Dear future neighbors…where should I put my bags down? (Dallas: for sale, real estate)

[Panks]

Howdy

I know you guys are great at pinpointing specific places in Dallas, so I’d really appreciate it if you could take a look at my long list and tell me what you think..

I didn’t put a price range for a home because I didn’t want to limit the brainstorming. I’d rather know what the best place for me is, then either get the smallest home possible or if I can’t afford it, at least know what I’d have to make in order to afford.

If you suggest a neighborhood, could you please also tell me the average price range for a small home in that neighborhood?

MY MUST HAVE LIST:

Safe neighborhood. Make that very safe!

Streetlights ( not so far out in the country that its pitch black at night when the sun goes down…spooky)

Within walking distance of cafes and bookstores and pastry shops or other daytime signs of local (not tourist) human life like a farmers market or flea market (preferably not bars or pool halls)

Within 10 mins ride to a community college or university that has evening classes geared towards working adults going back to school. Wish I'd picked better the first time!

Well established neighborhood with big mature trees and old homes that have NOT turned into rentals. where owners maintain their home’s original character and not paint it pink.

Within 20 mins drive to Dallas downtown where I hope to eventually get a job as a recruiter.

MY WOULD LOVE TO HAVE BUT NOT ESSENTIAL LIST
A view of a lake with sailboats would be a dream come true, but its not essential by any means.

Close to a community center or place where seniors go for classes and exercise, to keep my mom happy in case she moves in with me.

Thank y'all kindly

[lh_newbie]

Uh... don't think that exists... anywhere!

[FarNorthDallas]

Yeah, I don't think you can find all of these things. It's interesting to me how many people post that they want to be within walking distance of retail and have a view of water at the same time, like we're in La Jolla or something (I wish!!!). There just isn't that much water here.

Anyway, I'll throw a place out there - Canyon Creek in Richardson.

Relatively safe - NO PLACE is totally safe if there are teens in the neighborhood.

Streetlights, check.

Walking distance to retail - There's retail close by, like on Lookout and along Campbell, I don't know about walking distance.

10 minutes to college - check, Univ of Texas at Dallas which is a commuter school with evening classes, is biking distance.

Established neighborhood, few rentals (I would never say none) - check

20 min to downtown - you can jump on Central which is nearby and get downtown or get on the DART train which is nearby and get downtown, in 20-30 minutes

View of water - there are a couple of creeks in Canyon Creek and park areas and some trails, but a lake lake, uh, dream on

Senior City - Richardson is very proactive with their seniors and there is a Senior center on Arapaho, fairly close to Canyon Creek

Price range - 200-500 maybe. I just looked on a real estate site and there aren't many houses for sale, except for the usual culprits - too close to a busy road or needs to be updated. You might have to get a realtor to tell you about houses before the sign goes up. That's what you have to do to get into the neighborhood I live in if you want to try and get a good house.


One more suggestion is Highlands North which is 3 miles west of Canyon Creek on Campbell on the other side of Coit. Price range 300-500. Technically in Dallas. They have two ponds you can fish in right there on Campbell and some homes overlook the ponds. Nice neighborhood. Well maintained homes. Nearby retail. UTD nearby. You can get downtown by getting on Coit heading south and then getting on 75. You can also park and ride the train from the Arapaho station. Lots of people who work downtown live in this area including several judges.

I prefer Highlands North over Canyon Creek, but they are both nice. Canyon Creek also has a secluded public pool in their neighborhood. Not many people know about it. Highlands North doesn't have that, but there is a sprayground and rec center a mile away or you can ride a bike there on a hike and bike trail.

All schools in these areas are excellent which should keep the home values going up.

[hamiltonpl]

http://www.city-data.com/forum/dalla...-lakewood.html

[lh_newbie]

Another possible option is to find a home near a DART rail station. Then, you can take a short walk to the train and have options like downtown, DFW (in a few years) and Mockingbird Station (shopping, restaurants, theater) just to name a few.

I live in a great, quiet neighborhood that in 2009/2010 time frame will have a Towncenter within 10 minutes walk - retail, shopping, a grocery store and a DART rail station. My neighborhood has plenty of street lights and is single family homes. Prices are 100-130/sq ft. The area is Lake Highlands, just north of Lakewood. We have the White Rock trail that provides a 3 mile walk or bike ride and you're at a gorgeous lake (non-motorized, only kayaks and sail boats). The town center will be built at Skillman and Walnut Hill. Lots of homes within walking distance. Area code is 75231.

Brian

[Lakewooder]

If you move to Lakewood/East Dallas/Lower Greenville/Knox-Henderson (you can walk to shops and restaurants in all these) you can go downtown in a few minutes where there is a University Center in the old Titche's building and El Centro College. Also you would not be that far from Eastfield or Richland Colleges, but it would require a drive.

And three words: White Rock Lake!

Home - whiterocklake.org

An Unofficial Guide to Scenic White Rock Lake Park

White Rock Lake Foundation

White Rock Lake Photo Essay

White Rock Lake Dog Park

White Rock Lake - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The White Rock Lake Museum

Dallas Arboretum Home Page

[dfwyot]

If I were you I would stay away from lower greenville/lakewood area. Snobbish people who only care about what there beliefs in the arts and "there" causes. They are very closed minded people who don't see what your interest are or care if you like a certain thing such as suburbs, golf walmarts, fine wine. you will be cast as "one of those", as I said very closed minded people. Schooling in DISD is the worst in the country(public schools that is). UTA located in arlington is one of the finest universitys in the state.So keep an open mind.

[lizziebeth]

My first answer to meet your list would be the Park Cities. It's close to SMU, you can walk to Snider Plaza or Preston Center, it's close to downtown, pretty darn safe, with old homes and old trees, you actually see kids playing outside and even selling lemonade now and then and for only a quarter! But since that's out of most people's price range, I would agree with FarNorthDallas about both Canyon Creek and Highlands North. My parents have lived in Highlands North for 30 years and moved in when the house was new, just down the street from one of the ponds. There has been turnover throughout the years but it's a very stable neighborhood with limited turnover and I'm guessing few rentals. As I start to look for a house on my own, I'm also looking at Canyon Creek and the neighborhood surrounding JJ Pearce HS (both 10 minutes from UTD, not terribly far from Richland College) from Campbell down to Arapaho. Depending on where you live, you could walk to the heavily developed area at Campbell and Coit. Otherwise, it's a quick drive. I was originally thinking Lake Highlands as a location -- not a bad idea, Brian. I don't know about the senior activities but your mom could always hang out with my parents in Highlands North...they're seniors!

[Lakewooder]

Well, dfwyot, for one thing they did teach us the difference between "there" and "their" in DISD.

[Guingirl]

whispers Fort Worthhhh