What are some good, suburban, low cost of living areas in DFW? (Fort Worth: real estate, home)

[BongoBungo]

I've been working from home for many years and am looking at taking all my equity and moving somewhere with lower real estate values so I can get a larger home. I need fast, reliable Internet, and preferably access to decent shopping centers. Close access to good parks would be a plus. At least decent school districts. I need to be within reasonable driving distance of legacy/DNT, no more than an hour driving distance, as I do have in person meetings a few times a month.

I was looking at Melissa, but the lack of good and close grocery stores and restaurants is a major turn off. I was looking at the Denton area too, but much of that area seems rather run down.

[tcualum]

What is your budget and children's ages?

[calgirlinnc]

Originally Posted by BongoBungo

I've been working from home for many years and am looking at taking all my equity and moving somewhere with lower real estate values so I can get a larger home. I need fast, reliable Internet, and preferably access to decent shopping centers. Close access to good parks would be a plus. At least decent school districts. I need to be within reasonable driving distance of legacy/DNT, no more than an hour driving distance, as I do have in person meetings a few times a month.

I was looking at Melissa, but the lack of good and close grocery stores and restaurants is a major turn off. I was looking at the Denton area too, but much of that area seems rather run down.

What is your budget exactly?

The Alliance area of Ft. Worth feeds into Keller ISD but not Keller High. Those neighborhoods off Alliance Parkway are beautiful, and there is excellent shopping within minutes.

How about something feeding into Birdville HS? Would the area feeding into Argyle HS be appealing?

ETA: how about Trophy Club feeding into Byron Nelson HS?

[BongoBungo]

I'm looking to live below my means for my goal of financial independence, so am hoping to keep the price under $350k. I haven't looked much at the Fort Worth area and honestly don't know much about that side of the DFW metroplex. I'm certainly willing to consider it however. Newer construction is preferable, but I'm also willing to buy a fixer upper and renovate it myself.

[calgirlinnc]

Originally Posted by BongoBungo

I'm looking to live below my means for my goal of financial independence, so am hoping to keep the price under $350k. I haven't looked much at the Fort Worth area and honestly don't know much about that side of the DFW metroplex. I'm certainly willing to consider it however. Newer construction is preferable, but I'm also willing to buy a fixer upper and renovate it myself.

The area I'm thinking of is near Alliance Town Center, off of Heritage Trace Parkway. If I wanted newer, good shopping, and a good ISD but didn't care about the specific school...all under $350K, it would be at the top of my list.

Some home examples:


https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5...83795399_zpid/

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/9...83796890_zpid/


Maybe some of the agents on here could chime in on why that is a slow selling area.

For fixer uppers, there is a pretty older neighborhood that surrounds Iron Horse GC in NRH, but that's Richland HS and probably not a great area.

Granted, I don't know much about the east side of DFW to compare it to Allen or Plano or Frisco. That's one of the disadvantages of living here...it's just such a huge area.

[BongoBungo]

Originally Posted by calgirlinnc

The area I'm thinking of is near Alliance Town Center, off of Heritage Trace Parkway. If I wanted newer, good shopping, and a good ISD but didn't care about the specific school...all under $350K, it would be at the top of my list.

Some home examples:


https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5...83795399_zpid/

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/9...83796890_zpid/




Maybe some of the agents on here could chime in on why that is a slow selling area.

For fixer uppers, there is a pretty older neighborhood that surrounds Iron Horse GC in NRH, but that's Richland HS and probably not a great area.

Granted, I don't know much about the east side of DFW to compare it to Allen or Plano or Frisco. That's one of the disadvantages of living here...it's just such a huge area.

Wow at that price for that much square footage! I know nothing about that particular area, however. I may drive around and check it out. I'm also trying to get away from the awful crowds and traffic in the Plano/Frisco/McKinney area.

I'd like to stay away from NRH.

[HEBres21]

Originally Posted by BongoBungo

Wow at that price for that much square footage! I know nothing about that particular area, however. I may drive around and check it out. I'm also trying to get away from the awful crowds and traffic in the Plano/Frisco/McKinney area.

I'd like to stay away from NRH.

What's wrong with NRH?

[calgirlinnc]

Originally Posted by HEBres21

What's wrong with NRH?

NRH is a mixed bag. The area of NRH that is really nice is the part off Davis/N. Tarrant, adjacent to Keller and Colleyville and zoned to Keller HS. There are also some really nice areas zoned to Birdville HS. All of this area is really clean and nice, with trails and parks and good lighting at night. I think many people would be surprised to know that one at extreme end NRH is literally across the street from Colleyville and 1.5 miles to Southlake. (I think it would be hard to get in under 425K in that area).

The town is doing a lot with the library, and rec center. These are nice and new and clean areas, with a lot of planning and thought put into them.

However, the side of NRH that is out towards the highways is rundown and shabby. I would not want to live there if I could avoid it. Richland HS looks like a prison.

I sometimes wonder why the tip of NRH that juts into the Keller/Colleyville/Southlake triangle doesn't get rezoned into one of those cities; it would make more sense. But I suppose NRH would lose a lot of tax revenue that way.

[calgirlinnc]

Originally Posted by BongoBungo

Wow at that price for that much square footage! I know nothing about that particular area, however. I may drive around and check it out. I'm also trying to get away from the awful crowds and traffic in the Plano/Frisco/McKinney area.

I'd like to stay away from NRH.

We just drove through there on Saturday....it is so new and nice looking. The commercial buildings have the stone construction with tile roofs...I love that look. IDK if it would be too far from your work meetings though.

[michaeltx9412]

Originally Posted by calgirlinnc

The area I'm thinking of is near Alliance Town Center, off of Heritage Trace Parkway. If I wanted newer, good shopping, and a good ISD but didn't care about the specific school...all under $350K, it would be at the top of my list.

Some home examples:


https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5...83795399_zpid/

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/9...83796890_zpid/


Maybe some of the agents on here could chime in on why that is a slow selling area.

For fixer uppers, there is a pretty older neighborhood that surrounds Iron Horse GC in NRH, but that's Richland HS and probably not a great area.

Granted, I don't know much about the east side of DFW to compare it to Allen or Plano or Frisco. That's one of the disadvantages of living here...it's just such a huge area.

Forney, TX looks like a good place to live.