Vanity - Feedback on north Dallas area

N.A. | 09/09/2012 | self

[Cementjungle]

A year ago my MIL passed away in Los Angeles, and my wife and I have been here in LA dealing with the estate issues. Our home in WA is leased out, and we're about to put my MIL's Los Angeles house on the market.

We want to get out of L.A., and since my wife never adjusted to the rain of the Pacific Northwest, we're looking for a new place to live that doesn't have 9 months a year of dreary rain. Texas seems to fit the bill for weather (we plan to have a pool), and is more our style politically.

We have a trip planned in a couple of weeks to visit Dallas and do some house hunting.

It looks like the Carrollton/Frisco/Richardson areas of Dallas might fit the bill... nice homes in our price range, near the DFW airport (we like to travel). We're empty-nesters, so we're not concerned with school issues.

Does anyone in that area have any comments on living there? Are there plenty of good restaurants, shopping, etc.?

Any feedback would be appreciated!!!

[JRandomFreeper]

North Garland, near the Richardson border has some fairly nice houses and is somewhat cheaper.

/johnny

[wolfman23601]

The area between Love Field and SMU is very nice. Anywhere around Preston and Mockingbird North for a few miles, but it is in the City of Dallas. Thats what i can tell you through my visits!

[kbobdelux]

Highland Village (Highland Shores)-
- Quiet
- North of DFW Airport 10 miles,
- 25 minutes or less consistently to DFW airport
- Many restaurants and shops
- Lake Lewisville community
- Most mojor road construction projects should be complete in a about 6 months.
- Safest small town in Texas several years running.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=highland+village&hl=en&ll=33.101033,-97.036228&spn=0.081248,0.149517&sll=33.09461,-97.057838&sspn=0.081254,0.149517&hnear=Highland+Village,+Denton,+Texas&t=h&z=13

[smokingfrog]

Check out Grapevine too.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Also take a look at Denton:
http://dallas.craigslist.org/search/rea?query=denton&srchType=A&minAsk=&maxAsk=&bedrooms=

http://www.dentonrealestate.com/

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Denton_TX?source=web

[formerlyfree]

You should consider Southlake. It’s 7 minutes from DFW airport and a great place to live. Nice homes, nice neighbors.

[freedumb2003]

North Irving (valley Ranch_/Coppel area. Great schools, low cost housing, near the airport but not too near.

Nice, friendly people.

Almost no democrats.

[umgud]

Congrats on having the sense to get out of CA. It is going in the toilet and the final flush is guaranteed.

[Oklahoma]

Collin County is one of the wealthiest counties in the country. McKinney, Allen, Plano and Frisco are the largest towns in Collin County. Frisco and Allen are brand new. Twenty years ago Frisco was probably around 2,000 in population and today it must be at least 100,000. Allen has grown by the same rate. Plano has been the largest for a good forty years but it will soon be overtaken by the county seat and former largest community, McKinney. McKinney and Plano both have older parts of town that Frisco and Allen really don't.

Richardson and Carrollton in Dallas County are both more mature suburbs and have a less wealthy populace. The living costs would probably be lower than in Collin County. I would expect a higher crime rate in Dallas County.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Nice prices, too, if by nice you mean expensive. I agree it’s a nice area, though...

[Badabing Badablonde]

Any community on Sam Rayburn tollway will give you a quick trip to DFW airport. Carrollton, Plano, Frisco, and McKinney are all nice communities. I moved to McKinney in 2009 and love it here, with the exception of not having access to public transportation. Same with Allen.

If you end up buying a house with no pool and need a builder, I have an excellent recommendation. And my former realtor is a champion with Remax, and has blown my mind with the good deals he has gotten for me. I’d be glad to pass his name to you too.

[Hang'emAll]

lived in Plano (between Richardson and Frisco) many years and many years in Irving but have moved down to Corpus Christi area. Much nicer on the coast.

Dallas is big, hot, lots of shopping and restaurants. Lots of good highways now. Lots of tolls.

You kinda need to have an idea of where you are working to minimize drive time. Traffic is not as bad as LA though. Pools are a great idea. Liked mine a lot. They can freeze over in January.

There are bad parts of Dallas just like any other city. I would say that Frisco being the one further out and newer overall is probably the better choice if you do not have to go downtown to work in Dallas. They do have trains running now to certain areas. Something to look into.

I come back to visit my kids. One in Frisco one in Plano.
I like the smaller city on the coast I live in and would not go a big city if I did not have to.

Good luck

[max americana]

“Almost no democrats.”

Sounds like heaven..almost.

[Ms. AntiFeminazi]

Collin County is the most Republican/conservative county in the U.S. We’ve sent some good people to the state and federal houses. A lot of it is surrounded by tolls, so be sure to factor that in. Also factor in car expense for CONSTANT road construction. The new hotspot in the area is Prosper, north of Frisco.

Try a satellite search and zoom in on some of the areas listed above. It’s not the best picturesque way to look, but you will get a feel for the area.

I would avoid DART areas. Bad crime rates and Sec 8 seem to follow DART.

[Cementjungle]

Thanks for the feedback everyone... very helpful.

My wife’s retired, and I’m semi-retired (and work from home), so a commute isn’t an issue. We also plan to spend part of the time (the summer months) in Costa Rica so we can escape the extreme summer heat in TX.

We just want access to lots of good dining, friendly neighbors and things of that sort.

[kabumpo]

Stay in L.A. and hold onto the house for a couple of years until the market recovers, then sell the house. L.A. can be a great place to live.

[Cementjungle]

The house in L.A. is in Hollywood... the traffic is insane, and we get hit with graffiti every week. We just had to repair the driveway gate because the bums and tranny hookers always pee on it at night and make it rust away.

We want out of Los Angeles.... it’s a dump.

[Melas]

We call this little corner, Gardallison.

[TexasNative2000]

Southlake. Secure, easy access to DFW Airport, great shopping, great food, EXCELLENT school system (It does matter here because the best school systems draw the best neighbors).

[rmichaelj]

One downside to texas are the high property taxes. No income tax which more than makes up for it if you are a big earner, but being retired/semi-retired it may be more of an issue for you. An option for you to look at would be Oklahoma City. It is has been developing for the last ten years and the dining options in my opinion match dfw. Also slightly milder summers. Look at the property tax vs income tax issue and keep it in mind as an option.

[Melas]

Just don’t be surprised when it’s not nearly as conservative as you’d imagine. The larger cities in Texas are like large cities everywhere. The Korean War vet with the John Birch tattoo lives next door to the hippie couple who raise their own granola kinda thing.

[erkyl]

Southlake is very nice, but you won’t find any houses under $300k, whereas a lot of the other places mentioned have great selections under that. I live right on the border of Dallas and Collin counties. I find the traffic in and out of McKinney/Allen to be maddening. Only one highway (75) in/out of them, so commuting is a pain. Getting around in Frisco and west Plano is awful because of the traffic, too. One of the “downfalls” of a good economy, unfortunately. I personally like the Richardson area, easy access to all major highways, without all the trouble that comes with fast growing, outlying suburbs. You are out of the city, but not so far out that commuting is a nightmare. I encourage you to look at Richardson. And welcome to the great state of Texas!

[TexasNative2000]

Plus, it’s in Tarrant County, not Dallas - a difference of unspeakable value.

[Stegall Tx]

I've lived in the area between the cities for 20 years. If you can stand the constant sound coming from DFW Airport, it's a very pleasant place to live. Lots of good neighborhoods in the area, but you have to be careful (like anywhere ... good and bad can be found).

Personally, I would lean towards North Richland Hills right now, but I am no expert.

As for the number of Democrats in the area, during the last primary, there was a line of 20 people out the door waiting to vote. One of the people behind the Democrat desk stood up, went out the door and addressed all of us in the line. "Are there any Democrats here? ANYone voting Democrat in this line?"

Silence

Then laughter. Lots of laughter.

[Ms. AntiFeminazi]

Graffiti

Graffiti is a crime when the person, without effective consent, intentionally or knowingly makes markings, inscriptions, slogans, drawings, or paintings on the owner’s property with aerosol paint, indelible or permanent marker, or an etching or engraving device. If the amount of damage is less than $500, it’s a Class A Misdemeanor. If the loss is $500-$1500, it’s a Class B Misdemeanor. $1500 to 20,000 is a State Jail Felony. Graffiti is an automatic state jail felony, even if the damage is under $20,000, if it involves a school, church, cemetery, public monument, or community center. $20,000-100,000 is a 3rd Degree Felony. $100-200,000 is a 2nd Degree Felony and over $200,000 is a 1st Degree Felony. Think about that for a second. Drawing on a building with spray paint or a magic marker can potentially land you in prison for LIFE.

Collin County, compared to surrounding cities such as Dallas, are not faced with a serious gang problem and Plano is considered a relatively “inactive” gang city. Even though gang activity is not as prevalent compared to surrounding cities, local law enforcement agencies have implemented strategic initiatives aimed at identifying and reducing gang activity throughout Collin County, including Plano.

http://www.planocriminaldefenseattorney.co/theft-burglary-mischief-check-property-crimes.html

[Orange1998]

Consider Houston. The economy is the best its been in years! Dallas is known for insurance and financial jobs while Houston is known for oil and gas jobs. If you like hills you may want to consider San Antonio, TX were the weather is better and economy just as robust as Houston. Either way welcome to Texas!

[Ms. AntiFeminazi]

Plus, it’s in Tarrant County, not Dallas - a difference of unspeakable value. +1

[Hang'emAll]

If you can work from your house which I do also; there are alternatives in Texas. Water does tend to lower the temperature in the summer and raise it it the winter.

http://www.gulfshorescondo.com/

I’ve found that smaller towns have friendlier neighbors.

The areas in Dallas all have a cedar fence around the back yard and very few people get together.

You sit in your back yard and stare at the fence on the weekend.

Oh yes there are cocktail parties in Dallas. How’s your family, how do you like the Cowboys, weather, economy etc.

But smaller towns you have real friends. You see them every day in town. You know all about them and they you.

[dandiegirl]

You should try something small in the Park Cities. Lots of nice townhouses, great area.

[Slyfox]

Most people moving to the Dallas area are moving to the suburbs north of Dallas. From the last statistics, only about 8,000 families have moved inside the Dallas city limits. The cities you mentioned are very livable. Good churches, shopping and great restaurants. In fact, in the Dallas area, we have more restaurants per capita than New York City, plus you aren't packed in like sardines.

Don't discount looking at the old areas, because that is where most of the old guard conservatives live and you can get some good deals on houses if you don't mind fixing them up a bit. I live in an old area where the Dallas Cowboys of the 1970s had their first houses. Plus, I can bike around safely at night and my neighbors are great.

We have Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, great barbecue and Tex-Mex.

[Orange1998]

"We just want access to lots of good dining, friendly neighbors and things of that sort".

You will find that all over Texas! You also may want to consider The Woodlands, TX (near the airport). Its a master plan community and its NICE.

[Ditter]

As a former small town resident I got a kick out of your last sentence. “You know all about them and they you”. Truer words were never spoken. :D snort)))))))

[Cementjungle]

I would probably love Corpus Christi, but it might be too quiet for my wife... she likes the big city, and I prefer the boonies... so we need some sort of compromise where we can be close to a bit of both.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

2 and 13 are both in N. Texas.

[Aarchaeus]

"Sounds like heaven..almost."

Almost. But sometimes like Hell, too. Max temperature this summer in Lewisville was 109 degrees. But not really a lot of days like that. Far more days in a typical summer are under 100 degrees. And I like the short, mild winters.

[al_c]

Consider some parts of Allen and McKinney in your search. We’ve got easy access to lots of areas and a 30 minute drive to DFW airport down the Sam Rayburn tollway.

[RightWingConspirator]

Having lived in Flower Mound, Argyle, Austin, Round Rock and San Antonio, I would give northwest San Antonio, San Marcos, New Braunfels and the Texas hill country a good look. Lots of tornados and hail in the DFW area, almost none in the areas I recommend.

[Dysart]

Fountains of Lake Ridge

You want to live in Cedar Hill next to Joe Pool Lake, just south of God's country, Grand Prairie.

This one is typical, for example, and offers a lot of house for 270,000 clams. The lake is quite close and DFW airport is about 30-35 minutes.

Broad view of the landscape with lake scene. It's a very nice area with a low crime rate, nice, friendly neighbors with some of the nicest surroundings you'll find in DFW and plenty of shopping only minutes away if you have anyone close to you who enjoys that sort of thing...this is far preferable than N Dallas, trust me. I've lived in N Dallas and Carrollton.

[Cementjungle]

I live in an old area where the Dallas Cowboys of the 1970s had their first houses. Plus, I can bike around safely at night and my neighbors are great.

Which neighborhood is that?

[SVTCobra03]

Stay in L.A. and hold onto the house for a couple of years until the market recovers, then sell the house. L.A. can be a great place to live.

When the SHTF and it will very soon, L.A. is the last place you want to live.

[Marcella]

The area you mention is a good one. Be sure and stay out of Dallas City Limits. Garland, next to Richardson, is also nice and I lived there at one time years ago.

[fella]

Skip Dallas and Dallas County, the politics there are highly charged with racism and are just plain crazy. Fort Worth and Denton are much better. Even the Cowboys and the Rangers have gotten out of Dallas.

But if your coming to Texas please leave your West Coast ways behind. And you'd better get used to the heat (our 4 seasons consist of Almost-Summer, Summer, Still-Summer and Hunt’n) and to driving 40 to 60 miles just to get to where you want go for just about anything.

[freedumb2003]

btw, I am a Los Angeles refugee — came here a year ago next month.

I love it — the hear is a little tough but that is why God made A/C.

[freedumb2003]

I meant “heat” not “hear.”

[FARS]

Nobody has mentioned dangerous mosquitoes nor in which areas they exist. And best sites to avoid.

[PAR35]

Of the ones you mention, Frisco is your best bet. A good rule of thumb is to stay between US75 Central and the Dallas North Tollway. You can find decent housing all the way from downtown Dallas to US 380 doing that. Sam Rayburn tollway and George Bush Tollway give good access from the far north suburbs to DFW. The Dallas North Tollway will get you to Love.

Someone upthread mentioned the Park Cities - great if you are looking in the $1-4 million range; otherwise, go to Collin County.

And if you work downtown, Plano might be your best bet - you can ride the train in if you don’t want to drive. But Plano’s better neighborhoods tend to be in the newer areas away from the rail line.

Someone suggested Cedar Hill - they must have been pulling your leg. Stay away from the area south of the river - even if you are of an appropriate minority for the area. As for Richardson - large chunks of the area are Asian, but as they move upscale, they are migrating to Plano. So if you are looking for Asian food, you might as well move up one ring of suburbs.

[Svartalfiar]

As most of the posters have mentioned, Dallas itself is not really a good choice. North/northeast is a much better option. I’ve been in Murphy (east of Plano) for about 13 years now. Not a bad town, very quiet. Wylie (bit farther northeast) is also a good city. I have also heard some pretty good stuff about Rockwall from the couple friends I know there. If you look at Plano, definitely look more at west then east Plano. Much Nicer. Going farther north, Frisco/McKinney/Allen aren’t too bad, all relatively young cities that have been booming recently.

DFW Airport is currently undergoing some major construction on the north entrance/635/121/114/etc, and can be VERY confusing for some people. I don’t have much trouble with it, but the signage is pretty terrible, especially if you don’t know the current area. Construction is supposed to go through 2014. Just so you’re aware.

635 is undergoing a ton of construction from 75 to 35 for the next several years. It is a terrible route, especially during rush hours. If you’re in Garland/Richardson areas, your commute to DFW isn’t gonna be fun. Once you hit Plano/Wylie/NE areas, you have an easy route via G Bush, although it is a toll road. Additionally, Frisco/Allen/Northern cities have 121/Dallas North Tollway giving easy access, but also tolls. Its not too bad, but if you drive it alot/don’t like toll roads, you may want to stick to something closer to the airport, like Grapevine/Lewisville/Grand Prairie/west of DFW.

For good dining, every city has a couple good places (and when you move here I can give you a good long list of places to try all over), but the biggest restaurant area is easily Addison. This is basically the Tollway and Belt Line, so it has pretty easy access from most of the N/NE area.

Any further/more specific questions?

[sportutegrl]

I have lived in the north Garland area. Yes, there are tons of restaurants and shopping. But, if I were you I would consider Eastern WA, (Tri Cities) which has the lowest car and homeowners insurance I have ever seen, (Tex, LA, PA, WA, NH), and among the lowest property tax bills outside of Louisiana. Never rains here and there are tons of conservatives. No income tax and you can do your tax free shopping in nearby Oregon.

[freedumb2003]

>>Nobody has mentioned dangerous mosquitoes nor in which areas they exist. And best sites to avoid.<<

A Texas mosquito can be usually be taken out with a single shotgun blast. Rarely have I needed 2.