Help From Texas DISers Please

[D&DDisney]

I was just reading the Austin, TX relocation thread and thought maybe I could also get some help from the TX Dis'ers.
We might be transfered to the northeast Dallas area and would like some advice about the areas of McKinney, Fairview, Frisco, etc. How are the schools? What's the community like? What's the cost of living in this area? Which areas are best/worst in the northeast section of Dallas? Weather?
Would rather be transfering to Orlando, but as long as we can still drive to our "second home" we will be fine.

 

[D&DDisney]

Bumping up in hopes of some replies.

 

[dizagain]

Hi! We just moved to the north western Chicago (actually almost in Wisconsin ) area from Dallas area in August. We lived in Flower Mound, which is about 10 minutes north of the DFW airport - not the area you mentioned. Anyway, we've known friends in the Frisco area and they loved it! Don't know alot about the public schools, but the district in Flower Mound was AWESOME....trust me I found out just how good it was when we got here . The cost of living is MUCH less than it is where we are now...for the price of my home I could have had a TON more in Texas. The weather is going to be different, of course! It's HOT there, but then again it's been in the 70's there lately and that would be nice! It does get cold, but only snows or ices once a year or so and that is very minimal. You'll get a kick out of the way the whole world shuts down over an inch or so of snow...no work, no school, etc.

We really miss the area still and I would LOVE to go back. We were not originally from there either, only lived there for 5 years but it was my favorite home ever.

Good luck! Hope you get some responses from some folks who live more in the area you're interested in!

OH! It's about a 19-20 hour drive to your "second" home from there - we've done it all in one day before, but it's better to split it!

 

[Callalily6]

Flower Mound is one of the more wealthy areas around DFW - and it is growing insanely fast.

The schools here depend on where you are coming from. I grew up in NY state, and the public schools where I am at, frankly they are aweful. We put our duaghter in a private school.

Also, Texas is one of the few state that still allows corpral punishment (aka paddling) in the schools.

Go to the chamber of commerce sites for more info...and google the towns...that will pull up dirt on schools and everything else.

Hi! We just moved to the north western Chicago (actually almost in Wisconsin ) area from Dallas area in August. We lived in Flower Mound, which is about 10 minutes north of the DFW airport - not the area you mentioned. Anyway, we've known friends in the Frisco area and they loved it! Don't know alot about the public schools, but the district in Flower Mound was AWESOME....trust me I found out just how good it was when we got here . The cost of living is MUCH less than it is where we are now...for the price of my home I could have had a TON more in Texas. The weather is going to be different, of course! It's HOT there, but then again it's been in the 70's there lately and that would be nice! It does get cold, but only snows or ices once a year or so and that is very minimal. You'll get a kick out of the way the whole world shuts down over an inch or so of snow...no work, no school, etc.

We really miss the area still and I would LOVE to go back. We were not originally from there either, only lived there for 5 years but it was my favorite home ever.

Good luck! Hope you get some responses from some folks who live more in the area you're interested in!

OH! It's about a 19-20 hour drive to your "second" home from there - we've done it all in one day before, but it's better to split it!

 

[JonetteA]

I live in Plano, right south of Frisco and McKinney. If you want to PM I can tell you what I do know. I know that Plano has one of the best school systems in the area. Keep in mind that traffic is pretty bad, and the cost of living is probably higher than what you are used to. Just PM me and I can help where I can.

 

[DVCTX]

I too live in Plano, but my daughter attends the Frisco schools. You will find that Plano, Alllen and Frisco all have good public schools. If you are looking for a new home, your search will be in Frisco, Allen or McKinney area as Plano is almost built out and has little room for new homes.

The cities are home to mostly white collar professionals and businessmen and are family friendly. The weather? It's Texas! The winters are mild with an occasional cold snap that lasts a day or two. Summers can be hot and if the wind is out of the SE, humid. However I find the humidity to be far less than Orlando or Atlanta. We are far enough inland that hurricanes are not a problem. Probably the biggest problem is the air pollution during the summers.

Ask away if you have any additional questions.

 

[dizagain]

I would just like to add that Flower Mound may be ONE of the wealthier areas of Dallas....the areas you mentioned are as well. We are by no means wealthy and had a very nice newer modest home for a very good price. We lived in Tennessee and Mississippi before and found cost of living to be very close to that...which is very good. My grocery bill alone has grown so much by just stepping foot in this Illinois area I'm in now. I think it must be based on what you're used to. Yes...the property taxes are high...but it evens out in other ways much more than it does here.

Noone may paddle your child without your permission...even in Texas.

My daughters are both very much ahead of their peers in the public schools here which is how I am judging them...we found the Flower Mound Elementary School which we attended to be very strong in a TRADITIONAL education which is important to us. Here it's all "new method", my 4th grader doesn't get grades, and she "confers" with her teacher about her lesson plan. Not at all what we want for our girls - we're looking to move soon - but it's different for everyone, I suppose.

Just wanted to make sure all opinions are heard! There are many nice areas around Dallas...we love it there! Good luck!

 

[Kelley Family]

Hi. We just moved to McKinney two years ago. LOVE IT! I have noticed several things about this area. The schools are fantastic, the people are the most friendly you will ever meet and the area is growing like crazy (good for future property value). All of this area has a wide variety of home prices from mid $100's to over a million. We are from So. Cal. and the weather took some getting used to but now I enjoy having a little bit of a season change. The summers have not been to bad. It does get hot but we just play in the pool, do indoor activities and in the evening our street comes alive with kids and parents out playing. Each of the cities you talked about have web sites that could help you and a good realator will also help you find the best city for you. If you would like the name of someone who helped our family, my parents and a friend of mine please PM me. We looked in Frisco, Plano and McKinney and she is very familiar with all three. Good luck on your move!

 

[D&DDisney]

Thanks to y'all for your replies. (I guess I should get used to saying that)
I am pleased to hear the good reports about the area. I had hoped the population would be a little more diverse, but I am glad to hear their are many families in the area. Not sure we want to raise our kids in a transient, business persons' neighborhood.
We have done some research on homes that are huge and gorgeous for much less then the price of homes in SE Wisconsin. Our only concern seems to be the HOA fees and the property taxes. WOW! Although, you think we'd be used to taxes and fees since WI seems to be a tax hell. Do the HOAs really tell you how to cut your lawn and what color to paint your house??
Another concern would be leaving the midwest & our family. We've lived in one place all our lives and have grown used to the "cheesehead" way of life.

 

[dizagain]

The HOA's vary...yes, they can be a pain, but some of them offer a lot of perks!! My old neighborhood, for example, was very small with homes in the $175-225,000 range. Our HOA dues were $225 a year and that was for NOTHING imo...we got landscaping care for the entrances and a few block parties a year...no pool, playground, etc. Friends paid much more - some $100 a month - for several pools, lakes with trails, playgrounds, fitness centers, etc. So, hopefully you'll at least find a neighborhood that makes the $$$ worth your while!

Yes, some HOA's are very picky - but not all. I don't think ours could tell us how to paint our house, but they could monitor all additions (even our plain cement patio extension!), cars/boats/rv's in driveways, lawn up-keep, barking dogs, etc. We happened to have the #1 neighborhood spy guy across the street...we just kept him happy and all was good .

Also don't want you to get the impression that you will be living in a "cookie cutter" environment - I didn't feel that way at all!! Probably feel more that way up here in Illinois....

Oh! Like the "y'all"...keep practicing! Luckily your kids won't "have" to say "ma'am" and "sir" there. I grew up that way in Tennessee...we're thinking of moving there and my girls would have a hard time learning that! Make sure to cut "yeah" from the vocab though, and always say "yes".