Spring Branch

Just north of San Antonio, homebuyers can find a slice of Hill Country living in Smithson Valley while still being within driving distance of city amenities. “It’s a highly sought-after area because it has a good mix of suburban and being away from it all,” says Danny Charbel, a Realtor with Keller Williams City View who works in the area. “It’s very accessible to Canyon Lake. It’s easy to get out to different parts of the Guadalupe River if you want to float the river. You’re also not far from 281, which takes you into the heart of San Antonio.” Hilly, winding streets are lined with oaks and Texas Mountain Laurel, while expansive ranch properties add an Old West feel to the area. However, driving just a few miles to the east reveals Highway 281, the main route into San Antonio, lined with shopping and dining options. Homebuyers have a range of options in Smithson Valley. “There’s a good mix. What you don’t see is a lot of older homes,” says Charbel. “The majority of the homes are about 25 years old or younger. But they’re also more traditional builds, so you don’t see a lot of contemporary homes. You see a lot of traditional brick or rock facades.” Trinity Oaks is a gated subdivision right off Highway 281, but the rest of the area is primarily rural. There are several custom homes on large lots with plenty of room between neighbors. The hilly, rural landscape is covered in live oak trees. Homebuyers can expect to pay around $450,000 for a four or five-bedroom house in the subdivision. A four-bedroom home in the rural part of the neighborhood can cost around $950,000. Five-bedroom homes on spacious lots frequently cost over $1 million. Students in the area will likely attend Indian Springs Elementary School, which gets an A-minus from Niche; Peiper Ranch Middle School, rated an A; and Smithson Valley High School, rated an A-minus overall. Indian Springs and Pieper Ranch are each within 5 miles of the neighborhood, while Smithson Valley High School is about 10 miles north. Smithson Valley serves approximately 2,500 students with a student-teacher ratio of 16-to-1. The school offers University of Texas OnRamp courses in computer science, geoscience, precalculus and statistics. Students taking these courses can earn college credit. The school is also known for its softball team, which won three state championships. Because of the rural nature of the neighborhood, having a car is a must in Smithson Valley. Highway 281 gives residents a straight shot for the 23-mile drive into downtown San Antonio, whether commuting for work or play. San Antonio International Airport is about 15 miles from the neighborhood. Highway 281 also connects to the significant loops surrounding the city, including 1604 and 410, giving residents access to every part of the city. Several popular shopping options exist close to the neighborhood along Highway 281. Mariscos El Paisa is a popular Mexican restaurant about 5 miles north of Smithson Valley that Charbel enjoys. “That place is pretty dang good for Mexican and seafood. It’s a good little mom-and-pop spot,” he says. Locals enjoy the fish tacos at this restaurant with a rustic Western-themed interior. Several fast-food restaurants are nearby, including Bill Miller Bar-B-Q, Whataburger and McDonald’s. Residents can shop for groceries at several stores in the area, including an H-E-B plus! 7 miles south on 281, or one 10 miles north. Other nearby stores include a Walmart to the north in Bulverde and a Sprouts Farmers Market south of the neighborhood. Smithson Valley residents are surrounded by recreational opportunities. Canyon Lake is about 20 miles north of the neighborhood, but residents don’t mind making the drive for the chance to spend a day by the water. Comal Park is a 116-acre park on the lake’s southern shore. Visitors can put in a boat for a day of fishing or rowing out on the water. The swimming beach provides locals an ideal spot for relaxing by the water or cooling off on hot summer days. The Bracken Cave Preserve is a nature preserve about a 15-mile drive southeast of the neighborhood. The cave is home to more than 15 million Mexican free-tailed bats. The preserve’s main attraction is the nightly insect hunt when the bats fly out of their cave each summer night to hunt for food. Golf lovers will enjoy the proximity to TPC San Antonio, a private club with two 18-hole courses. The par-72 Canyons course and the par-72 Oaks course are each rated in the top 100 golf courses in the state, according to the Dallas Morning News.