Needing some guidance....relocating. (Dallas, Fort Worth: for sale, crime rate, houses)

[Presto9977]

Hi my soon to be neighbors . We will be relocating to Dallas/Ft. Worth in a couple of months. We did visit last month to Flower Mound, South Lake areas and even checked out houses in the Frisco area. Here is the issue: We love the Southlake area but the taxes are just too steep, we have 2 elementary aged kids and want decent schools, but willing to go private. Everyone we talked to says to stay North of DFW, so we havent really considered south....does anyone HIGHLY recommend any particular area south? We want a nice house with at least an acre or 2... must be a safe neighborhood and family friendly, close to shopping and all the other amenities. House costs we are looking at approx....$400-500. How is the crime rate of Burleson and Mansfield....went on one website and said Burleson was a "B" as far as crime. We did see one house that was between Burleson and Mansfield....but don't know the area...We are coming from Southern California but grew up in rural areas of New England. Are there areas to stay way away from?

I must say, everyone in Texas was extremely nice and so easy going!! So much different then here is SoCal! We look forward to becoming a "Texan"...my 9 year old son already runs around saying "Hook'm Horns"...lol

Any info would be greatly appreciated!!!

[ChristieP]

Where will you be commuting to for work?

[ChristieP]

The other issue is wanting at least an acre of land. Here in DFW, that is much larger than the normal .25 acre (or smaller) lot. To get land like that within your price range, you will need to look at more "rural" communities on the outskirts of the metroplex. Also, in communities like this, your neighbors will most likely have horses and/or other livestock on their land. If this isn't the kind of atmosphere you're looking for, then you will want to look at smaller lots.

Here's a property tax rate chart for the metroplex so you can get a good comparison.
Property Tax Rates

[texas_nightowl]

Agree with ChristieP...if you want an "acre or 2" you're not really going to have a neighborhood ... if by neighborhood you mean area where houses are kinda close (ie. subdivision) and kids can run up and down the street to each others homes.

There are some areas where you'll have neighborhoods...ie. subdivisions...with larger lots...maybe a half acre. But for larger acreage you will be more rural.

[hypocore]

There are actually plenty of houses on acre or so lots throughout the DFW area. The issues are they are typically either much older houses that many people don't want to deal with, they are located in less than desired areas or they are way out of price range. Or, they just aren't for sale.

The point is they certainly exist.

[FTWRunner]

Look in the Tanglewood, Overton Woods and Overton West area, (SW Fort Worth, Hulen and Bellaire) the public schools are very good, lots of private school options, it's the up and coming area of Fort Worth proper in my opinion.You won't be able to get an acre or two but the lots are big and there are beautiful parks with lots of trails and the Trinity Trails are right there.

Of course where you are having to commute to is an issue, last thing you want is an hour commute, espically with all the construction going on.

And in Fort Worth it's less Hook'em Horns and more Go TCU!

[Rakin]

There are some nice homes in the Haslet area with 1 acre lots in the Northwest ISD. Very rural.

I have a great list there, mid 400's, pool, 1 acre with a very nice shop. They can be found.

[wjtwet]

Originally Posted by Presto9977

Hi my soon to be neighbors . We will be relocating to Dallas/Ft. Worth in a couple of months. We did visit last month to Flower Mound, South Lake areas and even checked out houses in the Frisco area. Here is the issue: We love the Southlake area but the taxes are just too steep, we have 2 elementary aged kids and want decent schools, but willing to go private. Everyone we talked to says to stay North of DFW, so we havent really considered south....does anyone HIGHLY recommend any particular area south? We want a nice house with at least an acre or 2... must be a safe neighborhood and family friendly, close to shopping and all the other amenities. House costs we are looking at approx....$400-500. How is the crime rate of Burleson and Mansfield....went on one website and said Burleson was a "B" as far as crime. We did see one house that was between Burleson and Mansfield....but don't know the area...We are coming from Southern California but grew up in rural areas of New England. Are there areas to stay way away from?

I must say, everyone in Texas was extremely nice and so easy going!! So much different then here is SoCal! We look forward to becoming a "Texan"...my 9 year old son already runs around saying "Hook'm Horns"...lol

Any info would be greatly appreciated!!!

Where will you be working?

[Presto9977]

Thanks for all the replies! Well, my husband will be communting to Plano...he doesn't mind having to drive 45 min or so. I have looked in the area of Burleson area....actually there are a couple houses we want to look at right between Burleson and Mansfield. Can someone give me an honest opinion on safety there? I just worry about my kids, I want them to be able to walk next door without having to worry.

Thanks!

[ChristieP]

Commuting to PLANO?!? You need to take all of Tarrant County OFF your list!! There's no way your husband can commute from anywhere in Tarrant County to Plano in 45 minutes even in off-hours. Plus, he would be running up a lot of tolls on the PGBT or 121; potentially $6 a day! Burleson and Mansfield are totally too far away! A friends husband commutes from Burleson to north Dallas (not as far as Plano) and it takes him 1.5 HOURS EACH WAY!

For a commute to Plano, with a $400-500k budget, look at Murphy, McKinney, Fairview, possibly Prosper, too. You will want to be in either Collin or Denton Counties.

Until you get here, you really cannot understand how HUGE the DFW area really is...