There are a grand total of five homes in North Dallas / Plano / Addison / Richardson that are < 20 years, < 1,600 sqft

[CalTex Ranger]

Originally Posted by JCHouseHunter

And currently on the market

Guess I'll just leave town then

There has been ZERO demand in the north Dallas area this MILLENIUM for a starter home that is modest size? EVERY single builder needs to make a 3,000 sq ft McMansion for half a million?

Never seen anything like it

That 20 year limit is remarkably ill-informed. I’d search pre 90’s and rehabbed or built between 2008-2012.

The older ones will actually have had most of the mechanicals replaced, they’ll have larger trees and lower cooling bills. But you don’t want to use logic - you just want someone to owe you a house that is exactly what you want and where you want.

[UnfairPark]

Just buy an older one at 10-20 minutes drive from Dallas and in a good school district for remodel. These are the nice neighborhoods where you’ll see remodel boom in few years. In older neighborhoods you’ll get smaller homes on bigger lots with mature trees.

[HP48G]

Dunno where OP is looking or if she has a realtor, but there is new construction at smaller size ( 2,000 sq ft ) in the northern suburbs.

[elan]

Originally Posted by JCHouseHunter

And currently on the market

Guess I'll just leave town then

There has been ZERO demand in the north Dallas area this MILLENIUM for a starter home that is modest size? EVERY single builder needs to make a 3,000 sq ft McMansion for half a million?

Never seen anything like it

There are small houses in places like East Dallas (Little Forrest Hills) and North Oak Cliff. They are older homes, but many have been completely redone. Not all, but many are adorable. If you have a new roof, new air, new wiring, new plumbing and so on, one doesn't need a brand new home. Do you have to be in North Dallas?

[nsumner]

Originally Posted by JCHouseHunter

And currently on the market

Guess I'll just leave town then

There has been ZERO demand in the north Dallas area this MILLENIUM for a starter home that is modest size? EVERY single builder needs to make a 3,000 sq ft McMansion for half a million?

Never seen anything like it

If you add Allen, your search goes up to 12, add McKinney and it jumps to 98.

It's not that there are no homes, they're just not on the market.

Naima

[Rakin]

Yes.... and I want a $100,000 house in the Park Cities just like my parents could buy back in 1968.

[the_potion_darling]

We wanted a small home, too but settled on 2,300 SQ FT. If you don't plan to live and die in this area, consider resell down the line. The majority of people moving here are not looking for a small home. People come here because they can get a huge house for a fraction of the price of other major metros. Good luck!

[calgirlinnc]

Originally Posted by UnfairPark

Just buy an older one at 10-20 minutes drive from Dallas and in a good school district for remodel. These are the nice neighborhoods where you’ll see remodel boom in few years. In older neighborhoods you’ll get smaller homes on bigger lots with mature trees.

This is good advice, if you can afford the remodel. Our neighborhood was built mostly in the 1990s--all custom built on larger lots with huge old trees. The original owners are leaving and younger families are coming in and remodeling. New windows, front doors, kitchens, floors, bathrooms, pools--you name it, it is being remodeled. If you find something with good bones, a good remodel completely eliminates the 90's look.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

There are a number like my house, 13 y/o and 1,550 sq ft. Just not close in. I am in Little Elm but Frisco ISD.

[Bp25]

Square footage is usually higher in Texas because we spend a lot of time indoors due to extreme weather and lack of outdoor activity. I bet the NY or CA people don't stay all day indoors for the weekends but we frequently do.