Moving from Denver CO to Dallas/Fort Worth TX (Plano: hardwood floors, countertops)

[pbobian]

Looking for decent neighborhoods in Dallas/Fort Worth area to raise a family. Looking for a nice suburb that is not far from the city life. Budget wise we are looking to buy a home in the $180 - $200k range...please help. We will be visiting Dallas/Fort Worth on 4/4 and would like to get a list of neighborhoods to visit and get a feel for.

Thank you!

[Rakin]

In that price range I would look in Lewisville, Sachse, Frisco and McKinney depending on how far out you want to be.

Where will you be working ?

Keep in mind North Texas is about half the size of Colorado and if you're working in Ft Worth everything I just told you will be wrong.

[DukeCityDawg]

Lived in the area for 20 years. Plano, McKinney are good. Frisco is ok, but there is a lead waste problem in the middle of town (old battery recycling plant) and it appears lead may have gotten into nearby creeks. Also, parts of Frisco have serious foundation issues, so be sure to pay for a separate foundation inspection.

[Snow-Flake]

I agree with DukeCityDawg - Plano, Mckinney, and Frisco are all good areas. Allen is also a nice suburb depending on where you're working.

[TrueDat]

OP, where are you going to be working or will you be working from home? The DFW sprawls more than the Denver area and you don't want to be commuting across the entire metro if you can avoid it.

All things being equal, and seeing as you say you want to be close to city life, I would suggest Richardson, an older, inner-ring burb that's right up the Central Expressway from Dallas but is well-maintained and is known for having an excellent school system. And it's closer to city life than Plano, Frisco, McKinney or Allen. But if it's brand new construction you're after, then you're probably better off looking in the more northern burbs.

[HockDad]

I can only echo the other posters. You need to strongly consider where you are working. For example, if you are in Downtown, you may be able to find an older house in Lake Highlands for $250,000.00 or so. That might be a bit more than your budget, but by the time you take into consideration costs on tollway and gas, the difference on a monthly basis is fairly negligible.

[pbobian]

Thank you all for the feedback!

[JustinMomof2]

If you are willing to travel to the westside of Fort Worth, I recommend Roanoke, Justin and Haslet. I also had a small housing budget but I wanted a bran new home with about 3,000 sq feet, granite countertops and hardwood floors. I found it in new construction in the outskirts, plus my Taxes are very cheap out here. Not like Lewisville or Plano. Don't get me wrong, Plano and Frisco are nice ( I would love to be there ) but looking at what that budget buys, it was a shoe box under a power line with a major reno in the future. Good luck!

[notatexan]

If youre looking for somewhere with more creative & outdoorsy Colorado type people I dont recommend the suburbs north of Dallas, they tend to be conservative and keep up with the joneses-y. I am a native Coloradan (Boulder) and have lived across DFW for 8 years . You can get into houses on the far side of white rock lake in dallas for that price and be near music, restaurants, museums.. Or maybe check out Grapevine (northwest of dallas) for a slower pace..