Couple in 30s - relocating to Southlake area (Dallas, Grapevine: big home, neighborhoods)

[wiseguy67]

Hello all -

Looking for some help and advise here. I got a new job in Southlake so we are planning to move in that area. Wife and I are in 30s and planning to have kids in the near future. Looking for a house with a 4-5 year time horizon (not sure if my work will move me after that), so school districts are not that important yet.

We really like the charm look feel (modern on the inside) similar to M street houses - not the suburb cookie cutter style. Not looking for a 4000 sq ft house with a pool by any means (2500-3000 is more than enough for us). Neighborhood with trails and area to walk around restaurants will be great (we are currently in uptown Dallas). We browsed through Southlake, Westlake, Keller, Trophy Club but nothing has clicked just yet. The closest thing we liked were the Darling Homes in Southlake (Verandas at Southlake in Southlake, Texas - Darling Homes), however the average age of neighbors is ~55 there. We have never lived in an older neighborhood and certainly not opposed to it but wondering if anybody had any guidance for us.

Thanks very much

[Allison81]

What is your budget?

[wiseguy67]

lower the better but range between ($500-$700k)

[ChristieP]

With that price range, look at the older homes just east of downtown in Grapevine. You could get a very cute, completely redone one and probably still have money left! It is a lot like the M Streets, and most of the houses are an easy walk to Main Street.

Grapevine also has a 26 mile park and trail system. http://grapevinetexas.gov/index.aspx?nid=330
The Rec, the brand new community recreation center, is scheduled to open in May.

All of those other suburbs are the typical "cookie cutter" homes. Westlake is way out of your price range.

[wiseguy67]

Thanks much. We will take a look.

[RonnieinDallas]

I'm not far from 30, and at this point in my life I'd feel totally out of place in Southlake. I grew up in Colleyville, and the houses in both towns just don't interest me (even if I had the budget). You'd be surprised at how many empty nesters in their 50's and up live in those big homes all alone. Too big, too much maintenance, and too expensive. It just seems wasteful, but to each their own.

You won't really find anything like the M streets around NE Tarrant county. Yes, there are "older" homes scattered around, but they aren't as desirable or sought after around there, and I'd imagine they're hard to sell, unless they're sitting on a big lot.

[4Movingeast]

Ronnie summed it up nicely. The one area of older houses in Colleyville looks more like Caruth Terrace than M Streets (neighborhood Starting at Baseball fields-to Church St). Houses are small but lots are fairly good sized and that's why you are starting to see tear downs. Colleyville was basically built out frantically in the 80s and 90s and you can tell by the housing stock. We like it here a lot but we have children. And yes, there are many original owners in Colleyville, so many that to keep the elementary schools occupied they opened enrollment in less-densely populated areas to Keller ISD zoned/ Colleyville address neighborhoods. I wish I had a good suggestion for you, but with the job being in Southlake it's going to be a challenge finding what you are looking for style wise, although there will be nice homes in your price range in all the surrounding areas. Do what we did- buy low and renovate!