Throw out everything you think you know about the housing market and prepare to be shocked at how far your money will go in Texas. No need to go into the $500k's unless you want a 4,500sf McMansion in the suburbs. Many people - the vast majority of our suburban buying market, finds a home they love between $250k and $450k. Richardson is very centrally located. Where you live will be based on your likes and dislikes. Like big and new? You'll probably be heading to areas like Murphy, McKinney, Frisco, Prosper, or Allen. Like the tree-lined older neighborhoods? (older meaning 1950's to 1980's here in DFW) You may enjoy Richardson, Plano, Addison or Dallas Proper. Want acreage? Lucas, Fairview, or Lovejoy may be more to your liking. http://www.dallassurburbs.net is a great website for the city and school info you are after.

Don't go it alone in DFW. We're a huge region and your housing options are wide open. A Realtor with a vast knowledge of the area is key to making this a painless transition for your family. I hope I've been of help to you. Let me know if I can be of further assistance.

Have a blessed day!
Ronda


Ronda Allen - Realtor, Life Coach, and Certified Purchasing Manager
CEO of comingsoonhomes.com - follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/comingsoonhomes
RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs - Keith Dobbs Team - #1 Office and #3 Team for RE/MAX in N. TX at mid-yr 2009!
See all our team's listings for sale or lease at http://www.keithdobbs.com
Friend me on Facebook: Ronda Wise Allen
Real my blog on DFW real estate at: http://www.trulia.com/blog/ronda_allen
Area info: http://www.dallassuburbs.net

Richardson is nice.
You might also consider Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Coppell.
All have great schools and easy commute to Richardson.
Prices are probably 1/2 of Boston area.
If you would like some sample listing sent to you just let me know.

Bruce Lynn
Keller Williams Realty

In my opinion, the best DFW realtor is Dennis O'Hagan dennis@dennisohagan.com He is expert in out of state situations, and is meticulous with attention to detail. To best answer you question about this area, he would ask many, many questions. Too many for this forum. I recommend you email him. You can read his profile at http://www.linkedin.com/in/dennisohagan or call him at 214-507-7475. he works for Re/Max.

Dennis helped one of my daughters purchase their first home. Everything went flawlessly. He was on top of the finances, closing details and gave them great advise all along the way.

I have no financial connections with Dennis. However, we do volunteer together at a non-profit group.

Call me if you have further questions.

Blane Cox
blane@blanecox.com
214-995-2896

Dear Bostonian Family,

Welcome to the land of Texas, where everything is BIG! You can get so much for your money here! Prices are much lower and more stable here than the Northeast. In fact, the average home price is about $250,000 so you will have a very nice home, probably about 4,000 or so square feet, depending upon the finish out you want in your home. Dallas is comprised of the city and about 13 surrounding suburbs, so most towns are within a half hour drive to Richardson. Therefore, if schools are of utmost importance, FriscoISD schools are rated high, raved by parents, education consultants like it, and people move to Frisco for the school system. Home prices are great, you can catch a beautiful home for $400,000 and up in Frisco. You need not spend $550 to get a decent home in a decent district here. Another great area is Castle Hills, which is an award winning-community featuring pools, lakes, 30 parks, hike and bike trails, golf and HOA dues include basic cable & security alarm monitoring,as well as door to door mail service and can include the pool membership if you want it. Plano is a great area and the schools also are very good there. I would love to talk to you about the area! A family came down recently from NC and we were able to help them, call me and let's talk about particulars, I can set ya up to receive only the homes that match your criteria based upon availability, # beds, # baths, area's of town, price, square footage and more! I live in the area as a native here my life so I would love to help you guys out! Having a child myself, I can relate to your family wanting only the best. I can also help you find a Realtor in Boston!
Nicole Arenas, Realtor
214-991-9507
nicolearenas@ymail.com

There are definitely tons of options for you. There are parts of Richardson and Plano that are very nice. Richardson schools are very good as are Planos. Depending on how far your Husband is willing and how large of a house you are looking for the Lakewood and East Dallas area may be good buy for you. It offers some of the best in the Dallas school district but you may be able to find a home that would leave you enough for tuition for private schooling.

Many of the relos I have dealt with did this exact thing.

The main thing is definitely interview a few local agents and find one you fit with and let them show you around. I would be happy to do this and am Very familiar with both Richardson and the Lakewood Area as I have been a resident of both of them.

A great benefit of working with me is my lack of a large name broker means I can rebate you 20% of my commission after the sale. On a home of this size that is a nice little chunk of change.

Thanks
RJ
214-682-0598

M,

This is Diane Tackett, the lady referred by Jodi Smith (below), and my partner Joe Kupke. We have both lived in the North Dallas area for many years. Joe lived in Richardson for nearly 15 years and loved it there. We have both lived in Plano and loved that, too. We are based in Plano but also serve clients in Richardson and surrounding areas.

As others have commented, Richardson is a more mature community than Plano, which is very new and quite nice. Many homes in Plano accordingly have the latest up to date features. On the other hand there is a bit of a "cookie cutter" look in some areas of Plano, as one lady below mentioned. Richardson, by comparison is older, tends to have more mature trees and feels more established. This may appeal to you coming from Boston.

Joe lived in the "Canyon Creek" and "Prairie Creek" areas of Richardson, which he highly recommends. Richardson and Plano are adjacent to one another, they are both excellent communities and we would recommend you look at a few houses in each. In the final analysis it will be a matter of personal taste, and perhaps a trade-off between a more established area with mature trees and so forth (Richardson) versus very nice newer homes in a more newly developed area (Plano). You should be able to find a very nice home in either area for $550K or less.

We would also like to point out that there are other fine communities in close proximity to Richardson, such as Sachse (to the East) which has the excellent Woodbridge community and more of a country flavor. Please give either of us a call to discuss the various neighborhoods in and around Richardson. We look forward to hearing from you!

Diane Tackett (214)-336-7505 and Joe Kupke (214)-288-6608
Kupke & Tackett, REALTORS®
Keller Williams Realty Plano

Please visit our website, where you will find direct links to both the Richardson and Plano municipal websites, links to both school district websites, free map-based home search and other useful information about the area.

One of the most popular Richardson neighborhoods is the Canyon Creek/ Prairie Creek section. The schools are outstanding and the central location are convenient to everything. I just sold one there this week for $292,000. Just go to: http://www.obeo.com/554446 (click & paste) to compare as an example. Contact me right away to get straight answers. By the way, I live in Richardson and love it!
Call me anytime at 214-908-9188. I look forward to assisting you.

SteveHendry@Remax.net

My family relocated to TX from Boston when I was growing up. My parents were so glad they bought a house with a pool because it took them a long time to get used to the TX summers.

I prefer Richardson over Plano. I lived in Plano for 2 years after college and we felt that it was too far away from everything and you have to take toll roads to get anywhere. Plano is very new which is nice and clean but very "cookie cutter." I just sold a 4 bedroom house with an office, 2 living rooms, and a pool for $166,500 to some friends in Richardson. You are certainly going to get a lot more for your money in TX.

Here are some resources for school info:
sites that compare schools and have parent discussion forums
http://www.schoolmatters.com/
http://www.greatschools.net/

http://www.richardson.k12.tx.us/
http://www.dallasisd.org

Please e-mail me if you have any questions.

Britta Hinze
Keller Williams Realty
bhinze@kw.com

M

Plano is great. Awesome schools. While Richardson is fine too, I am biased since I live here. Plano is right up the road.

Let me know if I can answer any questions for you.