Tell me about Castle Hills in Lewisville (Dallas, Irving: foreclosure, HOA)

[MissMee]

I've searched thru posts on here. I gather that it's a nice area, and I saw the links to the actual website. But smoke and mirrors aside, how is this area and the schools that go with it? I've checked the TEA scores, SAT/ACT scores, aerial and bird's eye views. Now I just need the dirt. I like the idea of a planned community with all its own stuff. Don't care if it's a golf course community, but I guess that's what they're built around.

Anyone have any insight?

[BlosmTX]

I don't live in Castle Hills, but I live nearby. It's a nice community, very close knit. There are a lot of organized community activities and clubs.
If you have school aged children, you might want to know that they are building a new elementary school in the area. CHE still serves nearly all of the neighborhood, but the new elementary (Independence) will serve a small part of it. I believe Independence Elementary is scheduled to open this coming August.

I was actually driving around the neighborhood today, just for a look-see, and I noticed most of the streets (not the main ones) feel a little bit narrow, and the houses feel a little close to the street. It was sort of claustrophobic driving down the street, but I guess since all the houses have rear garages that doesn't matter much. Lots also look a little on the small side, but there are sidewalks and playgrounds all over the place, so it's a trade off.
There is a new website built by one of the residents that you might like to check out:
Castle Hills Community Wiki - Castle Hills

All in all, I really like Castle Hills. I decided to build in Meridian right on the other side of 121 since we would have had to do more lifestyle/budget alterations that I wanted to in order to buy into Castle Hills, but my long term goal is to move there sometime in the next 10 years (assuming everything stays nice). I hear the HOA is pretty anal, so I don't see the neighborhood going downhill any time soon.

[MissMee]

That's a good website for some info - thanks!

How are the schools around there (besides what I can find for ratings and such). I will have 3 in schools this next year.

[okie1954]

Try Highland Village. We live in Highland Shores that is a part of Highland Village. The property values here are going up. One reason is because of the way the homes are kept and the architectural regulations. Its a beautiful area plus the school are awesome. We are moving back to Oklahoma where my family is. Since my husband will be retiring in a couple of years I am very happy to be back in my home town. I live on a street where houses sell rather quickly because it has no through traffic and considerably private. I loved this very thing about it when we purchased here. Up on a hill and can see out my windows to who coming up. It is always the children here. This is what I am going to miss. The children on my street are wonderful and very well behaved. I will miss them. Anyway, I am waiting until May to put my house up sale. I want the timing to be right with my daughters school. I don't want to sell my house quickly and have to move out before school is out.

Anyways, check out Highland Shores. If you want to know anymore just let me know. I will be happy to answer all questions.

[BlosmTX]

I don't have personal experience with the schools yet- my daughter is 3, and goes to the Primrose School right outside the subdivision, which we've been very happy with.
I've heard good things about CHE. Up until this past year it was exemplary rated. Killian is brand new so it doesn't have a TEA rating yet. Haven't heard anything yet since most of my neighbor's kids are pre-middle school.
I think Hebron High is supposed to be pretty good too. It's not the best high school in LISD, but it's not the worst either. Scores are above the state/national average, etc. Again, no personal experience with that one. It's better than The Colony High School where I'm zoned to, at least (not that TCHS is bad exactly, but it's scores are the lowest of LISD's normal high schools).
One of the cooler things about Castle Hills is the Castle Hills Foundation which (if I'm understanding right) gives $2k/year to Castle Hills kids for college. That's a good part of the reason I want to move there before my kid's in high school

[MissMee]

Okay, well what about Castle Hills vs Stonebridge Ranch in McKinney? How do they compare?

[BlosmTX]

No idea. McKinney is out of my commuting range, so I didn't consider it.
I think over the long term, Castle Hills will probrably appreciate better than anything in McKinney simply because it's closer in and has easy access to 121 (which is supposed to complete this July, I think), and it's less than a 5 minute drive to 35 and the DNT.

[sonshinelife]

I know several families that live in Castle Hills and they all are pleased with the value of their home. The elementary school that currently serves is Castle Hills and they have a wonderful reputation. Independence Elem. will be getting some of Castle Hills students as the school is too full. Independence is located on 544 just north of Castle Hills and next door basically to the new middle school Killian. I have heard there is some uproar with the community as they would like to have all elem. kids at Castle Hills. In my opinion the ones that are fighting to have keep kids at Castle Hills are not being sensible. Wouldn't they rather have their school have smaller class sizes? I think LISD made a great decision when they built this school. My child attends Coyote Ridge which is a neighboring school and I can't wait until Independence opens. This just means that the children at all 3 schools will have an opportunity for an even better education. Less children per classroom and more time for teachers to reach the learners.

I also have a friend that lives in McKinney/Stonebridge Ranch. She is works in the North Irving area and hates the drive and isn't too impressed with the school over in her neighborhood. So depending on where you might work or have to frequent you might want to consider drive time and researching the schools.

Goodluck with decision making.

[EmBee]

I don't live in Castle Hills, but drove through it everyday on the way to work. The houses seems to be on the custom home types. The area is also somewhat hilly, which I like. However, be aware that some parts of Castle Hills are problematic due to expansive soils, this is true in west side of Frisco too.

The clay soils can shrink and swell due to drying and wetting, therefore anything that's supported on these type soils can in turn shift also. Although this can affect house structures, it is easier to notice on the uneven pavement and pavement cracks in the roadway. Recently, some builders have addressed these issues during construction, but some have not. So ask questions and look around the areas you're interested in to see if it there could be potential problem.

[nsumner]

Originally Posted by MissMee

Okay, well what about Castle Hills vs Stonebridge Ranch in McKinney? How do they compare?

Stonebridge Ranch is huge... it's a 5000 acre community with home ranging from the high 100s to the multi-million. There are still builders there and particularly in McKinney in general, it would take longer to get equity from your house since sellers are competing with builders. All the people I know that live there are very happy.

Castle Hills is half that size and is almost built out. Probably within a year. The location is more central and much closer to Dallas, easy access to 121 and the tollway. There price range starts in the mid-300s. Anything lower than that may be a pre-foreclosure or a foreclosure which there aren't many there.

Naima