Young couple looking for unique home under $160k (Plano, Irving: low crime, big house)

[bryanw3535]

Hello, my wife and I currently live in Plano, and I work in Irving. We're ready to look at leaving the suburbs for something more unique. Here are our hopes:

- Something built before 1955 but updated inside.
- Has two or three bedrooms and 1 or 2 bathrooms.
- Has a two-car garage or one-car garage and carport.
- Bigger backyard = better.
- Has some character and color on the outside and inside. (Brick is fine for the outside, but not just one solid - color brick unbroken by any accents)
- Mature trees.
- In a nice, relatively safe area.
- Is 30 minutes or less to Irving during rush hour.
- Costs $160k or less.

Does any combination of the above exist in this area? We're casting a wide net but having trouble.

Thanks, y'all.

[ChristieP]

The problem is your price range. It's pretty low for most of DFW except the outer ring suburbs, or neighborhoods that are not as safe, etc. if you were willing to buy a fixer-upper and do most of the renovations yourself, you would also have more options.

[bryanw3535]

Originally Posted by ChristieP

The problem is your price range. It's pretty low for most of DFW except the outer ring suburbs, or neighborhoods that are not as safe, etc. if you were willing to buy a fixer-upper and do most of the renovations yourself, you would also have more options.

Thanks, Christie. I was afraid of that.

[BigDGeek]

Try Richardson zip code 75080, though in that price range you're looking mainly at smaller homes, fixer-uppers, or houses close to Spring Valley.

[tracenat]

You actually might be able to find something, but many of the homes that come to mind are built in the 70s and may not be updated to where you want them to be. Have you contacted a Realtor? They can definitely help you look for this!

[TurtleCreek80]

I would check out 75208 in North Oak Cliff. You can't afford the premier neighborhoods there like Kessler Park and Winnetka Heights, but can definitely get charm and your budget in the surrounding neighborhoods. I suspect as that whole area continues to boom with popularity and development, that prices will rise in the bordering neighborhoods over the next 5-15 years.

Your biggest problem for your budget and that area will be a garage. Many properties weren't built with them and still don't have them.

1402 Hollywood Avenue
617 Woodlawn
311 South Tennant

[bryanw3535]

Thanks, all. We'll check into these. The garage is less of a must-have, and I suppose (with approval from the historic district, if applicable) we could build one later if we wanted.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by bryanw3535

Thanks, all. We'll check into these. The garage is less of a must-have, and I suppose (with approval from the historic district, if applicable) we could build one later if we wanted.

North Oak Cliff is cute and all, but it does lack a lot of the amenities you'd take for granted in other neighborhoods and the schools aren't as good. With your budget I'd look at 75080. We have actual grocery stores and banks in Richardson, and a low crime rate and good schools to boot.

[bryanw3535]

North Oak Cliff and Richardson Heights both have some nice options within our price range. Thanks, y'all!

As BigDGeek notes, Richardson Heights Elementary gets 7/10 on GreatSchools, while Salazar gets 3/10. Do the numbers tell the whole story there?

What else am I forgetting to consider?

[bryanw3535]

One thing I should point out is that size isn't really an issue for us. We'd be fine with something in the 1,000 to 1,600 square foot range, which most of these seem to be.

In fact, I'd rather have a big yard than a big house.