Fort Worth, which side is better?

[beowulf7]

That's good info. by Arcane. I agree to avoid the SE part of FW - it's ghetto from what I've been told. I've mostly spent time on the west part of FW, but that's where I work and live. I also agree w/ others that it's a PITA to commute to Dallas from FW - traffic is a b|tch. If you want to live in a nice area but not in Dallas itself, look into the Las Colinas part of Irving. However, I don't know if they sell houses there in the low $100s.

[jessrios]

mansfield is great place its growing everyday and the schools are good there for kids too. keller is also great so check into that as well keller has the best schools i think but since you will be working in dallas is kind of a drive between both if you think about.

[CrunchyTexasMama]

ITA....unless you LOVE to drive, living in Fort Worth would be really difficult. Dallas and FW are not nearly as close as people think they are. What about Plano? I wouldn't want to live in Plano, but a lot of people love it, and it's very kid friendly. The East Dallas side of the Metroplex has some nice areas.

[kt2le]

I can't imagine commuting from W or SW Fort Worth to the Galleria. Not only would it take forever but you'd spend a fortune in gasoline and time! You'd get tired of that REALLY fast.

My FIL lives in SW Fort Worth and it takes him one hour to get to DFW Airport in morning traffic. I would guess the Galleria would be another 30 minutes or so at that time of the day, but I don't know for sure.

[Synopsis]

Originally Posted by ChristieP

Look at Grapevine. We have houses in that price range (Bellaire neighborhood) and the drive to the Galleria isn't bad.

Grapevine would be a good location; not too far away and Grapevine is a nice city.

[CzechGrazer]

as previous posters have stated, I would not want to live in Fort Worth and have to work near the Galleria every day. The few people I know who have that kind of commute:
1. hate it
2. the had their house first and their job later on. You have the luxury of knowing where you work first.
just my 2 cents

[beowulf7]

Talk about crazy commutes, a coworker commuted from Plano to west FW for 1.5 years before he finally quit the job. The commute really wore him out. FYI for anyone who thinks s/he can deal w/ a long daily commute.

[lilbear1825]

The Ridgmar Mall([Property taxes run 6k/yr) area is a good area, I see you mentioned Mansfield too. I you are moving into a new division in these areas they will have HOA dues the first 4 or 5 yrs. The area around I-35 and Hulen from I-20 to Sycamore School Rd. that is a good area and school is great when you do start. Check out Zip Reality, they have GREAT reps to assist you with your search.

[John Shaft]

I cannot stress strongly enough that living in Ft W and commuting to Dallas will be misery. In addition to the lengthy drive and the traffic, you will be driving east into the sun in the mornings, and west into the setting sun in the evenings.

If you will be working near the Galleria, consider Richardson...Plano would be okay too. Not sure how much is available in your price range, though. Addison is closer to the Galleria but is pretty "trendy" and spendy.

My personal opinion is to avoid 635 at all costs as it is terrible. There are quite a few apartments just north of the Galleria if you want to feel out the neighborhoods before buying. Also south of 635 has some decent pockets until you get into the spendy park cities area.

[missamanda]

my mom works near the galleria (off 635 and hillcrest) and we used to live in ft. worth near downtown (yucca & 35 next to calvary christian academy) and it would take her an hour [121 N to 820 E to 183 N to 161 N to 635 E] which is worth it to live closer to ft worth but not very convenient if you dont mind being closer to dallas. your best bet to maintain the ft. worth atmosphere but still be a little closer to work would be euless. its right off 183 going tward dallas but unlike alot of other growing communities it is still really un-congested and very home-town like. its also still a decent area and differs SO much from its neighboring city, arlington, which many people try to stay away from these days. i live in haltom city now very close to where i grew up in ft. worth, and i work in euless.. its very comparable and much closer.