The Colony - New Construction, HWY 121 Area (Plano, Carrollton: rentals, HOA)

[FromAmarilloToDFW]

Hello all! We just moved to the DFW area this summer and we are looking to build a house in The Colony. I am new to this site and it's forums, but the only threads I could find about The Colony were 2-3 years old. I wanted to see if anyone had any updated opinions on this area.

It seems like most of the complaints were that people didn't really keep up with the appearance of their homes and that there wasn't a lot of nearby shopping (Stonebriar) and restaurant activity. But there seems to be ample shopping and eating options there now, or soon on the way. The community we are looking at is a HOA subdivision, and my experience with those is that they require you to upkeep your house and lawn. Not only that, but this particular community keeps up your front lawn and landscaping for you as part of your dues.

It is just so scary making such a permanent decision when we are still so new to the area. I don't know what areas are safe (although, I have done what research I can on crime rates) and what areas are considered "ghetto." And even that can just be someone's opinion. It's just that so many people had such a negative reaction to the area in general, but from what I have seen with my own eyes, it doesn't look bad at all. But I have only been in the area along 121, closer to the Tollway. Maybe the older, more rundown areas are in the northern neighborhoods, closer to the lake?

We are a young, married couple with only 1 child - as of right now. We don't need to live in the fanciest neighborhood with the biggest houses; in fact, I would prefer not to. We just want to be sure that its a good safe place to raise a family.

Does anyone have any suggestions, opinions...anything?

[destin04]

We lived there for a long ...and I mean long time before being transferred to Tyler. When we first moved there, it was a thriving community of young families. As TC aged we became less enchanted with the city fathers and our neighbors. It seemed that it became a rental community with landlords that didn't take care of their rentals. The kids that our children were going to school with were here today gone tomorrow. (although we did like LISD) I don't believe I would return to TC. IF you want want a better view of the city I suggest The Colony Texas Community Website - Information about The Colony TX - InTheColony.com as a web-site that I would follow. However...if I were to return I would only settle on the very east side...close to 121 and removed from the older part. If you need the name of a good Realtor in the area send me a DM.

[FalconheadWest]

You're talking about a new community, not one of the older communities. THe new and newer communities sell really well, especially up at Lebanon and Main/423 like The Tribute. You need to get a Realtor involved with you as they'll help with unbiased information, and the builders up there are negotiating, but you need to know how to word your offers. I had clients close on a house in The Tribute 2 months ago, and boy did I get them a deal!

However, if you're talking about the older neighborhoods (which I don't think you are), this is where you will find many rental properties as the person above was talking about. But, you need to remember, older communities in almost every area in the Metroplex are good rental areas, so you'll have that in Plano, Richardson, Carrollton, anywhere...

[BlosmTX]

If the community you're considering is the one I'm thinking of, I'd be much more concerned about the builder (KB Homes) than the fact that was in The Colony.
The Colony is thought to be more blue collar than the other surrounding burbs, but that's not an inherently bad thing, in my opinion. Crime is relatively low, the schools aren't bad, and now that 121 is complete you're within a 5 minute drive to lots of shopping and restaurants in Frisco, Lewisville, or West Plano. Plus the areas around Josey and 121 and Standridge and 121 are developing fairly quickly, so within the next 2-5 years I'm expecting a lot more to offer that's even closer (although all those new developments are technically in Lewisville, so the tax dollars won't be directly benefiting TC).
My family moved to the area about a year ago- just barely in Lewisville, but within spitting distance to The Colony, and we've been pretty happy with the area. The commute to my and my husband's work was a lot more doable from here, the housing was more affordable in this area, and we're a quick drive from any retail/restaurant that are in those farther out/more expensive areas- which we don't generally do during the week, anyway.

[FalconheadWest]

Originally Posted by BlosmTX

If the community you're considering is the one I'm thinking of, I'd be much more concerned about the builder (KB Homes) than the fact that was in The Colony.

Wow, we're talking completely different price ranges... I'm talking Coventry, KHov, and the like... definitely not KB.

[DFW123]

One draw back about The Colony: It's what I called "access-locked".

Anyone going in-out of The Colony must use hwy-121. Hwy-121 is great but there is hefty tolls.

And, they installed these state-of-art toll systems that people do not even know they should pay toll, and lots of arrest warrants were issued for people who did not pay tolls.

[TexasWeatherman]

Originally Posted by DFW123

One draw back about The Colony: It's what I called "access-locked".

Anyone going in-out of The Colony must use hwy-121. Hwy-121 is great but there is hefty tolls.

And, they installed these state-of-art toll systems that people do not even know they should pay toll, and lots of arrest warrants were issued for people who did not pay tolls.

The 121 access roads are free. You could also say that Frisco is access locked because it has 2 toll roads going right through it. Plano has 3.

[myswendy]

Hi there,
I don't know if I'm posting this too late for you to care, but I just found it, so I'll put in my 2 cents.

I just moved here myself about 8 months ago from Connecticut. My kids wanted me to move close to them, so here I am. This is a great place to live! The homes are all kept up very nicely--in part, that's due to city regulations that require lawns to be mowed and houses to be kept up decently (not crazily, just decently). My neighborhood is immaculate. The people are friendly and the shopping is crazy close by. So is my doctor, my vet, and everyone else. This is a great place to live! I, too, was a bit unnerved when I read bits and pieces here before my move, but the place is actually nothing like anything I read. It's lovely, thriving, an incredible community center and gorgeous aquatic center, tons of kids activities. Great place to live!