I'm living in Haslet and it's the end of the world (Fort Worth: fit in, foreclosures)

[WalkTall]

I thought it would be quaint yet convenient to amenities such as grocery stores and other shopping/restaurants, but it isn't. And that is an understatement. Plus I hear planes all the time from Alliance Airport. For shopping I have to go over to Keller (which is not impressing me either) and that takes 30 minutes one way once I get through the stop signs and 30 mph two lane roads and get up on the interstate to quickly exit and go through more stop signs.

Plus the area seems disjointed- tiny little brand new tract houses then wide open farms with a horse or two then a gas rig operation with tarps all around it then another smaller farm on 2 acres with a metal barn bigger than the house. Is there any hope for this area? I really want to move. If I am looking for a good area with established neighborhoods with trees (homes built in the 60s or 70s with larger lots) and relatively close shopping amenities, where should I start looking? I didn't think the no trees would bother me but it is, and I don't like these new subdivisions.

[nsumner]

Sorry to hear that you're not happy there. Wow... I would think that the Heritage area or Western Center areas would me much closer than Keller from Haslet. I would have expected it to grow more by now and get more infrastructure too, I lived on Eagle Mountain Lake years ago Haslet looked like it was going to grow.

You are right, it is remote and really I have heard only positive things from people that live there. I personally couldn't do it (I like the big city).

Are you having to commute somewhere? budget? that would help to direct you.

Naima

[Guingirl]

And yours is a good example of really understanding the neighborhood where you purchase and understanding what is truly important to you. We live out in the area as well and you really have to understand what you are getting into with the country feel. If you are a city person, this isn't the place for you. It can seem a million miles away, when it really is just over the hill.

Not sure where you are going to get away from planes because you can move to Southlake and still get that overhead noise from planes coming into DFW.

Depending upon your budget, you might find something more in the MidCities area, but still going to have some planes. Just not sure you will find a lot of big lots out there, so something you will just have to weigh in making your next decision.

Anyway, sorry you feel stuck out here, but its fixable and now you know this is one area that you don't feel comfortable in.

[padcrasher]

Originally Posted by WalkTall

I thought it would be quaint yet convenient to amenities such as grocery stores and other shopping/restaurants, but it isn't. And that is an understatement. Plus I hear planes all the time from Alliance Airport. For shopping I have to go over to Keller (which is not impressing me either) and that takes 30 minutes one way once I get through the stop signs and 30 mph two lane roads and get up on the interstate to quickly exit and go through more stop signs.

Plus the area seems disjointed- tiny little brand new tract houses then wide open farms with a horse or two then a gas rig operation with tarps all around it then another smaller farm on 2 acres with a metal barn bigger than the house. Is there any hope for this area? I really want to move. If I am looking for a good area with established neighborhoods with trees (homes built in the 60s or 70s with larger lots) and relatively close shopping amenities, where should I start looking? I didn't think the no trees would bother me but it is, and I don't like these new subdivisions.

I don't think there is. It's not like the area is growing any longer. I've tried to tell coworkers not to move there along with Saginaw and Roanoke...it's too far out...too many eighteen wheelers....too sterile...no atmosphere. Grapevine or Ft. Worth have so much more interesting things to do and old growth trees, parks, lakes, etc.

And you don't get the advantage of living in the country when the home is in the middle of tract subdivision.

It's cliche but the truth....it is all about location

[WalkTall]

Thank you nsumner, Guinigirl, and padcrasher for your replies. Fortunately I am just renting and only have a few more months left on this short lease I signed. Lots of rental homes around here and lots of foreclosures too. Heck I don't even have neighbors on one side and across the street are two still undeveloped lots and this neighborhood is 4 years old. It feels so sad out here and I do really feel sorry for my neighbor I just met who said that he is being foreclosed on.

Besides planes I have really been hearing trains, blasting on the horns at all times of the day and night. I mean this really is unbelivable to be living in the country and have this much noise. I could handle plane noise if I lived closer in to shopping amenities. Someone suggested that Southlake would still have noise, but I don't like Southlake either- plus I can't afford a half million dollar home anyway.

I think it was padcrasher who suggested Grapevine and I think that might be better for what I am looking for: not a huge lot of an acre but at least 10,000 feet so that your neighbors are not on top of you and the street is not right outside your front door. My backyard is pathetic, no trees or bushes or anything and a tiny little uncovered patch of cement out the back door. Two cars cannot fit inside this skinny little garage or driveway for that matter and I have to pull my car in almost to the wall and it clears the garage door by inches. The front window of my house isn't even a dining area or a living room...it's the LAUNDRY room. Now what kind of cracker jack architect would even consider such nonsense? I just can't live like this it is driving me crazy. I would like to find an older ranch style home (I think that is what they call the architecture) that needs some remodeling in a wonderful area on a tree lined street. A mall within 15 minutes and restaurants within five minutes would be ideal.

[WalkTall]

Originally Posted by padcrasher

I don't think there is. It's not like the area is growing any longer. I've tried to tell coworkers not to move there along with Saginaw and Roanoke...it's too far out...too many eighteen wheelers....too sterile...no atmosphere. Grapevine or Ft. Worth have so much more interesting things to do and old growth trees, parks, lakes, etc.

And you don't get the advantage of living in the country when the home is in the middle of tract subdivision.

It's cliche but the truth....it is all about location

Saginaw and Roanoke to me seem just like Haslet. I didn't think about it but now that you mention it there are a lot of 18 wheelers, this is more of an industrial area than livable area. It's true, you don't even get the advantage of living in the country for Pete's sake!

[5stones]

Look in Grapevine lots of nice older areas.
There are some fantastic older neighborhood in keller that have large lots and trees, Look north of 1709 and off of Rapp rd the streets like morning side etc...
BIG yards etc... but still in a good price point.

Not knowing your price range its hard to recommend a place.

I live in Keller and don't have hardly any plane noise...a couple times a month from Aliance or from the airbase.
We do get the train whistle though, but once you are east of Rufe snow you won't hear it.

You alos might look at Hurst and Bedford in the older neighborhoods.

[WalkTall]

Originally Posted by 5stones

Look in Grapevine lots of nice older areas.
There are some fantastic older neighborhood in keller that have large lots and trees, Look north of 1709 and off of Rapp rd the streets like morning side etc...
BIG yards etc... but still in a good price point.

Not knowing your price range its hard to recommend a place.

I live in Keller and don't have hardly any plane noise...a couple times a month from Aliance or from the airbase.
We do get the train whistle though, but once you are east of Rufe snow you won't hear it.

You alos might look at Hurst and Bedford in the older neighborhoods.

Thank you 5stones for your reply. I will look up those areas you mentioned, but for some reason I don't like the feel of Keller. Maybe it is because the side I keep going to when I have to for things is closer to being in Fort Worth? (ie, west of the tracks). Maybe the area you mentioned of Keller would feel better, I will have to visit.

My price range is topped at 250,000. I really don't want to go over that and I would like a house with no more than 2500 square feet. Nothing overly extravagant and cold feeling.

The trains are unbelievable. What is going on in this area? I can't imagine what all is being shipped to wherever at all times of day and night. I have to cross several train tracks to get out of my subdivision. And slow down to crawling to do so so that I don't tear my car up.

Hurts and Bedford sound good too. Will check those out. Is that close to North East mall? Thank you all for listening. I am really getting depressed living so far out away from everything!

[loves2read]

no plane noise in Bedford or Hurst--could have some in Grapevine because of its closeness to DFW

North East Mall is close via freeway from Hurst or Bedford but surface streets are often just as fast

frankly if you drove around that area at all, you would have seen that it is fairly rural still and and totally devoid of any mature trees...at least that is what I see when I drive through there

[WalkTall]

Originally Posted by loves2read

no plane noise in Bedford or Hurst--could have some in Grapevine because of its closeness to DFW

North East Mall is close via freeway from Hurst or Bedford but surface streets are often just as fast

frankly if you drove around that area at all, you would have seen that it is fairly rural still and and totally devoid of any mature trees...at least that is what I see when I drive through there

Thank you loves2read for your reply. No plane noise is great news! I am also hoping that there are not multiple railroad lines running through the area either. As I am typing this I can hear the blast of a train horn. This goes on day and night.

Having a shopping center within driving distance would be heaven, it doesn't even have to be North East Mall, but this is the mall I have been to sinse moving here last month and I liked it. But it was quite an adventure of a drive, something like 45 minutes. I am just not used to that. My old home in another city was in a very safe and mature area and just right off a major highway with everything you could ever need all around you. If I wanted to drive to some specialty stores in the north part of town that were approximately 12 miles away I would have to get geared up to do so, usually planning on the next day's excursions. But from here it is 12 miles to civilization (the closest being Western Center).

You're right, I should have at least visited the area before moving here and signing a lease. I guess there's a reason this area is so deserted and there are so many rental homes. Duh, no one wants to live out here!!! But moving here I was in a precarious situation and so my husband who came out to Fort Worth alone looked at two houses and secured this house the same day he looked (only looked at two and this one had new carpet). He told me on the phone that it was kind of far out but that it was in Fort Worth. So I thought "well just how far out could it be?". Ha ha, well now I know. Although I was told it was north of Fort Worth but in Fort Worth I now know that we don't live in FW. I could see how people who grew up here or in Fort Worth or possibly Decatur might like it. There is no benefit for me however. I'm trying to stay positive though.