Slightly OT: Moving to Dallas area

[macsmom09]

Hi everyone! I know this is slightly off topic, but I know there are so many of you in the Dallas area so I thought I'd ask...we are moving to the Dallas area this summer for DH's job. Here's the kicker, we can live within 50 miles of downtown, but we have no clue what areas are best. Good schools are a huge factor- DS10 will be starting 5th grade in the fall. We are looking to rent a house in the beginning, at least 3 bedrooms.

Many of the people in DHs office have said they live in Rockwall. I have heard that Plano has good schools, but not sure about the expense of living there. We keep coming back to Rockwall, Plano, Frisco, McKinney.

Can anyone in the area help me out??? Good school districts, affordable housing, nice area, etc.

Thanks!

 

[mydisneyobsession]

Take a look at Murphy. It's a newer community just to the east of Plano. We used to live there and loved it. At the time we lived there (about six years ago) you could get a lot more home for the money, schools were great, and it was close to the train station. My husband commuted into the downtown area using public transportation, and we were close to the George Bush turnpike for easy access to everything! Since we've lived there, a lot more infrastructure has come to the immediate area, but you're also very close to Garland, Richardson and Plano.

Good luck on your move!

 

[malibuconlee]

Where exactly will your DH be working? For us we didn't want a huge commute, but we were working at the same company. We lived in a couple of different places, but bought a house in the "old" part of Carrollton near Farmers Branch and worked in Addison. Took about 15 minutes for me to get to work. Less for DH because he went in earlier.

 

[macsmom09]

Sorry, he will be working near the courthouse on Congress in downtown Dallas.

 

[beansmom]

personally, i would NEVER live in North Dallas....the traffic is horrific.

I'd look south....but then I don't have school age children. Have you looked at Waxahachie?

 

[DHSsenior007]

My fiance' and I will be moving to the DFW area this summer as well. He will be working in Ft Worth, and I'll be starting grad school at UTD. We're primarily looking at Euless as it is located in between Ft Worth & Dallas.

From our research, the cost of living is relatively low and a very low crime rate. I don't know much about the schools though, as that wasn't relevant to our search.

Good luck!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Be aware that TX public schools are about to lose $8 BILLION in funding because the governor hates public education. (Actually, pretty much everything in the state is being axed - we are starting to think about moving out of TX before things get completely out of hand.) My son goes to an AMAZING arts magnet high school downtown and it will be completely crippled by these cuts. I strongly suspect it won't survive beyond the next school year. Dallas ISD was making a little progress and did have some OK schools, but that won't be the case ever again. Most of the public districts are taking a huge hit - some less than others - but ALL districts are going to feel the bite. The VAST majority of families who live within DISD boundaries send their kids to private schools.

WFAA is a local news channel, you can search their site for info on the school funding debacle. Or you can look at www.dallasisd.org and see the proposed cuts to the schools and how few teachers will be left. www.dallasnews.com is the newspaper site but half of the articles require a membership, which I think is crap. You can read the education blog for free, though.

www.dfwrealties.com is a nice site for searching for both lease and sale properties. Good luck!!

 

[beansmom]

Be aware that TX public schools are about to lose $8 BILLION in funding because the governor hates public education. (Actually, pretty much everything in the state is being axed - we are starting to think about moving out of TX before things get completely out of hand.) My son goes to an AMAZING arts magnet high school downtown and it will be completely crippled by these cuts. I strongly suspect it won't survive beyond the next school year. Dallas ISD was making a little progress and did have some OK schools, but that won't be the case ever again. Most of the public districts are taking a huge hit - some less than others - but ALL districts are going to feel the bite. The VAST majority of families who live within DISD boundaries send their kids to private schools.

WFAA is a local news channel, you can search their site for info on the school funding debacle. Or you can look at www.dallasisd.org and see the proposed cuts to the schools and how few teachers will be left. www.dallasnews.com is the newspaper site but half of the articles require a membership, which I think is crap. You can read the education blog for free, though.

www.dfwrealties.com is a nice site for searching for both lease and sale properties. Good luck!!

My daughter went to the same high school and I'm sure it will be hit very hard by the budget cuts.

But what Jack'sgirl neglects to mention is that while Texans are bemoaning the loss of services, teachers, etc...they still do not pay ANY state income tax. I lived in Tx for 30 yrs then moved to Massachussetts...(aka TAXachusetts) and not only are property taxes much higher here, there is also a state income tax. The Texas state government needs money and its constituents are unwilling to be taxed for it so WHERE is it going to come from ?? Its like keeping your own cake but eating somebody else's.

Texas is like every other state...too much outgo and not enough income.

 

[IUTBAM]

I lived in Frisco for two years, and my sister has lived in Plano for YEARS, so here is my take on it:

Frisco is very nice, and there are tons of nice communities to find a house in. The schools are excellent and you have easy (albeit pricey) access to downtown via the tollway. Stonebriar Mall is amazing, and there is an IKEA right there as well. You can find anything you need within a 2-3 mile drive of that area. TONS of restaurants as well.

West Plano is a lot like Frisco (and borders it). You would also have easy access to downtown via the tollway. Lots of nice communities to find a home in, and excellent Plano Schools.

Allen and McKinney are north of East Plano off 75 and are also very nice, with good school districts. The homes in East Plano are nice, but older, but if you live in East Plano, you will have excellent access to the DART train. That is the BEST way to get downtown, IMHO. You would have to drive 10-20 minutes to get to the northernmost DART station from Allen or McKinney.

HTH a bit!

Oh, and I can give you two great doctor recommendations in the Frisco/West Plano area: Pediatrician: an: Susan Sickler, and Family Practice: Valerie Kasmiersky. They are both AWESOME! Oh,and if you need a good eye doctor: Dana Biederman! She is AMAZING!

 

[jennyopenny]

My son goes to private school in Rockwall. We live in a small community 20 miles East of downtown Dallas. (Forney)

PM me when you get moved. I would love to meet a fellow DIS member. What ages are your children?

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

My daughter went to the same high school and I'm sure it will be hit very hard by the budget cuts.

But what Jack'sgirl neglects to mention is that while Texans are bemoaning the loss of services, teachers, etc...they still do not pay ANY state income tax. I lived in Tx for 30 yrs then moved to Massachussetts...(aka TAXachusetts) and not only are property taxes much higher here, there is also a state income tax. The Texas state government needs money and its constituents are unwilling to be taxed for it so WHERE is it going to come from ?? Its like keeping your own cake but eating somebody else's.

Texas is like every other state...too much outgo and not enough income.

I would be HAPPY to pay state tax, but Governor Hair, Hater of Public Education, refuses to raise taxes. ANY taxes. He ran all these campaign ads saying Texas has such a strong economy and a balanced budget, when nothing could be LESS ACCURATE. All these politicians have decided that the best course of action is to simply eliminate EVERYTHING that costs money - roads, prisons, schools, healthcare, nursing homes, you name it. People refuse to see that these cuts will destroy the state. They don't care because they either don't understand or figure it doesn't matter to them personally. The legislature has been advised that the budget cuts will result in 300,000 people losing their jobs. Yet HB 1 passed by a wide margin, setting us up to lose pretty much everything from public education to the TX Commission on the Arts to the Historical Society. Cutting some of these state agencies will result in the loss of federal funds (assuming there are any) because the federal money can only be distributed through a state agency. So, kill the Arts Commission and no more federal money will come to Arts in TX.

Apparently I am supposed to stop mooching off the good people of Texas and do the right thing - send my kid to private school. Which just happens to cost $25K PER YEAR for high school. And there is no such thing as a private Arts high school. It is truly a debacle.

I would be happy to pay the $8000 to the school that comes from the state now (one of the lowest per-pupil spending levels in the nation), but that's not one of the choices. The state really has cut us off at the knees for every possible solution. With the powers that be insisting that obliterating everything is the ONLY way to balance the budget we are left with the option of living with it or moving to another state.

 

[SoonerSarah]

MIL and BIL live in Garland, although BIL is closer to Plano. I would look in Plano, but I would also consider some places south, such as Waxahachie. I looked up a few years back the different school districts for a friend, but I'm sure a few things have changed. Basically, there are going to be problems every where that you live.

 

[singleinthe city]

Can anyone in the area help me out??? Good school districts, affordable housing, nice area, etc.

I think it would be helpful to understand what YOU consider affordable housing. I have had friends move from the NY/NJ area to TX and they said it was like winning the lottery simply because 300K in NY/NJ area buys you a so-so small house that needs renovation, where 300K in TX could literally buy a mansion.

 

[macsmom09]

singleinthecity, we are looking to rent since we may only be there for 3 years, so around the $1300-$1500 per month range.

We are moving from KY, and the locality pay here is 13.5% and in Dallas is 23%, so we definitely expect a higher cost of living. Definitely do not want to live within the boundaries of Dallas Independent Schools.

 

[Goofyta]

I would look West, more in Tarrant county. The Hurst, Euless, Bedford area is nice and the school disctrict is good. Also, there is Grapevine and Colleyville, with another good school district.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Definitely pay close attention to schools and such when you look at property listings. We used to live north of where we are now, and we were city of Dallas, Denton county, Carrollton/Farmers Branch schools. If you want to be in a Plano school be sure you aren't right on the edge of their boundaries that might end up putting you in a school district OTHER than Plano.

Highland Park is the very exclusive suburb about a mile from us - they have their own schools which are VERY good. But not every property in 75205 is Highland Park schools. Some of them are, but not all.

Read the websites of the school districts you are considering, because some of them have some wonky procedures. A mom at swimming was telling me for Richardson schools you can pick a school that is different from the one you are zoned for, but it is done by lottery.

Dallas ISD has magnet schools that you have to apply for.

I am not really familiar with districts other than Dallas, so I don't know what other programs/procedures they might have that could impact your decision.

 

[Belle5]

My son works in the same area that your DH does and takes the DART train to downtown each weekday. I think you could probably get a rental house not too far from me within your price range. We are somewhat near the Murphy area that someone else mentioned. The kids in our neighborhood have a newish elementary school, new middle school and the high school opens in the fall. We are part of Plano schools but we are in Richardson. You must be very, very,very careful to know your schools before you rent. The current high school for my area is one known for gang activity, etc., but in the fall it will be a very different story with the new high school opening in Murphy. FYI, it takes my son about 12 minutes to get to the DART parking lot...15 at the most with traffic. After that it's about a 45 minute train ride to where your DH will work. DS2 leaves here at 8 to be at work by 9.
Our area used to be "out in the boonies", but, wow, has it changed! We have great shopping and dining out this way and more being built by the day. We have easy access to the highway system, as well.
Good luck with whatever you decide!

Oh, the train pass is about $60 per month, FYI.

 

[beansmom]

I would be HAPPY to pay state tax, but Governor Hair, Hater of Public Education, refuses to raise taxes. ANY taxes. He ran all these campaign ads saying Texas has such a strong economy and a balanced budget, when nothing could be LESS ACCURATE. All these politicians have decided that the best course of action is to simply eliminate EVERYTHING that costs money - roads, prisons, schools, healthcare, nursing homes, you name it. People refuse to see that these cuts will destroy the state. They don't care because they either don't understand or figure it doesn't matter to them personally. The legislature has been advised that the budget cuts will result in 300,000 people losing their jobs. Yet HB 1 passed by a wide margin, setting us up to lose pretty much everything from public education to the TX Commission on the Arts to the Historical Society. Cutting some of these state agencies will result in the loss of federal funds (assuming there are any) because the federal money can only be distributed through a state agency. So, kill the Arts Commission and no more federal money will come to Arts in TX.

Apparently I am supposed to stop mooching off the good people of Texas and do the right thing - send my kid to private school. Which just happens to cost $25K PER YEAR for high school. And there is no such thing as a private Arts high school. It is truly a debacle.

I would be happy to pay the $8000 to the school that comes from the state now (one of the lowest per-pupil spending levels in the nation), but that's not one of the choices. The state really has cut us off at the knees for every possible solution. With the powers that be insisting that obliterating everything is the ONLY way to balance the budget we are left with the option of living with it or moving to another state.

I sooo totally get your frustration...and it made me just madder whenever i'd see legions of illegal aliens sitting in the county hospital or at the other social service agencies or the schools full of children that don't speak the language and the answer is to get spanish-speaking teachers. That is sort of my pet peeve. And it's prolly best if I shut up now about all this. It makes my blood boil, too.

Yes, I, too, would have happily paid IF the government would have done something useful but we know how that would go.

Thank goodness my kids are grown and I'm retired. I hope the gubmint never utters my name again.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I sooo totally get your frustration...and it made me just madder whenever i'd see legions of illegal aliens sitting in the county hospital or at the other social service agencies or the schools full of children that don't speak the language and the answer is to get spanish-speaking teachers. That is sort of my pet peeve. And it's prolly best if I shut up now about all this. It makes my blood boil, too.

Yes, I, too, would have happily paid IF the government would have done something useful but we know how that would go.

Thank goodness my kids are grown and I'm retired. I hope the gubmint never utters my name again.

It is EXTREMELY frustrating. Apparently eliminating ALL funding for EVERYTHING will magically make all of those services simply unnecessary. It's maddening.

The school thing is obviously the most painful for me. DS has 3 more years. The superintendent has some sort of personal agenda against the magnets (to hell with the fact that they are top rated in the COUNTRY). It is his wish to basically gut the magnets and send the kids back to whatever thugs & drugs campus they are zoned for. Yeah, the building is 3 years out from a $60 million renovation, but you know, times are tight so magnet kids are no better than anyone else. Doesn't matter if the parents are all lining up, BEGGING to pay to save the school.

I was doing some research on the Arts schools in Massachusetts the other day. Supposedly there are schools around the nation that offer reciprocal admission, but so far nobody I have spoken to can figure out WHICH schools they are. The one in West Palm Beach does NOT offer reciprocal admissions, and that is our first choice.

DH says the transfer opportunities with his company are slim, and I don't know what job prospects would be for me. It's enough to make me rip my hair out.

 

[r1lissa]

Ellis county here!!! We are 30 mins south of Dallas in Waxahachie, and it is a whole 'nother world here.
If you want a small town with great schools, look in our area- Waxahachie, Red Oak, Ovilla, Palmer, or Maypearl. Waxahachie is the county seat of Ellis county, so it is the largest city and has everything a suburban town needs. Some of the smaller towns have one school and a traffic light.

North Dallas has TOO much congestion and traffic. If your hubby is concerned about the drive into Dallas, he can get on the DART bus in Glenn Heights, which is just right outside of Red Oak.