New house in Plano/Frisco/Allen (Richardson, Addison: apartment, renting, condo)

[RedApple]

Hi all,
We are planning to buy our first home in Plano/Frisco/Allen area. Our budget is upto 300K and we plan to live there for atleast 5 yrs..so need to keep resale value in mind. With little kids, we need to have good schools around. My husband's office is in Addison..so also need to keep in mind the commute. We currently live in Plano in Willow Bend area.

We visited the Trails of Glenwood in East Plano and saw a home by DR Horton builders and we liked it..but we read some not-so-good things abt them. The other builders there are Grand Homes(which I know is to be avoided) and First Texas Homes. Does anyone know abt First Texas Homes in that community..also is it a good area to be with a family(lil kids). I know the schools there are McCall, bowman and Williams high.

Any other good builders to look for in these areas and any particular neighborhoods in our price range? In Frisco and allen, the houses seem to be very small (22-2300 sq ft for the price) and the bigger ones are towards the outskirts..Which city among these 3 will be a good choice?

Is Lonestar Ranch in Frisco good..planning to see Landon and Pulte homes there soon.

Thanks

[Obamney1]

You'll take kids from Cenntenial-Renner-Shepton-West to McCall-Bowman-Williams-East area for a new house in Glenwood? Your decision ... but do think twice.

[RedApple]

I forgot to write that we are renting an apartment...

[Obamney1]

But they are going to schools that are far more superior. You can look at existing housing here. Well unless new drywall is a must have in your social circle. :-)

[RedApple]

Existing housing is an option if it is less than 2-3 yrs old..primarily because of maintenance/renovation costs..in the willow bend area 300K will get me a condo at the most or very old houses. For the same price, i may get a new and bigger house in Frisco or Allen (which have good schools as well) or other parts of Plano. But I have no idea abt the resale after 5 yrs of either type(new or preowned).
One of my kids is in kinder and other one will start school in a couple yrs..so mainly looking at good elems but from the resale point, good middle and high is also needed.

This will be our first house so need advice from all the pros here

[Obamney1]

I hear you and pros are sure to chime in. Imho, You may want to have a look at Preston Village townhomes(Parker @Ohio) for budget around $300,000. These are brand new, pretty spacious and upgraded and that location/schools are a guarantee for good resale. Pretty solid deal for first time home buyer.

[BigDGeek]

If you're going to stay only 5 years, cross Frisco off the list. It's not built out yet and you'll be competing with new construction when you try to sell.

I'd go for Plano; its schools are much better than Allen's. Tho if you really do want to sell in a few years, you should consider Richardson alongside Plano. The schools are just as good and the housing stock is only a little bit older. You'd be closer to the action and you might even do better than just breaking even when it comes time to sell.

[RedApple]

@Obamney-yes..we were considering townhomes but really wanted to have a yard as kids love to jump and play..twnhome would again be similar to apartment living..

@BidDGeek-thats good advice for frisco..thanks. havent looked into richardson..will do that. any particular communities in plano or allen? i know that 300K would mean mostly east plano..but not sure if that part is good to live..

how abt lone star ranch in frisco? i think its closer to plano/frisco border but again not sure abt the community and the builders there. i know landon builds in austin ridge in lone star and another is pulte homes in highland ridge at lone star. any reviews abt the community itself?

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by RedApple

@Obamney-yes..we were considering townhomes but really wanted to have a yard as kids love to jump and play..twnhome would again be similar to apartment living..

@BidDGeek-thats good advice for frisco..thanks. havent looked into richardson..will do that. any particular communities in plano or allen? i know that 300K would mean mostly east plano..but not sure if that part is good to live..

how abt lone star ranch in frisco? i think its closer to plano/frisco border but again not sure abt the community and the builders there. i know landon builds in austin ridge in lone star and another is pulte homes in highland ridge at lone star. any reviews abt the community itself?

Try looking in 75248 and 75080 to see what $300k could buy you in the Richardson school district.

$300k does not restrict you to east Plano, it just puts you out of more chi-chi west Plano. You can buy a perfectly nice house in Plano for $300k!

[stephwin]

Lone Star Ranch in Frisco has a pretty high HOA. My in-laws live there and I thought it was around $1000 a year. You do get 3 pools, but during the summer it is packed because there are over 1,000 houses (and counting) in the neighborhood. The gym is super tiny considering the number of houses.