First visit help... (Dallas, Plano, Richardson: for sale, condo, good hotel)

[MSC31]

We are relocating to Dallas and need to come visit the city for the first time. We are a family of three with a daughter entering fourth grade. School, safe area and good resale are our priorities in that order. We will be applying to Greenhill and Hockaday for next year with a great public school as a backup. My husband will be traveling every week with Fridays in the office in downtown so we are flexible in our location.

I would love some advice on how to approach our first visit and the areas/neighborhoods we should visit first. We would love to keep our home purchase price around 500k.

Also, what would be a good hotel to stay at and any must try restaurants, shops or experiences that would help us get a good feel of what life in Dallas will be like?

TIA!

[DitsyD]

If your kids will be attending Greenhill/Hockaday, you will want a fairly short commute. The best public schools in that area will be the Highland Park school district. Homes in your budget inHighland Park and University Park will be on the low end, but can be had.

For shopping, try NorthPark Mall. Check out the modern art throughout the space.

Klyde Warren Park is fun public park over a freeway between downtown and Uptown Dallas.

[GCastillo]

Put yourself in contact with a Good Relocation Expert. Their service is free to you and they offer a wealth of knowledge on the area and schools.

[MSC31]

Thanks so far! I am actually fine with a 20 minute or so commute. What about Frisco or Coppell? Would those work for commuting and still be desirable to hold home values?

[Restrain]

Both communities have held values during down times and appreciated quite well.

[ChristieP]

The drive from either of those places to Hockaday or Greenhill twice a day isn't going to be fun...

[MSC31]

Originally Posted by ChristieP

The drive from either of those places to Hockaday or Greenhill twice a day isn't going to be fun...

Really? Darn. I would love to live in a good school district because you never know what will happen in the future. We chose a great school district where we live now even though we are doing private school.

What areas would you suggest we look at?

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by MSC31

Really? Darn. I would love to live in a good school district because you never know what will happen in the future. We chose a great school district where we live now even though we are doing private school.

What areas would you suggest we look at?

Richardson is the closest great school district to Greenhill and Hockaday. It would be preferred if you can finish the admissions process before moving here because there are plenty of awesome sub-$500k neighborhoods close to both schools....just not if you end up needing public middle & high schools.

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by DitsyD

Homes in your budget inHighland Park and University Park will be on the low end, but can be had.

Only if op is open to buying a condo. There are fewer than 20 properties for sale under $500k and not one is a single family house. There are only 4 houses under $700k and ALL are on very busy streets (Lovers and Mockingbird).

[GlenE1]

Far West Plano is your ideal option if you need reasonable commute to Greenhill/Hockaday/Downtown Dallas and an excellent school district as a backup for $500k. Home values are very stable.