Question by Jeremy M: What area of the Dallas to move the parents to? Has anyone else faced this? Condo in oaklawn the best route?
The are in 54/53 and retiring at the end of the year. Still very active and in that major life change of going from work to finding sometime to fill retirement. My sister and I have decided that Dallas would be the best place as we are both relocating to the area. What have been the experiences of others facing moving your parents to town? They like Frisco but we think that is just to far from “town”.
The sister and I feel a full service hi rise condo building will be the best route for them. They are very anti condo! I think after trying it they will like it. Just looking for some feedback.
Best answer:
Answer by Muppet
I would agree that Frisco is too far from civilization. With traffic it can take a long time to go to Dallas if they want to see a play or go to a museum.
The high rise condos in Oak Lawn are very nice and in a great location if they like to go to museums, plays, the symphony, etc. If your parent’s are social people they might find that they will never know their neighbors names. I had friends that lived in one of the buildings off of Turtle Creek Blvd. and whenever I went to visit it was very quiet, which I liked. If your parent’s still want a house I would suggest you look at the neighborhood around Walnut Hill, Inwood and Midway. The homes are a good size, have large trees, big yards and you aren’t 3 feet way from your neighbors house like in Frisco or the other new housing developments north of Dallas.
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There is a residential tower at Mockingbird and hwy 75 that has just been remodeled. It’s called the Palomar. There are also several residential towers in the Galleria area. Oak Lawn is a nice area, though you might want to know that it is considered the gay part of town.
My first question for you would be where are you from? Anybody who is from Dallas or lives in this area awhile knows that driving 20-30 miles is just “going down the road.” The DFW metroplex is so widespread you have to drive to get anywhere, so that is something you all will have to get used to anyway.
Having said that, your parents are still pretty young. Only early to mid 50′s. They could live another 30, 40 or 50 years. You and they need to consider how much they have in retirement, and how much they will have to live on each year. Based on that, that will greatly affect which area of Dallas they can even afford to move to.
Oaklawn and Frisco are both expensive areas. If they have a LOT of money, and that money can last them another 40 years, even including that they will take vacations, go out a lot, and may have potential medical expenses as they get older… then either of those areas are great.
One person chimed in and is right… Oaklawn is considered an area with a lot of homosexuals. If that doesn’t bother your parents, then it can be a nice area. It is very close to Downtown Dallas, near McKinney street, and “Uptown” and there are a lot of nice condos around there.
Frisco is more residential, homes, families. Upscale. Very nice. But yes, it’s about a 40 min. drive (about 25 miles) from Downtown Dallas.
If you are looking for upscale areas: Trophy Club, Southlake, Frisco, McKinney, Plano, Flower Mound, north Carrollton, Rockwall, “Uptown” area Dallas.
If you are looking for nice areas, but that aren’t super expensive: Corinth, Denton, Lewisville, Keller, Carrollton, Allen, North Dallas.
Cities that are run down, older, or probably not favorable: Farmers Branch, “Oakcliff” area of Dallas, Arlington (although some areas are ok), Garland, Mesquite, Richardson (although some areas are ok).
Hope that helps some!
The North Dallas/Addison area could be a good compromise. Whatever you decide, I highly recommend renting for a year so they can get to know the areas they like and dislike before buying.
North Dallas, near Hillcrest if they are jewish, that’s where my dad lives. If they like downtown, don’t forget there is a dart (dallas area rapid transit) train that runs north and south on near Hwy 75 from Parker Rd. in Plano to Downtown Dallas, and from Garland to Downtown. The only problem I’ve heard from living near downtown Dallas is that there is a lack of neighborhood amenities, like, a drugstore or grocery store. I would consider downtown Plano near 15th street and 75, there are new developments there, lots of amenities, far enough north that safety isn’t as much of a concern, they would be close to the train to go downtown, and the little old downtown Plano is very cute and artsy, cushie living, semi-urban, urban acessable.
Downtown Ft. WOrth is awesome, but then they have the drive or the train ride to Dallas to visit you and your sister.
Welcome to the BIG D!