Mckinney, Frisco, Allen, Lakewood? (Dallas, Greenville: houses, neighborhoods, good schools)

[justinkevans]

My husband and I are in our late 20's looking to relocate to the Dallas Area. He is looking for HR jobs and I am hoping to substitute teach and eventually get my certification.

We are hoping for a cape cod or tudor style house (not brick!) with a nice yard, trees, and safe. We are able to spend about 250k.

What is the best area for us? We are conservative, about to start a family, we used to live in Uptown and loved the great restaurants, trails, and shops. I guess you could say we have yuppie/suburban tastes? Based on my research Allen, McKinney, or Lakewood/M streets seems to fit the bill.....

We have a great appreciation for old, but remodeled (not problems!) houses, we have to be near healthy food for my husband, parks, good schools, and we love trees and big yards.

We are in the process of applying to jobs but want to make sure we are in the right area.....

Thank you so much for your help

[nsumner]

You seem to be describing Lakewood to the T. The only downside if you would only have a handful to choose from in the price range. They will likely be 2 bedrooms 1 bath but the lots are large and wooded.

Allen and Frisco don't have any homes that you describe. There is the healthy food part, good schools and parks.

McKinney has a historic district with the homes you describe. Plenty of shopping, schools are decent. May be a few more to choose from here than Lakewood. If you like restoring homes, you can get a good deal here.

Naima

[justinkevans]

Nsummer,
thank you so much! I was thinking frisco, but do not care for treeless lots. I do feel Lakewood is looking pretty good for what we want...... we may be able to go up to 300k but no more than that.

How is lakewood in comparison to m streets?

[justinkevans]

Also, which companies are currently having steady job growth in the DFW area?

[Saintmarks]

Don't count Frisco and Allen out in the old home / old neighborhood department. Both share a history of being small farming towns built on railroads and both still have some of the old neighborhoods adjacent to their original Main Streets. While both were much small than McKinney back in the day and won't have the volume of older homes, remnants of their pre suburban lives remain.

[Grainraiser]

Sounds to me she should be looking in Lakewood and Lake Highlands. M-street would also be an option. Based on her wants she can scratch 90% of the burbs off her list. McKinney does have some older homes but Frisco and Allen is like most of the burbs. Small, treeless lots with little charm.

[nsumner]

Originally Posted by justinkevans

How is lakewood in comparison to m streets?

The M-Streets are part of Lakewood. They are referred to as Greenland Hills or Greenville Crest. The M Streets is probably the most expensive part of Lakewood.

Naima

[Dallas native]

Originally Posted by nsumner

The M-Streets are part of Lakewood. They are referred to as Greenland Hills or Greenville Crest. The M Streets is probably the most expensive part of Lakewood.

Naima

Naima, your advice is always incredibly insightful and accurate, but I must correct you on this one . Actually, those are two separate neighborhoods, both of which are located in East Dallas. There is a map of Lakewood on the following website: www.lakewoodneighborhood.org. I tried to cut & paste it, but had no luck. It shows that Lakewood is east of Abrams, south of Mockingbird, north of Gaston and includes White Rock Lake.

Greenland Hills (aka the "M streets") is west of Lakewood. The western boundary is I-75 and it runs east over to Skillman St. (me thinks???, where are you Lakewooder) along streets like Mercedes, Monticello, Merrimac, Morningside... (you get the idea).

Both Lakewood and Greenland Hills are going to be relatively expensive compared to many other Dallas 'hoods but Lakewood has far more uber-expensive homes ($1m - $$$$$m). If the OP is looking for something under $300k, it is still possible to do that in Lakewood Hts. or Cochran Hts., both of which are in the same general vicinity.

[nsumner]

You're absolutely correct. From a historic and geographic area, they are separate but because each area isn't more than a few streets and they overlap each other, I thought giving the OP a broader area that would meet her needs.

Here is a map I have had for a long time to help people define neighborhoods.

Naima

[Saintmarks]

Originally Posted by nsumner

You're absolutely correct. From a historic and geographic area, they are separate but because each area isn't more than a few streets and they overlap each other, I thought giving the OP a broader area that would meet her needs.

Here is a map I have had for a long time to help people define neighborhoods.

Naima

Thanks for that map. Have been here in DFW five years, have heard of these neighborhoods and knew their general areas, but have never seen it laid out so nicely. Some new names to go with ones I had already heard of as well.

I think Forest Hills is the nicest part of Dallas I have seen. Would love to have the moolah to live there.