Home Inspection in San Antonio, TX

What Should Buyers Know About Homes in San Antonio, TX?

San Antonio is one of the oldest cities in Texas and also one of the most spread out, so the house you are buying could have been built almost any time in the last 120 years. Census estimates put the median home at about 1985, but the range is wide: about two in five homes predate 1980, about one in five predates 1960, and roughly one in seven was built since 2010. The age of the home is the best first clue to what your inspection will focus on.

• Historic homes near downtown. Districts such as King William, Monte Vista and Tobin Hill hold homes from the late 1800s and early 1900s: pier-and-beam foundations, wood windows, plaster walls, and a century of rewiring, replumbing and additions.
• Pre-war and post-war bungalows and cottages. Common in the older neighborhoods inside Loop 410, often on pier-and-beam or early slab foundations, with original materials sitting next to newer updates.
• Mid-century ranch homes. Built in large numbers from the 1950s through the 1970s, mostly on slabs, with cast iron drain lines, aging electrical panels and air conditioning added or upgraded over the years.
• Homes from the 1980s through the 2000s. Found between Loop 410 and Loop 1604 and beyond, now old enough for their first or second round of major replacements.
• New construction. Growth continues outside Loop 1604 on every side of the city, with new subdivisions still being built.

Whether you searched "home inspector San Antonio TX" or "home inspection near me San Antonio," the right inspector is someone who knows what each of these eras tends to hide.

What Do Home Inspections in San Antonio Commonly Find?

Along with foundation movement, these are the findings San Antonio buyers ask about most:

• Air conditioning under a long hot season. Systems run for much of the year, often with the air handler in a hot attic. Condensate drains, emergency pans, duct connections and equipment age are routine items.
• Hail and wind damage. Hail is a regular part of life here. The Insurance Council of Texas ranked the April 12, 2016 San Antonio hailstorm as the costliest in Texas history at the time. Storm damage and uneven roof repairs are easy to miss from the ground, so the inspector looks at the roof covering, flashing and how repairs tie in.
• Older plumbing materials. Galvanized steel supply pipes in older homes, cast iron drains in mid-century homes, and polybutylene supply lines in some homes built from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s.
• Older electrical. Ungrounded two-prong outlets, aluminum branch wiring in some homes from the mid-1960s to early 1970s, and panel brands with known concerns. The report flags what the inspector can see, and recommends a licensed electrician where needed.
• Pools and spas. Backyard pools are common across the city. They are inspected separately, so ask about a pool and irrigation inspection when you book.
• Newer homes are not exempt. Grading, attic insulation, flashing and ductwork issues show up in brand-new houses too.