Mesquite (Dallas, Garland, Irving: apartments, rentals, condos)

[jdace04]

Anyone have any info on Mesquite? Schools, crime, in general is it a nice place to live? My husband and I have 2 small children, not in school yet. I've done some research and like the home prices. Any insight would help.

[momof2dfw]

A visit to Town East Mall in Mesquite will tell you all you need to know about Mesquite. Now, this mall is one of THE busiest in all of Dallas County as it is the ONLY mall on the entire East side of Dallas County. It gets people from East of the metroplex and all. Very crowded at ALL times every single day. Traffic around Town East in Mesquite is a MESS. And that is putting it mildly. Every single store you can think of is in this area. The big movie theater there w/ 30 screens is now a HUGE teen hangout. I avoid it now. They also have the Mesquite Rodeo.

Schools. Mesquite has some decent schools. Know someone that taught there for many years before moving to another area district that is supposed to be "IT" and more superior. After that they said Mesquite was actually a better district as far as the curriculum (this was elementary). They have 3 high schools now. Two are located REAL close to the mall (one across the highway from the mall and the other across the street on the back side).

Homes. Modest homes, nothing fancy. Just your average tract home builders that built there in the last several decades.

Easy commute to downtown Dallas.

[Dander]

Originally Posted by jdace04

Anyone have any info on Mesquite? Schools, crime, in general is it a nice place to live? My husband and I have 2 small children, not in school yet. I've done some research and like the home prices. Any insight would help.

Jdace,
The population of Mesquite is 156,943. There are 49,686 households with a median annual income of $53,974. Median age of a resident is a little less than 32.
Using 100 as a National average for specific crime occurance, Mesquite rates as follows: Murder 54, Robbery 96, Rape 88, Burglary 108, and Assault 170. Overall crime index is 121.
Through September of this year, 2079 homes have sold at an median price of $160,611.
As a Realtor here in Mesquite, I would be happy to get additional info for you if you have specific questions or want detailed home information.
Goodluck,
Dander

[jdace04]

Thanks for the info.

[socalrws]

Can any who live in Mesquite tell me about duplexes or condos that are new in the area? Do they hold their value? What is appreciation rate there for those type properties?

I was told the Property tax is almost 3% is that true? That's a lot of tax money, what's the gov. doing with it to improve the community?

Thanks for any information you can share.
Socal

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by socalrws

Can any who live in Mesquite tell me about duplexes or condos that are new in the area? Do they hold their value? What is appreciation rate there for those type properties?

I was told the Property tax is almost 3% is that true? That's a lot of tax money, what's the gov. doing with it to improve the community?

Thanks for any information you can share.
Socal

Duplexes do not do well in much of the Dallas area overall. If there are new ones being built in Mesquite, I have not seen them. Condos in Mesquite? No. Maybe some apartments that they stick the name "condo" on but that is it. Mesquite is one of the older suburbs in the Dallas area. As with the other older burbs it is also almost built out. Very few places left to build. Most are going to be along the outskirts of the city limits bordering Garland and then to the South (very low lying areas more over here) bordering the Seagoville, Balch Springs areas.

You may find some new duplexes on the far East side of Dallas w/in the city limits and then I know there are some being built in Garland along Centerville Rd between Miller and Hwy 66. Warning though, that smell, where is it coming from? The City of Garland wastewater treatment plant is on Centerville across the street from this area. It smells purty. Especially on nice warm & humid mornings.

[Dander]

Originally Posted by socalrws

Can any who live in Mesquite tell me about duplexes or condos that are new in the area? Do they hold their value? What is appreciation rate there for those type properties?

I was told the Property tax is almost 3% is that true? That's a lot of tax money, what's the gov. doing with it to improve the community?

Thanks for any information you can share.
Socal

Ditto to what Momof says. The only new duplexes in Mesquite are in a small addition near Gross and 635. The near by cities of Garland and Rowlett have a few more, especially around Lake Ray Hubbard.

Taxes in Mesquite are 2.92% of appraised value, with the largest portion being 1.76% for schools. Taxes in cities in Dallas county range from 2.31% to 3.14%. Garland tax rate is 2.89% and Rowlett is 2.97%.

Hope this helps,

Dander

[bdlee73]

Momof2dfw,

You mention some "low" areas in Mesquite; are they prone to flooding? Are there other flood prone areas I should watch for?

Back in 1996, a coworker's apartment in Irving flooded; we got an apartment together and it turns out the roof was heavily damaged due to a bad hail storm in May 96. During heavy rains, the ceiling would leak and paint would start to fall down- that was a big mess!

[momof2dfw]

I would avoid Rowlett. It has one of the highest tax rates in Dallas County. To look up tax rates for any city in Dallas County you can visit the tax appraisers website at dallascad.org
Also, the duplexes in Rowlett are NOT new. They are over off of Dalrock and I-30 tucked back into a hole and were built back in the 80's very cheaply. Some or most are rentals. Not a great neighborhood.

Gross Rd & LBJ traffic. Maybe when the mess at the interchange w/ I-30 and LBJ and Town East Blvd gets redone it may be better. Who knows.

Low lying areas. Look at a map if you can of the area that encompasses zipcode 75181. As you can see there are not many roads in that area and if the map you are looking at has any indications of where ponds, small lakes, creeks, etc are you can see them dot the area. Also the Mesquite Sewage Treatment Plant is in that area.

[dfwguy70]

Originally Posted by momof2dfw

Schools. Mesquite has some decent schools. Know someone that taught there for many years before moving to another area district that is supposed to be "IT" and more superior. After that they said Mesquite was actually a better district as far as the curriculum (this was elementary). They have 3 high schools now. Two are located REAL close to the mall (one across the highway from the mall and the other across the street on the back side).

FYI - Mesquite has 5 high schools. I have heard great things about Mesquite HS, Poteet HS and John Horn HS