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The other faces the golf course in Chase Oaks, and is closer to 75 but there doesnt seem to be a lot around that area (shopping, doctors, etc) except for a Chinese shopping mall that has sprung up and our realtor says it might not be a good resale because of th HUGE number of apartment complexes around the golf course. It has a GREAT view of the golf course. Negative is no master down.
I work in the area...it is an odd mix of apartments and crappy retail-- it is nice enough, but I wouldn't want to live there. Why not go a few miles north and look in Allen
We have finally decided on two houses in Plano near the light rail so that I won't have to drive downtown. One is on Legacy midway between the toll road and 75, a big house in Forest Estates at a good price. But no view, and the traffic does seem a little heavy on Legacy.
The other faces the golf course in Chase Oaks, and is closer to 75 but there doesnt seem to be a lot around that area (shopping, doctors, etc) except for a Chinese shopping mall that has sprung up and our realtor says it might not be a good resale because of th HUGE number of apartment complexes around the golf course. It has a GREAT view of the golf course. Negative is no master down.
Anyone who really knows Dallas and Plano, please give me input on these neighborhoods.
Apartments real close by......... master up. NO!!!! Not only no but NOOOOOO
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Originally Posted by Squirl
I'd say keep looking.....
I agree.
If your paying $300,000 for a house......... why settle.
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Originally Posted by loves2read
most people would not want a house by a golf course--errant shots being one reason--
and the only positive comments you really make is that they are both close to light rail...
Depends on where one is located along the course. Not all houses have an issue w/ golf balls and besides, living in a golf course community....... a lot of people like even if they do not play golf
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Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80
"Being close to the DART rail" isn't something that a critical mass of DFW residents look for in a home right now. If that is the redeeming quality of both, I'd pass too.
There are simply too many homes on the market in the Plano/Richardso corridor along 75 that you should settle for one that's one a busier street than you would like or doesn't have the floorplan you want.
Apartments - and this is not a PC statemet at all- are NOT good for resale, especially if the tenants are minorit/ low income/ refugee variety (as opposed to the upwardly mobile young professional renters). The schools in East Plano are less desirable (which affects your resale significantly) and many have seen a huge influx of African and Middle Eastern refugees (Rwanda, Somalia, Iraq) over the past 10 years. Great for them, but most parents get frustrated when time in those classes is spent on teaching immigrant kids English as opposed to actually learning like the schools in West Plano can do.
If the fact that there is little retail nearby bothers you, it's going to bother the next set of buyers who see your home when you sell.
You say you want a "view"- very few homes (especially newer construction since the lots are so small and packed together tightly) have a view in the $300k price range. That may be a concession you need to make to find a more suitable home in a better location.
Have you looked in Murphy, east of 75 parallel to Plano? Bigger lots there and in your price range. Or in Richardson? Older homes but bigger lots and even closer to downtown.
True on the light rail aspect.
Yes, there are MANY more homes for sale in your price range...... do not settle when it comes to these issues. Look past things like paint colors, flooring, wallpaper, cabinetry colors and such. You CAN change those. You can NOT change the location, the floorplan nor apartments nearby.
Stay away from an area that has TOO many apartments.
If you want a view in your price range I too suggest you head east a bit more and check out far east Plano, Richardson and Murphy. Take a look at the houses off of Renner Rd out to the east.
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Originally Posted by TexSun2Step
Thanks for your insight, it does help. The rail is something important to me because I work in deep downtown and do not relish rush hour commutes AT ALL. We used the metro in the DC area and it made life so much better. The other element is family in Southlake, but I already figured taht I would not want that commute to downtown. We looked in Carrollton (light rail coming in and closer to Southlake) but the realtor really tried to dissuade us from Carrollton. We also like the north Dallas area but 300-375,000 gets mostly older homes that need to be updated. Have looked in Richardson only in the Canyon Creek/Prairie Creek area with no results--eitherh don't like or can't afford. Will check out the rest of it.
I'd steer you away from that area as well. And I grew up there.
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Originally Posted by FalconheadWest
In the price range I'm assuming you're looking at to be in the areas you're talking about, you need master downstairs or it will hurt your resale a LOT!
Agree 100%. A master upstairs is a HUGE deal breaker in this market.
"Being close to the DART rail" isn't something that a critical mass of DFW residents look for in a home right now.
No, but it's something that the OP is interested in. FWIW, neither of these houses are "right on" the DART line, just within reasonable driving distance of the Park & Ride at the Parker Rd. station.
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Apartments - and this is not a PC statemet at all- are NOT good for resale, especially if the tenants are minorit/ low income/ refugee variety (as opposed to the upwardly mobile young professional renters).
True. Also, a complex can go from "desirable tenants" to "undesirable tenants" in a very short time frame. So caution has to be used even when buying near a "good" complex. Then again, I live in a McMansion located kitty-corner from an apartment complex, so what do I know?
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The schools in East Plano are less desirable
Not true if you're in the Murphy/McMillan feeder system.
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and many have seen a huge influx of African and Middle Eastern refugees (Rwanda, Somalia, Iraq) over the past 10 years.
Not to my knowledge. More like a lot of 1st generation Hispanics.
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Great for them, but most parents get frustrated when time in those classes is spent on teaching immigrant kids English as opposed to actually learning like the schools in West Plano can do.
YMMV. There are loads of Section 8 (and a DHA project) in the Plano West area, and two of the weakest (IMHO) PISD elementaries feed into Plano West.
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If the fact that there is little retail nearby bothers you, it's going to bother the next set of buyers who see your home when you sell.
You say you want a "view"- very few homes (especially newer construction since the lots are so small and packed together tightly) have a view in the $300k price range. That may be a concession you need to make to find a more suitable home in a better location.
Have you looked in Murphy, east of 75 parallel to Plano? Bigger lots there and in your price range. Or in Richardson? Older homes but bigger lots and even closer to downtown.
All true and good advice.
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After all that, I think you'd be quite happy with the central Plano house you're looking at.
I thought Chase Oaks was close to the Watters Creek shopping center, it even has a Market Street. Other than where it is, I don't know much about that neighborhood though. Also about 10 minutes north on 75 gets you to the huge shopping area at Stacy and 75: The Village at Allen and Fairview
I second the idea to look at parts of Allen. If PISD is high on your list of criteria, there are sections of SW Allen that feed into exemplary elementary and middle schools that then feed into Plano Senior High. Specifically look between McDermott/ Hedgcoxe and Custer/Alma. Off of Bethany between 75 and Alma or just north of Mcdermott have good neighborhoods too - these will be Allen ISD.
One thing to know about Plano - the roads really are laid out in a grid pattern, which makes it very easy to negotiate. So if Legacy is busy you can drop down to Spring Creek and go to 75, or up to Hedgcoxe. N/S you can choose Indep, Coit, Custer....etc. It is very easy to navigate. I understand wanting to be close to DART, but 5 more minutes for a better house wouldn't be a bad compromise.
In general, I would agree with the master up being a tough resale. That is what everyone says, anyway. But IMO go with what YOU like, don't worry so much about resale. For us, when we bought in Plano almost 10 years ago we had an infant and wanted the master up....so for us we looked till we found one. We sold last spring, and were able to sell in that market within 2 months for 1% off list. So you can re-sell; you just won't appeal to quite as many buyers.
And personally, I don't like golf course houses - no privacy for the backyard, limited fencing options, and errant balls. So I would be paying a premium for things I don't want. But if you really want a 'view', that is about the only way to get it in Plano. If you want a different kind of view, however, look for houses that back up to the creeks that run through Plano.
There are hardly any homes available in Forest Creek for long. Lots there are quite big for the money i.e. a third acre. The elementary school is Mathews which is a blue-ribbon school. Next to the school is a beautiful park with a nice lake/pond and about 80 plus ducks. Next to that
is a public library and a police station.
There's a Sprouts nearby providing market-fresh farmers market like produce.
This location also provides fast access (but not too near) to Stonebriar mall, Sam's, walmart, Lowes, HD etc.
Estates Of Forest Creek is a desirable neighborhood. I live by that neighborhood which is slightly north (Hunter's Glen) SE corner of Independence and Hedgcoxe. We love it there cause it is closed to most of everything (malls, shops, libraries, etc.) and with great schools all exemplary. If you have kids, you will mostly want to pick this over Chase Oaks.
I think that at one point someone had suggested Las Colinas to you (if I am remembering the correct poster). I would suggest you take another look in that area. The Dart rail lines in that area should be opening soon -- construction is well underway -- and in the meantime the commute down 114 to downtown is manageable -- I occasionally have to head that direction after dropping my son at Cistercian. Access to Southlake is also quite easy from that area as well -- much better than from the Plano/Allen area. One of my son's best friends lives in Southlake and our regular half way meeting point between their home in Southlake and ours in North Dallas is in that area of Irving.
I think that at one point someone had suggested Las Colinas to you (if I am remembering the correct poster). I would suggest you take another look in that area. The Dart rail lines in that area should be opening soon -- construction is well underway -- and in the meantime the commute down 114 to downtown is manageable -- I occasionally have to head that direction after dropping my son at Cistercian. Access to Southlake is also quite easy from that area as well -- much better than from the Plano/Allen area. One of my son's best friends lives in Southlake and our regular half way meeting point between their home in Southlake and ours in North Dallas is in that area of Irving.
I am in disbelief this poster doesn't even look in Las Colinas... zip codes 75062, 75039, and 75038 will all have direct access to the Orange line in 2011. Its absolutely mind boggling they are looking in Plano. Nothing against the northern burbs but if you don't need the schools and work in the city why live in the northern burbs? btw, I love living on a golf course. Acres and acres of ponds and green grass behind that I don't have to pay to mow or water! What a silly errant golf ball remark someone made! I would trade a great view for many amenities in a home.
I am in disbelief this poster doesn't even look in Las Colinas... zip codes 75062, 75039, and 75038 will all have direct access to the Orange line in 2011. Its absolutely mind boggling they are looking in Plano. Nothing against the northern burbs but if you don't need the schools and work in the city why live in the northern burbs? btw, I love living on a golf course. Acres and acres of ponds and green grass behind that I don't have to pay to mow or water! What a silly errant golf ball remark someone made! I would trade a great view for many amenities in a home.
Agreed! Would much rather make frequent drives to Southlake from Las Colinas than from East or Central Plano. Op, be sure you're adding up all the tolls you'll be paying to take 121 or George Bush to 114 (Southlake).
Sounds like they're working with a re agent that only knows Plano!
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