Question for those in the Dallas area

[LoriKay]

If someone was moving to the Dallas area and their work location would be near Love Field what areas of Dallas would you recommend searching realtor.com for to get a feel for the housing market? From the maps it appears that Irving is the closest of the suburbs? Preferably somewhere that the daily commute would not be unmanageable! Anything else you'd like to share would be welcome, too!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Ok, how much money are we talking and do you have kids?

Everyone is moving out of the Dallas area. They have issues. Oh and driving & traffic? OK wait...
We moved here in April and the traffic is as bad a California and NYC. There are SO MANY PEOPLE HERE!!!

 

[malibuconlee]

Traffic in Dallas in bad. We worked in Addison and I've lived in the Las Colinas area of Irving in an apartment, in and Addison apartment, and in a house in the older part of Carrollton.

A lot does depend on what kind of house you're looking for and how much you want to spend.

We took a map of the area. Got out a compass (you remember from math class) and measured a 10 mile radius from the jobsite. We ended up with an older home, but the commute was great. No more than 10 to 15 minutes at rush hour and we didn't have to cross any freeways.

Farmer's Branch might be an option for you. Or even Garland depending on where the location of the new office is.

You could go for the new houses in Frisco/The Colony, but I wouldn't want the drive up and down the Tollway every day. What is it Justin on 99.5 used to say, "75 cents to sit awhile"

 

[malibuconlee]

I just looked up where my friend bought her condo. It's in Dallas, north of University Park ($$$$). West of 75 between Royal Lane and Walnut Hill. It's not such a bad area. I had to look it up because she bought it just after I moved. She had lived in an apartment in The Village when I lived there. I've only been there when I've flown in. It's pretty convenient to Love Field.

She works in downtown and it's not a bad drive for her each day.

 

[Planogirl]

You might also look into Colleyville, Grapevine and Southlake. They're not that close but I think the traffic in between isn't as bad as some other areas.

Do you have a realtor? A good one should know where the more heavily congested areas are.

 

[LoriKay]

Let's see...we have no kids and no realtor yet because we're not that far into the process. Not sure about how much we'd spend on housing so that's why I'm trying to get a feel for it in different areas. When looking at the map I was wondering about the areas around SMU and it looks like University Park might be one of those. Maybe Highland Park, too? The Colony does look like it would be a trek and probably more of a commute than we'd like. Thanks for all of your input so far.

 

[mommystieg]

You might also look into Colleyville, Grapevine and Southlake. They're not that close but I think the traffic in between isn't as bad as some other areas.

Do you have a realtor? A good one should know where the more heavily congested areas are.

I live in Keller which is in the same area as the cities mentioned above. I drive in to Las Colinas (east Irving, almost Dallas) for work and it takes me close to an hour. The drive home is even worse; if I leave at 4:00 pm I can get home by 5:30...if I leave at 4:30 it usually takes me until 6:30 to get home. Like another poster said, more people are moving out of the Dallas area and choosing to commute which makes for lots of traffic. Highland Park and University Park are very upscale areas of Dallas so homes are a little pricey (I guess that depends on how much homes cost where you are now)
I think one of the problems of working in Dallas proper is that it is not really close to anywhere someone would want to live.
Good luck with your decision

 

[janette]

The nicest areas close to Love Field can be pricey. Highland Park might work if you are lucky enough to find a garage type apartment.

There are lots of apartments and I lived close to that area about 20yrs ago, I don't think I'd live in the same areas anymore though. Especially with kids but that is something you don't have to worry about right now.

The areas by SMU might be okay, not really familiar with the area but it is also an older part so probably not lots of apartments. Along Central has some okay areas, near North Park. Irving has a pretty wide variance in housing and you might find some nicer areas there.

Almost all of the suburbs will be a stretch for that area, problem is it is not downtown where you have some mass transit options.

 

[missypie]

In University Park and Highland Park, "teardowns" sell for $750,000. If that is not within your budget, you'll need to look a bit further out. Are you looking for hip urbanism? Suburbia?

I live in Grapevine and am a big booster of the area, but if you don't need good schools, no need to drive that far. Look at Valley Ranch. It's "far north Irving" (a bit north of 635) and has lots of new subdivisions.

There are some cool old ranch houses just north of Northwest Highway (which borders Love Field to the north). The neighborhoods are inexpensive close to Love Field, and get more expensive (and nicer) the further east you go. I have a friend on Gaspar (zip code 75220) whose house is for sale. It would be about a 10 minute drive from Love Field. Don't know your race or whether you feel that your neighbors should look like you, but that neighborhood is probably majority hispanic, with some black and some white thrown in.

 

[malibuconlee]

IMO - Grapevine is too far away from Love Field.

Are you going to buy, or are you wanting to rent an apartment first?

Highland Park and University Village are really fun to drive around and look at Christmas lights. Just be wary of the valets running to get cars. We almost ran over a girl one night!!!

Obviously you have to weigh the pros and cons of where you want to live. It's nice that you don't have to worry about schools and things. We didn't either. We always choose to live as close to work as possible. Our house in Iowa was a 2 minute drive to work for DH. Our house in Pierre was 6 blocks away, our house in Carrollton a 10 minute drive to work. Our house in Kansas will be a 10 to 15 minute drive for DH, mostly because we can't live on base and because we wanted to live in Manhattan instead of Junction City.

My DH's theory is "Live close to the places you have to go every day" meaning work, if it takes a little longer to get to the stores on the weekend, so bit it, besides, the traffic is better then anyway.

Just to give you an idea of drive times. When I lived in an apartment in Irving I had to cross the 35/635 Interchange. That would take me about 45 minutes on a weekday. The same drive would take me about 15 minutes on the weekend. That was to roughly Beltline and the Tollway.

I suggest getting in touch with a good Realtor (I'd suggest mine, but I wasn't crazy about him). Also, be sure to visit on a weekday and drive the routes you would take.

Also, if you're planning on buying, please get pre-approved for up to a set limit. It'll help when looking at properties.

Just as a side note. If it rains you can COUNT on there being a wreck on 635 between 35 and the Tollway. The roads get slick and every time it rained when we lived there you would see a wreck on that stretch.

 

[missypie]

One more thing: If you're looking at a map, and something seems like a quick buzz up or down I-35, don't count on it. I-35 is a perpetual mess. I seem to recall that in the next few years they are going to totally re-do the I-35 interchange...that means that it will be fantastic about 7 years from now, but will be hellish in the meantime.

 

[janette]

One more thing: If you're looking at a map, and something seems like a quick buzz up or down I-35, don't count on it. I-35 is a perpetual mess. I seem to recall that in the next few years they are going to totally re-do the I-35 interchange...that means that it will be fantastic about 7 years from now, but will be hellish in the meantime.

I did this drive for work at my previous employer 10yrs ago. It could take anywhere from 15min to 2hrs. Really a horrible drive, I doubt it's gotten any better than in recent years. One of my nephews worked in the area and drove from Little Elm/ Frisco. He is now telecommuting, works much better.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

So what we are saying is that traffic is bad everywhere, right?
Don't worry about being "close" worry more about where you live.
I have kids so we moved to Flower Mound, due to the school match. Frisco is a nice area, new, traffic is hellish, however.

Dallas city and surrounding areas have illegal drug and police issues right now. I would imagine "safe" places are going to be alot of $$$$$$$.
The homeowners have taken to shooting intruders now, it is crazy. People don't go and party in the city like they used too.

I don't the right answer for you as I am not that familiar, but there are ALOT of people from Texas and I am sure they can help you. Texas is BIG and lots of areas to choose from.

 

[Planogirl]

I live in Keller which is in the same area as the cities mentioned above. I drive in to Las Colinas (east Irving, almost Dallas) for work and it takes me close to an hour. The drive home is even worse; if I leave at 4:00 pm I can get home by 5:30...if I leave at 4:30 it usually takes me until 6:30 to get home. Like another poster said, more people are moving out of the Dallas area and choosing to commute which makes for lots of traffic. Highland Park and University Park are very upscale areas of Dallas so homes are a little pricey (I guess that depends on how much homes cost where you are now)
I think one of the problems of working in Dallas proper is that it is not really close to anywhere someone would want to live.
Good luck with your decision

Even Grapevine which is right on the highway?

Wow, this is why you ask a realtor or at least someone who lives out there.

 

[ahutton]

While you don't have kids, keep in mind that if you even think you might want to resell one day, and have a single family home, that could be an issue in resale. There are many issues with school districts in Dallas proper, please keep that in the back of your mind...

 

[m&m's mom]

I live in Keller which is in the same area as the cities mentioned above. I drive in to Las Colinas (east Irving, almost Dallas) for work and it takes me close to an hour. The drive home is even worse; if I leave at 4:00 pm I can get home by 5:30...if I leave at 4:30 it usually takes me until 6:30 to get home. Like another poster said, more people are moving out of the Dallas area and choosing to commute which makes for lots of traffic. Highland Park and University Park are very upscale areas of Dallas so homes are a little pricey (I guess that depends on how much homes cost where you are now)
I think one of the problems of working in Dallas proper is that it is not really close to anywhere someone would want to live.
Good luck with your decision

Wow! I come up 35 about as bad as you can (from Flower Mound to downtown Dallas) and at the most it takes an hour and that is at 7:00am and 5:00pm. It is 26 miles. I would never have guessed that pretty close Las Colinas and Keller would take that long.

 

[m&m's mom]

If someone was moving to the Dallas area and their work location would be near Love Field what areas of Dallas would you recommend searching realtor.com for to get a feel for the housing market? From the maps it appears that Irving is the closest of the suburbs? Preferably somewhere that the daily commute would not be unmanageable! Anything else you'd like to share would be welcome, too!

There is almost no way to answer w/out more specifics. What would you consider a reasonable commute? If you are talking about 15-20 mins your choices are million dollar small homes in incredible neighborhoods or shacks in a largely Hispanic area. That is pretty much all that close. I have worked very close to Southwest for 15 years so I know the area fairly well.
If you would look at a 30-45 minute commute you have an abundance of good options in pretty much every direction.
You may not care about the school bit now but Texas and especially Dallas is very family orientated. Bottom line is your resale is crap if you are not in a good school area.
There also is a very large gay community close by Love Field. Nice area, nice homes and they are not too generally concerned w/ schools.
Some things to think about.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

OK. Here's my input:

We live in Preston Hollow, west of 75 (Central Expressway) and north of Park Lane. We are very close to NorthPark mall. The apartments that are right on Central north of Walnut Hill are scary (at Meadow, Royal, Forest, etc.), and everything east of Central is scary unless you are a few miles east, which is farther from Love Field. Apartments in The Village are not too bad, I don't think. That is Shady Brook at NW Hwy. The Park Cities (University Park and Highland Park) are fabulous but they are EXPENSIVE. There are some nice new townhome/condo things on NW Hwy between Hillcrest and Preston Rd. that might work well. I think the cross street is Thackery?

The smaller/older homes right around the airport are largely Hispanic neighborhoods and safety might be spotty. There is a neighborhood just south of Lovers Lane, west of Inwood that I used to think looked nice. I drove down one street, the houses were cute and the prices were reasonable. The one day I was coming home from the vet's office and I was a few streets over - YIKES!! The houses were held together with duct tape and cardboard! No wonder the "nice" street wasn't expensive!

Oak Lawn is the "gay" area - zip 75219. I personally love that area - lots of restaurants. Also lots of little condos, duplexes, that sort of thing. Kind of funny - it is gay and Hispanic. Every year at the Gay Pride Parade there are tons of Hispanic families watching the floats, kids hollering for beads. It is lots of fun. I don't know if there are many single family homes in that area - I think most of them have been divided up into multi-family dwellings. I have never felt "unsafe" walking around Oak Lawn, but I am not down there at night very often and I am in the area where the restaurants and bars are, not the residential parts.

Sure it would be nice to have a house with good public schools, but the VAST majority of people send their kids to private schools. I wouldn't panic about it hurting your resale value. DS goes to Preston Hollow Elementary, which is a DISD public school. We had him in private school through first grade, and the switch to public has been fine.

Good luck! Dallas is such an enormous area it will take awhile to sift through all the options!

 

[LoriKay]

Again, thanks everyone for the input. While playing around on realtor.com I was looking at some listings that mention Las Colinas and Hackberry Creek. At least some of them were in the Carrollton (?) school district. Does this put us at approximately a 30-45 minute commute? Even though we don't have kids we've always kept school districts in the back of our minds whenever we bought because of resale value. BTW, DH is astonished that I haven't asked any questions about shopping....hmmm, anybody want to share?!?

 

[Planogirl]

The whole Dallas area is a shopping mecca. People in this area go out to eat and shop constantly so your options are many. I would worry about that wherever you end up.