Lakefront living in Dallas Suburbs? Flower Mound? Heath? (home, school district)

[New2TXpilotwife]

No, we do not have $1.5m laying around (I wish!), but we have been very fortunate in our careers so far. Spouse would only be commuting a few times a week, so he is not all that concerned about the time, only that it is less than 2 hours to Love Field. Ideally, I would live closer in so that my commute (to wherever I work) is less than 45 minutes. In Northern VA/DC Metro, my commute is 1- 1 1/2 hours morning and night, so pretty much anything is better than that.

Lakes in Virginia are natural beautiful lakes that are not all that susceptible to droughts (at least not the bigger ones), and although we do have a lot of snakes and other critters, we certainly do not have alligators. Is that really an issue on the north side of Dallas? How do they get there?

We have thought about private schools as well, but since there are so many great (non-waterfront) homes in great school districts, I haven't looked into it that much. Granted, after a few years (6-7) the kids have graduated and we will either still have a large mortgage for a great home in a great school districts with no school-aged kids, or a smaller mortgage in a great area with medium schools with no school-aged kids, but having paid the same amount of cash due to private schools.

[TheOverdog]

certainly do not have alligators. Is that really an issue on the north side of Dallas?

No.

[New2TXpilotwife]

Thanks. Another post mentioned alligators, which surprised me that they would come that far north or inland.

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by New2TXpilotwife

Thanks. Another post mentioned alligators, which surprised me that they would come that far north or inland.

Alligators ARE native to North Texas. While it's not Flordia, there are regular alligator sightings at the local lakes here. Just google "alligator + the name of the lake" and news stories will pop up. I googled Lake Lewisville and there were alligators seen there in 2015 (a 9-footer) and 2014 (a 4-6 footer).

Here are two news stories from last year where alligators were found close to downtown Dallas:
Look: Large alligator spotted on riverbank by police helicopter - UPI.com
https://www.google.com/amp/www.nbcdf...html%3Famp%3Dy

[HP48G]

DFW lakes are artificial reservoirs connected to the Trinity river system, so all that fauna can roam free in the drainage basin, creeks, lakes etc.

[TheOverdog]

I googled Lake Lewisville and there were alligators seen there in 2015 (a 9-footer) and 2014 (a 4-6 footer).

I mean I guess, but that's like saying 'google lake name + random dead body' and you might get results from later than 2015. I'll just say I've been going to the DFW area lakes for 17 years and have never seen an alligator, whereas I've been to lakes in the Houston area twice and New Orleans once and seen alligators in both.

I saw a plane crash on Lake Texoma once, but that doesn't mean I'd avoid buying lakefront property to avoid being crashed into.

So I really don't count them as a 'thing'.

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by TheOverdog

I mean I guess, but that's like saying 'google lake name + random dead body' and you might get results from later than 2015. I'll just say I've been going to the DFW area lakes for 17 years and have never seen an alligator, whereas I've been to lakes in the Houston area twice and New Orleans once and seen alligators in both.

I saw a plane crash on Lake Texoma once, but that doesn't mean I'd avoid buying lakefront property to avoid being crashed into.

So I really don't count them as a 'thing'.

I'm just saying, they are here. Alligator sightings always make the local news. OP asked whether they live this far north & inland and the answer is yes, they do.

That doesn't mean I avoid our local lakes or think about alligators or even snakes when I'm at a lake. We ski and swim at Lake Ray Hubbard a few times each year.

[jdallas]

Originally Posted by TheOverdog

I mean I guess, but that's like saying 'google lake name + random dead body' and you might get results from later than 2015.

Good point. In Lake Lewisville , I'd be far more concerned with dead bodies than alligators. That said, I'm roughly .2% concerned about alligators and .5% concerned about dead bodies in the lake so it's all relative. When I'm on the lake, I'm 90% more concerned about the behavior of the people than both alligators and dead bodies combined.

[EcoDeb]

If you want a boat, Lake Lewisville (aka Lake Dalla)is the Lake to be on.

Check out
Dallas Corinthian Yacht Club - Home

They can help you find the boat dock info!

[stan4]

Originally Posted by New2TXpilotwife

Thanks. Another post mentioned alligators, which surprised me that they would come that far north or inland.

Oh, they're here.
Absolutely.
They just aren't usually a problem.
Till they are.
Snakes, on the other hand...