Homeless in Plano -Just Moved from Florida

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Frisco Schools. We have been in Frisco for 12 years - my kids are getting a first rate education and I LOVE the town as well. I'm not a realtor and don't know anything about the housing market here, but if you are working w/a realtor I would definitely ask about houses in Frisco.

GOOD LUCK,
D.

We live in Allen (great schools) in a cul-de-sac in a neighborhood with lots of kids just off Angel Parkway. AND there just happens to be a 2-story home for sale as well. The neighborhood is Summerfield Estates and the street is Coventry. If you wanted to know more, feel free to email me.

Plano is pricey. Come to Sachse - only 10 minutes down 190. This new home is across the street from a brand new elementary school.

3504 Irvin Drive, MLS #11069952. I am a Texas realtor, I would be happy to e-mail listings to you. I love to show homes. 3200 sq ft for $228,000 There are several nice neighborhoods out here - good schools, a small town atomosphere just a few minutes out of the city. We have great shopping and easy access to everything. I live here too.
C. ____@____.com

I live in the Wells Elementry neighborhood, our school was voted best elementry school in America by Redbook Magazine. It wins the Blue Ribbon of Excellence Award every year. The high school has a 98% rate of kids who go to college at a public high school!!! Our neighborhood has block parties and get together every month for different events. I always wanted to live in a neighborhood that I could go to any neighbors house and truly know them! This is a great place and the houses vary in price from $150-400,000. We have keys to our neighbors homes and a fabulous support system for new neighbors. Please feel free to email me if you need to know anything else...

Hi D.,
As a realtor and homeowner, I second the vote for Lake Highlands. All of the other mentioned communities are great too, but it sounds like your husband is on the fast track career wise. If that means you will be moving again in the next five years - either because of a relo or a pay increase that prompts you into a bigger house - you really should factor appreciation potential into your decision. For that, you will be well served to stay inside 635 in an established neighborhood.

The beauty of Lake Highlands is a location inside Dallas with proximity to great amenities and major freeways, coupled with Richardson schools. The community spirit here is amazing and you can't walk down a block without seeing a baby swing hanging from a tree or a soccer ball left out in the front yard.

I specialize in LH and East Dallas and I love working with families and introducing them to our neighborhood. If your relocation requires you to work with an approved Real Estate company, I am with Virginia Cook and we are on almost every company's approved list - you just have to ask for us.

Congratulations on the promotion and the move. Good luck with your search and whoever you choose as your realtor, be careful about the appreciation and value strength of the neighborhood you buy in.

-K.
www.ParadiseSlaughter.com

Hello
I just wanted to let you know if you decide to go north of Plano to Mckinney I have a house for sale. Ours is a 3 bdrm plus study or 4 bedroom b/c the study has a walk in closet. Wood floors throughout. Open kitchen to living room. The master has 2 walk in closets!!! We are on a culdesac with an oversized back yard. One neighbor has a 3 yr old and a little girl in kindergarden or 1st grade. The other neighbor has a boy around 5 and a girl I think that is in the 2nd grade. All nice people. Across the street are another batch of girls and boys to play with! We are in Stonebridge Rance with a community pool and a beach club. It is a great area and you get more house for your money in Mckinney verses Plano and it is only about 15 minutes to Plano. We are almost 2500 SF and are asking $238,000.
I am also a realtor so if you need any help I grew up in Allen and have lived in McKinney for the last 6 years. I would love for you to come take a look at the area.

Good luck
L. Oldham
eHomePro
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Hello, I live in the Westgate Subdivision on SOuthgate Drive and Sunrise Lane in Sachse Tx,
it is a fairly small suburb outside of Dallas.
We have 2 block parties a year (along with St. Patricks, halloween, New Years and Progressive dinner in December) everyone knows pretty much everyone in our phase, small phase of houses. There is a house for sale on the cul-de-sac across from our house. It is a two story approx 3000 sq feet, updated, the persone that owns it just recently got remarried and he relocated. It is listed with Remax with the DeBerry group. I am sure it is hard to relocate so I wanted to pass it on.
L. N

Hi D.,

I was already planning to respond to your request, when reading through the other responses I saw the name of my realtor! Karen Russell is her name, and I see the author also gave you her phone numbers.

She is representing our property MLS #11079049. I wish I had seen your request earlier; we had an open house today and would have loved for you to come on by! Of course, just call Karen and she can set you up to visit us any time. Our street is full of kids...I was just talking to some neighbors (who don't want us to move away) and we were talking about the biggest thing we will miss is our neighbors! We're in Plano, but Frisco schools, which are incredible! We have 2 children and have been in all levels of Frisco schools...1 is still attending. I think you'd love it!

I live in Waterview in Rowlett and you are describing my street! Check out the link to the neighborhood- there are lots of houses for sale. I teach in Rowlett and our neighborhood schools are great too. (Garland ISD) My daughter went to one right by our house, but now I have us all together where I teach. Rowlett is only about 20 minutes from Plano, depending on what part of Plano...

http://www.waterviewhoa.com/

Hi D.,

Welcome to Texas. You're going to love it here. We live in Allen which is just north of Plano. It's a fantastic community and I wish with all of my heart that we'd moved in to Watter's Crossing. The neighborhood is fantastic and has a wonderful group of supportive moms. The average home price is in the mid $200's and the landscape is mature. Check it out!!!

Where in FL are you coming from? I grew up in Plantation (outside of Ft. Lauderdale). I have been here 11 years and love it! If your husband is working in Plano, I would stick close to that. The suggestions above about WillowBend and Windhaven are great it just depends on how much you want to spend because those homes can be pricey. I live in Bent Tree West which is in Dallas but Plano schools. There is a neighborhood at Frankford and Campbell/Preston area that feeds into Haggar. I have a lot of friends in that neighborhood and they are always doing fun block parties, etc. They are also Dallas but Plano schools. If you want to be in touch, I'm happy to give you more info on any of the neighborhoods and always happy to welcome another Floridian to Texas!! ____@____.com

I lived in an area of Plano for 4 yrs then left and moved to very near downtown Dallas for a few yrs. We recently (6 months ago) decided to opt for PISD as opposed to DISD or private.

I pulled out all the stops for the school and neighborhood search and found the most highly acclaimed feeder pattern in PISD with the most stable, affordable, and desireable neighborhoods (Sales:$200s to 450s, rentals: $1400+).

My feeder pattern: Carlisle Elem, Schimelpfenig Middle, Jasper HS, Plano Senior.

While we live in the neighborhood with Carlisle and SMS, the area they pull from is rather large. Pretty much, they are bordered by: Legacy, Custer, Spring Creek, Mission Ridge (note: Forest Creek Estates goes to Carlisle, but it blends with Biltmore, which doesn't).

Please contact me for details. Yes, my husband is a Realtor, but I'm not... I'm a mom with a lot of research I can share.

C.
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____@____.com

PS. We've been very happy with the neighbors (we do block parties, live in a Cul de sac, go bike riding in the hike and bike trail that's adjoined to the neighborhood, kids walk to school, etc.) and in 5-7 years will likely pop for the bigger house and won't have to change schools! FYI - we bought one of the much smaller homes in our side at 2500 sq ft.

Oh and the MS is pronounced "Shim-el-fin-ig". That one took me awhile!!!

Hi D.,

Welcome to Dallas!

I would love to help you and your family find the perfect home in a great school district.

There are many questions to ask when considering a home purchase, feel free to email or call if I can be of help.

If you go to www.TheTrinityGroup.org you will find the most updated school ratings, mls search, and other helpful information.

Best Wishes,

C. Roeschen
The Trinity Group
Keller Williams
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____@____.com
www.TheTrinityGroup.org

Murphy is awesome! It's in Collin County and Plano ISD or Wylie ISD depending on your neighborhood. It's a small city close to everything with great neighborhoods. I personally recommend living in the WISD so you don't get lost in the huge PISD. Murphy Farms (off Murphy Rd. between Renner and Campbell)is a great neighborhood and just what you're looking for. We have block parties, mom's club, etc.

"smaller home-town feel" in ALLEN!
several exemplary elementary schools: KERR, BOONE, Norton (blue ribbon) & Green and some others....
Call ALLEN ISD to check for availability-- some schools are FULL.

Are you looking to rent or buy? I work for a Mortgage Company and I have a realtor that is really awesome that listens to your wants and desires. I can give you her number please let me know. She assists with rentals as a buyer's agent.

Check out this website
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/account/2008/distri...
to find out more about the elementary before buy a house. Most schools in the Plano area are great, but those listed as "exemplary" have especially good test scores. Of course, the accountability rating does NOT tell everything about a school, but it certainly helps if you are new to the area.

Hello D., We so love the neighborhood we live in however it is not in Plano. We actually live in Lake Highlands, which is Dallas but has defined boundaries. Even though we live in Dallas our children attend school in Richardson Independent School District, which is very good. Lake Highlands is a great community with an awesome neighborly small town feel. I live in Merriman Park Estates and today as a matter of fact we are celebrating our 50th Year Anniversary. We have an annual Fall Festival where we block off an entire street, and get a band, bounce houses for the kiddos, dinner, adult beverages etc. It is such a good time. We have a garden club, playgroups, Womens Social Group (aka Mom's Club), Sunshine Committee, Welcoming Committee etc. Lake Highlands is just due east across 75 from NorthPark Mall. We are getting a new Town Center and development for new retail is underway (the one thing LH lacked). LH is a place people grew up and are now living calling home. There is also a LH Women's and Jr. League. I belong to the Jr. League and it isn't your typically Jr. League. Everyone in LH is just really down to earth, friendly people.

D., if you should decide you would like to drive LH or want to know more please let me know because I am a realtor and can get you anything you need. Regardless, if you already have a realtor please check out Lake Highlands. I have had many people say "It is like a small town in a big city". Also, we are we close to White Rock Lake which is fun to take the kids to. Oh, and a little about me: Married with three children, two boys (12 & 8) and one girl (5). Just went back to work after staying home for 8 yrs. and am loving it.

My work email address is ____@____.com Luck and welcome to Texas!

Several people mentioned the Lake Highlands area....we absolutely LOVE it. We actually moved to the edge of Lake Highlands a few years ago (closer to the Garland/Richardson area), and are planning on moving back into our old neighborhood in the next year or so. We both really miss it, and want back into those schools. There are several GREAT elementary schools...Wallace, White Rock Elem., Merriman Park and Moss Haven. There are great, old neighborhoods and very friendly people!!

The Windhaven Farm subdivision is great and the elementary school is fantastic. The neighborhood is a few blocks east of the Dallas North Tollway and is bordered by Parkwood on the west, Willowbend Drive on the east, Parker on the south, and Spring Creek Parkway on the north. I'm not sure of the area of Plano or price range you are looking for, but we've loved it! We've been here for 2 1/2 years and have a 2nd grader as well. All of her teachers have been phenomenal. The elementary school attended is Brinker Elementary and is within walking distance. Our neighborhood has a women's lunch once a month (I am unable to attend as it's a day our 4 year old doesn't have preschool and our sitters are in high school). The kids play outside a lot and there are always neighbors outside. Halloween is a blast because there are so many people out and about.

I have a friend that became a realtor a few years ago. She is Mom, nice, honest and down to earth. She lives in far north dallas (almost plano) and works in plano. I'm sure she could guide you. She has children and will know the schools. Many good schools in North Dallas and Plano and she may be able to guide you depending on what you are looking for.
Her name is Karen Russell ____@____.com
###-###-#### is the office, but you could call her today on her cell ###-###-####
Tell her P. from the Bookclub sent you!

Hi D.,

I would recommend Willow Bend Polo South, Polo Master or West V. These are three subdivisions adjacent to each other in Plano, near the North Dallas Tollway and W. Park Blvd. All are bordered on the south by W. Park Blvd., the west by Parkwood, the north by Nassau and on the east, by the alley behind Polo Lane. We have lived here nearly 10 years. The schools are excellent with Centennial Elementary, Renner Middle, Shepton (for the first two years of high school) and Plano West (for the last two). We have socials for the children (including an awesome Halloween party) as well as for the adults (cocktail parties, book club, and a monthly ladies' get together). We also have a fantastic crime watch organization. Lastly, there is a fitness center that offers wonderful tennis instruction for adults and kids, fitness equipment and water aerobics in the summer. Altho it is part of a country club, you can utilize many of these facilities by paying a slightly higher fee, if you are not a memeber. People are friendly and we are a community of nice people! If you'd like more info, please email me. Good luck and welcome to Texas!

We live in Watters Crossing in Allen and LOVE IT! I think someone mentioned earlier that most run about mid 200's but there are even some in the upper 190's and low 200's. Mature trees, walking trail, couple of pools, tennis court, clubhouse, pond, and excellent school.

Good morning, D.,
I live in the Cottonwood subdivision of Allen, which is one of the older neighborhoods of Allen, mature trees, lots of quiet streets and cul-de-sacs. Vaughn Elementary, which is the school here, is an award winning school. Ford Middle school is just North of here a few blocks, then the Freshman Center and then Allen High School, which is one of the best high schools in the DFW metrplex. We moved here on purpose from out in the country because of the good schools and our boys have had a great educational experience here. Both are now in Collin County Community College.
I don't know what your budget is, but there are 3 or 4 nice houses for sale within a few blocks (I walk in the mornings). A 3-4 bedroom house in this area is between $150K - $200K and no homeowners association. We have been here 3 years and love it and our neighbors have been here 22 years. There are a number of families with little children on our street, so lots of playmates for gradeschoolers in this area.
Whatever you decide, good luck with your move.
B. G.

You might want to check out Castle Hills in Lewisville. Near Josey Lane and Hebron Parkway....great neighborhood.
T.