Need a small land lot near Dallas (Christine: sales, foreclosure)

[Acntx]

Originally Posted by Christine88

Isn't south a bad area?

There are nice, safe communities in all parts of the DFW area, including places south of Dallas.

[theloneranger]

Originally Posted by Christine88

Isn't south a bad area?

"South Dallas," which is the area just southeast of downtown around Fair Park, is a "bad" area in terms of crime, poverty, and low-performing schools, though most of the people in the neighborhood are honest, hard-working low-income people. The entire area south of the Trinity certainly cannot be written off as a bad area; if you're 30 miles south, you'd be in Waxahachie, which is only starting to become suburb rather than a country town near Dallas.

[Christine88]

Originally Posted by theloneranger

"South Dallas," which is the area just southeast of downtown around Fair Park, is a "bad" area in terms of crime, poverty, and low-performing schools, though most of the people in the neighborhood are honest, hard-working low-income people. The entire area south of the Trinity certainly cannot be written off as a bad area; if you're 30 miles south, you'd be in Waxahachie, which is only starting to become suburb rather than a country town near Dallas.

Yeah most but it's the few bad ones that make the area dangerous.

[DWinTX]

Christine88, if I were you I would not consider purchasing anything until you get here and check out the metroplex yourself for awhile. For several reasons.

First, as mentioned, I suspect you are not going to be able to park an RV on any lot within any city limit because of zoning laws.

Second, you don't mention if you will be looking for work. If so, be aware that the metro area is HUGE. When you go looking for a lot, you need to know where you are going to be working. If you bought a lot 30 miles south of Dallas and found a job in Lewisville or Plano you'd be on the road about 4 hours a day.

Finally, if you're not already familiar with DFW, you need to be here for a while and do some exploring. Just to see what parts of the area you like. Everyone is different and DFW is a diverse area. Do yourself a favor and don't commit yourself to living anywhere when you don't know the area.

The suggestion by BstYet2Be was excellent. Since you already own an RV, find an RV park, get hooked up, and do some exploring. Seems like I remember most parks have monthly rates from $300-$500 a month. That's cheap rent here. Take a month or two to find a job and explore the area.

[Christine88]

Originally Posted by DWinTX

Christine88, if I were you I would not consider purchasing anything until you get here and check out the metroplex yourself for awhile. For several reasons.

First, as mentioned, I suspect you are not going to be able to park an RV on any lot within any city limit because of zoning laws.

Second, you don't mention if you will be looking for work. If so, be aware that the metro area is HUGE. When you go looking for a lot, you need to know where you are going to be working. If you bought a lot 30 miles south of Dallas and found a job in Lewisville or Plano you'd be on the road about 4 hours a day.

Finally, if you're not already familiar with DFW, you need to be here for a while and do some exploring. Just to see what parts of the area you like. Everyone is different and DFW is a diverse area. Do yourself a favor and don't commit yourself to living anywhere when you don't know the area.

The suggestion by BstYet2Be was excellent. Since you already own an RV, find an RV park, get hooked up, and do some exploring. Seems like I remember most parks have monthly rates from $300-$500 a month. That's cheap rent here. Take a month or two to find a job and explore the area.

I'm very familiar with Dallas. I lived in Shreveport all my life and been to Dallas many times. I don't want to worry about a house note or worse rent. I want something I own and no one can throw me off even if it has to be outside any city limits.

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by Christine88

I'm very familiar with Dallas. I lived in Shreveport all my life and been to Dallas many times. I don't want to worry about a house note or worse rent. I want something I own and no one can throw me off even if it has to be outside any city limits.

But if you're so money concious, don't you want to avoid spending $350 on gas and another $100-120 in tolls every month if you do find land on one side of the metroplex and find work on the other side? There are many commutes that absolutely cannot avoid a toll road unless you want your 45 minute commute to take 90 minutes (and then add more gas expenses because of all the stop & go).

PS- you ABSOLUTELY CAN be thrown off land that you own mortgage free. If you don't pay your annual property taxes (about $800 for a $30k piece of land), then the county will place a lien on your property and ultimately foreclose. I don't know if $800 is a lot or a little in your annual income, but it's something to consider.

[ChristieP]

Spending money on gas is only one downside of having a long commute. You will also have to buy tires and perform maintenance on your car more often because you will be driving more miles. Also, the car will not last as long because you will be putting more miles on it. And then there's the wasted time spent sitting in traffic...

In short, find the job first and then decide where to live. We tell almost all newcomers on this board this for very good reasons.

[HockDad]

Originally Posted by ChristieP

Spending money on gas is only one downside of having a long commute. You will also have to buy tires and perform maintenance on your car more often because you will be driving more miles. Also, the car will not last as long because you will be putting more miles on it. And then there's the wasted time spent sitting in traffic...

In short, find the job first and then decide where to live. We tell almost all newcomers on this board this for very good reasons.

Totally agree.

[Christine88]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

But if you're so money concious, don't you want to avoid spending $350 on gas and another $100-120 in tolls every month if you do find land on one side of the metroplex and find work on the other side? There are many commutes that absolutely cannot avoid a toll road unless you want your 45 minute commute to take 90 minutes (and then add more gas expenses because of all the stop & go).

PS- you ABSOLUTELY CAN be thrown off land that you own mortgage free. If you don't pay your annual property taxes (about $800 for a $30k piece of land), then the county will place a lien on your property and ultimately foreclose. I don't know if $800 is a lot or a little in your annual income, but it's something to consider.

Unless I'm mistaken Texas has homestead exemption. I know Louisiana does and I thought Texas did as well. Anyway I'm aware of property tax laws as most normal intelligent people are. I'm not a stupid person as you suggest with your sarcasm. With that said $800 a year is a lot cheaper than a mortgage or rent and much much easier to manage. Also I'm not being money conscious. To me travel time and gas is irrelevant. The only thing that is relevant is the fact that I want a lot that I own. If Texas is prohibitive in that respect I'll look elsewhere like remote areas of Arizona or New Mexico. I'm a single young 25 year old girl with no ties and I can literally go anywhere.

[ETex2]

Originally Posted by Christine88

Unless I'm mistaken Texas has homestead exemption. I know Louisiana does and I thought Texas did as well. Anyway I'm aware of property tax laws as most normal intelligent people are. I'm not a stupid person as you suggest with your sarcasm. With that said $800 a year is a lot cheaper than a mortgage or rent and much much easier to manage. Also I'm not being money conscious. To me travel time and gas is irrelevant. The only thing that is relevant is the fact that I want a lot that I own. If Texas is prohibitive in that respect I'll look elsewhere like remote areas of Arizona or New Mexico. I'm a single young 25 year old girl with no ties and I can literally go anywhere.

Texas is not prohibitive in that respect. We have remote areas just like Arizona and New Mexico. Being "near Dallas" IS prohibitive.