Moving to Farmers Branch (Dallas, Addison: renters, new home, neighborhoods)

[vailbaby]

My husband works there. Of course it would have been ideal to move there. Unfortunately all I heard was how horrible the schools were. He has a couple of colleagues that live there and put their kids in private schools. I have too many children to afford that. So we ended up in the burbs.

[Aggielina]

I have family who live there and who have their kids (white, BTW) in CFBISD schools. They seem to like it. Homes in their neighborhood by Brookhaven Golf Club are being torn down and replaced with McMansions. Their elementary aged child goes to dual language Stark Elementary. I can't speak to the rigor of CFBISD academics, but both kids are doing well and the older one is in one of the academies at Turner. They are also well-rounded kids.

I think for the money you could do much worse! And the location is awesome.

[Gone Again]

Originally Posted by mqmercado

I am looking at Farmers Branch to purchase a home. What are peoples impression of Farmers Branch? It seems to be an older middle class community. Is there potential for revitalization in the city? Is it a good city to raise a family?

I grew up there, and once I left home, I lived in the area for a long time.

My impressions are the FB really over hypes itself. It's more of a bedroom community, that doesn't have a whole heck of a lot to offer. That is, you'll be driving elsewhere for most things. On the other hand, some of the schools rank highly, although I don't know who does the ranking and how accurate it is.

FB is now trying to improve their image. To that end, a person I went to school with is now building the most hideous McMansions. To do so, they are razing houses to do so. some of those houses need to go, but many of them are nice homes in good repair, they just don't fit the image.

The other thing is that some how FB can't keep grocery stores. Where once there was an Albertsons and a Kroger, now there's a Wal-Mart neighborhood market (ugh) and a Fiesta (I actually kinda' like Fiesta, but I know many don't)

Going back there occasionally to see my old stomping grounds, I realize what a weird town FB is. Like I said, it's a bedroom community. It has some restaurants, some little shops, but still, as it was when I lived there, you'll have to go elsewhere for many things. Also, in spite of attempts at improving and revitalizing things, FB has become more run down than I remember, so I'm not sure what's going on there.

We looked at houses there when we bought our home. The prices were more than we were willing to pay to live there. We found many places in Dallas where you could get more for your money.

I can't recommend it.

[Gone Again]

Originally Posted by Aggielina

I have family who live there and who have their kids (white, BTW) in CFBISD schools. They seem to like it. Homes in their neighborhood by Brookhaven Golf Club are being torn down and replaced with McMansions. Their elementary aged child goes to dual language Stark Elementary. I can't speak to the rigor of CFBISD academics, but both kids are doing well and the older one is in one of the academies at Turner. They are also well-rounded kids.

I think for the money you could do much worse! And the location is awesome.

I didn't know they were hitting the Brookhaven area. That's a shame, some of the most gorgeous homes in FB are in Brookhaven. Todd Bonneau is tearing down perfectly good homes and replacing them with trendy eyesores.

[Gone Again]

A brief addendum to my previous comments.

Just a little while ago, my spouse was looking for houses, and happened to look at some in FB. We were both shocked at what a given amount will buy there. For X amount, a person can buy something bigger and nicer in other areas of DFW. The houses we saw were small and run down, and going for 200,000 to 250,000 or more.

FB has some powerful kool-aid.

[mqmercado]

Thank you all for your comments and opinions!

[Privsch]

Any further thoughts on Mercer Crossing Community in farmers Branch? Seems like FB is really getting revitilized?

[Privsch]

Any thoughts on FB in general is welcome. As some of you mentioned there is a lot of tear down construction around Brookhaven. Do you think there is scope there for good future appreciation given that the schools are not too strong.

Would there be a shift of people pricing out of Preston Hollow moving in to this community?

Again any thought abt Farmers Branch in general is appreciated.

Thanks

[NTXPerson]

I can't give you any insight on whether people would migrate out of Preston Hollow into Farmers Branch. However, you can get more house for your dollar in FB even though it's right next to Dallas.

A family member's home has increased in value by $100,000 in four years. Their home is located in the neighborhood surrounded by Webb Chapel, Marsh, 635, and Valley View.

No, Carrollton/Farmers Branch ISD isn't considered a top district like Frisco and Plano, but it's not bad either. CFBISD and Mckinney ISD received the same score by the TEA this year for comparison.

Farmers Branch is an interesting city because it has been able to maintain it's small city feel even though it is surrounded by large cities. Because they are still small enough, events like 4th of July, Christmas, Halloween, etc. are still celebrated city-wide. They have a great police department and there is low crime. The city is just recently seeing a lot of growth with Mercer Crossing and the restaurant park. There are plans to redevelop that whole area at Valley View and 35 and make it the hub of the city.

I feel like Farmers Branch has been given a poor reputation because it's older, primarily houses middle-class residents, and there was a racist city council a few years back. However, it is actually a great city that cares about it's residents. The racist city council is no longer there.

[Privsch]

Thanks!