It may be time to start a new chapter in my life... (Dallas: real estate, custom home)

[SpeedyAZ]

Well folks, I've been reflecting on my life and my future in the past few months and have come to the conclusion that I may need a change. I've been living in Phoenix for nearly 8 years now and have loved it, but I feel that it may be time to leave and experience another city.

Most of you know that I'm a real estate agent and that the market in Phoenix has gone down drastically. Homes are staying on my the market much longer, prices are falling and while I do expect the market to level off, it might be time to try a new career.

I've decided that Dallas is the right city for me. I love the people, the atmosphere, and just the whole area in general. I'd be working at either Boeing in Richardson or Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth as an aeronautical engineer. I plan on coming down late this summer and scout the area for homes.

I'd like some advice on what areas to look at. My price range is up to $1.1 million but I'm not looking into spending that much. Ideally I'd like a 3 bed/ 3 bath, 2400-2700 sq ft. custom home on a golf course. I don't mind commuting, traffic really doesn't bother me much. Right now I have a 30 mile commute each way and I wouldn't mind having that type of commute in Dallas.

I'm single so I don't have any kids to worry about, schools aren't a huge priority but good schools would be a plus.

Anyway I'd appreciate any advice or suggestions you could offer me. However I won't be moving until at least a year but I feel planning early is the key. Thanks again everyone .

-Chris

[socketz]

Chris,

There are tons of homes out here on Golf Courses. I'd recommend Stonebridge Ranch personally because I have looked at alot of the homes out there on Golf Courses; I also like the upside investment potential in this particular community. All well under your price range. But since your single, I'd probably say you need to be closer to where the singles are....there are other older areas to the south on golf courses as well, you may like these better due to the proximity to night life.

[SpeedyAZ]

Honestly I'm not terribly worried about where the nightlife is. I rarely go out to nightclubs and if I do, I'd be more than happy to drive. I live in an area where I have to drive to get to where the action is and I don't mind.

What are some popular golf course communities in Dallas? I heard Stonebridge Ranch is nice as you mentioned.

[socketz]

Visit Stonebridge when your out, tell me what you think. Seriously, I've looked at alot of areas and it gives me an overall feel I couldn't find anywhere else.

Try this site....type in 75071 for the Zip then 'Stonebridge' for the community:

Moderator cut: website

You can also narrow the criteria down to 'golf course view' once you get a set of homes.

In your price range, you could probably live on the country club there...

[sonshinelife]

Castle Hills has a nice golf course as well as Coyote Ridge both located in Far North Carrollton.

Older neighborhood but very well received is Country Place in south Carrollton near Addison. Country Place has a golf course as well.

Coppell is a nice area as well... I'm not sure of the name of the golf course ... It think it is Riverchase. There are some very nice homes in that area.

Another area is Hackberry Creek in Las Colinas. Gated community with a very nice course.

[socketz]

Thumbs up to Castle Hills as well. Like Stonebridge, it is the Pearl within its particular community. Firewheel is another place you may want to look - yet another pearl.

[SpeedyAZ]

Would those places be in reasonable commute of either Ft. Worth or Richardson though (reasonable= less than 1 hour each way)? I would like to stay in a larger suburb like Plano or Arlington though...

Socketz- I appreciatet the website, it's amazing what $300,000 can buy! The favorite one I saw was priced at $206,000!

[TriumphOfTheSprint]

If you are working at Boeing, I would look at Firewheel. It's a beautiful area, and you'd be about 2 miles from the office. I'm in Castle Hills, and it is a really nice area, but not nearly as convenient for where you'd be working.

If you end up at Lockheed, I would take a good look at Southlake (Timarron Country Club), not as close, but a really nice area. I don't think you are going to have a 30 minute commute to Lockheed and still live in any part of the extended Dallas area - that's probably as close as you can get, although Hackberry Creek and Las Colinas might be in your window.

I don't know enough about the immediate area around Lockheed (Fossil Creek and Diamond Oaks Country Club) to have an opinion - maybe someone else could say. That might be a question for the Ft. Worth forum.

[agoodcoitus]

In North Texas you are either Dallissssssss oriented or Fotwurth oriented. The difference is like the diffence between the day and night. Saw a tshirt that said "Keep Dallas Pretentious". Can not remember one about Fort Worth but there truly is a big difference.

[socketz]

You have to be careful in that price range though. I still tend to think that the low 300s is a sweet spot for quality/community and resale. There is alot of selection in the 200s, but many of those areas are hit and miss.

You'll see what I mean when you come out here and start looking.