Moving to Dallas Frisco Allen (Plano, Carrollton: foreclosures, hotel, new home)

[raykris]

Hi,

Our family is moving from Monroe, CT. We are looking in the $500-$750K range. We took a house hunting trip this weekend and saw homes in Frisco at the Country Club Ridge and Heritage Green subdivisions. Any advice on which is a nicer place to live.

We are also considering Allen. Does anyone have any recommendations on where to look?

I am 33 adn my husband is 38 years old. We have a 1 year old girl and 4 year old boy. We are looking for a child friendly area of younger parents as a plus.

Also my husband is commuting to Las Colinas and realize it will be a hike. We have family in Mckinney and need babysitting or would look in Keller area.

[Lakewooder]

You'd better drive from McKinney or Allen to the job first. McKinney is half-way to Oklahoma. It used to be very difficult to get to Las Colinas and DFW from Frisco, I'm sure others will tell you if that has changed.

Maybe you should consider some areas that are not so far from work.

[Jameslone]

If your husband works in Las Colinas and you can afford to live there, which it seems like you can if your price range is from 500k to 700k, than you should consider living in the Las Colinas area.

[Pintea]

Plano is another good option. The commute is OK and you get good schools.

[mrsqvt]

Allen is a really good option. I currently live in Allen myself and I like it alot. There are alot of families with children. There are parks and playgrounds that provide for a nice family outing. The Twin Creeks subdivision in Allen
is very nice and it may be something you are looking for in your price range. If your family is in Mckinney ,then Allen is very close so it would be really easy to get there.

Frisco is nice as well. We were considering Frisco before Allen until we saw all the traffic and over development going on. The schools in Allen,Frisco and Plano are ranked very well. It really all depends on what works for your family.

Also if you ANY help with your home search I can give you the info to a realtor who works in those area's. They provided me with alot of information about the area and is very pleasant and helpful. Just PM if you would like their information.

[Mumof2]

I agree. I currently live in Allen and it is very child friendly, especially the new homes at Twin Creeks is awsome. It is all about new and young families with lots of kids everywhere. But my property taxes are $6000 for a 3100 sq ft home. So might want to check taxes. In Plano, you might want to see the Willow Bend, it is really nice for that price range. You can post an ad in the local community college and students will come for child care needs for $7/8+ and hour.
we will be leaving wonderful Allen for a small apt in NJ and here I am in a hotel in NJ at present.

Good Luck and stay away from Lake front due to all the floods now.

Originally Posted by mrsqvt

Allen is a really good option. I currently live in Allen myself and I like it alot. There are alot of families with children. There are parks and playgrounds that provide for a nice family outing. The Twin Creeks subdivision in Allen
is very nice and it may be something you are looking for in your price range. If your family is in Mckinney ,then Allen is very close so it would be really easy to get there.

Frisco is nice as well. We were considering Frisco before Allen until we saw all the traffic and over development going on. The schools in Allen,Frisco and Plano are ranked very well. It really all depends on what works for your family.

Also if you ANY help with your home search I can give you the info to a realtor who works in those area's. They provided me with alot of information about the area and is very pleasant and helpful. Just PM if you would like their information.

[TexJH]

I love the McKinney/Allen area. I think if they ever finish 121, the commute to Las Colinas will be a lot better.
As you've probably seen, that kind of money will get you a lot of house here. But do look at property taxes.

[artsyguy]

eww don't move to any other city besides Frisco. It is so much better and more classy there.

[unexpected]

haha. Frisco? classy? because you have Stonebriar? hahahaha.

In any case,

Frisco/Allen/McKinney/Plano are different flavors of the same kind of vanilla.

We're all suburbs with a variety of strip malls and shops. I'd say schools, at this stage, are a bout a wash.

Here are a few differences.

Plano - Oldest of the four, but closest in terms of commute. For that price range, could get a 4200 - 4500 sq foot house, but little in terms of lot size.

Allen - second oldest. A lot smaller than plano. Commute will be a big burden (more so than frisco I think). Could get a 4500-4800 sq foot house there.

Frisco - youngest of the suburbs. Thinks they're all cool and classy because they have a gigantic shopping center. Since it's a younger suburb though, you'd tend to have more families there. Second in commute. could get a 5000 - 5200 sq foot house, decent lot size.

McKinney - "old is new again". Same age as plano, but stayed really country. Now starting to experience lots of growth. You can get a palace in McKinney, and it'd be a lot of room for kids to run around in. Total hell in commute. Think 90 minutes.

Other options:

Have you looked at Carrollton? It might be a good halfway point, and there's some neighborhoods there that are awesome.

[Lakewooder]

I think artsyguy was being sarcastic.

It is really astounding how someone who will be working in Las Colinas would even entertain the thought of moving way out north to the land of long commutes, crappy building corporations and high foreclosures.