Need advice for house-hunting/good realtor in DFW area.

[bencronin04]

Originally Posted by Aceraceae

Where do people buy basic items out there? Denton?

There at some restaurants and stores out there. 380 is starting to get a lot more major construction as well. We go by these developments on the way to our lake house and the difference 15 years has made out there is almost unbelievable.

[Aceraceae]

Originally Posted by bencronin04

There at some restaurants and stores out there. 380 is starting to get a lot more major construction as well. We go by these developments on the way to our lake house and the difference 15 years has made out there is almost unbelievable.

Been a long time since I've been past the Tollway on 380.

[bencronin04]

There's also a Walmart SuperCenter just outside of Providence.

[mre0609]

I'm confused as to why everyone keeps saying that there aren't many houses for sale in that price range? I searched on MLS page and over 2000 homes came up under 130k in the DFW area. I'm only looking for a 2br/1ba. Anything more would be a bonus.

[JTC Mom]

There are homes in your price range, yes. Most of them will be either in exurbs that are far from many job centers, may require a lot of work, or may be in a less desirable area. I'm sure you will find something, but I think the reaction you are getting is based on other people's experiences of what housing costs a little closer in, closer to job centers or in better school districts. Good luck!

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Use google street view on these cheap houses and see if you like the surroundings.

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by mre0609

I'm confused as to why everyone keeps saying that there aren't many houses for sale in that price range? I searched on MLS page and over 2000 homes came up under 130k in the DFW area. I'm only looking for a 2br/1ba. Anything more would be a bonus.

Where are they? Give us zip codes. I bet we can toss half of them out for safety, schools, or extreme commuting conditions.

I just did a search and got 1500 results. Here's a rundown of the top 10:

1. Unsafe, bad schools. (South Oak Cliff)
2. Condo, not a house
3. Condo, not a house
4. Garland, appears to be a short sell / foreclosure (as is, no repairs), but I did previously say Garland is probably the best place to start looking
5. Garland again.
6. Grand Prairie- bad schools but location looks ok
7. Anna - well over a 90 minute drive in rush hour into downtown/ north Dallas jobs
8. Sketchy East Dallas. Bad schools. Double whammy.
9. Arlington w Mansfield schools. Ok option if you work on FW side of metroplex
10. Garland

So, 10 choices and 6 were ruled out without even looking at pictures / condition/ amenities. That is what you're up against but if you focus your search on Garland and a few other areas you can be successful.

[loves2read]

Quantity doesn't mean desirable--just more chaff to cloud the process...

[KeyToFrisco]

It will be a challenge in that price range, but it's do-able. You're going to be looking at an older, fixer-upper type of home, or something further out. Did you say you're looking for a job? Look into Frisco, there are a bunch of new employers coming in and it's been named one of the best places to find a job. 20 minute drive from Savannah, about 30 from Providence or Paloma Creek. I live out this way and shop near my office in Frisco. Walmart is the closest, and not my favorite, but the 380 corridor is about to boom, so this won't be the case for more than another year and a half or so.

It's getting harder to find homes near $100K due to the competetive market we've seen. Denton is another good option, but I'd say only if you work in or north of Lewisville since major construction on I35 is just starting. Providence will have several options in that price range. Savannah is at the point where that will either buy you the smallest plan or a foreclosure, which are rare anymore. It's an easy commute to Denton (where there are some major employers) and not awful from somewhere like Frisco or McKinney. I whouldn't commute there from downtown Dallas. It may not look so bad on a map, but there is a huge lake between Lewisville and Frisco/Little Elm, so roadways are limited.

Like others mentioned, prices now won't be the same as prices a year from now. Market conditions are constantly changing, and prices will change with them. The competition here is likely to continue pushing prices up until something gives- either an influx of new construction, dramatic unforseen event, etc.