Newish home with 350k budget (Dallas, Plano: 2015, appliances, buying a home)

[Cali_Lela_Marie79]

I’m requesting your suggestions in buying a home this year in the Dallas suburbs. Husband works in Coppell I work in East Plano. Our budget is 350k. We need at least 3 bed. We would like something newish as Neither of us are handy. Good schools are a priority as well as a diverse community of people.
Thanks.

[mastershake575]

Wylie highschool area. City would be Wylie and parts of both Sache and Murphy. Top 5% highschool in the nation

Most houses are in the 2002-2015 range. A good chunk of the house would be in your price range and decently close to the East plano job, Coppell drive you will definitely want to try to beat rush hour if you can

In terms of house age I wouldn't stress the year. Most modern houses (especially cookie cutter neighbhorhoods) the materials are cheap and the houses where built quick. I would rather have a 1960s house that's been recently remodeled then have a 2005 era house that hasn't been touched since the day it was sold

[biafra4life]

I live in Wylie but I think there are better locations considering both job locations. Richardson in the 75082 zip code is closer but the budget will be tighter. Worth a look. Possibly north Carrollton as well as parts of castle hills might work as well.

[mastershake575]

75082 is good but 70% of it will be too old, other 15% pushing his budget, and the final 15% literally bordering Murphy which is a Wylie high feeder regardless

The whole newer build is gonna be an issue if your trying to live in between both jobs (Richardson, Dallas, farmer branch are almost all older areas).

Your best bet regardless is live closer to one job and the other suck it up drive wise (most aren't fans of trying to split the commute in half, it's not as practical as it sounds )

[biafra4life]

Originally Posted by mastershake575

75082 is good but 70% of it will be too old, other 15% pushing his budget, and the final 15% literally bordering Murphy which is a Wylie high feeder regardless

The whole newer build is gonna be an issue if your trying to live in between both jobs (Richardson, Dallas, farmer branch are almost all older areas).

Your best bet regardless is live closer to one job and the other suck it up drive wise (most aren't fans of trying to split the commute in half, it's not as practical as it sounds )

Yeah agree on the splitting commute in half being difficult
A better idea would be to live closer to the spouse who deals with the children more. Make it more convenient for that spouse to get home quickly if kids need him/her. The other parent would just have to take one for the team.

If that parent works in coppell, then I would look in Las Colinas
If the parent works in East Plano, then Murphy would be first, then Sachse then Wylie

[wheelsup]

FWIW we bought a 2003 home in 2008. Starting last year things have started going...needed new HVAC unitS (plural, ouch!), hot water heater is on its last legs judging by my neighbors, and roofs are starting to get replaced (CertainTeed shingles FTW). Builder grade appliances were replaced a few years ago, new flooring done three years ago as the builder grade carpet was honestly crappy even in 2008. Builder grade outlets were replaced because they yellowed, switches started becoming loose and arcing, even our back door to our porch is rotting and will need to be replaced.

The whole point of this is, you mentioned these "newer" homes...IMO they are built like crap with low end materials (even the more expensive ones; we toured a model in the mid 400's around me which is quite expensive for this area of NC) etc.

My next house I want to be older and NOT updated...I want to update how I want, using quality materials!

And if you become a homeowner, you absolutely need to become handy! The stuff is not difficult, YouTube is a great tool.

[stan4]

Youtube can teach you a lot.

[WorldKlas]

Look in Euless north of 183.

[Cali_Lela_Marie79]

Thank you everyone. Wylie has been on our radar for schools. I guess my husband will have suck it up and commute. I will check out the other areas too. What about Sachse/garland /Rowlett ? It’s just a bit closer to the highway, but I guess schools are the problem.
Regarding the newer badly built houses, are any builders better than others?

[mastershake575]

Originally Posted by Cali_Lela_Marie79

Sachse/garland /Rowlett ? It’s just a bit closer to the highway, but I guess schools are the problem.

The portion of Sache that's in collin county is the portion you'll want (you'll get the wylie high feeder and pay the much cheaper collin county taxes versus the more expensive dallas county taxes).

Schools in most of Garland/Rowlett will be a signifcant downgrade compared to Collin county portion of Sache, Wylie, and Murphy