7 Best Things to Do in Schertz, Texas

Schertz is a vibrant city located just northeast of San Antonio, Texas. It's a great place to live, work, and raise a family, and it also has a lot to offer visitors. Here are some of the best things to do in Schertz: Visit the Animal World Snake Farm and Zoo  This zoo is home to over 1,000 animals, including snakes, crocodiles, alligators, and other reptiles. Visitors can take a guided tour, learn about the animals, and even hold some of them. Animal World Snake Farm and Zoo in Schertz, Texas   See a horse race at Retama Park Retama Park is a thoroughbred horse racing track that hosts races year-round. Visitors can come to watch the races, bet on their favorite horses, and enjoy the food and atmosphere. Retama Park in Schertz, Texas   Go to a public park  Schertz has several great public parks, including Pickrell Park, Crescent Bend Nature Park, and Schertz Sports Complex. These parks offer a variety of amenities, such as playgrounds, swimming pools, tennis courts, and more. Pickrell Park in Schertz, Texas Visit caves and caverns Schertz is home to several caves and caverns, including Natural Bridge Caverns and Cascade Caverns. These caves offer tours that take visitors through the underground world, where they can see stalactites, stalagmites, and other formations. Natural Bridge Caverns in Schertz, Texas   Have a blast bowling, mini-golfing, laser tagging  There are several places in Schertz where you can enjoy these activities, such as Bowlero Schertz, Putt Putt Golf & Games, and Laser Quest Schertz. These places are great for a night out with friends or family. Bowlero Schertz in Schertz, Texas   Explore the Crescent Bend Nature Park  This park is home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, coyotes, and rabbits. Visitors can hike, bike, or horseback ride through the park, and there is also a fishing pond. Stop by the Northwest side of San Antonio  The Northwest side of San Antonio is just a short drive from Schertz, and it has a lot to offer visitors. There are several museums, restaurants, and shopping centers in the area. These are just a few of the best things to do in Schertz, Texas. If you're looking for a fun and exciting place to visit, be sure to add Schertz to your list! Why Should You Move to Schertz? In addition to the many great things to do in Schertz, there are also several reasons why you might want to consider moving to this city. Here are a few of them: Schertz is a safe city. The crime rate in Schertz is much lower than the national average. Schertz is a family-friendly city. There are many great schools in Schertz, and the city has a lot to offer families, such as parks, playgrounds, and recreation centers. Schertz is a growing city. The population of Schertz is growing rapidly, which means there are plenty of job opportunities and new businesses coming to the area. Schertz is affordable. The cost of living in Schertz is lower than the national average. If you're looking for a safe, family-friendly, and affordable city to live in, Schertz is a great option. Be sure to check out the many great things to do in Schertz when you visit!

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Housing Market Forecast for the Rest of 2023 [INFOGRAPHIC]

Some HighlightsWant to know what experts say will happen in the rest of 2023? Home prices are already appreciating again in many areas. The average of the expert forecasts shows positive price growth.Where mortgage rates go for the rest of the year will depend on inflation. Based on historical trends, rates are likely to ease as inflation continues to cool.Even though low inventory continues to be a challenge, experts project 5 million homes will still sell this year. That pace should pick up if rates come down.

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How Inflation Affects Mortgage Rates

When you read about the housing market in the news, you might see something about a recent decision made by the Federal Reserve (the Fed). But how does this decision affect you and your plans to buy a home? Here's what you need to know.The Fed is trying hard to reduce inflation. And even though there’s been 12 straight months where inflation has cooled (see graph below), the most recent data shows it’s still higher than the Fed’s target of 2%: While you may have been hoping the Fed would stop their hikes since they’re making progress on their goal of bringing down inflation, they don’t want to stop too soon, and risk inflation climbing back up as a result. Because of this, the Fed decided to increase the Federal Funds Rate again last week. As Jerome Powell, Chairman of the Fed, says:“We remain committed to bringing inflation back to our 2 percent goal and to keeping longer-term inflation expectations well anchored.” Greg McBride, Senior VP, and Chief Financial Analyst at Bankrate, explains how high inflation and a strong economy play into the Fed’s recent decision:“Inflation remains stubbornly high. The economy has been remarkably resilient, the labor market is still robust, but that may be contributing to the stubbornly high inflation. So, Fed has to pump the brakes a bit more.”Even though a Federal Fund Rate hike by the Fed doesn’t directly dictate what happens with mortgage rates, it does have an impact. As a recent article from Fortune says:“The federal funds rate is an interest rate that banks charge other banks when they lend one another money . . . When inflation is running high, the Fed will increase rates to increase the cost of borrowing and slow down the economy. When it’s too low, they’ll lower rates to stimulate the economy and get things moving again.”How All of This Affects You In the simplest sense, when inflation is high, mortgage rates are also high. But, if the Fed succeeds in bringing down inflation, it could ultimately lead to lower mortgage rates, making it more affordable for you to buy a home.This graph helps illustrate that point by showing that when inflation decreases, mortgage rates typically go down, too (see graph below): As the data above shows, inflation (shown in the blue trend line) is slowly coming down and, based on historical trends, mortgage rates (shown in the green trend line) are likely to follow. McBride says this about the future of mortgage rates:“With the backdrop of easing inflation pressures, we should see more consistent declines in mortgage rates as the year progresses, particularly if the economy and labor market slow noticeably.”Bottom LineWhat happens to mortgage rates depends on inflation. If inflation cools down, mortgage rates should go down too. Count on a real estate professional you can trust for expert advice on housing market changes and what they mean for you.

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