Hi there! I live in Ballantyne/Blakeney and work uptown. When I leave the house at 8:00 a.m- it takes me about an hour to get to work. If I leave at 8:30 ~ it takes me 45 min. In the evening, I leave uptown at around 5:30 and get home at 6:15. I don't drive on the highway and so the commute isn't bad at all. You will definitely be able to find a 3000 s/f home in your price range with some land in and around this area. Some neighborhoods for example are: Providence Plantation, Cady Lake, Raintree & Wessex Square (established & older), Thornhill & Cameron Woods. Some neighborhoods in Matthews would be Sardis Pointe, Sardis Croft, Oxford Hunt, There is a beautiful home for sale in Greygate on .4 ac, and one new construction to be completed in 8/08 on .4 of an acre under $400k that's not in a subdivision. You can take your pick