Help! I need some info (mckinney vs. frisco) (Dallas, Plano: real estate, crime rates)

[usc619]

My wife and I are in the process of buying a home in mckinney(craig ranch) but now we are having thoughts about pulling out and buying in frisco. What make matters worst is our real estate agent isn't returning any of our calls(I hope he's ok), Can you guys give us some advice? we are from CA, no kids, but looking for a nice place to start a family. What are the pro and cons of both cities?

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by usc619

My wife and I are in the process of buying a home in mckinney(craig ranch) but now we are having thoughts about pulling out and buying in frisco. What make matters worst is our real estate agent isn't returning any of our calls(I hope he's ok), Can you guys give us some advice? we are from CA, no kids, but looking for a nice place to start a family. What are the pro and cons of both cities?

Where are you going to be working? That could make a huge difference in your commute. Both cities are what once were very small towns that have started to grow w/ the explosion of growth in the northern sector of Dallas County and on into Collin County. Both have traffic woes to deal with in seeing the rapid expansion. Schools...... depends on what you are looking for. Both have their good and bad in the schools just like everywhere. Right now there is a big problem in the Dallas area suburbs w/ a drug known as "cheese" (tylenol crushed up and mixed with black herion - tar). Yes, I had to look it up as I was confused the first time I read that middle schoolers were addicted to "cheese". (Like, what's wrong w/ eating cheese? ). I have a middle schooler and so far by my questioning her and talking to her and her friends and their parents it is not an issue for us at her school - whew. For some reason it does tend to dominate schools that have kids that are bored and have the money to buy it. The only money my child has on her and can even carry to school is the money I give her to go straight to her lunch account which I can check online or checks to buy school stuff. Anyway, there are problems in all of them just about.

As for the two communities, just depends on what exactly you are looking for. If your realtor won't return phone calls and you have a contract on a house thru him....... not good. Maybe try calling the broker in his office.

[LastDallasNative]

Last I saw the crime stats for Collin County, McKinney had higher crime rates (both property and violent crime) than Allen, Plano & Frisco. McKinney is a much older town than Frisco around the downtown area.

Both cities are booming with Californians and people riding the corporate job circuits. They come to live in Collin County for about a year or two and then move on. When I see the same adult more than once, I am surprised.

Frisco has been opening up two elementary schools and a middle school every year for about 5 years, and it has not been enough. The kids move from school to school as the schools are rezoned. But McKinney ISD is probably about the same story.

[GoPadge]

McKinney's population has nearly doubled in the past five years. I would not be suprised if they were not placing a heavy toll on their infrastructure. But at least they appear to have avoided the kind of issues that Rowlette has with bond issues and water rates.

[usc619]

I'm hoping everything works out for my wife and I, I think we're going to stick with craig ranch and learn the city of dallas from there. BTW: how long should I expect to sit in traffic If I'm working in dallas

[socketz]

If this helps..

Prop Taxes in McKinney = 2.9%
Prop Taxes in Frisco = ~2.4%

I like Frisco a little better at this point because the commute is better and the 'Trails of West Frisco' is an extremely kid friendly nieghborhood.

Also, do not rule out West Plano, Murphy and parts of Richardson around Breckenridge park. All are very nice as well.

[jcl_cls01]

Find out what the water rates are in Frisco. My water bill in McKinney is very high, and I don't have a pool, or water anything that much. I guess the sprinkler system uses a lot of water. I will start using a hose and nozzle from now on.

[GoPadge]

Frisco's water rates are about 9% cheaper, $2.98 / 1000 gallons over 20,000 gallons versus $3.25 / 1000 gallons over 15,000 in McKinney.

[GoPadge]

Originally Posted by jcl_cls01

Find out what the water rates are in Frisco. My water bill in McKinney is very high, and I don't have a pool, or water anything that much. I guess the sprinkler system uses a lot of water. I will start using a hose and nozzle from now on.

That's not quite true, you claimed to have watered your yard for 30-60 hours last month.

"I had the system on for almost one hour, twice a day for 30 days."

Yes, sprinklers use lots of water. 1 - 8 gallons per minute per head. But if the amount of water you applied was correct, than you won't have any saving by changing the delivery method. (Unless you go with a drip irrigation system.) Alternately you may have been over watering you yard which just requires less water or less time.

[socketz]

USC619,

McKinney to Dallas is a bit of a commute. I rec trying that drive out first before purchasing a house. Plano/Richardson/Bent Tree/Garland would all be much better commutes to Dallas.