Melissa, TX (Dallas, Garland, McKinney: new home, construction, school district)

[ladyjay73]

Hey there everyone! Long time no post! Well the kids, & I made it to TX in July. I must say, so far so good. Actually it's working out better than I thought it would be.

I am currently living in Ennis with my parents. My commute is about an hour now to park Center off of Forest Lane & 75. So far, nothing really happening in Ennis. We are really bored. I'm looking to move, but also do like the smaller town feel. Ennis, has a lot of older families. We're looking for a younger family town as my kids are 5, 11, & 13. I've been seeing & also reading some great things about Melissa, TX. There were only a few references on these boards about it. I also did a mapquest directional guide for the specific house that I am looking at, & it's coming in at about 30 miles from my current job location. About 36 minute drive. Is that realistic?

I wanted to know if anyone had some good information that I can use. I did go on Greatschools.com & saw that the tests scores are good, but being a new district, there isn't much to go on.

Any information that anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.

~Ladyjay

[GayleTX]

Until about 4 years ago Melissa was a tiny country community off the highway...even people 10 miles away didn't know where it was. Developers have come in and built hundreds of new homes.....still no town, just a bedroom community. They are building a Brookshire's Grocery about 5 miles down the road in Anna, though (same kinda town). Most of the 'new people' in town are from all parts of the US (and beyond) and most of them are younger people commuting into McKinney and other suburbs between Melissa and Dallas. There is no shopping, no restaurants, no social life there except church. but if you have children in school you will get acquainted quickly with other young parents....the school is the heart of the community.

[CTR36]

The commute down 75 would be awful. I work in Princeton (down the road) and live in Mckinney, I see the awful traffic jams going south. I drive opposite traffic

I would think about it. You would be stuck in traffic most of the time.

[FarNorthDallas]

I think your drive time would be double that at rush hour, Melissa to Park Central.

[stargazer]

Hey there, good to see you here. I was wondering what happened to you and hoped you found a good job. We live off of El Dorado in Mckinney which is about 10-15 minutes south from Melissa. My husband's commute to Knox Henderson was 45 minutes maybe an 1 to 1 1/2 hours, depending if there was a wreck or how many wrecks were on the road. It is the worst stretch for a commute. I know we had talked about where he worked, he left a few weeks ago and is now a consultant. He was given a better opportunity and I am so grateful. Less stressful in the office, on the road and more time home.. we feel like we won the lotto ... anyways back on track, he is now consulting out at North Richland Hills. The commute is 50 miles down the George Bush Tollway and he has made it in an hour. We will see after the holidays though if it thickens. He said the drive is longer but less stressful than going the way he did. Driving down Central for the last few years, well he is a good driver but I can't stand going in the car with him when we go that stretch to get to the southside to see family. He is so TENSE and he becomes a road warrior....

As for Melissa, I think it is a great town for young families... I can't remember if I ever suggested it for you.. The nice thing about Melissa is they are offering families a chance to afford a nice home when they could not elsewhere. The homes that way too aren't all starter homes.
Have you looked over at Firewheel and Wylie? They are closer and might have some homes you would like.

[galore]

Melissa to PC is possible in 30min. On Sunday at around midnight.

[ladyjay73]

Thank you all for your replies. I'm trying to shorten my commute, & live somewhere that's up & coming with shopping & restaurants & the like. At this stage Melissa sounds a little like Ennis. Although most of the town is older. The highlight of the town is the Super-Walmart! But the school district is really good there.

Ok, so maybe it's back to the drawing board. Can anyone suggest anything that might be closer to my job, but smallish town feel with adequate shopping & restaurants. Well, I guess that I can travel from for those, but at least good shopping & food close by. The closest thing to me in Ennis is Waxahachie, & it's not known for it's shopping for food.

[stargazer]

Melissa to me is not like Ennis. Ennis is a big town, while Melissa is a tiny one, with plenty of new construction homes. There is but a few business's to support the community there with no major clothing or grocery stores. You would have to go to McKinney for your shopping. Yes Melissa will be up and coming in a few years. Give it time though. The closest Wal Mart is in Mckinney off of 380 about 10 minutes away...

You should look at Wylie and Firewheel area of Garland. Those are much closer areas to live.

[FarNorthDallas]

You might look at Rockwall, Fate, Heath or Wylie.

[ladyjay73]

I haven't heard of those places before yesterday. i went to look at a house last night that was in Wylie. It was alright. It took about 30 minutes to get there last night with all the traffic. Not too bad. i couldn't really see the area because it was dark. But I will definately look into it. What about Murphy? I went through there on my way to Wylie.

Any info on either Wylie or Murphy?

Thanks so much for all the suggestions.