Purchasing and owning a historic home presents some unique challenges, as well as rewards. If you want to buy a historic home, the following programs and organizations can provide assistance and advice.
The City, Merced Housing Texas and the San Antonio Conservation Society have partnered to rehabilitate and sell locally designated historic houses to low to moderate income buyers.
Home buyer education and assistance programs.
For people who want to sell or buy historic houses in need of repair or relocation. This link will take you to the City of San Antonio' s Office of Historic Preservation home page. Information on the rescue list is located at the bottom of that page. You can also contact senior planner Larry Gutierrez at 210-207-7902 or by email at larry.gutierrez@sanantonio.gov.
For Owner-Occupied Residences in New Historic Districts.
Provides homeownership opportunities to low income families in inner city neighborhoods.
Promotes affordable housing to low and moderate income families, provides housing education and ownership counseling.
Lending resource center and homeowner education.
The following sources can help ensure that your repair or renovation project preserves your home's historic features.
Free guidance provided by the City’s Office of Historic Preservation for proposed rehabilitation, new construction, and other projects.
This free annual event brings homeowners together with preservation experts, knowledgeable tradesmen, and City departments to discuss how to care for and maintain historic homes.
The National Park Service provides online guidance for preserving, rehabilitating and restoring historic buildings. This site also includes information on sustainability, such as energy efficiency and new technology for historic buildings.
Used by the City to evaluate proposed projects on individual landmarks and properties in historic districts; also used to determine if a rehabilitation qualifies as a Certified Rehabilitation for Federal tax purposes.
Administered by the National Park Service and the Internal Revenue Service in partnership with the Texas Historical Commission. The Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program preserves historic buildings, stimulates private investment, creates jobs, and revitalizes communities. It has leveraged over $58 billion in private investment to preserve and reuse 37,000 historic properties since 1976.
Homeowners in need can apply to a Fuller Center covenant partner to have their homes restored to a simple, decent living condition. Once repairs are complete, The Fuller Center works with each homeowner to help them structure an affordable repayment plan.
A tax exemption is available for designated local landmarks and properties within local historic districts that undergo a substantial rehabilitation. Substantial rehabilitation includes improvements that extend the life of a building such as roof, foundation, and siding work; electrical, plumbing, and HVAC system work; other structural work; and interior work. Following substantial rehabilitation of residential properties, City property taxes are frozen at the assessed value prior to rehabilitation for up to 10 years. Substantially rehabilitated commercial properties are eligible for the 5 Zero/5 Fifty tax exemption: no City property taxes are owed for the first five (5) years, and for the next five (5) years the City taxes are assessed at 50% of a post-rehabilitation appraisal. The tax exemption for substantial rehabilitation remains with the property regardless of change of ownership or sale of the property.
Grants are awarded annually for the restoration or rehabilitation of houses that are at least 50 years old. The most commonly granted amount is in the $5,000 range, which can be used towards exterior work that is not yet underway. The deadline to apply is in September with notifications in December. Please see the application form for more information.