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!!!

[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?