relocating to DFW metro area (Dallas, Plano: crime, schools, to live in)

[EDS_]

Originally Posted by cd974life

We are looking to retire and relocate to the DFW area next year from NY. We recenlty visited the Prosper and Celina area and really like what we saw. Also looking to compare those areas to Melissa or Anna areas which we didnt visit. We are looking for a planned community newer build with ammentites and some property and like to stay in budget around 400ks. We have a daughter who will be attending HS there as well. We dont plan on working so commuting is not a factor. Trying to get any insight. Thanks in advance

I'd take a hard look at school differences.

This is slightly dated but may help a little............

https://independencetitle.com/wp-con...nCoSchools.pdf

[Jeohnny]

Originally Posted by RJ312

Both of these quotes are examples of why there should be higher density development instead of lower density sprawl. 60+ miles of sprawl is not great.

True, but the thing that's keeping DFW "affordable" is the sprawl. Personally I think its stupid to build that far out when there's so much room to grow within but oh well I guess.

[lovethisarea]

Originally Posted by RJ312

Both of these quotes are examples of why there should be higher density development instead of lower density sprawl. 60+ miles of sprawl is not great.

Or better distribution and less concentration of job areas. More distribution will encourage more decentralized growth and better traffic situation.

[DTXman34]

Originally Posted by EDS_

Like high density growth is problem free. IMO urbanists need to understand that many people, most people, given their druthers would prefer a roomier space, with a dedicated garage, at least a little grass SFH to much more expensive per foot urban Lego-Land living.

And suburban sprawl apologists such as yourself need to understand that such a lifestyle can be achieved much closer in than out in the middle of Celina. Heck, you don't even have to go more than a few minutes outside of DT Dallas to have that suburban lifestyle. So why continue to murder our environment and exhaust our FINITE resources?

[NP78]

Originally Posted by DTXman34

And suburban sprawl apologists such as yourself need to understand that such a lifestyle can be achieved much closer in than out in the middle of Celina. Heck, you don't even have to go more than a few minutes outside of DT Dallas to have that suburban lifestyle. So why continue to murder our environment and exhaust our FINITE resources?

I believe that EDS lives in Dallas in just such a neighborhood, as do I. However, basic math shows that 7M DFW residents can not all live in SFH with yards all within the City of Dallas. With an expanding population, the choices are footprint expansion (aka sprawl) or increasing density. Both are actually happening, but mostly the former.

[DTXman34]

Originally Posted by NP78

I believe that EDS lives in Dallas in just such a neighborhood, as do I. However, basic math shows that 7M DFW residents can not all live in SFH with yards all within the City of Dallas. With an expanding population, the choices are footprint expansion (aka sprawl) or increasing density. Both are actually happening, but mostly the former.

I never said all 7M can live there. But there's still tons of room within Dallas & Tarrant Counties outside of city limits. Why continue the one-way stretch to Oklahoma?

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by DTXman34

And suburban sprawl apologists such as yourself need to understand that such a lifestyle can be achieved much closer in than out in the middle of Celina. Heck, you don't even have to go more than a few minutes outside of DT Dallas to have that suburban lifestyle. So why continue to murder our environment and exhaust our FINITE resources?

People should consider looking south of downtown Dallas for an affordable house instead of heading straight for Anna, Melissa, Fate, Royse City, etc....but they're too scared of the DISD to do it. The DISD isn't going to get better until middle-class parents get off the sidelines and take the schools back. Period.

[ChristieP]

Originally Posted by BigDGeek

People should consider looking south of downtown Dallas for an affordable house instead of heading straight for Anna, Melissa, Fate, Royse City, etc....but they're too scared of the DISD to do it. The DISD isn't going to get better until middle-class parents get off the sidelines and take the schools back. Period.

The problem here is who wants to be that sacrificial lamb? Who is willing to live in a high crime area with DISD schools that are notoriously poor academically? SOCHS is also literally falling down, and the DISD just band-aids it every year. Sure, if someone was willing to take their kids there, they could probably graduate in the top 10% of their class and get automatic admission to UT Austin, but would they be adequately prepared academically?

Originally Posted by DTXman34

I never said all 7M can live there. But there's still tons of room within Dallas & Tarrant Counties outside of city limits. Why continue the one-way stretch to Oklahoma?

As far as I am aware, there are no unincorporated areas in Dallas or Tarrant Counties. When you go further out, such as Wise, Kaufman, or Hunt Counties, yes, there are areas that are still unincorporated.
Most of the available land in Dallas and Tarrant that is suitable for building has already been developed. The land that is still undeveloped is mostly flood plain, or has some other sort of environmental issue such as close proximity to a sewage treatment plant or landfill, etc.

[stephwin]

Originally Posted by DTXman34

And suburban sprawl apologists such as yourself need to understand that such a lifestyle can be achieved much closer in than out in the middle of Celina. Heck, you don't even have to go more than a few minutes outside of DT Dallas to have that suburban lifestyle. So why continue to murder our environment and exhaust our FINITE resources?

People choose to go further out because they can't afford to live that close to the city. $400k isn't going to get you a whole lot in Lakewood or the M Streets, for example. It's insane that people come on this forum with a $350-400k budget and they're told that their budget isn't enough. Sure, some people (not saying this about OP) need to check their expectations, but not everything in DFW is affordable or reasonable.

If people work in Frisco or Plano, then yeah Prosper or Celina are reasonable choices for them. And let's face it, the vast majority of employers moving in are settling north of Dallas. That's just what it is. So that's where all the big, expensive houses are being built and that's where people are flocking to. No one is going to move south of Dallas until employers start moving in. As others have said, the schools aren't good down there. It's a catch-22, really. No employer is going to move to an area with bad schools (look at Toyota), therefore the parents and kids that could turn a school around aren't going to move there. Most people moving to DFW already have kids in school and they don't want to risk choosing a "bad" school. They don't have time to sit around and wait for DISD, or other ISDs, to get their act together.

In OP's case, they are retired and they can live anywhere they want. I don't think we need to shame OP for their choice.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by ChristieP

The problem here is who wants to be that sacrificial lamb? Who is willing to live in a high crime area with DISD schools that are notoriously poor academically? SOCHS is also literally falling down, and the DISD just band-aids it every year. Sure, if someone was willing to take their kids there, they could probably graduate in the top 10% of their class and get automatic admission to UT Austin, but would they be adequately prepared academically?

Middle class parents are pretty demanding...DISD would probably adjust PDQ. SOCHS is falling down because nobody cares about poor kids of color. Seriously. Do you think Hillcrest or W.T. White would be in that state for so long? Of course not.