Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
So the wife and I are thinking about buying a home later this year. We are focused in on the Garland/Rowlett/Sachse/Wylie area. We are looking for under $200K. One area that caught our attention was the Waterview area. Some real deals for well under $200K. My wife, who was born and raised in Garland, remembers when Waterview was one of the most exclusive parts of Rowlett, and was surprised at the deals there now. I know that the housing crisis has hit the DFW area hard, and I guess Rowlett is no exception, so do y'all think that is the explanation? or is it a sign of deeper problems with this area as a whole? We are looking to buy a home to live in for a long time, so we really want to stay in an area that will keep its value, and not plunge off a cliff into a crappy area. Thoughts?
Status:
"Welcome Summer In Texas!"
(set 3 days ago)
Location: North Texas
2,431 posts, read 2,553,794 times
Reputation: 1570
I think the Waterview area is very nice for people that want to live in a community HOA neighborhood. The affects of the housing market and the economy did hit all areas so yes you see the "deals" now in Waterview you won't see in the next five to ten years. So now is the time to buy.
I don't think Waterview will ever become "The Hood" or lack there of. Is see good things to come for North Garland, Rowlett, Sachse, Wylie area. I believe it can only get better from here. With the GBTP and hopefully the Firewheel area bringing in more retail/resturants. Everything takes time, especially after a heavy economic hit the nation took.
So the wife and I are thinking about buying a home later this year. We are focused in on the Garland/Rowlett/Sachse/Wylie area. We are looking for under $200K. One area that caught our attention was the Waterview area. Some real deals for well under $200K. My wife, who was born and raised in Garland, remembers when Waterview was one of the most exclusive parts of Rowlett, and was surprised at the deals there now. I know that the housing crisis has hit the DFW area hard, and I guess Rowlett is no exception, so do y'all think that is the explanation? or is it a sign of deeper problems with this area as a whole? We are looking to buy a home to live in for a long time, so we really want to stay in an area that will keep its value, and not plunge off a cliff into a crappy area. Thoughts?
Thanks.
I remember driving through the area a few years ago after the economy had taken a dump. There were a lot of the larger homes for sale. If you're looking at any of the homes built by Grand Homes I can tell you I've read a lot of complaints about poor build quality. I can also tell you Waterview is built next to a dump and there are sometimes complaints about the smell:
Waterview is nice but they play a lot of softball (adult) tournaments out there and you have to drive through a majority of the neighborhod to get to the fields. Also, I have heard the same about the smell issue... Moderator cut: Sorry, Per ToS, new members must have at least 10 posts before posting specific recommendations.
Last edited by BstYet2Be; 04-06-2012 at 10:23 PM..
I remember driving through the area a few years ago after the economy had taken a dump. There were a lot of the larger homes for sale. If you're looking at any of the homes built by Grand Homes I can tell you I've read a lot of complaints about poor build quality. I can also tell you Waterview is built next to a dump and there are sometimes complaints about the smell:
Hmmm thanks for the article. I knew about the dump but thought that it was a non issue. Now I know better. OK, We'll cross Waterview off the list.
We leased a home in Waterview and the dump wasn't bad. Every once in a while you would get the smell when they released whatever it was they were doing over there (obviously don't know the technical terms.) I enjoyed living there as a renter.
My wife an I have lived in Waterview since 2001 and we really like it and don't have plans to move anytime soon. The community is very nice if you have kids, the streets are quite safe and there are a LOT of pocket parks for them, fishing in the ponds and amenities with the water park and the ball fields. We both play in the Rolwlett Adult softball league which is one of the most popular in the Metroplex, and the fields are 5 minutes from our house. My wife trained for the 3Day walk twice and she really enjoyed that she could get about 10 miles of walking done just in our community without traveling the same streets twice.
The HOA is a little annoying for me, but that's what you get with an HOA. A minion drives around in a golf cart and sends you a letter with a photograph if you leave your trash cans out more than a few days. It is what it is. We aren't in the gated portion of the community (called Broadmore) but it is nice having the option for either if that's what you want. The HOA definitely keeps people from letting their houses or lawns degrade, or do anything that would affect property values.
The dump has been an issue, but let me explain exactly what is entails. A couple years ago we first realized it, they would vent the methane gas during night hours. You really only noticed it if you left your windows open at night, which we like to do when it's nice out. Most people just run the AC all year long and the majority of our neighbors didn't even know there was an issue. I, along with other neighbors, contacted the EPA and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and they sent reps out to observe. They've been helpful in getting Garland to work on the problem. Garland has been installing new vent stacks to help. In all honestly this year I haven't noticed the smell at all.
What I've really liked are the people. Some of our best friends are our neighbors, and we are currently in the middle of planning a block party where we close off the street and everyone on the lane heads out with their lawn chairs, coolers and grilles. Last year we rented a bounce house for the kids and the fire department came out and let the kids tour the fire truck. It was a blast.
Not many neighborhoods in the Metroplex have a cohesive sense of community like Waterview. My next door neighbor is on City Council, and the Mayor Todd Gottel lives there. At least one of the HOA meetings will have someone from the city speak, usually the City Manager Lynda Humble, because Waterview is a strong voice in the community and the leadership wants to know what they think.
You'd be hard pressed to find a better place to live in the Metroplex with homes as affordable as they are. It's a major part of the reason why we haven't moved. I encourage you to come out on the weekends, when the weather is nice and see the amount of people walking the streets, in the parks, at the ball fields and ask them what they think. I'd wager you get a similar response.
Status:
"Welcome Summer In Texas!"
(set 3 days ago)
Location: North Texas
2,431 posts, read 2,553,794 times
Reputation: 1570
Quote:
Originally Posted by wildbill80
I remember driving through the area a few years ago after the economy had taken a dump. There were a lot of the larger homes for sale. If you're looking at any of the homes built by Grand Homes I can tell you I've read a lot of complaints about poor build quality. I can also tell you Waterview is built next to a dump and there are sometimes complaints about the smell:
Grand Homes might big the biggest builder there, but not the only.
Yes there is a dump- my daughter did Soccer there for two summers. We didn't notice anything.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $53,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
