Small Towns outside the Dallas-Fort worth Metroplex (Garland, Waco: rent, chapel)

[jlove3596]

Assuming I am willing to live in a double wide... what areas would you suggest. Im ok with "way out in the country" as long as its about an hour drive. I'm looking for country commuting towns

[Rakin]

Look somewhere northeast of DFW like Greenville, Paris or Sulpher Springs. No one here will probably know the school districts that well. You'll probably be out in the country. Good luck. You're asking a bunch of city people for country advice.

Get an apartment in Rockwall then start your search and explore. Stay away from Lake Tawakoni, meth capital of Texas.

Get an agent maybe in Greenville who knows those country areas. A newer agent will have the time and desire to help you.

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by Rakin

Look somewhere northeast of DFW like Greenville, Paris or Sulpher Springs. No one here will probably know the school districts that well.

You'll probably be out in the country. Good luck. You're asking a bunch of city people for country advice.

Get an apartment in Rockwall then start your search and explore.

Paris is an hour north of Greenville so that would totally bust the “commute” to McKinney/ Rockwall / Downtown,


But I agree with your sentiment....we city folk don’t know much about the country mice (aside from OP’s list of towns mostly being completely outside his/her desired drive times) and this is probably not the best forum to be asking about East Texas towns.

OP....just be careful. While there are some nicer small towns in Texas with good schools, the majority seem to embody the worst traits of small town life (lots of drugs, poor schools, little ambition, and a lotta rural poverty).

[Rakin]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

Paris is an hour north of Greenville so that would totally bust the “commute” to McKinney/ Rockwall / Downtown,

I agree. She might be able to find a good RE agent in Rockwall who would know some of the country towns east and NE.

A good town over the years I would consider if the commute would work is Commerce or around the city. I've had several friends send their kids to Commerce schools and still live in the city. Nice mid size city and you have Texas A&M Commerce (Old East TX State Univ).

I'd certainly get an apartment and spend some time exploring areas first. That's always the standard advice we give people here no matter where.

[jlove3596]

Thank you so much ... I will look into commerce area

[gtt99]

Quinlan, Mabank, Gun Barrel City, Kaufman, Terrell. Kaufman county in general.

[jlove3596]

I was originally drawn to the Kaufman county area because of the lake and the pricing but have seen several posts stating that the area is not safe with many "meth labs." Do you have a different opinion of the area? many posts are several years old so it's hard to know if the information is still accurate.

[ChristieP]

Just FYI: Commerce isn't going to be less than an hour commute into downtown Dallas, and it doesn't have a lot of trees.
When I said "way out in the country," I meant over an hour commute. There aren't any "country commuting towns" that will be within your price range. Anywhere with large lots that's close to town (such as Sunnyvale) is well above $250k. Yes, the Cedar Creek Lake and Lake Tawakoni areas are still well known for drug problems such as meth labs. That hasn't changed. If anything, it has gotten worse.

The problem is that the "average" 3/2/2 house on a standard .2 acre lot is over $250k in most parts of DFW. When you start adding requirements, such as a 4 bedroom, and a large lot, and close to a lake, but you don't add to the budget, it becomes almost impossible. I agree that you should get an apartment here and start checking the area out for yourself. You'll see what we mean very quickly.

[gtt99]

Originally Posted by jlove3596

I was originally drawn to the Kaufman county area because of the lake and the pricing but have seen several posts stating that the area is not safe with many "meth labs." Do you have a different opinion of the area? many posts are several years old so it's hard to know if the information is still accurate.

It has low end pockets here and there just like any other are. With $250000 budget you will not be anywhere around meth labs.



Here are a few listings:
https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...-17726?view=qv


https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...-99336?view=qv


https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...-61360?view=qv


https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...-94731?view=qv


https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...-78234?view=qv

[ChristieP]

Kaufman County will not be within 1 hour commute of McKinney, and likely close to 1 hour to downtown Dallas.

Terrell schools are not good at all.