Alright, I'm impressed. Park Cities is impressive. (Dallas, Flower Mound: houses, landscaping)

[pinipig523]

So I finally took the time to visit Highland Park and University Park today with the wifey. We drove around, ate at some joints and took the scenery in.

Definitely a very impressive place to be. Kids playing and biking... people moving about and even some were joined by friends on the front lawn.

I really liked it. I wish my subdivision would be somewhat like that where I'm building... I definitely want some friendly neighbors and it'd be nice if kids were out and about.

Perhaps in another lifetime, I could live in the Park Cities. But my job is out in Flower Mound and it would be a crazy commute. Not only that, but spending over $1M on a house is not where I'd like to be at this time. Maybe in the future if we continue to do well, perhaps we may have our next house in the Park Cities.

Thumbs up... .

[nsumner]

Don't beat yourself up, you're building in a very nice neighborhood and I'm sure that you'll be happy.

Naima

[BigDGeek]

Yes, the Park Cities are very pretty...and out of reach for most of us. And that's OK; there are other neighborhoods that are great places to live.

[ggolf]

It's not just the $1Mill houses. There is so much pressure to also live the lifestyle. You can't tool around town in that 3 year old Chevy Impala. You have to wear the best clothes. Landscaping must be perfect. Your kids must be perfect. You'll have to throw the best parties, including kids'.

I've seen my wife's 2 nieces move from N Dallas to UP and in several years their attitudes have greatly changed. They're now part of the Park Cities "lifestyle", buying new giant SUVs every year, competing with their neighbors (whom they don't even know) to have the best front yard. Cars are a big thing to compete on too.

I'm sure, however, there are humble, non-assuming folks there, just not a lot.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by ggolf

It's not just the $1Mill houses. There is so much pressure to also live the lifestyle. You can't tool around town in that 3 year old Chevy Impala. You have to wear the best clothes. Landscaping must be perfect. Your kids must be perfect. You'll have to throw the best parties, including kids'.

I've seen my wife's 2 nieces move from N Dallas to UP and in several years their attitudes have greatly changed. They're now part of the Park Cities "lifestyle", buying new giant SUVs every year, competing with their neighbors (whom they don't even know) to have the best front yard. Cars are a big thing to compete on too.

I'm sure, however, there are humble, non-assuming folks there, just not a lot.

It's not much better in PH.

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by ggolf

It's not just the $1Mill houses. There is so much pressure to also live the lifestyle. You can't tool around town in that 3 year old Chevy Impala. You have to wear the best clothes. Landscaping must be perfect. Your kids must be perfect. You'll have to throw the best parties, including kids'.

I've seen my wife's 2 nieces move from N Dallas to UP and in several years their attitudes have greatly changed. They're now part of the Park Cities "lifestyle", buying new giant SUVs every year, competing with their neighbors (whom they don't even know) to have the best front yard. Cars are a big thing to compete on too.

I'm sure, however, there are humble, non-assuming folks there, just not a lot.

Your nieces are perfect examples of the "new money" newcomers into the Park Cities. They try to spend their way to belong, not realizing the best way to "belong" is to be friendly, help volunteer at the schools, join a local church, etc. It sounds like they're insecure and building a very superficial life if they are wholly focused on buying new SUV's, hiring the best landscapers, and copying every other "thing" they see. They're missing out on the chance to be part of a neighborhood and community.

What gave them away? The fact that after several years, they don't know their neighbors. If you have read this forum at all, you'll usually read that newcomers are surprised at how friendly and inclusive the neighbors are vs expectations or other places they've lived.

[EDS_]

Originally Posted by ggolf

It's not just the $1Mill houses. There is so much pressure to also live the lifestyle. You can't tool around town in that 3 year old Chevy Impala. You have to wear the best clothes. Landscaping must be perfect. Your kids must be perfect. You'll have to throw the best parties, including kids'.

I've seen my wife's 2 nieces move from N Dallas to UP and in several years their attitudes have greatly changed. They're now part of the Park Cities "lifestyle", buying new giant SUVs every year, competing with their neighbors (whom they don't even know) to have the best front yard. Cars are a big thing to compete on too.

I'm sure, however, there are humble, non-assuming folks there, just not a lot.

You should delete that it's silly.

[TurtleCreek80]

PS- OP, glad you had the chance to check out the area. What beautiful weather this weekend! Everyone was outside.

You definitely don't want to commute Park Cities to FM daily, but if you ever transfer to Presbyterian/ Baylor/ Medical City / Medical District in Dallas, hopefully you'll check it out again

[ChristieP]

Originally Posted by pinipig523

So I finally took the time to visit Highland Park and University Park today with the wifey. We drove around, ate at some joints and took the scenery in.

Definitely a very impressive place to be. Kids playing and biking... people moving about and even some were joined by friends on the front lawn.

I really liked it. I wish my subdivision would be somewhat like that where I'm building... I definitely want some friendly neighbors and it'd be nice if kids were out and about.

Perhaps in another lifetime, I could live in the Park Cities. But my job is out in Flower Mound and it would be a crazy commute. Not only that, but spending over $1M on a house is not where I'd like to be at this time. Maybe in the future if we continue to do well, perhaps we may have our next house in the Park Cities.

Thumbs up... .

FloMo has lots of neighborhoods like this. It's a very family-oriented suburb. Unfortunately, the patio home you are building in Southlake probably won't be like that. Patio homes tend to be older folks without kids who don't need or want the yard upkeep.

And your commute up there from Southlake isn't going to be fun. You will either be stuck in the long line of cars on 2-lane 377, or fighting the mess on 114 to get to 2499. Yuck.

[Squirl]

Its a beautiful area I agree. I am glad I didn't rear my kids, there, however. We just did not have the financial means to make decisions about what our personal values were vs. our ability to provide the things we believed in. Its always easier to stay grounded when your values are not tested by lack of funds to give your kids those things other families do for their children. When you have to withhold summer camp, music lessons, travel and cultural experiences because you simply cannot afford it, that's ok if you find reasonable substitutions in most conventional communities. But if you live in an affluent area where so many of your children's peers are regularly getting the things you cannot provide, your kids cannot help but feel inferior. If you tell your kids that those things are not affordable, they will feel poor. If you tell your kids you don't believe in providing things other kids get, they will be resentful unless your alternatives are value-filled -- something very possible when you have the means but nearly impossible when you don't. When we were rearing our kids, it was a challenge coming up with money for H.S. graduation photos!