Gilbert Gonzalez, President & CEO, San Antonio Board of REALTORS®

Invest: spoke with Gilbert Gonzalez, president and CEO of the San Antonio Board of REALTORS®, about the city’s steady real estate growth, affordability, and strong community appeal for investors, businesses, and homebuyers. “We have a sustained market, and I anticipate that will continue moving forward,” he said.

What makes the San Antonio market attractive to investors, businesses, and homebuyers compared to other major cities?

It’s a compelling market because of the quality of life that the community has built. San Antonio has attractive educational opportunities, employment opportunities, and entertainment opportunities. We invest a lot in making sure that it’s one of the best places for people to want to move to and live.

With real estate sales continuing to grow, what key factors are driving this surge? 

The great thing about San Antonio is that we don’t have huge peaks and valleys. We have a sustained market, and I anticipate it will continue moving forward. Based on what we know, people still want to move to Texas. In Texas, every city is unique, and San Antonio attracts people looking for a certain quality of life that is also invested in family and community. That draws people here. Our price point is fantastic compared to the nation and the state. The amount of home you get at our median price is amazing, making it attractive to people from other markets or countries wanting to move here.

Regarding the San Antonio Board of REALTORS®, what have been some key developments, highlights, or achievements from the past year?

We love to work with our community and be a part of it. We took on two projects recently. One was working with the San Antonio Independent School District, helping bring in consultants to provide a framework for their school closures. They were facing school closures and needed guidance on how to move forward. We brought in real estate experts to advise them. We saw another school district in San Antonio doing the same thing with two schools. Our goal was to create a framework that other districts could use.

The other project was partnering with the H.E. Butt Foundation. We invested in a study about inequities within our taxing system, assessing where we stand nationally and statewide. The results showed we’re doing really well, though there’s always room for improvement. The best part is our strong relationship with our assessor, who is absolutely interested in using this information to improve. Keeping people in their homes is paramount to maintaining this community as great as it is — not perfect, but great.

What is your view on housing affordability, and how is your organization supporting members and the community in addressing this challenge?

We have the benefit of access to a lot of data and information on the market, and we like to leverage that with our community partners. We say, “Hey, we’re happy to use our information to help ensure we continue to provide inventory and maintain housing affordability.” That’s our No. 1 goal. While we don’t build the houses, we help people move into them. Since we have this information, we believe it’s useful for helping people make policy decisions and determine where to build. That’s what we like to offer to the community.

Which specific neighborhoods or property types are seeing the most interest and growth? What trends are emerging in this area?

That’s a hard question because it really varies all over the place. The city itself is working to develop downtown and make it more attractive. Some people want that quality of life; being able to walk to dinner, walk to the grocery store, and live in a more walkable city. But even in the suburbs, development is happening all over town: north, south, east, and west. Depending on where people work, they generally try to live nearby. 

San Antonio loves its single-family homes, and that’s paramount to our community. The interesting part is figuring out what other types of housing are appropriate for San Antonio. Would San Antonio embrace condos, more multifamily housing, row housing, duplexes, or similar options? That’s something we’re exploring.

How will the planned entertainment district impact the San Antonio community, and what trends might emerge from it?

Our hope is always that it will affect the community positively. Housing is one component of the entire business ecosystem. We want to ensure that if people want to move here and businesses want to come to San Antonio, there are places for them to live. These systems being developed are another way to make San Antonio attractive for visitors. They create employment opportunities for the community, and those opportunities are important. It’s also vital that businesses reinvest in the community. I hope that with these systems, we will continue to invest in the neighborhoods where they are developed.

How is SABOR supporting its members in adapting to market changes, such as pricing, demand, and financing?

We’re trying to do all of that, and it’s a huge task. Real estate is an ever-changing market, and the speed at which it’s changing is much faster now. Part of that is because consumers — all of us — are used to accessing information faster, quicker, and more independently. We try to educate our members about what’s out there, what technology is important, and what consumers need. We also ensure our technology is quick, ready, and capable of providing consumers the information they need.

Education is crucial. Consumers have a lot of questions. They particularly want to know if now is the right time to buy. The answer is always yes, but we need to articulate why. Our members must explain that now is always the best time to buy because the value of your home, your investment, will always increase. That’s something you want to take advantage of, so do it now.

There are many ways we’re working on this. We’re always looking for new technology, staying ahead, and ensuring our members are prepared. Our members are entrepreneurs, and if we can help them succeed, that will always be our goal.

How are you addressing the demand for brokers? Are there too many, or is there a need for more? 

The great thing about real estate is that we don’t have to put much effort into attracting people to the industry. The industry itself draws people in. People love the flexibility that comes with being a real estate agent, and choosing to join our organization as a realtor provides that flexibility. It offers a fantastic quality of life; if you’re ready to hustle and work, you can make as much as you want, or if you prefer to take it slow, you can do that too.

I’ve always loved our industry because, above all, it allows you to be an entrepreneur and succeed. The overhead you need at the beginning is nowhere near as extreme as opening a store or a restaurant, and that attracts people. We’re an environment where those with an entrepreneurial spirit can thrive, and that’s what we’ll always support. The market naturally calls people to be part of it, and we’ve been lucky in that way.

What is your outlook on the region’s real estate market, and what are your top priorities for the next few years?

Our top priority is to ensure we’re at the table when discussing affordable housing and making sure San Antonio remains the market it is. Some might say that San Antonio is going to thrive, and it will. But what I love about San Antonio is that it’s always been steady and constant. That steadiness allows for longevity and helps us maintain our identity. San Antonio will continue to be great and stable, and to me, that’s the best way to be.