Fort Worth Area 101 (Arlington, Allen, Mansfield: homes, neighborhoods, buy)

[pecosbill]

Hi,

I am heading to Fort Worth in a few days for a job interview. The position would be around the intersection of 35W and 20/820.
Don't know the area very much. We relocating we will be looking for housing in the 800 Kusd.
I have 3 kids elementary to High School.
We would be looking for a safe environment, great public schools, an "international" community ( we are orginaly from Europe...) a rather open minded community ( we don't go to church... no offense...), green community ? All within a 30 min (give or take ) from the office....
We can de defined as outdoor, laidback and foodies....

Any areas that you can point out would be great and I will do some further digging.

Many thanks
Pecosbill

[Campeador]

Originally Posted by pecosbill

Hi,

I am heading to Fort Worth in a few days for a job interview. The position would be around the intersection of 35W and 20/820.
Don't know the area very much. We relocating we will be looking for housing in the 800 Kusd.
I have 3 kids elementary to High School.
We would be looking for a safe environment, great public schools, an "international" community ( we are orginaly from Europe...) a rather open minded community ( we don't go to church... no offense...), green community ? All within a 30 min (give or take ) from the office....
We can de defined as outdoor, laidback and foodies....

Any areas that you can point out would be great and I will do some further digging.

Many thanks
Pecosbill

With that budget you can live just about anywhere you want. Based on the criteria you mention I'd suggest neighborhoods in FW, including Tanglewood, West Cliff, Berkeley Place, Mistletoe Heights and some areas near the cultural district (North of Camp Bowie).

IMO, the outdoors are severely lacking in N. Texas, but the "greenest" areas (most trees and w/ access to jogging/cycling trails) are the first few I mentioned above. Foodie areas include West 7th, Magnolia and Downtown. Further out and it's mostly franchises.

[ebuch]

I'd personally stay away from mistletoe area. Too close to a bad part of fort worth considering how expensive it is.

[LuvsFW]

Originally Posted by ebuch

I'd personally stay away from mistletoe area. Too close to a bad part of fort worth considering how expensive it is.

I'm not sure what bad part of FW you are referring to. Mistletoe has some beautiful historic homes...well worth the money, in my opinion.

[Gino'61]

We live in Southlake, but have come across two executives working for French pharmaceutical companies in Fort Worth. They mentioned Carroll ISD as a key element in their decision.
Pernaps something to consider although the drive is outside the 30 min radius that you would like.

[Squirl]

You will find people with whom you are simpatico when you find things you enjoy. I really don't think you will find an international community immediately unless you enroll your children in private schools or seek out cultural groups... it is unlikely neighborhoods will be your answer.

If I had the cash flow, I would buy a less expensive home in the $400-500K range in the Southwest Arlington area, or Lake Arlington area (where the schools are OK so if you had to change schools for one of the kids you would have a public option immediately-- very good elementary schools there too if you wanted to wait until later for private school) and send your children to private school (the Oakridge School would work). But that means about $40K (tuition and fees) annually for school for 3 kids unless, again, you wait until middle school to begin privates -- there are many excellent public elementary schools.

...Or drive longer than 30 minutes and look in Colleyville --where there are good schools -- for a home.


If good schools were not the top priority (#1 & #2 above) or you can supplement education in other ways, you might also compromise and move to Fort Worth proper, Aledo, Burleson or Mansfield and get "OK" schools. A home in Fort Worth that feeds into Paschal High (which is OK) School might work but you would want to send your children to private school at least for the middle school grades, if not on thru high school. Tanglewood Elementary (public school) is highly rated.

[ChristieP]

Originally Posted by Gino'61

We live in Southlake, but have come across two executives working for French pharmaceutical companies in Fort Worth. They mentioned Carroll ISD as a key element in their decision.
Pernaps something to consider although the drive is outside the 30 min radius that you would like.

There is absolutely no way that someone can commute from Southlake to south Fort Worth in 30 minutes. Even on a Sunday morning with no traffic, that drive still takes closer to 45 minutes, and with traffic, you are probably looking at an hour!

[pecosbill]

thanks all and happy Thanksgiving...
From Goggle Map potential future office to Southlake is about 40 min ( 26 miles) with no traffic.... probably doable if the area meets the family wishes...
Number 1 for us is safety and number 2 is school, an "international" community is something that will be of importance for us as well as "contemporary" housing is at all possible... Thanks again I will be looking at Southlake area and maybe go their for a visit when I come in a couple weeks.
Gino'61 if you can let me know your overall experience in living in Southlake that would be great... School, restaurant, sport, social life etc...
pecosbill

[NCtoTX2012]

Google Maps lies. Traffic along 35 into FW is usually bad and often terrible. I do it twice a week from Keller (well south of Southlake) and it almost always takes 45-50 mins

[ebuch]

Originally Posted by LuvsFW

I'm not sure what bad part of FW you are referring to. Mistletoe has some beautiful historic homes...well worth the money, in my opinion.

If you keep going west it's good but keep going east just a mile or so and your in a rougher area. Allen/Hemphill is not a place I would want to live near. Plus you have JPS and Baylor right there so you have the nutcases walking around.

I can't justify spending much money living near some bad areas. Plenty of burgarlies in that area as well.