Every day we help our clients to find the perfect home, and one of the biggest factors we have to think about when looking for that perfect place is, of course, location, location, location! An area that might be perfect for one person could be completely wrong for you and your family.
One of the biggest questions to ask when looking for a home is, “Do I want to live in the heart of the city, or a suburb?” This battle has been raging since the industrial revolution, and is going strong today.
Luckily for us, there are many pros and cons for deciding whether to live in Dallas or in our friendly suburbs to the north. Here are just a few:
Convenience
Here is where the rubber meets the road when it comes to home prices in Dallas. As one of the worst commutes in the country, people who work in Dallas have much to consider.
Do you mind being a road warrior? Would you rather have a smaller space but be able to walk to work, restaurants, and nightlife? If you don’t live right in the heart of downtown Dallas, be prepared for longer commutes.
Back in the good old days when Plano was a two light town and Frisco was a railroad stop, people drove to Dallas for everything. Both of these towns are now sprawling cities with giant malls, tons of restaurants and outdoor parks to keep everyone in the family busy.
Schools
There are several fantastic schools in Dallas- including 2 of the best (magnet) schools in the country-, but if you don’t attend one of the best schools, the quality can vary depending on what you’re looking for. Click here to visit a list of TEA ratings for Dallas-Fort Worth area schools.
If you are someone who doesn’t plan on having kids, this will not be an issue. It is just important to know which school your children will attend when you invest in the home.
Price
After all, budget is the biggest factor in the decision-making process. We looked around the market for houses under certain prices in the suburbs and Dallas to compare. Here is what we found:
Under $200,000
Allen, TX
Photo courtesy of realtor.com
4-bedroom, 2.5 bath 2711 square-foot home. This home offers great schools, tons of space, and a safe, friendly community. Located off Bethany road, right in between the cities of Allen and Lucas. Schools averaged 8.7 out of 10. To see the full listing click here.
Dallas, TX
This 3 bedroom 2 bath 1931 square foot house is just south of Casa Linda. It is nicely renovated, and has a large back yard and a friendly commute to match. The schools leave much to be desired scoring an average 3 out of 10. To see full listing information click here.
Under $400,000
Dallas, TX
This is a 3-bedroom 2-bathroom Tudor in the trendy M Streets area. The neighborhood is gorgeous, and it is close to everything a Dallasite would want…except good schools. The schools assigned to this home did better than the $200,000 Dallas home, averaging 7.3 (mostly due to the fantastic blue-ribbon Stonewall Jackson Elementary school). For full listing information click here.
Frisco, TX
This huge five-bedroom four-bath 3776 square-foot home is a suburbanite’s dream. However, It is quite the commute to anywhere outside of Frisco. Also, if you love unique architecture and a nice tree-lined neighborhood, you may want to move it along (perhaps “look elsewhere” or “move on to the next listing”?). The schools assigned to this home are all ranked a perfect 10. For the full listing click here.
Whether it is your first time or your tenth time, buying a home is not a piece of cake. There are so many factors that play into finding your perfect home.
Ready to start your home search?
