Am I being realistic? On the great home hunt for McKinney/Allen/Frisco etc (Dallas: layoffs, safe neighborhood)

[Texas Minded]

Originally Posted by WorldKlas

As long as you convince yourself that the northern burbs are your only acceptable options, I don't see a solution for you.

This 100%

Look around and you will be pleasantly surprised.

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by biafra4life

A coworker of mine who also wants to buy a house says that Plano has some sort of down payment assistance program. Also look into NACA.

Does someone who has a six-figure income yet almost no savings qualify for these programs? Because that is OP.

[TheOverdog]

Does someone who has a six-figure income yet almost no savings qualify for these programs? Because that is OP.

I would doubt it, most of the Plano programs are tightly income based and cut off way below $100k, but do consider children, so maybe...

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by MobiusStrip

Why doesit defy logic? Kendall County is the only one I can get assistance on the down payment and I believe a yearly tax credit as well. So of course that is a draw, and the hill country is too. I grew up nearby. We'd only get to see my mother one a month instead of twice a month but it would be a nice drive. Arlington - no. Never. It's too big and the crime rate is too high. Mansfield I am not sure about. I really prefer to live closer to Plano. Living on the south side and having to drive to Wichita Falls - I doubt I could take that drive more than once a month so surely you can see why Boerne has a greater appeal.

I just looked back through your posting history. You've been on the Dallas forum asking the same questions since 2013 and haben't taken any action.

Your long lists of criteria - whether for a mate for a home or a school- are completely out of touch with reality. I honestly don't know what to tell you because you clearly don't see yourself or your situations the way the rest of the world does- ie:
1. someone with a $100k+ income shouldn't be looking for homes based on where they qualify for down payment assistance
2. Arlington is a huge suburb and while parts of it are high crime, the parts that have been suggested to you look no different than Plano or Coppell and feed into excellent public schools. Parts of Plano are high crime, too, for that matter.
3. Arlington and Mansfield are the exact same drive times to Wichita Falls than Plano despite your repeated insistence that Plano is closer.
4. Etc!!


Had you bought back in 2013, you could have afforded 50% or more of the homes in Plano, but you seemed to be more forced on living in the "elite" parts of West Plano that were already out of financial reach. Now, Plano - and the majority of Collin County- is out of your price range. If you keep procrastinating, you're going to get priced out of the rest of the metroplex by the time your kids are 10.

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by TheOverdog

No, most of the Plano programs are tightly income based.

Exactly.

[WorldKlas]

Ahhh..... Too bad you missed this one! Price check, good schools check, near FTW check, driveable to Mom check........ http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...7-01885#photo7

Next year it will be listed $30K higher.......

I bought 2 houses in Martin HS zone in 2014: one for $160K (now I could sell over $200K) and one for $120K and now I could sell for $190K.

I also bought a place in 2006 in Butler Elementary area for $145K and could sell it now for about $245K.

Just a thought: Consider Butler Elementary in zip code 76012. Since your kids are so young you would get at least 6 years of a great public school and then try for Harmony or Summit Charters for the balance of their years or sell and move. That area is very central to Dallas and FTW, a short drive to Irving too, and about 20 minutes to the airport. Since you move alot, I think its unrealistic to believe you'll be buying a place for the next 15 years. If you can get 5-6 years with your record, that will be great.

http://www.realtor.com/local/Butler-...rant-County_TX

If you want to move to the DFW area, waiting is not the answer...
Just sayin'

[MobiusStrip]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

I just looked back through your posting history. You've been on the Dallas forum asking the same questions since 2013 and haben't taken any action.

Your long lists of criteria - whether for a mate for a home or a school- are completely out of touch with reality. I honestly don't know what to tell you because you clearly don't see yourself or your situations the way the rest of the world does- ie:
1. someone with a $100k+ income shouldn't be looking for homes based on where they qualify for down payment assistance
2. Arlington is a huge suburb and while parts of it are high crime, the parts that have been suggested to you look no different than Plano or Coppell and feed into excellent public schools. Parts of Plano are high crime, too, for that matter.
3. Arlington and Mansfield are the exact same drive times to Wichita Falls than Plano despite your repeated insistence that Plano is closer.
4. Etc!!


Had you bought back in 2013, you could have afforded 50% or more of the homes in Plano, but you seemed to be more forced on living in the "elite" parts of West Plano that were already out of financial reach. Now, Plano - and the majority of Collin County- is out of your price range. If you keep procrastinating, you're going to get priced out of the rest of the metroplex by the time your kids are 10.

I wanted my children to have time with their only grandparent before her Alzheimer's was too bad. She used to be over here every day and often spent the night. I can't be sorry for the time spent with her. Now that the Alzheimer's has become severe, it's a different story. But while they could build memories with her, being here mattered most. I committed to staying through the school year because my son would have really struggled with changing mid school year. I could not willingly do that to him.


And I don't want to live south of Dallas. I simply don't. I'd far rather live north, even if somewhat further out.


And regardless of what I make now, for the first several years I was back at work, once I paid for childcare and medical bills, I was no better off than I had been during my 16 months of unemployment. It was a struggle. It's not like I haven't been paying $1800/month for my kids' child care since they arrived. For a time I did. And they were sick constantly when they were smaller and under the care of specialists (cardiologist, ophthalmologist, allergist, infectious disease doc, ENT etc). I just finished paying off their medical bills. So don't think I have been sitting here reveling in a nice income for 6+ years frittering away my money.

[TurtleCreek80]

With your criteria + budget, refusing to look on the south side of the metroplex is basically deciding not to move to the Dallas area.

Since you can't come up with one valid reason why you don't want to live in the southern suburbs, I can only gather that you think you and the genius former micropreemies are too good to live there. FYI, "there" is comprised of dozens of nice family-friendly suburbs (most of which look identical to Collin County except for prettier topography), many with great public schools and/or gifted programs. Get over yourself. If you want out of of your drug infested rental home, focus on where you can afford to live and look for the best there. You'll find it if you can stop being so close-minded.

[MobiusStrip]

I've dreamed of living in Collin County, ok? I descended from Collin McKinney's first cousin (family legend insists from Collin directly but my research says no) and the thought of living there makes me proud. And I feel safer knowing how many jobs are available in Plano. My company has a presence in Plano though moreso in Dallas. I like the security of having a nearby office to go to should I find myself needing to work in an office. Lord willing I will continue to do well with my remote position but I can't count out layoffs.


I don't think I want too much. I know I won't get to "have it all." Smaller schools, respectable ratings, safe neighborhood, older modest sized home, preferably closer to the outskirts of DFW, a solid G&T program...I am learning as I go along what expectations to keep and what to drop, I hope.

[dallas_dude]

Just curious, what type of job do you do? Most of the jobs are pretty spread out in the DFW area.