Dallas commute routes/times (Plano, Carrollton: homes, neighborhoods, to buy)

[TexSun2Step]

We have recently moved to Dallas and are trying to find a home that is a good commute for us to downtown (work) and to Southlake, where our son and family have recently moved to. We would like to buy a home near the light rail, but Plano seems so far away to Southlake, and the rail that is going in to the Carrollton/Farmers Branch area...well folks (primarily our realtor) have told us those are not very good neighborhoods. We are at a real loss, and have looked at homes from Coppell to Plano to the Frankford Road/Campbell area. The realtor would like to kill us. We are looking for a home in the $300,000s and they do seem hard to find.

Any suggestions? We are older and not particualry looking or a "fun" place. But what is a good location with nice homes that commutes well into downtown and also into Southlake?

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

[Winter2010]

Try Richardson.

[FarNorthDallas]

Perhaps the Coit and Campbell area - right in between the Dallas North Tollway and the Araphao train station and then the worst of the 3 options - Coit to 75 to downtown.

I used to work downtown and the Dallas North Tollway is the fastest route. The train is predictable, of course, but not necessarily faster. At $4.00 for a daily train ticket it's about the same as tolls. (I think, I don't work downtown anymore.)

Specifically look at:
1) JJ Pearce Addition in Richardson (southeast of Coit and Campbell);
2) Highlands North in Dallas (west of Coit and Campbell);
3) Prestonwood in Dallas (west of Coit and Campbell close to Preston Road);
4) Reflections subdivision, Dallas, zero lot garden type home (southeast of Preston and Arapaho);
5) Spring Creek in Dallas (southwest of Coit and Arapaho).

[TexSun2Step]

Hey thanks, I'll do a map search tomorrow morning. I'm been taking 75 to downtown from a Marriott right on 75 and Meadow and it has not been pretty, even for that short drive.

[FarNorthDallas]

Originally Posted by TexSun2Step

Hey thanks, I'll do a map search tomorrow morning. I'm been taking 75 to downtown from a Marriott right on 75 and Meadow and it has not been pretty, even for that short drive.

Right, Central to downtown was bad and recently got worse when they closed off the end of Woodall Rogers going to Industrial.

But, shift over to the Dallas North tollway and you fly the whole way from Belt Line on down to Wycliff. (It is a bit congested heading south between Frisco and Keller Springs, however, but you would get on after that if you get on at Belt Line.)

[lpepping]

You can also try valley ranch. The Orange line is being built through las colinas which is close to valley ranch.

[Squirl]

Las Colinas would be absolutely perfect. Can't understand why no one has suggested it. I can be downtown or in Southlake in 20 minutes. If you don't need to use the public school you would love it here. Rail will be up and running in a year.

[Squirl]

Look in zip codes 75038, 75039, 75062, 75063

[Lakewooder]

If you aren't going to be going to Southlake except on the weekends then why not try closer - in North Dallas or even East Dallas? Las Colinas is the in-between point but if you lived in my neighborhood you could be downtown in ten minutes. Many listings in the $300s and it's an area where there is a good representation of all ages, including a lot of people who are 55 and older. Sort of a small-town atmosphere in fact. 75214 would be best probably for you but you could also try 75206 (trends younger) and 75223.

I'm not that much of an expert on North Dallas but somebody help me - aren't there a lot of good homes in that range around and north of Midway and NW Highway? You could take NW highway over to 114 (you can also do that from 75214 but it's a bit farther).

[FarNorthDallas]

Yeah, I would either look closer to downtown or Las Colinas rather than Richardson/Far North Dallas. The train isn't worth being that far away from family in Southlake.