Ive had it here. After 16 years in the same industry my doors (businessfor the most part are shut down.....Losing my shirt and everything that goes with it.. Along with many other factors Ive decided its time to get out, the housing market will never decline to the point of equaling wages to afford one here.

Been looking on realtor.com around the Southlake/Grapevine area, or somwhere nearby, I hear they are building a lot and the economy is strong. Supposedly I can get a modest 2-3 br house for cheap. Dont want to be in a traffic ridden city, but not in the stix either. Once my Camino is put together, Im outta here unless something miraculous happens...quick.

Suggestions? :beers:

Yeah, Im used to heat. This valley is an oven in the summer.

Colleyville or Grapevine. Cost alittle more. On up to Plano,Richardson. Sherman and Dennison is still reasonable. Hurst,Euless,Bedford still has some good buys.

I'm in the DFW area, located in Frisco. Once a small town, its built up quickly as most of the northern 'burbs have, which is what you'll find just about anywhere around the DFW area. Not a bad place, plenty hot in the summer, lots of opportunities, housing is very reasonable and you'll have your pick of just about any size, shape and floor plan. Feel free to E-mail if you want more specific details. As for the commute around here, it all depends on time of day and where your going.

Jeff
68SS in TX

I currently live in grapevine. Grew up in southlake. Really like the older parts of grapevine. If you have any questions let me know
Dave

Ill shoot you both pms later this eve....Im in the pool business, and would like to do something related wherever I wind up. Most of what I do is in my homepage...I sold my last route a few years ago to a kid that eventually sold it, moved down there and is doing extremely well . They are able to charge almost double and live for 1/3.
Sounds good to me...Only other choice could be Fla, not sure I could afford to live there though.

Just say "NO" to Irving/Las Calinas,nothing positive here,AT ALL,except location-and it is definitely not worth it.Grapevine/Southlake and H.E.B. are good choices.Frisco and Plano are booming but the traffic isn't too good.I grew up in Euless,and have lived in Garland,Richardson,and Dallas before.I really miss Euless.

So, what areas should I stay away from and why? Are those two above bad, as in crime, or nothing going on (workwise)?

Oh, please explain in great detail :D

The metroplex includes all of the above mentioned places. Housing is cheap, but taxes are high. My sister just cashed out of her place in D.C. and moved to Texas. She bought in Keller. Nice 3500 ft3 house with 3 car garage and pool. No yard and $10,000 a year in taxes for $235,000.
The houses are almost on top of each other and traffic galore.

I live in Mayberry, I mean, Granbury. We have a lake, 30 miles from the metroplex, with access on a wide road and 70 mph speed limits. We have a Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot and a few GOOD eating establishments. People from the metroplex come here all the time for r&r. 1/8th the taxes of the metroplex.

Lots of land and homes. We have many former Cali's here for neighbors. Do you have earth Google? If not, get it. It's free and you can get a much better idea of what you're looking for.

http://www.granbury.org

I live in Keller, which borders Southlake. The housing prices here are much better and you will still live in decent neighborhoods.

The job market here isn't as strong as it once was though. The economy is still doing okay, but we're starting to see some overbuilding. Another fellow TC'er moved here from California a couple of years ago and it took him a while to find work. I spent about six months looking for my current position while I was still with Bell Helicopter. By the way, I strongly urge you not to even consider applying at Bell. Bell Helicopter is one of worst places to work in the United States, if not the absolute worst. Just don't expect to come here and find work right away.

The San Antonio area is booming right now. You might consider looking down there. Again, the housing will be much more affordable than what you're having to deal with now and you get more house for the money. If you go up hwy 281 north out into the hill country, you can find a lot of nice home on large lots, many with acreage. The Spring Branch area is highly recommended. Check out a developement called Mystic Shores, near Canyon Lake.

From what I've seen around the DFW area, for someone in the pool business the newer areas is where all that action is. As stated above, when folks move here they find they can buy a lot more house compared to other areas for the same $$$, so if they came from a high market they have that perception of extra $$$ and splurge on things like pools. My neighbors just moved from CA also, bought for what they felt was dirt cheap (but was full asking price here) compared to CA, then tore out the entire backyard and put in a huge A-S pool with jacuzzi, now it sounds like I'm living right next door to the community pool...wouldn't be bad if they shared it... would be nice to dive in that thing after getting all dirty and sweaty working on the Chevelle... I am jsut amazed when I fly over all the sub-divisions in the Frisco/Plano/Carrolton/McKinney areas just how many houses have pools...LOTS of them... with more being installed all the time.. I've been in Frisco for about 9 years, the traffic has gotten worse as the community grows. Once the tollway is finsihed north to highway 380, and some other roads get done, won't be as bad, just a factor of time of day and where your going. I ditto the comment about Irving/Los Colinas area. My office is there, wouldn't want to live here. Come on - you are going to like it here, what are you waiting for? As the old bumper sticker says "I'm not a native Texan but I got here as quick as I could". Get over to Burbank and hop a Southwest flight and come visit...

Jeff
68SS in TX

Just say "NO" to Irving/Las Calinas,nothing positive here,AT ALL,except location-and it is definitely not worth it.Grapevine/Southlake and H.E.B. are good choices.Frisco and Plano are booming but the traffic isn't too good.I grew up in Euless,and have lived in Garland,Richardson,and Dallas before.I really miss Euless.


Hmmm...We're in Las Colinas and we like it here. VERY convenient - 15 minutes to either airport - 20 min. to downtown. There are parts of Irving I won't even go into, but the Las Colinas/Valley Ranch areas are pretty nice. LOTS of building going on here and it seems like some good things are happening.

Thanks for the input...Id like to come out the next month or two to check it out....Probably have to line up a job and get a small place to rent when I finally do move just to get a feel for things...Looking forward to some more input from you guys.
How are they with our older cars as far as emissions go?
Any tracks nearby?

Thanks for the input...Id like to come out the next month or two to check it out....Probably have to line up a job and get a small place to rent when I finally do move just to get a feel for things...Looking forward to some more input from you guys.
How are they with our older cars as far as emissions go?
Any tracks nearby?
Ennis has the dragstrip. My test on my 68 they honk the horn and check if brakes and lights work and wiper blades. $12.50 for sticker.They can get you on the new vehicles sometimes but thats in Harris county.(houston)

How are they with our older cars as far as emissions go? - Emmisions testing is in the large counties in and surrounding cities. None where I am. In fact, If you register an antique auto, you'll never need an inspection or have to run a registration sticker. $55 for 5 full years. No front plate either.

Any tracks nearby? - Yes!
http://www.yellobellydragstrip.com
http://www.texasraceway.com
http://www.texasmotorplex.com
http://www.dentondragway.com

This place is a country club (affordable) for road racers located in Granbury. They have three tracks and are now offering homesites for those that just can't get enough.http://www.motorsportranch.com

Also an interesting thing about Hood and other rural counties in Texas. Most don't require any type of permits or inspections for building. If you live in a restricted neighborhood, you must follow their rules, but outside of that type of neighborhood, or in a city, just build it. And, do a good job. Perty big change from Cali, huh?

Hmmm...We're in Las Colinas and we like it here. VERY convenient - 15 minutes to either airport - 20 min. to downtown. There are parts of Irving I won't even go into, but the Las Colinas/Valley Ranch areas are pretty nice. LOTS of building going on here and it seems like some good things are happening.

Yeah,you're right if you're talking about north of 635.I live near Williams Square,southern edge of Las Calinas.Nice homes in Cottonwood Valley but alot of foundation problems there.Valley Ranch is nice,a little tightly packed.

Irving=bad roads,bad foundations and what comes with it,bad schools with agendas,bad traffic,smells bad,too many places where you can't find someone who speaks english,just heard you can't enroll a child into pre-k if they speak english allready-dunno about that for sure, etc.Wasn't near as bad in '91 when we moved here.

Might want to avoid Pleasant Grove,Oak Cliff,and a few other areas-y'all add some more?

They've named some excellent locations in previous posts-pick one,you'll like it.Plenty of work if you're in the building trades.

There are good and bad areas everywhere, in all cities large and small, all a matter of perception and experience I guess. Some areas much more expensive for homes than they probably should be, some areas where crime is a factor to consider, but for the most part, I think you could find a nice neighborhood in just about any of the various 'burbs around the DFW area, mostly to the north, west and east, haven't heard much nice about the close in southern 'burbs though. Lots of new construction just about everywhere though.

Jeff
68SS in TX

Hey all, I am concidering moving to Texas my self how is Pflugerville and Round rock? Nice area so my wife can go for a walk by herself? Thanks for any replies!
Gary.

I live in Round Rock. Great place to live. One of the best school districts in the state, low cost of living. Low crime. Everything close by. Other than Dell (Headquartered here) and Traffic, no real negatives. We need more car guys though.

anyone in the houston area?

Thanks for the reply, Jon how long does it take to get to Pflugerville from Round Rock? My wife wants to know about the economy. How is housing costs, any new constuction? You say that it is a low crime area, middle class upper middle class or what?
thanks again!
Gary.