“It's kind of defined by a lifestyle. It's a matter of convenience,” said Ann FitzGibbons, a real estate agent with the Phyllis Browning Co. “I think the city now has made a commitment to really developing the downtown area and creating a very vibrant downtown. I think people are starting to look inward.”

Some of the common areas associated with Midtown include Tobin Hill, Alta Vista, Beacon Hill, Monte Vista, Mahncke Park and Government Hill.

For FitzGibbons, though, her definition of Midtown isn't so much specific neighborhoods as it is growth patterns of San Antonio.

“I would say Midtown would be from Loop 410 inward at this point, considering the expansion of the city of San Antonio,” she said. “It used to be people talked about being inside the loop and they meant 410, and then they said inside the loop and they meant 1604. It has a lot to do with the traffic situation.”

Because Midtown includes so many neighborhoods, housing options run the gamut.

“When you get into a neighborhood like this, you'll find some houses that are little boxes and some houses that just have tons of personality and character,” said Randy Rice with Randy Rice Real Estate.

In Monte Vista, you can find stately mansions that go for well more than $1 million. In Mahncke Park, you can find Craftsman houses and World War II duplexes and apartments. And you could find small houses in Alta Vista that need repair work available for $100,000.

One of the popular styles is the bungalow.

“In Midtown, there's a preponderance of bungalows, particularly in Beacon Hill and Alta Vista,” said Joe Barfield, a real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty and a Mahncke Park resident. “To me, it's more like a lovable mutt. It's a sturdy house of the people that to me is very compelling. It's not fancy, not too flared, but it's a solidly constructed house of character.”

The variety in price means a mix of residents and neighbors as well.

“You have just such a variety of people from different places, careers, incomes and politics,” Barfield said. “That's neat. You have professionals next to teachers next to roofers next to whatever.”

Rice said he's gotten a lot of interest from people in Stone Oak looking to move in. “Most of the people are over 50, and they want to be closer to town and get off the freeway,” he said.

As the area increases in popularity, there also has been an increase in new construction and renovation throughout the neighborhoods.

“We grow out and we grow out and then all of a sudden people think, ‘If I just redo that kitchen and the bathrooms, I can have a 10-minute commute rather than an hour commute,'” Rice said. “I think it's one of the really good changeover neighborhoods in town, in terms of a lot of activity with people buying up the old houses and renovating them.”

A lot of people moving might look for a newer home, and because of the redevelopment projects, there's an opportunity for those people to get into Midtown, FitzGibbons said.

Several larger projects in the area are likely to boost residential interest and growth as well.

The Pearl Brewery continues to be redeveloped into a mixed-use hub with shops, restaurants and apartments.

And the River Walk expansion has opened up yet another amenity for people.

“The whole buzz of the River Walk and making it pedestrian friendly, a lot of residents are really appreciating that,” FitzGibbons said.

In addition to the redevelopment of commercial and residential neighborhoods, the city of San Antonio hopes to make its mark on a select area of Midtown. In December 2008, the city created the Midtown TIRZ, a tax-financing district meant to spur investment.

“It's been an area that from a demographic standpoint has been a little challenging for us,” particularly because of a declining number of households and a low number of owner-occupied housing, said Adrian Lopez, economic development manager for the Center City Development Office.

The city's Midtown area includes part of Tobin Hill, the Pearl Brewery and property along Broadway up to Hildebrand Avenue.

The plan calls for $900 million in assessed property to be added to the area during the next 20 years, which would continue adding to the area's diversity.

“The intention is to try to infuse rental units, for-sale housing units and obviously some restaurants, retail and office space,” Lopez said.