Small town feel near D/FW (Houston, Dallas: sales, houses, to buy)

[lh_newbie]

If you both make that kind of money, pick up a nice home in Dallas. There are some areas like Lakewood where you can get a nice home with mature gorgeous trees and have all kinds of stuff close. You can spend $400-500K and get a very nice home there, or spend $250-350K in LAke Highlands and get a very nice home as well - without the strict HOA's. Both areas have beautiful mature trees, offer very close proximity to Dallas and amazing amenities like White Rock Lake (and parks galore - not the cookie cutter, middle of the subdivision type "HOA" managed parks, but some amazing parks all throughout the area). It's very different than the restrictive HOA's here. Thought I'd give Dallas proper a plug.

[KewGee]

If you want a lower population like you and your husband had, I don't see how anything will "fit the bill" very near Dallas.

I would much rather have the small-town feel than living where the population is way too high. In my opinion, a beautiful home in or near Dallas does not take the place of a less populated area with possibly some land for your child/children to enjoy with their parents. Now that's living to me.

One poster mentioned Granbury, which is a nice, quaint town about 62 miles from Dallas. The population there isn't much over 6,000 I don't believe.

[Lakewooder]

Maybe you should look between Denison and Lake Texoma. Denison has a budding downtown Arts scene. And there is plenty of recreation at the lake, which is one of the largest man-made lakes in America.

Also, prices are rising up there (I've got a cabin near Tanglewood/Loe's Highport and many of them are being torn down for half-million dollar plus show places), so it's a good investment.

[rantanamo]

I don't know if you want to live in the actual city, but what you are describing sounds like what you'd find in Dallas or Fort Worth in some of the older, more established neighborhoods like Oak Cliff or Lakewood. I have personal experience with Munger Place in East Dallas. Gorgeous older homes, older established tree lined streets. Homes are in the $200s all the way up to the Millions on Swiss Ave. There are even custom builders that will build new homes that look like the older ones with newer style interior. Most in that area are in the same salary range you're talking about. Schools are in the Lakewood area or one could always go private if they wish. They certainly have block parties and meetings in this area. Very odd, but when you are in this neighborhood it feels very small. Same with the M-Streets area and Kidd Springs area of Oak Cliff(both with tudor cottages) The only other place like this I can think of outside of Dallas proper is in the central part of Garland between Garland High School and Central Park. It has that same type of feel where it seems like you're in a picturesque suburb you'd only see on Leave it to Beaver.

[NebraskaNative]

I love the 'Leave It To Beaver' comparison! Our current neighborhood has folks that call the HOA rep as soon as our camper is in the driveway for 24 hours and 1 minute!

I like the HOA concept for common-sense types of things: I don't want a neighbor working on a 1979 Chevy Van for 6 months, covered with a tarp, motor sitting in the yard, etc.; but more common sense types of things like making sure no one paints their house purple or pink.

There are so many good posts here that are going to make our 'research' trip to Dallas this fall that much more complete. Thanks to all!!!

[Lakewooder]

I heard someone say yesterday that Lakewood/East Dallas is now "Mayberry with Money" for the small-town feel.

[hamiltonpl]

Granbury is a great small town near Dallas. If I was going to pick a small town nearby -- that would be it.

However, big cities are comprised of nothing but many small neighborhoods. In every neighborhood I've lived in Dallas, it's like a small town. You'll see your neighbors at the grocery store, gym, and local restaurants. You'll see them at the park. We wave to each other in passing cars, and talk to each other while working in the yard. And I don't live in a small town. I live in Dallas. Additionally, I prefer the convenience of the big city, while enjoying the small town feel of my Lakewood neighborhood. The small town, while cute, lacks the amenities that I've become accustomed.

Big cities are just a lot of small towns wrapped up together. Therefore, you'll be able to find that small town "feel" just about anywhere. You don't drive from East Dallas to West Dallas to pick up a gallon of milk. Instead, you can practically walk to the grocery store. Everything you need is within 15 minutes of your house.

But if you're looking for a small town, obviously the 9th largest city in America ain't it. Good luck in your search.

[MrSpkr]

Problem with Lakewood is that once your kid is out of elementary school, you have to either leave him to the TERRIBLE Dallas schools, or start paying private school tuition.

Take a look at Cedar Hill, Midlothian, Mansfield, Maypearl or Waxahachie. They still have a small town feel, and are within easy commute of Dallas.

[Lakewooder]

Our Middle School just won state for the third year in a row for Math and Science. How about yours?

Our High School is one of Newsweek's Top Schools in America, how about yours?

[$DFW8$]

Do you even Live in Decatur?....because I can tell that you obviously don't because your facts are very wrong! I live in Decatur and work in downtown Dallas. From the time I leave my house in the morning, I can be at my office in downtown Dallas in 45 minutes. I also have an office in downtown Fort Worth, and I can be there from my house in 30 minutes. Like I said before, Decatur is part of the DFW Metroplex and Wise County is one of the fastest growing counties in the nation.Decatur is also one of the fastest growing cities in the state. And I am not a gravel hauler and that was very rude to call me that. You must drive 20 mph if it takes you that long to drive to Dallas and Fort Worth. Everybody knows that it only takes 45 minutes to get to Dallas and 30 minutes to get to Fort Worth. You can be in the city limits of Fort Worth in 20 minutes, but it takes about 30 minutes to get to downtown. I have no clue where you got 60 miles from because that is incorrect! Also, Decatur is NOT a rural area. I think you need to look-up the definition of rural, because Decatur is not rural. Decatur has and is getting a ton more big subdivisions along with a Home Depot,Target, Arby's, Wendy's, CVS Pharmacy,Kohls,Walgreens,Brookshires, and Albertsons. Also, Decatur may be getting a mall. I got all that information from the Wise County Messenger website. A lot the articles on that website are about the growth and development of Decatur. Decatur is the next Frisco....Like it or not. Why would you not want it to be huge. Well guess what...it's gonna be huge and it's going to be all city down 287 to Fort Worth. The link you put into your artice was way outdated. I have included two links to websites that have articles on Decatur. One is an article about Decatur being the next Frisco and one is about Decatur and how much it's growing and how it is part of the DFW Metroplex.

http://www.wcmessenger.com/opinion/l...EkFgynopJd.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wise_County%2C_Texas

So obviously, all my information is correct and yours is not. And also, I DO KNOW Decatur and live there! You obviously DON'T! Once again, please get your facts straight. I'm not trying to be rude or mean and apologize if my post seems that way, but I just don't like it when people give out inaccurate information.