're ready to check its systems carefully
- A home served by North East ISD, with an elementary school inside the city
- A neighborhood with a big holiday tradition, and you don't mind December visitors driving past to see the lights
- A newer house from the 2000s in Winn Brook Estates or The Gardens of Windcrest without leaving the city
How much do homes cost
in Windcrest?
Windcrest's average homestead taxable value for 2026 is about $312,100, compared with $319,508 a year earlier. That figure is what the average homestead is taxed on, not what homes sell for. State law limits yearly increases in a homestead's taxable value, which is why the number often trails the market. To show what Windcrest homes are listed and selling for now, I've placed live listings and recent sales a little further down this page, and they stay current by themselves.
Updates, size, and the age of the roof and systems all move the price on a house this age. Because few homes come up at once, a pre-approval in hand before you start touring makes it easier to make a strong offer quickly.
How much are property taxes in Windcrest?
Seven taxing units apply to a home inside Windcrest. Their 2026 rates total $2.268679 for every $100 of taxable value. On $100,000 of value, that's about $2,269 before exemptions.
| Taxing unit | 2026 rate per $100 | General homestead exemption |
|---|---|---|
| North East ISD | $0.975400 | $140,000 (plus $73,330 if 65 or older, or $60,000 if disabled) |
| City of Windcrest | $0.531095 | 5% (at least $5,000); $15,000 more if 65 or older or disabled |
| Bexar County | $0.285963 | 20% (at least $5,000) |
| University Health (Bexar County Hospital District) | $0.276235 | 20% (at least $5,000) |
| Alamo Community College District | $0.166650 | 1% (at least $5,000) |
| San Antonio River Authority | $0.019300 | 4% (at least $5,000) |
| Bexar County Road and Flood | $0.014036 | $3,000 and 20% |
| Combined 2026 rate | $2.268679 | Exemptions are applied by each unit |
The school district's $140,000 exemption takes the biggest bite out of the taxable value, and the city's 5% exemption is smaller. You can confirm the units on any Windcrest property by searching it on bcad.org, the appraisal district's site.
When the house becomes your principal residence, file a homestead exemption application with Bexar Appraisal District, generally by April 30. Closing after January 1 doesn't rule you out for that year: you can be exempt for the portion of the year you own the home, unless the seller already claimed the same exemption. A late filing is allowed up to two years after the delinquency date for that year's taxes. Veterans awarded 100 percent disability compensation by the VA for a service-connected disability can receive a total exemption on their homestead.
Data current as of October 2026 · Sources: City of Windcrest, Notice of Public Hearing on Tax Increase (2026) · Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector, 2026 Official Tax Rates and Exemptions · Texas Comptroller, Form 50-114 · Bexar Appraisal District (bcad.org).
(OCT 02, 2026 - NOV 01, 2026)
Which schools serve
Windcrest?
Windcrest is in North East Independent School District. That holds for every house in the city. Windcrest Elementary, which serves PreK through grade 5, is inside the city at 465 Faircrest Drive.
Middle and high school assignments depend on the street, and North East ISD can confirm them for any address. To see how a campus is doing, open its report card on the Texas Education Agency's tea.texas.gov; each school has one of its own.
Before you tour Windcrest: what to plan for
Most Windcrest homes were built before 1980, and a tight move timeline leaves little room for surprises, so start here.
- What you'd pay. The amount a lender approves and the payment you want to make can be far apart, so settle on both.
- The district. If schools matter, confirm the district and campus for each Windcrest address.
- Your list for the house. A single story, a garage, a fenced yard for pets, big oaks near the house: know which ones are firm.
- The work drive. If you already know where you'll work, drive from Windcrest to that gate or office at the times you'd really go.
- Touring from afar. If you can't be here yet, plan on video tours so you can write an offer from where you are.
Does a VA loan work for a Windcrest home?
Yes. With full entitlement, there's no VA-imposed ceiling on the loan, and qualifying is between you and your lender. On a house this age, the VA appraisal checks the home against the VA's minimum property requirements, and roofs, heating and cooling, and electrical panels are the items that tend to need attention. Start with a VA-approved lender to confirm your entitlement, and see the free VA loan guide for the full process.
How far is Windcrest
from JBSA installations?
Windcrest sits between Fort Sam Houston and Randolph, so both are short drives. Lackland and Camp Bullis take a longer trip across town. Miles are approximate driving distances from Windcrest City Hall (8601 Midcrown Drive).
| Brooke Army Medical Center | ~5 miles to the BAMC/I-35 Gate via I-35 |
| Fort Sam Houston | ~5 miles to the BAMC/I-35 Gate via I-35; ~8.5 to the Walters Gate |
| JBSA-Randolph | ~7.5 miles to the Lindsey (Main) Gate via FM 1976, FM 3502 and FM 78 |
| Camp Bullis | ~21 miles to the main gate via Loop 410 and I-10 |
| Lackland AFB | ~22 miles to the Luke East Gate via I-35 and US-90 |
Installation guides: the Fort Sam Houston housing guide and the JBSA-Randolph housing guide.
What is daily life like
in Windcrest?
Day to day, Windcrest is quiet, residential, and slow by design, with low speed limits and shaded streets lined with ranch-style houses. Groceries, errands, and restaurants are a short drive away on the commercial roads along the city's edges, and the interstates put most of San Antonio within reach.
Then December arrives. Houses all over the city light up, the city crowns its Light Up winners, and visitors drive through slowly to see the displays. If you love the holidays, December is the best time of year here; if you'd rather keep things low-key, plan for some extra traffic that month.
The holiday lights
- The Light Up contest, with 11 categories of winners each season
- Maps of the displays available at the Windcrest fire station
- A Windcrest homeowner won $50,000 on ABC's "The Great Christmas Light Fight"
Around the city
- Windcrest Golf Club, across Midcrown Drive from City Hall
- Shops and services along Walzem Road and the I-35 frontage
- Downtown San Antonio, about 11 driving miles southwest via I-35
Data current as of October 2026 · Sources: KSAT (2023) · KSAT (2024) · San Antonio Report · Bexar County parcel records
What buyers ask about
Windcrest.
Do you have to decorate for Christmas if you live in Windcrest?
Decorating is a long-running Windcrest tradition, and the city celebrates it with an annual Light Up contest. If you feel strongly either way, ask the city or the sellers about current expectations before you buy. Also expect extra traffic on some streets in December, when barricades go up to manage visitors.
What school district is Windcrest in?
North East ISD. Windcrest Elementary (PreK through grade 5) is inside the city, and NEISD assigns middle and high schools by address. Look up any campus's report card at tea.texas.gov, and confirm the campuses for a home with the district before you write an offer.
What are home prices in Windcrest?
For 2026, Windcrest's average homestead taxable value is about $312,100. Treat that as a tax figure rather than a price; actual sale prices depend on updates, size, and condition. Current Windcrest listings and recent sales are higher on this page. I keep them there so you can see real numbers before you call me.
How far is Windcrest from Fort Sam Houston and Randolph?
From Windcrest City Hall, Fort Sam Houston's BAMC/I-35 Gate, by Brooke Army Medical Center, is about 5 driving miles away and the Walters Gate about 8.5, both via I-35. Randolph's Lindsey (Main) Gate is about 7.5 miles northeast. Drive times vary by time of day, traffic, and gate. Check current conditions for your route before deciding.
What should I know about buying an older home in Windcrest?
Most Windcrest houses were built in the 1960s and 1970s. Budget for an independent inspection that looks closely at the roof, heating and cooling, electrical panel, plumbing, and foundation. With a VA loan, the appraisal also measures the house against VA minimum property standards, and your inspection shows you those items first.
What is the property tax rate in Windcrest?
Windcrest's combined 2026 rate is $2.268679 per $100 of taxable value, spread across seven taxing units: the City of Windcrest ($0.531095), North East ISD, Bexar County, the hospital district, Alamo Colleges, the river authority, and road and flood. Each unit's homestead exemption lowers the value it taxes. Check a specific property on bcad.org.
What working with me looks like
for Windcrest buyers.
- I get the facts before the showing. I request the seller's disclosure and any inspection reports from past sales and check the roof, HVAC and water heater ages. A deal-breaker comes out before you make the trip.
- You can tour a Windcrest home from anywhere. I'll walk you through on video, room by room, so you can make an offer without being here.
- I can suggest a lender; some I know close VA loans every day.
- When you find your Windcrest house, I'll write the offer and negotiate it for you.
- Then I keep things on track. I coordinate the inspections, keep up with the appraisal and the closing, and walk through the house with you before you sign.
Considering Windcrest for
your next home?
Share your report date or move date and your must-haves, and I'll set up showings for the houses you want to see. Rather start on your own? Browse Windcrest homes for sale.
Let's Talk About Your Next MoveTiffany Reed, REALTOR® | MRP | Real Broker LLC
(919) 800-9870 | tiffany@tiffanyreedtx.com | tiffanyreedtx.com
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