John Fatheringham, Realtor in San Antonio, TX

08/12/2026

🏠 Ever thought about buying a duplex instead of a single-family home?

A duplex can give you something a traditional home can’t: a place to live AND a potential source of rental income.

You could live on one side and rent out the other, helping offset part of your monthly housing expense. And depending on the property and your financing, you may even be able to use projected rental income when qualifying.

For military and veteran buyers, it’s also worth knowing that a VA loan can potentially be used to purchase a duplex when you meet the VA’s occupancy and lender requirements.

It’s often called house hacking, but really it’s just making your home purchase work a little harder for you.

Duplexes aren’t the right fit for everyone, and there are additional things to consider—financing, insurance, maintenance, leases, vacancies, and becoming a landlord.

But if you’re considering buying in the San Antonio area, don’t automatically overlook multifamily properties.

Want to see what duplexes are currently available around San Antonio? Send me a message and we can take a look.

John Fatheringham, REALTOR®
MRP | MORE Certified Agent | eXp Military Network

08/11/2026

Can You Handle a San Antonio Summer?

If you're thinking about retiring in San Antonio because you're tired of shoveling snow, there's something we need to talk about first.

The heat.

San Antonio summers aren't just "a little warm."

Temperatures can reach 100°F or higher, and stretches of very hot weather are part of living in South Texas.

So while you might be trading snow shovels and icy driveways for sunshine, you're making a trade — not escaping weather altogether.

A few things to think about:

☀️ Your schedule may change.
During the hottest months, morning and evening can become the preferred times for walking, yard work and other outdoor activities.

❄️ Air conditioning isn't optional.
Your home's HVAC system, insulation, windows and energy efficiency can have a noticeable impact on both comfort and electric bills.

🌳 Shade matters more than you might expect.
Mature trees, covered patios and the direction a home faces can suddenly become important considerations when you're looking at homes.

🏊 A pool can sound wonderful.
It can also mean additional maintenance, utilities and expense. That's something to consider before deciding it's a must-have.

🌡️ Your car feels it too.
Covered parking or a garage can be a lot more appreciated when your vehicle has been sitting in the Texas sun.

🌧️ And heat isn't our only weather consideration.
San Antonio can experience thunderstorms, hail, flash flooding and occasional winter freezes.

The upside?

You aren't spending months dealing with snow and freezing temperatures, and our winters are generally much milder than many parts of the country.

But I don't think anyone should choose a retirement destination based only on the good parts.

If you're seriously considering retiring in San Antonio, come visit during July or August.

Don't just visit when the weather is beautiful.

Experience a South Texas summer and ask yourself:

Could I trade cold winters for this?

👇 If you already live in San Antonio, what advice would you give someone experiencing their first San Antonio summer?

08/11/2026

A little Humvee time in the Texas Hill Country 🇺🇸

It got me thinking…

Veterans and active-duty service members — have you ever used your VA home loan benefit?

✅ Yes, I’ve used it
🤔 Not yet, but I’m thinking about it
❓ I’m not really sure how it works

I’m a retired Air Force veteran and REALTOR® here in San Antonio, and one thing I’ve learned is that a lot of veterans still don’t realize just how powerful their VA loan benefit can be.

Drop your answer in the comments. 👇

08/10/2026

😂 When the camera keeps picking the same guy… and apparently everyone is VERY happy about it.

📸 First picture: ME.
Everyone: 😱🎉🙌

📸 “Okay, okay…take another one!”
Second picture: ME AGAIN. 😂

At this point, I’m starting to think they’re just really excited to find their REALTOR®. 🏡🤣

08/10/2026

Someday You Realize Time Is the Thing You Can't Get Back

One of the reasons I took the last couple of weeks off was to drive across the country and visit family.

We also saw national parks, took some back roads, stopped at places we probably never would have seen otherwise, and put a whole lot of miles behind us.

But looking back on the trip, the part that probably matters most wasn't any particular place we visited.

It was the time.

Time with family.
Time away from work.
Time to just drive and talk.
Time to stop somewhere because it looked interesting instead of because it was on the schedule.

I think I appreciate that differently today than I would have when I was younger.

During my military career, there was always something next.

Another assignment.
Another responsibility.
Another place we needed to be.

After the military, it's surprisingly easy to fall right back into the same pattern.

Work.
Bills.
Responsibilities.
Appointments.
Things around the house.

And we tell ourselves we'll take the trip later.

We'll visit family later.

We'll make time later.

The problem is, "later" isn't guaranteed.

I'm starting to realize that one of the most valuable things we have isn't money, rank, a job title, or even the things we've accumulated over the years.

It's time.

And once we spend it, we don't get it back.

I'm glad we took this trip.

I'm glad we saw the big places.

But I'm also glad we took some back roads, stopped at places we'd never heard of, and most importantly, spent time with people we don't get to see every day.

Maybe that's another lesson that comes with getting older.

You start paying a little less attention to how much something costs...

and a little more attention to how much time you have.

Reflection question:

What's something you've been saying you'll do "someday" that maybe you shouldn't keep putting off?

08/07/2026

🏡 Thinking About Buying Your First Home in San Antonio?

If you've been renting and wondering whether it's finally time to buy, you probably have a lot of questions.

How much money do I actually need?

Do I really need 20% down?

Should I talk to a lender or REALTOR® first?

Are there programs that can help with the down payment or closing costs?

What happens after I find a house I like?

And maybe the biggest question:

Am I even ready to buy yet?

I put together a free San Antonio First-Time Homebuyer Starter Guide to help answer those questions and explain the process without assuming you already know how real estate works.

It covers things like:

🏡 Deciding whether buying makes sense for you
💰 Figuring out what you can comfortably afford
🏦 Why getting preapproved comes before touring homes
💵 Down payments and first-time buyer assistance
📍 Building your home search around your actual life in San Antonio
📝 Buyer representation in Texas
🔍 Inspections and appraisals
🤝 Making an offer
💲 Texas property taxes and the homestead exemption
🔑 What happens from getting started through closing
📋 A First-Time Buyer Snapshot you can fill out yourself

And here's something important:

You don't have to be preapproved or even know for sure that you're ready to buy before talking with me.

Sometimes the first conversation is simply figuring out where you are and what needs to happen next.

The guide is free. No obligation and no pressure to buy a house.

If you'd like a copy, comment "FIRST HOME" below or send me a message and I'll send it to you.

John Fatheringham
REALTOR® | eXp Realty - Neal & Neal Team
Retired U.S. Air Force - 22 Years

Send a message to learn more

08/07/2026

🌭 HOT HOMES! GET YOUR HOT HOMES HERE! 🏡😂

You know that hot dog vendor walking through the stands at a baseball game?

“HOT DOGS! GET YOUR HOT DOGS!”

Well… consider me the real estate version. 😎

If you’re thinking about buying a new home, you don’t have to chase me down or wave money in the air.

Just let me know what you’re looking for, and I’ll help you find it.

🏡 New construction
🔑 Resale homes
🎖️ Military & PCS relocation
📍 San Antonio and surrounding areas

No yelling from the stands required. 😂 Just send me a message and say:

“I’m looking for a home.”

I’ll take it from there.

08/06/2026

🏡 Thinking About a Brand-New Home?

New construction homes are available throughout San Antonio and the surrounding areas — from move-in-ready homes to communities where you can choose your lot, floor plan, and options.

The builder has their sales team. You can have someone representing you, too.

I can help you compare communities, builders, incentives, locations, and options so you can find the new home that fits what you’re looking for.

🔑 First home
🏡 Upsizing or downsizing
📦 Relocating to San Antonio
🎖️ Military PCS
✨ Or simply ready for something new

Let me help you find yours.

Send me a message and tell me what you’re looking for.

08/06/2026

🏡 PCSing to San Antonio? I Put Together Something That May Help

If you've got orders to San Antonio, one of the first questions is usually:

Where do we even start looking?

And that's not as simple as searching for "homes near JBSA."

Where you're assigned, how much commute you're willing to deal with, whether you're buying or renting, your budget, and what your family needs can completely change which areas make sense.

So I put together a PCS to San Antonio Starter Guide covering things like:

✈️ Understanding the different JBSA locations
🏡 Buying vs. renting when you arrive
💰 Getting financially prepared before house hunting
🇺🇸 VA loan basics
📍 How to start narrowing down where to live
📱 Buying remotely if you can't get here first
🏗️ New construction
💵 Texas property taxes and veteran exemptions
📋 A 90/60/30-day PCS housing timeline
📝 A PCS housing worksheet

It's free. No obligation and no requirement that you use me as your REALTOR®.

I'm retired Air Force myself, and I remember what it's like trying to figure out housing along with everything else that comes with a PCS.

If you're PCSing to San Antonio and would like a copy, comment "PCS" below or send me a message and I'll send it to you.

08/05/2026

What Does a Real Estate Agent Actually Do for a Buyer?

A lot of people think a buyer's agent mainly finds houses and opens doors for showings.

That's certainly part of it—but it's only a small part of the job.

Today, buyers can find homes online themselves. Where an experienced agent really becomes valuable is helping you understand what you're looking at and guiding you through everything that happens between finding a house and getting the keys.

A buyer's agent can help you:

🏡 Understand the local market and compare properties

🔎 Spot potential concerns or questions you may want to investigate further

💰 Review comparable sales and help you determine a reasonable offer

📝 Explain contracts, deadlines, contingencies, and your options throughout the transaction

🤝 Negotiate price, repairs, concessions, and other terms on your behalf

🔍 Coordinate inspections, appraisal, lender requirements, title, and other pieces of the transaction

🏗️ Represent your interests when purchasing new construction—even when the builder has its own sales representative

📅 Keep track of important dates and deadlines from contract to closing

Most importantly, your agent should help you make informed decisions—not make those decisions for you.

Buying a home involves a lot more than choosing the one with the best kitchen or backyard.

My job is to help you understand the process, ask the right questions, know your options, and protect your interests along the way.

Because opening the door is easy.

Helping you confidently get from that door to the closing table is where the real work begins.