Mansfield orMesquite

[ladyjay73]

Thanks mom. I am looking for a nice place where me & my 3 kids can be comfortable. I would like to live in a community that has some amenities. I think that although cute, Ennis would bore my children. The biggest thing! NO WALMART! I have a Walmart & also Target obesecession. I don't think there's one in Ennis. It doesn't have to be big, but someplace that we all can enjoy.

I was thinking about moving south too (Mansfield), but this will be my first house,& I am kind of getting overwhelmed with all of the choices that are out there. I think since I will be new to Texas, moving close to my parents would be a good thing. I am also noticing that I can get a cute starter house for $120-150K range. My parents are retired & love the slow pace of Ennis. I think I need a little bit more city-like activities for me & the kids. I am going to check out Red Oak & also Glenn Heights. (It came up in my search on Yahoo). Any other areas close to Ennis that you might suggest.

Thanks again for all the great info.

Ladyjay.

[Vicman]

Originally Posted by ladyjay73

Hello all :
I've heard some terrible things about the Balch Springs area of Mesquite.

Balch Springs is actually its own city.

[GoPadge]

Originally Posted by ladyjay73

I have a Walmart & also Target obesecession. I don't think there's one in Ennis. It doesn't have to be big, but someplace that we all can enjoy.

Ladyjay.

Oh, you're going to have a hard time finding anywhere without a Walmart. Just about every city you listed has a Walmart, and several also have Targets.

[Vicman]

Originally Posted by GoPadge

Oh, you're going to have a hard time finding anywhere without a Walmart. Just about every city you listed has a Walmart, and several also have Targets.

The following places in Ellis County have Wal-Marts:
* Ennis
* Waxahachie

Only Waxahachie has a Target.

In other words, there are a few places that do NOT have Wal-Marts.

Grand Prairie's Wal-Mart is in Dallas County. Mansfield's Wal-Mart is in Tarrant County. The Targets for Grand Prairie and Mansfield are in the same counties (respectively) as the Wal-Marts.

[GoPadge]

So I was bored and visited my old buddy maps.google.com....

Here's a link to the Walmarts on the Southside of Dallas, centered pretty much on Red Oak.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...UTF8&z=10&om=1

And here's the link for Targets.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...UTF8&z=10&om=1

You'll have to cut and paste....

[grumom]

Originally Posted by ladyjay73

Thanks mom. I am looking for a nice place where me & my 3 kids can be comfortable. I would like to live in a community that has some amenities. I think that although cute, Ennis would bore my children. The biggest thing! NO WALMART! I have a Walmart & also Target obesecession. I don't think there's one in Ennis. It doesn't have to be big, but someplace that we all can enjoy.

I was thinking about moving south too (Mansfield), but this will be my first house,& I am kind of getting overwhelmed with all of the choices that are out there. I think since I will be new to Texas, moving close to my parents would be a good thing. I am also noticing that I can get a cute starter house for $120-150K range. My parents are retired & love the slow pace of Ennis. I think I need a little bit more city-like activities for me & the kids. I am going to check out Red Oak & also Glenn Heights. (It came up in my search on Yahoo). Any other areas close to Ennis that you might suggest.

Thanks again for all the great info.

Ladyjay.

I know your head must be swimming with info (I've moved 8 times in 27 years with 4 kids!). I'll give you 2 more possibilities: Ovilla in the Red Oak school district- an agent will know where-there are expensive homes but there are some cute, a bit older neighborhoods like Brookwood, that would suit you and are very close (10 minutes) to all the new shopping in Cedar Hill, including the new mall I mentioned earlier. I will say Red Oak is not a football powerhouse, however, they hired a new coach last year who has had a lot of success in other school districts. The student population is still relatively small as Texas High schools go.
Cedar Hill is another affordable option and their high school just won state championship football this year. The population in Cedar Hill is growing very rapidly, so it's getting quite crowded, but you can jump on Hwy 67 and be in Downtown Dallas in 30 - 40 mins during rush hour. I'm not aware of mass transit in that direction.
One last bit of info: Midlothian schools are investing in their schools and are the place that people are moving to for schools. If your kids are into soccer - they have one of the best coaches around, Austin Guest. My daughter 11 yr plays for him in a select league in Ellis county. He used to be at Red Oak and took our boys to a state championship and Midl. hired him away.
I hope this helps. Feel free to contact as much as you need to.
Good luck and let me know how it's going.

[ladyjay73]

Grumom:

Thanks again for the information. I am thinking that I am going to lean more towards the $120-130k range for my home. It will be my 1st house, & I am a single mom & don't want to be another foreclosure statisic. Been looking on-line again, & I am thinking that Red Oak, or even Waxachacie would probably be the best places for us to be. I am thinking about Ennis too. I am going to visit in April, & I am definately going to check these places out. I am going to rent for about 6 months when I get there & kind of look around & see what appeals to me. Hopefully I will have a job by then & can start my house buying process.

My kids are excited, but I am nervous, excited, scared all rolled into one. We are only taking our clothes, as I want us to truly have a fresh start. The kids will be with their father in Saschse for the summer, so that gives me sometime to get a place & get their rooms together. It also gives me an excuse to shop as well I LOVE SHOPPING. I've heard that Waxachacie has great shopping.

Thanks again for the info.

[Guerilla]

I think southern Grand Prairie around Carrier on west would be nice for you. You would be a quick hop onto I-20 which takes you to I-45, then onto your parents' home in Ennis. I drove through Grand Prairie on I-20 on Sunday (clear day, you could see everything), and that place is nice as can be. So much new development going on I-20. It stops just before 360, but picks up again closer to the Parks Mall in Arlington and stays that way on into Highway 287.

Though if you were to decide, stay in Tarrant County. Dallas County is high-priced. I found this neighborhood that is adjacent to I-20...

http://www.davidweekly.com/Community...unity=17450000

The schools are in Arlington I.S.D.

Wood Elementary
97% Reading and 95% Math

Boles Junior High
94% Reading and 79% Math

Martin High School
89% Reading and 82%Math

http://www.schoolmatters.com/app/sea...ge=25/site=pes