Reform Jewish Family Moving From So Cal (Dallas, Arlington: short sale, foreclosure)

[SDMOMOF3]

Looks like my husband will be taking a job in Arlington Texas and we need to find a new home. Our kids are 19, 17 and 9. The older two will be attending community college and the younger one will be in public elementary school.

Finding a home in a neighborhood with great public schools and a Jewish presence is of utmost importance. The commute is a very far second priority.

To clarify, we are not looking for the "most Jewish" community. We grew up around Beverly Hills Jews, who are lovely people, but are more competitive about their success, money, their kids' success etc....than we are. No judgments here. It is what works for us and that with which we are most comfortable.

We don't know whether we will be renting or buying, but if we were to buy, we would be looking in the 300-450k range.

Please share your thoughts/recommendations.

[Squirl]

I noticed there is a synagogue in Colleyville. Colleyville has very good schools and is a reasonable drive to Arlington. If I were you I would contact them to get some suggestions in addition to this forumn. Congregation Beth Israel, Colleyville, TX - Home

[RockyJoe817]

There was another family moving to the metro, I did not know that the largest jewish community
in the metro was around Richardson.
Jewish:
//www.city-data.com/forum/dalla...ing-house.html

But in answer to your question, North Arlington would be nice. I personally cannot tell you about the
jewish community in Arlington so I did an internet search for a link.
Arlington has the University of Texas, Arlington and Tarrant County College Southeast Campus.

Other outlying cities which are commutable are: Hurst, Euless, Bedford, grapevine to name
just a few.


JEWISH REFORM TEMPLES IN ARLINGTON, TX****** בתי כנסת רפורמיים בארלינגטון, טקס&#15
Congregations



DFW School report card:
2009-10 School Report Card

GreatSchools - Public and Private School Ratings, Reviews and Parent Community

National Center for Education Statistics:
Search for Public Schools
Schools on the West side:
Schools Information / Public School Websites

Texas Schools:
Texas Accountability Rating System


Tarrant county College:
Tarrant County College - Home

[SDMOMOF3]

Thank you for your quick repsonses! Just how awful would it be to commute from Richardson (say West Richardson) to Arlington. Is it crazy to even think about it?

[RockyJoe817]

Obviously it can be done, approx. forty mile trip one way. But with the Gas prices, road construction, traffic, weather and other uncontrollable situations not recommended for a daily commute.
I have worked with people that travel even further commutes than that but I would not recommend
doing it on a daily basis if all possible.


But if you do...

Richardson has good schools, UTD is closeby, Dallas County college has the campus close to Midway Rd (Brookhaven campus) or the one in Irving (Northlake campus).

[ggolf]

Originally Posted by SDMOMOF3

Thank you for your quick repsonses! Just how awful would it be to commute from Richardson (say West Richardson) to Arlington. Is it crazy to even think about it?

Oy vey! No way Jose! That's a killer commute. Arlington is big and diverse, FT Worth is big and diverse. I always suggest renting for a while to get to know this area. Then if you want to buy you can begin looking with the trigger pulled and might find something you like in a short sale or foreclosure or just a good deal; but importantly in a neighborhood you like.
Only downside is you have to move twice but if you treat it like a long vacation you can keep stuff packed in boxes and only unpack stuff you need day to day.

Trust me, you don't want a long commute in DFW. It'll drive you nutzoid. I did east Frisco to Las Colinas for 6 months before the Bush Toll road was open and took up smoking, drinking, and direct Heroin injections to ease my pain.

[SDMOMOF3]

Thank you for your repsonse. Even if we rent, I kind of sort of have to get it right. I am yanking my little one away from her family, her friends, her home and her synagogue, all of which she loves and all of which she is very connected to. Will it kill her if she has to change schools, and then change again...no. Will it scar her...probably. So I want to avoid it if I can. So long as I find the right school district, I am guessing we can swing moving from one neighborhood to another. This is not going to be easy on any of us.

[ggolf]

Originally Posted by SDMOMOF3

Thank you for your repsonse. Even if we rent, I kind of sort of have to get it right. I am yanking my little one away from her family, her friends, her home and her synagogue, all of which she loves and all of which she is very connected to. Will it kill her if she has to change schools, and then change again...no. Will it scar her...probably. So I want to avoid it if I can. So long as I find the right school district, I am guessing we can swing moving from one neighborhood to another. This is not going to be easy on any of us.

Like any move you have to think of the long term. I would definitely contact someone from the local Synagog for help. They might even have a newcomers club since so many folks are moving to Texas. I think kids are more resilient than we give them credit for.

[Squirl]

Richardson is waaaay too far! Arlington's schools on the southwest side are ok, but not so great middle or high schools on the north side.

[SDMOMOF3]

I am going to throw one more wrinkle into the mix. While our politics are moderate, they definitely lean to the left, and my kids are actually much more liberal than I am. We now live in an area that by and large leans to the right, but still very moderate. From what I am reading (which could be wrong), most of the areas that would be closer to Arlington are also very conservative. Any thoughts or comments about that?