Torn between Grapevine TX and Franklin TN for relocation (Dallas: house, to buy)

[CREW747]

DFW all the way....Williamson county is beautiful but also small. DFW and Nashville are very different. Outside of Williamson county and the nice parts of Nashville Proper we did not find TN appealing. I have been there a number of times for work. DFW is pretty hard to beat right now.The DFW area is poised to surpass Chiago as the largest metro in the next few years.

The only negative I can think of living here is the hot summers. The best thing we ever did was build a brand new,single story,energy efficient house.Our electricity bills have been very low for the summer months. If you do end up moving here, my number one suggestion would be a single story,energy efficient home.

We moved to the DFW area from Greenwich,Ct ( we live in Prosper). The DFW metroplex offers alot more than the Nashville area in my opinion...in every aspect

[Alkonost]

DFW is certainly bigger, but we don't mind small as long as it's not in the middle of nowhere. One of the reasons for moving is that we're fed up with the dense urban hell of NYC. So a smaller, more rural-looking area isn't a downer for us if the amenities are there, it's actually a plus. I miss hearing the sound of tree leaves rustling in the wind, without it being spoiled by the squeal of someones brakes or a fire siren in the distance. We realize we probably can't get the rural feel we're after in DFW and still be within a half hour of the airport. That's where the bountiful amenities DFW has to offer cancels out some of the downsides like traffic and neighborhood density.

[Alkonost]

Moderator cut: see comment I have some questions about the schools. I have a similar thread on the TN forums, and it was mentioned that there has been a lot of education budget cut backs in TX as of late. So a question to the parents out there, what's your take on the school system in Grapevine/Flo-Mo/Coppell and how it's been run over the past 10 years or so? What sort of programs have been cut from your children's schools (if any) and which ones have been fostered? How active is the community and PTA in places like Grapevine/Flo-Mo/Coppell? How has the recent recession effected the school systems there?

[PrincessKick]

Originally Posted by Alkonost

Moderator cut: see comment I have some questions about the schools. I have a similar thread on the TN forums, and it was mentioned that there has been a lot of education budget cut backs in TX as of late. So a question to the parents out there, what's your take on the school system in Grapevine/Flo-Mo/Coppell and how it's been run over the past 10 years or so? What sort of programs have been cut from your children's schools (if any) and which ones have been fostered? How active is the community and PTA in places like Grapevine/Flo-Mo/Coppell? How has the recent recession effected the school systems there?

My kids go to school in the Flower Mound (Marcus) feeder portion of LISD. I also do contract work for LISD two days per week. There have been cuts and belts are definitely tighter but I'm very very happy with the education my kids are getting so far. The PTA at both of my kids schools (one in elementary and one in middle school) are very active.

[carroll4628]

The cuts will IMO and as reported are mostly in the special education, social services and administrative areas, as schools/districts will do as much as possible to retain the student/teacher ratios - cutting teaching aides/para-educators doesn't impact the ratio. I don't see that ratio changing for the (considerably well funded) districts you are considering.

[Alkonost]

The decision has been made, it wasn't easy and we literally debated this for months... but we're Dallas bound! Potential future employment prospects is what tipped the scale. While employment is not an immediate issue even when we relocate, if employment situations were to change we'd be much better off in Grapevine (Dallas) than in Franklin (Nashville). It was so close between the two places that it broke our hearts to decide. It was like picking who you love more: your mom or your dad.

Anyway, we're looking forward to getting the heck out of our current city of residence and enjoy a better quality of life in Dallas

The only downside is the timing of the move, probably August. I need to get a move on creating a mobile air-conditioned space suit. Nasa doesn't sell them cheap so I'm wondering what I can rig with a cooling coil, portable fan, duck tape and plastic bags.

[ChristieP]

Congratulations on the decision!! You will love Grapevine. It is really a nice place.

[TrueDat]

And you can always vacation in Nashville, perhaps in autumn when the fall colors may be more dramatic than what you get in DFW, and get a taste of the things you like there. It's not that far by plane. Welcome to Texas.

[texasmccurrys]

Tennessee hands down! Tenn has trees that you don't have to buy and beatiful rolling hills. Should have about the same number of job possibilites with Nashville being close. I have lived in both and would pick TN.

[Johnhw2]

Welcome to Texas, I hope you enjoy it as much as we do. Good people and exciting weather here but its the freedom in Texas and good economy that help make people upbeat and thsi place the jewel it is. I call a move to Tx a promotion so congrats on the promotion to Tx.