Why are Stonebridge home values falling? (Dallas, Plano: sale, rent, crime)

[lh_newbie]

Originally Posted by mogambo

So we need a 4300 sq ft or large home with a pool and preferably a golf course type view.

PET PEEVE ALERT!

You WANT a 4300 sq ft home with a pool and golf course view. No one NEEDS this much space and amenities.

Brian

[sskkc]

My kids have never had trouble at their schools and if they did they have been taught how to deal with them (bullies).

How nice for you. My daughter was physically attacked while standing 2 feet away from her teacher (who had sworn after the LAST incident that she'd be keeping an eye out for her) and in front of over 100 other students. After the 4th or 5 kick (judging by the bruises on her back) the teacher finally noticed, yelled out and the child ran away.

My child weighs 55 lbs. Her attacker weighs more than 80 lbs and (I've been told) waiting for an opening in special ed. She was screaming for help. This child has thrown heavy objects at her head from across the room. Unprovoked and unexpected. He runs up behind her and shoves her hard. I know that YOUR child would then get up and "deal with it" but my child had injuries to deal with first. What exactly would you suggest she do? Should she attack him right back, unexpectedly? The other child is a "special" child like your son - do you really think that's 1) appropriate and 2) that the staff wouldn't take action if a child like THAT were attacked? Stop watching so many movies.

And please stop posting sanctimonious cr*p like that.

Despite the movies, we all know that the children who are obviously mentally or physically handicapped are the last ones to be made fun of or be violently assaulted. It's the pretty, intelligent and smaller children that are victimized first -- in this case, by a child with a stunted IQ that should be in special ed, but is instead given access to innocent children like my daughter. His right to "privacy" is then given prevalence to my daughter's right to a safe environment. Again, the "special" takes precedence. I have no doubt that Scottish Rite, because of your other child, put you in the front of the line. The rest of us have to wait for an opening.

I have been proactive. Time and time again I've come up against roadblocks - the biggest one is the one I've mentioned again and again - the right to privacy for these "special" children. Because they have already been labeled, the staff & admin are quick to defend them. Not so much for MY child.

"Inappropriate language" ... someone called him a name??? Oh my. Your poor child. Imagine having to hear an inappropriate word on the school bus. You MUST advocate it - after all, you haven't removed him from that environment. Perhaps you should be more proactive and stop depending on others (as you posted) to watch out for your children.

[mogambo]

LH_Newbie,

You're right it is not "needed". But what I meant is we "need to find...." but didn't phrase it that way. But in reality it is not even a want it is "We can, so we will but let's be relatively frugal and buy something that is less than half of what we could afford".

We know all about want vs. need. We started 10 years ago with a $2,500 loan from a relative and now are millionaires more than once over. By god's grace, we are in this position where we can buy more and so we will. But glad you got your pet peeve in .

[TXNGL]

Originally Posted by mogambo

LH_Newbie,

You're right it is not "needed". But what I meant is we "need to find...." but didn't phrase it that way. But in reality it is not even a want it is "We can, so we will but let's be relatively frugal and buy something that is less than half of what we could afford".

We know all about want vs. need. We started 10 years ago with a $2,500 loan from a relative and now are millionaires more than once over. By god's grace, we are in this position where we can buy more and so we will. But glad you got your pet peeve in .

OK, in that case it goes back to the point of location. The best appreciation is going to be closer into Dallas. I just don't see that in places like Frisco and McKinney. And the more I have read about McKinney the last couple of days on the sites linked, it sounds like they're dealing with some major growing pains. I think you may have to choose between golf course views and good appreciation. JMO, and I'm not a realtor.

[lh_newbie]

Originally Posted by mogambo

LH_Newbie,

You're right it is not "needed". But what I meant is we "need to find...." but didn't phrase it that way. But in reality it is not even a want it is "We can, so we will but let's be relatively frugal and buy something that is less than half of what we could afford".

We know all about want vs. need. We started 10 years ago with a $2,500 loan from a relative and now are millionaires more than once over. By god's grace, we are in this position where we can buy more and so we will. But glad you got your pet peeve in .

Since money isn't really the deciding factor, why let resale value dictate anything related to decision making? Which area do YOU like better for your lifestyle? Which area has the amenities you and your family would take advantage of most?

If you spend 5 years in a home and you love it - does it matter if you make $50K less on the home as compared to living in a home for 5 years that you just thought was nice, but didn't love - all to make a few extra dollars on a home?

If I were in this situation, I would compare the schools, amenities, etc and let that dictate my decision. If you're a multi-millionaire, differences in appreciation of 3-5% should be irrelevant if you're buying half the home that you can afford. Let the lifestyle you're after dictate the decision if money isn't the issue.

That's just my perspective. Hope having a different view helps make the decision easier.

Brian

[TurtleCreek80]

Good points, Brian. However, if OP wants a good education for his kids, he should remain in Plano or choose very carefully in Frisco. McKinney and Allen should not be considered.

[Big G]

I was in a similar position to mogambo a few years back. We were looking at a particular builder that was offering identical floorplans in Plano and in Prosper, with a price difference of $200K-$300K.

We ended up paying the premium to remain in Plano and the Plano ISD. We set aside considerations of price appreciation and so on. That was the house we wanted in the location we wanted. End of story.

[Big G]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

Good points, Brian. However, if OP wants a good education for his kids, he should remain in Plano or choose very carefully in Frisco. McKinney and Allen should not be considered.

My 2 cents - Between the two, I would much rather be in Allen ISD than in Frisco ISD.

[catluvr]

About McKinney...

You need to be aware that on the TEA website for schools in trouble, McKinney HS (McKinney ISD) received a AU (academically unacceptable) for 2009.

I think the TAKS are highly overrated, but please keep in mind with this score and with all the foreclosures, you will see the homevalues plummet.

Beware of McKinney right now. JMO.

[5stones]

If you have the means as it seems you do.... I'd stay in Plano.

I saw commute was not an issue...you might look in the other direction at Southlake.