Possibly taking a job in Mesquite--where to live? (Dallas, Garland: to rent, townhouse)

[kierk76]

Hi all,

There's a decent chance I'll be taking a job in Mesquite. Based on my research, Mesquite has some OK to some not OK places to live. Although, I imagine there are some neighborhoods that are quite nice. We are a family of four and we will probably send our kids to a Christian elementary school or parish school eventually.

I am OK with commuting (30 to 40 min. each way) and we have a housing budget between $250,000 to $300,000. With that budget, it looks like Richardson would be a good place and some parts of Garland. We are also willing to rent the first year. We could probably manage up to $1800/month for a house or townhouse.

I'd love to get some advice from the people on this forum. Thanks!

[TurtleCreek80]

Mesquite is big. Assuming your job is closer to I-30 and you are considering private school, I would look in the neighborhoods directly east of White Rock Lake in Dallas. Zip codes are 75218 and 75228. Lochwood, Old Lake Highlands, Little Forest Hills are all neighborhoods that could work. You're probably looking at 15 minute commute. Homes zoned to Hexter Elem will also offer you a public option for K-5.

Richardson is good but much further away. If you thought you wanted to use public schools, I'd recommend Lake Highlands, which is a neighborhood in northeast Dallas that is in Richardson schools. There are houses in your price range just to the northeast of Audelia & Northwest Hwy.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

Mesquite is big. Assuming your job is closer to I-30 and you are considering private school, I would look in the neighborhoods directly east of White Rock Lake in Dallas. Zip codes are 75218 and 75228. Lochwood, Old Lake Highlands, Little Forest Hills are all neighborhoods that could work. You're probably looking at 15 minute commute. Homes zoned to Hexter Elem will also offer you a public option for K-5.

Richardson is good but much further away. If you thought you wanted to use public schools, I'd recommend Lake Highlands, which is a neighborhood in northeast Dallas that is in Richardson schools. There are houses in your price range just to the northeast of Audelia & Northwest Hwy.

I agree. Richardson to Mesquite on 635 would seriously suck. You'd also have the sun in your eyes on your commute both ways since you'd be going east/southeast in the morning and west/northwest in the afternoon. You'd hate life in winter.

[biafra4life]

Originally Posted by kierk76

Hi all,

There's a decent chance I'll be taking a job in Mesquite. Based on my research, Mesquite has some OK to some not OK places to live. Although, I imagine there are some neighborhoods that are quite nice. We are a family of four and we will probably send our kids to a Christian elementary school or parish school eventually.

I am OK with commuting (30 to 40 min. each way) and we have a housing budget between $250,000 to $300,000. With that budget, it looks like Richardson would be a good place and some parts of Garland. We are also willing to rent the first year. We could probably manage up to $1800/month for a house or townhouse.

I'd love to get some advice from the people on this forum. Thanks!

What about Rockwall and Forney? They should fit your budget and commute times. Also Sachse, and Rowlett might work too.

[clickbear]

If you want to be in Richardson ISD and have the best commute, look at the Lake Highlands area. The reverse commute is usually a breeze as I took it for 10 years. Since 635 winds around the sun doesn't create that much of an issue for that long. On days where 635 has a random gridlock from Mesquite to back home, there are some back ways to take through Gus Thomasson/Shiloh or Northwest Dr to Northwest Hwy.

There are some good choices for private schools in the Lake Highlands area of Dallas as well for primary/elementary age students. If you are wanting to live in Mesquite the best two viable private school options are St. Pius X and Dallas Christian.

[ChristieP]

Rockwall and Forney would be my two recommendations, with Rockwall as the #1 pick. Both have excellent public schools, and I think Rockwall also has a parish school. I give Rockwall the nod for better quality of life and more retail/restaurants than Forney. If you could find an older home, Sunnyvale might also work. Most of the newer homes there are well out of your price range.

No way would I commute from Richardson to Mesquite every day. As others have said, you would be stuck facing the sun both ways, and either taking a maze of surface streets or 635.

[BigDGeek]

I think Rockwall is a good bet for the OP as well; my only concern would be the I-30 bridge over the lake. I hear traffic on it is horrifying.

[Aceraceae]

Originally Posted by BigDGeek

I think Rockwall is a good bet for the OP as well; my only concern would be the I-30 bridge over the lake. I hear traffic on it is horrifying.

Drive through Heath to get to Mesquite. No bridge. I was going to say Rockwall or Forney.

[ChristieP]

The traffic on the I30 bridge can be heavy, but it's not "horrifying" at all. The bridge is 3 lanes in both directions, and there are alternative routes.

[kierk76]

Thanks everyone for the recommendations so far.

My wife will be looking for a job once we move and, given what she does, there's a decent chance she'll be working in or near downtown Dallas or up in University Park. I'd like to find a neighborhood that is in shorter commuting distance to these areas (my wife doesn't like to drive much), but not terribly far away from Mesquite either. It looks like the area just east of White Rock Lake would be a good bet.