Likely moving to area soon...looking for best neighborhoods (Dallas: 2010, home builders)

[doublesuited77]

thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

Likely moving to area in early 2010. Job will be in Irving.

Looking for somewhere with top schools (its ok if they are private), access to good golf courses, dining/shopping and decent trip to downtown.

Looking for 4Br house ~2500-3000 sf. looking to spend between $500-700k.

[FarNorthDallas]

The best private schools are in North Dallas and are about $20,000/year - Greenhill, Hockaday, St. Marks, Episcopal School of Dallas and there are others.

The best public schools are Highland Park ISD and Carroll ISD.

Other really good ones are the schools in Flower Mound (which are part of the Lewisville school district), Coppell ISD, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, Plano ISD, Allen ISD, Frisco ISD, Keller ISD, Lovejoy ISD, parts of Richardson ISD.

School district boundaries do not follow city limit lines, so be careful.

[doublesuited77]

thanks. would a commute from North Dallas to Irving be reasonable in rush hour?

[nsumner]

Working in In Irving and if you consider private school + a golf course community, I would suggest that you look at Castle Hills. Custom Luxury Home Builders Dallas, TX - Castle Hills Community of the Year

Naima

[FarNorthDallas]

It wouldn't be bad.

Also, one of the best private schools in the area is in Irving, called Cistercian. It's for boys only. Very hard to get into. The boy must be well rounded - scholar athlete types.

[lsii]

If you are going to be in North Irving Flower Mound is a good choice. Great schools and the homes there are very reasonable now.

[nmnita]

Irving is a good location with lots of choices close by. I too would suggest you look in flower Mound for starters.

Nita

[Grainraiser]

I will third the Flower Mound recommendation.

[adixyz]

With all your requirements, I agree with others on considering Flower Mound. Most schools in Flower Mound are exemplary including the High Schools. Flower Mound High school had more 2010 National Merit Semi Finalists than Carroll or Highland Park ISD.
With the housing market bottoming you can get a lot more house value for your $$$ and also enjoy all the amenities you are looking, plus the property taxes are one of the lowest in DFW area.
With the DFW connector project already started I am betting long term on Flower Mound area to be one of the nearest neighborhoods near to the DFW airport, centrally located yet away from highway/ traffic, great schools, lot sizes and excellent family living.

[Lakewooder]

You could also try North Dallas in the W.T. White High School cluster - it's ranked one of the top high schools by Newsweek - very high on the list of 1,600 schools - 132 I think - anyway, it's there consistently. North Dallas inside LBJ has had excellent appreciation in the past.