6 Areas if you are Moving to DFW (your North Dallas Realtor is NOT talking about)

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Sometimes I pop over here and make bold statements. Partly because I am not sponsored by any business or local government nor is there any secret handshake behind the scenes of this publication. And partly because, in this specific case, I do not have much knowledge in the real estate industry. This article is about moving to DFW and an honest chat about 6 areas we recommend you look into.

We have a realtor who has been based in Plano for over 35 years and she is the BEST out there.

Yet I have this nagging feeling that some agents do not highlight the hidden neighborhoods in Collin County and north Dallas. Per normal behavior, some neighborhoods or communities become popular and an HOA comes in and they just take off and sell out each lot or established house.

 

6 Areas if you are Moving to DFW (your North Dallas Realtor is NOT talking about)

Choosing your town and neighborhood is a big decision. And I invite anyone looking at moving to DFW to really dig in and physically to a look at the areas they interested in both day and night. Plus, ask for Pros and Cons from each area.

In the neighborhood we live in now, we could be stabbed to death by a clown in our front yard and not one person would say a thing. It’s a quiet area and everyone keeps to themselves. Sometimes a little too much. Because if I were honest, if I were being stabbed by a clown I would love for some sort of intervention.

BTW, we live in Plano.

Moving from South Florida to Texas, introduced us to a new type of home access – the alley. These are popular throughout North Texas and I can 100% promise you it changes the dynamic of a neighborhood.

1. If you are used to it, then it wont be a big modification for you and your family

2. If it’s a new concept, you can expect a quieter neighborhood and more privacy from your neighbors. Unlike Highland Park where neighbors have more interaction, this physical difference of having an alley to your garage will decrease interactions thus deceasing the amount of exposure to neighbors. This could be a good thing or not depending on what you are looking for.

For our household, we live life off the beaten path.

If you are like us and you have flexibility to live anywhere but maybe you need to be within an hour of a major airport, then here are the 7 areas I would look into. Or at least make your realtor take you to.

(underneath each city we added what stood out to us about these areas and towns)

Farmersville

Famersville Texas is a small town located in the far northeast corner of Collin County that we invite you to visit if your are moving to DFW.

• You’ll find homes on large lots or even large parcels of land.
• It’s not in the midst of any hustle and bustle like a fair amount of Dallas and the suburbs are
• Quaint downtown with a variety of shops, restaurants and even a great coffee shop. 12 Stories coffee is a must visit
• A true Texan mentality. We found many understand the constitution, local laws and the Declaration of Independence. This is very important. Very. I could probably only name one other town that understands local law.

 

Lakewood

Running along the west side of White Rock Lake, Lakewood is home to beautifully landscaped estates and charming cottages. From Tudor style to Spanish tile roofs that make for a beautiful community. We have many friends within Lakewood and notice that the residents  have a love of the outdoors, simple natural beauty and access to White Rock Lake and the Arboretum. If you are moving to DFW, then this area will give you a Dallas address.

Fairview

Fairview is a city that does not get a lot of attention but chances are if you’ve exited Stacy Road from Central Expressway then you’ve probably found yourself in Fairview while maybe thinking you were in Allen.

And this is the exact location of Fairview which is nestle on the east side of DFW and set between McKinney and Allen. When the city planners envisioned Fairview Texas, they envisioned a town of single family homes on one acre minimum lots and for the majority of the town, this plan has come to fruition.  For many years if not more than a decade, new construction and homes seem to be built on the smallest lots possible, I’ve even seen new, very expensive homes in Frisco share the sides of their house (no windows) as walls with no room for kids or dogs to romp in the backyard. This might be perfect for the empty nesters or retirees looking for low upkeep but if you want chickens, a garden and a place to breathe, Fairview might be perfect for you.

Lucas

Blue Ridge

This little town is off the beaten path or on the path to Cattleman’s Cafe if you are searching for home cooking. Blue Ridge is all about small town life and embracing the “Texas” we hear so much about. If you need to commute to Richardson, Dallas, Irving or McKinney – this is not the spot for you, this is the city to work from home in or retire and take life at a slower pace.

Highland Park/University Park/Turtle Creek

Lets do a 180 and take you back to the heart of Dallas, Highland Park. Although, we might say this area is a bit more homogenized, ok, a lot more homogenized. This factor plays a role in the tight knit community you will discover here. The homes are beautiful, yards are quite large and immaculately kept up by homeowners or their staff. Unlike Plano and many other suburbs, the neighbors are frequently in their front yards with a chance for you to become familiar with who your neighbors are. Many residents attend the same school sporting events, same private schools, take their children to the same ballet classes, same restaurants, same churches. And yes, the private schools in this area are excellent.Although that lifestyle won’t be appealing to everyone, it does set this area apart from others. Neighbors are truly connected over the basics of life – school, recreation, food and worship.  Prior to 2020, we were planning on moving here because of the community and lifestyle alone. Post 2020 we are looking at 100 acre places in the Hill Country. =) Things change.

 

When people ask me what areas they should check out in Dallas, this is the only community in Dallas. For women, there is no need to join any online Mom groups if you live here, you will get traditional face to face conversation on tips and tricks for all things local. Like I mentioned earlier, I am not here to sell anything. This is my insight and this info is based on conversations I have with folks around town all the time.

In closing

Where should you move to if you are moving to DFW for the first time? Like all of us, I assume you have a checklist of items that are important to you and your family. Moving these days is a big consideration and more challenging than before as the markets and moving companies are busy. I would encourage you to come to DFW and spend time, both DAY and NIGHT driving through and walking around each community.

Watch out for realtors that are brand new or realtors rushing you, their commissions are bigger than they ever have been. And although its a 24/7 job for them, this is your decision and it just cannot be rushed. Additionally, keep in mind that many of the suburbs with tourism boards and marketing departments have a sizable budget to advertise the usual cast of characters – parks, schools and cute restaurants. I would be cautious as marketers are great at selling the sizzle and not the steak. They partner with most local publications who are not being honest about the town rather creating a business. We know this because they tell us to our face what they really think. Once something gets into the echo chamber, its hard for it to leave the chat. As we approach 2023 many of us have gone through the most divisive years of our lives and selecting a community and space where you can thrive with the things you and your family need are top priority. YOU need to come to DFW and discover as much for yourself as possible.

This just our insight, take it with a grain of salt. Many people LOVE living in their suburbs of Flower Mound, Plano, Lewisville, Richardson, Celina, Frisco, Allen, McKinney and the like. They just love their life that they set up which is amazing. I just wanted to look under the hood at some other items. Hope this helps just one of you.