Good school district with large lots (Fort Worth, Spring: apartment, foreclosures, renting) - Texas (TX) - City-Data Forum

kountrygal · 05-06-2015, 08:01 PM

I am relocating from MS within 1-2 months. I initially posted about renting for at least 6 months before buying, now I'm reconsidering. I will be working near Lockheed Martin area but was interested in living in or around Saginaw area. I will have a 10th grader who is very interested in continuing football and a 1st grader. Schools are very important. I am content with close shopping but my husband wants acreage. My budget is around $250,000. He wants at least 2 acres but we will settle for at least 1 acre. Could you please assist in guiding me to good areas.... Any new construction areas?? Good foreclosure websites? Not working with an agent yet, we just decided on looking at buying instead of renting today. Thanks in Advance for any input.

ChristieP · 05-06-2015, 08:41 PM

What is the maximum commute time you can tolerate? For a budget of $250k with 2+ acres, you ar going to have to drive a long way. Possibly Springtown or Azle will have something that large in your price range, especially if you will consider a mobile/manufactured home.
Foreclosures are rare these days.

kountrygal · 05-06-2015, 09:48 PM

ChristieP,

I would prefer no more than a 30 minute commute. Manufactured homes is not an option at this moment. I am ok with at least a 1/2 acre but I'm trying to compromise. I'm a city living type of girl, my husband is stuck on rural area. Maybe if the house is really nice and not looking in the neighbors front door he may reconsider 2 acres.

ChristieP · 05-07-2015, 04:15 AM

$250k is the gateway to a "nice" house on a normal lot in DFW. To get acreage above a normal lot, even 1/2 acre, at that price point, you are going to have to go further out. Adding the desire for good schools makes this even more difficult since the rural ISDs are often not as good as the suburban ones. I understand your son's football, and the importance of being in place in time for summer practices. Still, I would STRONGLY recommend renting, even a corporate/short term apartment over the summer, so you can get a feel for the area before buying.

Albedo and Eagle Mountain/Saginaw ISDs are the better ones on that side of Fort Worth, but they are going to be difficult at your price range and commute time. You could also look in Benbrook, but the schools aren't as good, and the commute time may be an issue again. Avoid White Settlement!

Threestep2 · 05-07-2015, 06:13 AM

It is highly likely that you will find 1-2 acres for 250k within a reasonable commute of 30-45 minutes and good schools. That is a 3 br starter home in a subdivision in this area.
Take a weekend drive and check things out. Google, Zillow, ... cannot keep up with the expansion in NW Ft. Worth. Be prepared to pay full asking price or premium.

4Movingeast · 05-07-2015, 06:57 AM

You will not find 2 acres in Aledo ISD for 250K with a house on it. Maybe a mobile home- but I doubt even that. 10 years ago you might have been able to find one in Eagle Mtn/Saginaw ISD but most of the undeveloped land out there still belongs to the same family and they are hanging on to it.

I do think you should look in EMS ISD because I think you could find a good, newer house on a big lot esp in the far north part of the district. Also look at Northwest ISD, Haslet area. These might turn out to be good compromises for you and your husband.

Avoid Azle and Springtown if you are prioritizing school quality.

texas_nightowl · 05-07-2015, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Movingeast

You will not find 2 acres in Aledo ISD for 250K with a house on it. Maybe a mobile home- but I doubt even that.

Actually...they do happen...just rarely...and they go FAST. Especially if the houses are decent at all. An almost 1800 sq ft house on 3 acres about 1 mile from me was recently listed for $245k. (And it is a very decent looking house, some upgrades in kitchen done, roof only 6 yrs old, etc.) Now...it may have sold for more, I don't know. There was also another recent listing for a 1700 sq ft house on 3 acres for $230k. So they do pop up now and then. That said, if OP wants a larger or newer house with the 2+ acres then Aledo is likely a no go.

Now, in general I do agree that getting a nice house on 2 acres for under 250k within 30 minutes of Lockheed is going to be difficult whether Aledo or elsewhere. I would agree with suggestions to checkout Eagle Mountain/Saginaw and Northwest ISD. As for new construction, my guess is that for your price range the biggest lot you would normally see is 1/2 acre.

Be prepared to act fast. Houses are selling quickly and really good ones do not stay on the market long.

Threestep2 · 05-07-2015, 01:32 PM

1/2 acre lots in Haslet are going for 60k+ depending on the neighborhood.

4Movingeast · 05-07-2015, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texas_nightowl

Actually...they do happen...just rarely...and they go FAST. Especially if the houses are decent at all. An almost 1800 sq ft house on 3 acres about 1 mile from me was recently listed for $245k. (And it is a very decent looking house, some upgrades in kitchen done, roof only 6 yrs old, etc.) Now...it may have sold for more, I don't know. There was also another recent listing for a 1700 sq ft house on 3 acres for $230k. So they do pop up now and then. That said, if OP wants a larger or newer house with the 2+ acres then Aledo is likely a no go.

Now, in general I do agree that getting a nice house on 2 acres for under 250k within 30 minutes of Lockheed is going to be difficult whether Aledo or elsewhere. I would agree with suggestions to checkout Eagle Mountain/Saginaw and Northwest ISD. As for new construction, my guess is that for your price range the biggest lot you would normally see is 1/2 acre.

Be prepared to act fast. Houses are selling quickly and really good ones do not stay on the market long.

I stand corrected

You are in Deer Creek I think you mentioned at one point? My boys attended that elementary when we lived in Aledo.

Curious where you stand on the bond election as a taxpayer without kids in school. It is ALL over my facebook feed.

texas_nightowl · 05-07-2015, 07:49 PM

back side of Deer Creek actually in the Meadow Park sub. so yes, very close to Stuard!

I have ignored a lot of it and maybe I am out of touch, but 28 million to build 1 school seems high to me! I wish on the AledoISDbond.org website they would at least mention where they plan the new elementary school for. I know eventually they plan one in Walsh Ranch itself, but I don't know if that is this one (elementary #5) or the next one. Still, with all the growth out here, I don't doubt it is needed.

Some of the other props I don't mind so much.