Moving Closer to Family in Dallas

How do I pick an area near my kids?

Start with the drive, not the house. Write down the trips you expect to make each week: to your kids' home, to school pickup if you will help, to your doctors, to church, to the grocery store and to the airport. Then find the streets where those drives are short at the hours you will make them.

Ten minutes on a map can be thirty at rush hour. Drive the routes yourself, at the times you would really go. A home on the far side of a toll road or a busy freeway can feel farther than it looks.

Talk with your kids before you choose. Ask how often they hope to see you, who will drive to whom, and whether their own jobs might move them in a few years. A clear answer now saves a second move later.

Once you know the streets, check the city, the appraisal district and the HOA for each one. A home a mile away can sit in a different city, with a different tax rate and different rules on remodels.

Should I buy near family or halfway between?

Buy near the family you will see most often. If you plan to help with the grandkids every week, a short drive to that one home matters more than a fair split.

Halfway can work when two children live in different suburbs and you see both about equally. Map both drives from the same house, at rush hour and on a weekend. If one of them is a drive you would put off, the halfway home will not feel halfway.

Think about resale too. A home close to good roads and shopping is easier to sell later if your plans change. The Dallas North Tollway, Central Expressway, LBJ Freeway and the President George Bush Turnpike connect most of the areas my clients compare, from Preston Hollow and Far North Dallas to Plano and Frisco.

Can I buy before I sell?

Yes, if the money works. Many of my clients have built up equity over years in one house, and some buy the next one with cash before they list. Others qualify for a new loan while still owning the old home, or offer on the new home with a contract that depends on their sale.

• Cash or savings: the simplest way to buy first and move once.
• A loan with both homes counted: ask your lender whether you qualify with your current home still in your name.
• A sale contingency: your purchase depends on your home selling by a set date.
• A leaseback: sell first, then rent your old home back for a short time after closing.

The full order of steps is on the sell and buy page. If you are moving from a larger home to a smaller one, the downsizing guide covers what to look for.

How do I search for a home from out of town?

Set up the search before you visit, and come for one focused trip. We agree on the streets, the price range and your must-haves, and I send you new homes as they come up, including ones shared inside Dave Perry-Miller before they reach the listing sites.

When a home looks right, I can walk you through it on a live video tour. I show you the street, the yard, the rooms you care about and the things photos leave out, like noise and the view from the kitchen. Your kids can join me in person if you like.

When you come to town, we see the short list in a day or two and drive your future routes together. After you are under contract, inspections, the appraisal and most paperwork can happen without you being here. Ask the title company early how you can sign at closing if you cannot be in Dallas that day. More on moving from another city is on the relocating to Dallas page.

What does a one-story home near the grandkids cost to keep up?

It depends on a handful of things you can check before you buy. I cannot give you one number, but I can show you where each cost comes from for a specific house.

• Property taxes: set by the appraised value, the rates of each taxing unit and your exemptions. If you are 65 or older, ask the appraisal district about the school tax ceiling and whether it moves with you.
• HOA dues: what they are and what they cover, such as yard care, a roof or exterior paint. The HOA resale certificate shows this.
• Insurance: the age of the roof and past claims matter a lot in North Texas. Get a quote during your option period.
• The big systems: the age of the roof, the HVAC and the water heater, and the condition of the foundation on our clay soil.
• The yard: size, trees, sprinklers and a pool all add upkeep.

A smaller, newer home with a yard the HOA maintains usually means less work. An older ranch home on a big lot may need more care, even if it costs less to buy.

How I help with a move for family

A lot of my clients are moving for family. Some want to be ten minutes from the grandkids. Others are selling a house they have owned for years and buying the next one with cash. I walk you through the checklist for your move before you list or make an offer.

Almost all of my business comes from referrals and past clients. With the GPS Group you work with me and Justin Reeves, and Mynetta Ragsdale, our transaction coordinator, keeps the paperwork and deadlines on track. If you are selling too, you get a listing update email with a report every Monday.