Looking to Relocate (Fort Worth, Bedford, Grapevine: for sale, foreclosures, renting)

[FWAppraiser]

My wife and I are currently renting a home close to Huguley Hospital (since December) and are still new to the area. I'm not a huge fan of being so close to Everman and Forest Hill (especially now that we have a baby on the way).
I'm now looking to buy a home.

Let me give you the run down:
I work in downtown Fort Worth.
Our #1 priority is how good the schools are.
We don't want to end up in an area where all these low end houses are going in, i.e., "Homes starting in the 90's!"
I would prefer a smaller town, but not so far removed that there's nothing to do.
We really want to be in a friendly area where we would feel comfortable letting our "soon to be here" son play and we could socialize with the neighbors.

Is there such a place?

I'd really appreciate any thought and input that anyone could give.

Thanks in advance.

[loves2read]

You might consider the Mid-Cities--Hurst and Bedford (older neighborhoods but stable) and Harwood Jr. High, Bedford Jr High and their elementary schools are usually considered ok--Lakewood elementary is strong school but there is mixed housing that feeds into it
Grapevine (town) has good areas and schools...and is more reasonable than Colleyville in general...
Keller has good neighborhoods w/good elementary schools but some areas have lots of homes for sale where there are foreclosures like in Woodland Springs and Park Glen--if you are planning on staying long term, you might get a good buy...but Keller west of 377 (really in FTW but they say Keller because it is Keller schools and sometimes a Keller mailing address)
is more iffy than Keller east of 377...Williamsburg and Lakes of Canterbury-- older neighborhood but trees and fairly large lots...Rancho Serena, gated, community pool...

Colleyville is probably more than you want to pay...
NRHills I would recommend subdivisions Thornbridge, Brandonwood and older Forest Glen and couple of others. if you can afford them...
Birdville schools need to be chosen carefully

[sb2323]

Check out Mountain Valley Lake in Joshua. Great schools, great location, tollway as well as an HEB / movie theater and more planned just a few miles east of the subdivision. The elementary school (North Joshua) is one of the best public elementaries in Texas. We had put money down to have a home built before my husband got transferred. We loved the neighborhood. The folks at Homes by Towne were great and my friend in the Attorney General's office said they have no complaints against them.