Why are all of the condos in the 75243 area so cheap? (Dallas: section 8, for sale)

[tigergirl87]

Can someone who knows this area elaborate? I am looking for a condo or townhome. I currently live near downtown Plano. The apt I live in is very very old and due to the location there are some transients, but I have never been robbed or had anything stolen. I am tired of apartment life and want a small home. I am a city worker so my income is $40,000 and as you know in Plano that won't get you very much. Although my salary is meager I managed to save up $50,000 in my bank account due to being frugal.

I was looking at different areas that won't be a huge commute but have affordable homes and happened to see this zipcode in Dallas. I see there are several places for sale. The inside of the condos looks nice but i am wondering why so many of them are so cheap.

Can anyone provide me any information about this particular area?

https://www.zillow.com/homes/75243_rb/

[tmtex]

That area or parts of it is the hood. Anything off of Forest lane

[ChristieP]

The condo/apartment complexes in that area are notoriously high crime, and they have been this way for many years.

[10-23]

I didn't think that the area north off Walnut Street, between Audelia and Abrams was the hood. I lived in that area many years ago and it was a very good area. I drove through it fairly recently (October 2020) and it's aged, but didn't seem that bad. The area borders Richardson, which is very well policed.

[DallasComet]

Originally Posted by tigergirl87

Can someone who knows this area elaborate? I am looking for a condo or townhome. I currently live near downtown Plano. The apt I live in is very very old and due to the location there are some transients, but I have never been robbed or had anything stolen. I am tired of apartment life and want a small home. I am a city worker so my income is $40,000 and as you know in Plano that won't get you very much. Although my salary is meager I managed to save up $50,000 in my bank account due to being frugal.

I was looking at different areas that won't be a huge commute but have affordable homes and happened to see this zipcode in Dallas. I see there are several places for sale. The inside of the condos looks nice but i am wondering why so many of them are so cheap.

Can anyone provide me any information about this particular area?

https://www.zillow.com/homes/75243_rb/

A lot of the condos in that area are rented out to section 8 tenants. I'd stay away from anything near Richland College along Walnut. Still a high crime area. The Skillman/Audelia corridor north of LBJ isn't much better. Neither is anything along Forest. In this zipcode I think your best bet is going to be the Coppertowne area. Probably better off looking in Richardson proper if you can.

[tmtex]

Originally Posted by 10-23

I didn't think that the area north off Walnut Street, between Audelia and Abrams was the hood. I lived in that area many years ago and it was a very good area. I drove through it fairly recently (October 2020) and it's aged, but didn't seem that bad. The area borders Richardson, which is very well policed.

I hung out in that area in the late 80's early 90's and it was bad, worse today

[tigergirl87]

Originally Posted by tmtex

I hung out in that area in the late 80's early 90's and it was bad, worse today

Yikes!

[WorldKlas]

I lived in that area, near Walnut Hill and Skillman in 1984 for a year. It was fine back then, and even then the prices for condos and homes were significantly lower than most other areas in Richardson ISD. Sad to read the comments...

OP, I commend you for your efforts to save and buy a place. I’d noticed some reasonably priced condos in Addison from time to time. It’s hard! Best of luck.

[jgn2013]

I grew up in 75231 and 75243.

The area was worse back then (mid 90's through mid 00's) than it is now. Where we see LA Fitness, Picasso's etc., on one side and a DART station, Sprouts etc. on the other side of Skillman......it used to be Eckerd, a closed down Baskin Robbins, a Whole Foods store that closed down (west side of the street) and then a bunch of crime-ridden apartments on the other side (east side of the street).

I imagine there's still crime but the area has cleaned up quite a bit. There's a slow push coming from the south end of Skillman and it's moving north. They aren't "there" yet, but it looks miles better than it did when I was a kid.

Danger is relative though. For some people, I'd say the area is much too hot for them. Someone that grew up in the Queensbridge projects, Cabrini Green or Third Ward would laugh at the idea that 75243 is dangerous. Probably good to drive around at different times of the day and try to get a feel for it as best you can.

[10-23]

Originally Posted by tmtex

I hung out in that area in the late 80's early 90's and it was bad, worse today

I lived in Richland Hills 86-89 and it was fine. Nice condo.


My first apartment in Dallas was 10000 Walnut Street in 1980. It was fine then, looks a little rough now.


The area has dramatically changed since way back then. Poor little Buckingham is gone.