home buying in Mckinney (Plano, Allen: new home, neighborhood, theatre)

[desigirl09]

Hello all,

We are looking to buy a new home in McKinney. We are indecisive about two communities. One located at McKinney city starting, on the borders of frisco, with prosper isd. It is very much into city, close to highway 299 and sam rayburn tollway. The other one is at the end of McKinney city, towards Melissa with melissa isd, just beside highway 75. The home with melissa isd is costing 340,000$ with all high end upgrades. The home with prosper isd is costing 355,000$ with very minimal basic upgrades.

So, which area would have better appreciation in next few years. please do share your opinion.

Thanks.

[WriterDude]

I'm interested in this question too. In McKinney it seems you can be associated with Frisco ISD, Prosper ISD, apparently the Melissa ISD, or the McKinney ISD? I'm not sure which would be superior for home appreciation, but I'd love any insight that people might have.

[Dad0118]

I'd be worried about Frisco ISD given their money / budgetary issues; outside of that all are good districts.

[WriterDude]

Originally Posted by Dad0118

I'd be worried about Frisco ISD given their money / budgetary issues; outside of that all are good districts.

Thank you! Do you think the money issues are due to something specific, or is it growing pains, or an institutional problem, or something else? Free-spending holiday parties? :-)

I'm very new to the area, and I've read so much discussion about tax increases (not just due to updated home value assessments) that I'm not sure how to read that.

[Dad0118]

Originally Posted by WriterDude

Thank you! Do you think the money issues are due to something specific, or is it growing pains, or an institutional problem, or something else? Free-spending holiday parties? :-)

I'm very new to the area, and I've read so much discussion about tax increases (not just due to updated home value assessments) that I'm not sure how to read that.

Growth offset by state funding that doesn't / will not keep up.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by Dad0118

Growth offset by state funding that doesn't / will not keep up.

Plus Frisco voted down a property tax increase that resulted in schools not opening as scheduled the following year.

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by WriterDude

Thank you! Do you think the money issues are due to something specific, or is it growing pains, or an institutional problem, or something else? Free-spending holiday parties? :-)

I'm very new to the area, and I've read so much discussion about tax increases (not just due to updated home value assessments) that I'm not sure how to read that.

It's either growing pains or an institutional problem....a little too early to tell. Frisco set up a "small neighborhood school" system (compared to the mega schools like Allen and Plano where there are 1200-1500 kids in one grade in one school come high school). While the small school system is a draw for the district, it's also incredibly expensive to staff - ie, 7 high school principals vs 1-3 in Allen and Plano. 7 sets of school counselors and football coaches and theatre directors etc.

Property values are rising and more properties are being built - and the district has a good base of tax paying commercial - but not enough to keep pace with the school expenses. I don't know all the details but several school openings were delayed or cancelled because the district couldn't afford to staff them. As pp noted, the taxpayers voted against an increase to help fund schools. I can certainly empathaize as Frisco home values (and therefore property taxes) have skyrocketed more than almost any other part of DFW in recent years. It's hard to vote for an increase when your tax bill is going up 10% every year at the current t tax rate.

That said, schools are the MAJOR draw for Frisco ISD and eventually the residents will need to pay if extreme overcrowding becomes an issue. I wouldn't be super concerned about voting down one tax increase but if the residents continue to not fund additional needs, it will become a problem.

[WriterDude]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

It's either growing pains or an institutional problem....a little too early to tell. Frisco set up a "small neighborhood school" system (compared to the mega schools like Allen and Plano where there are 1200-1500 kids in one grade in one school come high school). While the small school system is a draw for the district, it's also incredibly expensive to staff - ie, 7 high school principals vs 1-3 in Allen and Plano. 7 sets of school counselors and football coaches and theatre directors etc.

Wow, never saw it described in those terms, but the staffing costs make perfect sense. You'd think they would have restructured some of the positions so they could split coverage for the different schools, but I could see that becoming messy very quickly.

[Ralph_Kirk]

Originally Posted by desigirl09

Hello all,

We are looking to buy a new home in McKinney. We are indecisive about two communities. One located at McKinney city starting, on the borders of frisco, with prosper isd. It is very much into city, close to highway 299 and sam rayburn tollway. The other one is at the end of McKinney city, towards Melissa with melissa isd, just beside highway 75. The home with melissa isd is costing 340,000$ with all high end upgrades. The home with prosper isd is costing 355,000$ with very minimal basic upgrades.

So, which area would have better appreciation in next few years. please do share your opinion.

Thanks.

You will see the greater appreciation from the house on the Melissa end. Faster growth will continue northward along 75.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by Ralph_Kirk

You will see the greater appreciation from the house on the Melissa end. Faster growth will continue northward along 75.

You think so? I'd have thought the opposite. Please don't take offense, but what are you basing your statement on? I'm genuinely curious...as someone who lives on the 75 corridor.