Moving to Mesquite, Tx (Dallas, Garland: high crime, house, neighborhood)

[Ktran]

Hey guys and gals. I will be moving to Texas this summer and will be working at an Army Office that is located north of Dallas on Preston just north of the LbJ FWY. I've found a place that is located in Mesquite on mountain bluff Ln. My question is how will traffic be going to/from work and how is that particular area in Mesquite?

[ChristieP]

Pretty heavy. 635 is always packed at rush hour! What's your price range, and are schools important? You might look in Richardson to find something closer to work.

[Ktran]

I am looking for a 3 bed room 2 bath. A comfortable price for me will be around 1200-1300 a month but can go up to 1400 if needed. Schools are not important at this point. Thanks!

[Ktran]

How is that area in Mesquite.

[ChristieP]

I'm not finding a Mountain Bluff Ln in Mesquite. There is one in east Dallas near the intersection of Military Pkwy and Prairie Creek Rd. This area is known as Bruton Terrace, and it is NOT a nice area. Homes are small and old, and it borders on a pretty high crime area called Pleasant Grove. It's about a 25 mile drive from there to your work, and the traffic will be VERY heavy. I would not recommend living there, especially when you are new to town.

I would recommend looking in the north part of Garland, in Richardson, or even in Carrollton instead of Mesquite. These cities will all be a shorter drive to North Dallas, and they are all much safer than southeast Dallas.

[Grainraiser]

I would not recommend that area in Mesquite for that price. That is not one of the better areas of Mesquite and can do much better with your budget. That drive would be horrible during rush hour but really easy during non-rush hour traffic. Nothing wrong with living in Mesquite but you can get a nice place that is closer to your work with that kind of budget.

[Ktran]

Thanks for the replies. I been taking your advise and I found two places near each other. What do you guys think about Whitestone drive in McKinney? How will the commute be to 13410 Preston rd in Dallas? How's the area/neighborhood? Is $1400 for a 4 bd 2 ba with 2033 sq ft a good price?

[ChristieP]

McKinney is also quite far away from Preston Road, and your commute will again be horrible. Traffic from McKinney to north Dallas is even worse than from Mesquite.

Did you look at anything in Garland, Farmers Branch, Carrollton, etc?

[ChristieP]

The drive from that street in McKinney to your work is 24 miles, and almost all of it is down a toll road. The tolls will be about $5 a DAY for the round trip. And, as I mentioned earlier, the traffic on those roads is VERY heavy during rush hours. You will be looking at a commute of at least 45 minutes!

I just did a search in your price range in Richardson, and it came up with 19 homes. Farmers Branch had 9 (several of which are closer to $1200), and Carrollton had 10. All of these communities are within 10 miles of your work, so you won't have a horrible commute.

[Ktran]

Thanks for all your help. I am looking on realtor.com and I do see quite a few properties but they are a bit old and the layout inside the house is cramped. Is there a particular division or neighborhood that are within 10 years old That I should be looking at in these cities? Sorry if I am being a pain. Thanks again.