Utility Costs in M Streets (Dallas, Mesquite: how much, house, neighborhood)

[fisher33]

Hi again! As most of you know, we're moving to Dallas for a year and now I'm trying to get a feel for how much utilities typically cost (including cable & lawn care). The area is in the M Streets; if that helps.

Thank you!

[Grainraiser]

Originally Posted by fisher33

Hi again! As most of you know, we're moving to Dallas for a year and now I'm trying to get a feel for how much utilities typically cost (including cable & lawn care). The area is in the M Streets; if that helps.

Thank you!

Alot will depend on the size of the house and lot. Kinda hard to give you any ballpark figure without knowing this information. Cable prices depend on what channels you select. I have Directv and pay around $68 for the upgraded basic package connected to 3 TV's.

[fisher33]

thanks for replying!
the house is a three bedroom, 1 bath. about 1700 sq. ft.
the lot size is 7250 sq. ft.
i talked to the owner a little earlier and he said the cable runs him a little over $130ish a month b/c he has high speed dsl internet and digital cable. so i'm sure we could save some there.

does that help some?

[Grainraiser]

I live in Mesquite which is a burb of Dallas. My house is a 2,200 two story home with electric A/C and natural gas heating. I am sure we will have the same utility company. My wife is a stay at home mom and the electric is bill runs about $100-$150 a month except during the summer. My summer bill runs between $350-$475 a month during the hottest parts of the summer. Gas runs around $80-$125 during majority of the year. During the winter it gets up about $250. My phone and highspeed cable is $80 a month. I don't have lawn service but I would guess it will run around $40 a week during the summer months (active grass growing season). My water bill typically runs about $60 a month. I hope this helps.

[fisher33]

It does help A LOT!! Thank you so much! This about what we were expecting. We'll definitely have to try to run the fans during the summer, $475 is a lot for air conditioning! We're from Charleston and our summers are hot, but I bet I don't know what hot is yet...haha. Thanks so much for the help!

[pepper131]

It's always hard to say, but you have a couple of things in your favor with this house - it faces north, it's one story and it's white, so hopefully the summer elec (a/c) won't be so bad. It could range from $150-400...depending on how cold you keep the house, insulation, etc.

We have a brick, one story, faces north, 2100 sq ft house and the highest our summer elec was close to $200 at the hottest time. I keep it at 80 during the day and turn it down to around 73 at night to sleep.

[pepper131]

...and the guy who cuts our grass charges us $30/week - we usually get it cut every other week when it needs it most. And weekly for a month or two out of the year.

[fisher33]

Thanks Pepper - always so helpful! I'm still nervous about the air...I like it cold!! haha. But I think as long as we stay under/near $1900-2000, we should be fine and I definitely think that's doable. I'm so happy we're actually getting this house!

[Grainraiser]

MStreet has alot of mature trees so hopefully your electric bill will be smaller than mines. I live in a cookie cutter neighborhood where the developers take out every tree in site. Texas summers are brutal but you will adjust I am sure. Goodluck on the move.

[fisher33]

Thank you grainraiser - i really appreciate it! this house is right under some trees, so hopefully we'll see the benefits of that! we'll be moving right in the middle of summer; but it will be okay. thanks again for all the advice!