Possible job offer in Corsicana... currently live in Iowa (Dallas: real estate, apartments)

[Hillfamily5]

Hey everyone!

My husband has a possible job offer in Corsicana. We live in blue ribbon school districts with a 10 minute commute to work in Iowa currently. Corsicana seems to be so far away from everything with only average schools. I will have kids in elementary, middle, and high school. I am a visiting nurse and am not too worried about finding work.

We wanted to make a move to a warmer climate but are really unsure about this area. Does anybody have any input about the area, real estate, property taxes, or education? Our home budget here in Iowa is about $300,000 and our property taxes are about 4,500 a year if that gives you a guide.

Thanks for your help!!

[derekv]

Originally Posted by Hillfamily5

Hey everyone!

Corsicana seems to be so far away from everything with only average schools.

Think you hit the nail on the head - middle to low performing schools and rural. I actually like the city and folks who live there seem very community oriented and friendly (I have a hunting lease just to the north of Corsicana and south of Ellis). With your housing budget you could probably find a nice house with some land as well.

[Hillfamily5]

Thanks! Would you recommend we look more at Ennis for better schools and location?

[derekv]

I would think Ennis is very similar - basically anything southwest of Dallas is going to be pretty marginal as far as school district quality.I would suggest taking a look at School Report Cards
the school report card provides some pretty good information about district and school demographic and testing information. Ennis looks like it does a fairly good job given the student demographics. These districts are majority disadvantaged and minority student populations.

I'm not sure what the commute would be to your husband's job, but Athens might be another area to consider.

[Hillfamily5]

Thank you! That is a great website! Man do I wish his potential job was in a different area!! So many great schools in the northern part of Dallas.

Does anybody have any ideas on the rental market in the area. Starting to wonder if we rent and see if he can get a job in a better location after a year.

[GBCommenter]

Originally Posted by Hillfamily5

Thank you! That is a great website! Man do I wish his potential job was in a different area!! So many great schools in the northern part of Dallas.

Does anybody have any ideas on the rental market in the area. Starting to wonder if we rent and see if he can get a job in a better location after a year.

For a number of reasons (including schools, but also jobs and amenities), north Dallas suburbs are popular and therefore in demand. I am unsure of house rental amounts, but apartments would likely run around $1200 for 1BR and I'd guess about $1500 for 2BR. As such, I'd "guess-timate" $2000-$2500 for a house rental in areas such as Plano, Allen and other areas generally believed to have good schools. Perhaps others with experience in renting houses would offer more insight (I live in an apartment in Addison, which is north side of Dallas).

That said, any option to do Corsicana and do tutoring, etc. if you feel your children need something more than their schools would provide?

[TurtleCreek80]

Honestly, the Texas forum is probably better for an inquiry about Corsicana as it's too far south to be considered part of the DFW metroplex. Ellis County is the furthest south part of DFW and Corsicana is beyond that.

I would imagine $300k is a much larger than average budget for Corsicana and that you would not need to spend nearly that much to have a very nice home there.

[nsumner]

You may also want to explore living in Waxahachie and your husband would commute about 45 minutes. Schools are better in Waxahachie too.

Naima

[Hillfamily5]

Thanks! I have looked around there a bit. Trying to decide if we want a 45 minute drive. Looks like it's all interstate though.

Also, if anybody has any insight into renting homes that would be great. Considering using this job to get us down there and then maybe move to the north side of Dallas if he finds a job up there. Wish Dallas wasn't so huge!

[MurphyPl1]

Wow you're already complaining and you aren't even here.