Moving to Texas

[tressa27884]

Hi y'all -
I'll be coming to Texas 7/27-7/31 to look at properties. I'll be moving with my two children aged 16 and 7. If any of y'all live in these areas, I'd appreciate your input on the quality of schools, and how family friendly they are.
I looked at Paris crime statistics and they have me a bit concerned. Am I over reacting? I'm coming from California and the last thing I want to do is move my kids to a place they'll be unhappy. Thanks!

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/4587-Fm-198-E_Lake-Creek_TX_75450_M77549-80119
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/3196-Fm-1801_Mineola_TX_75773_M72626-32176
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2401-County-Road-2420_Sumner_TX_75486_M86136-50684

 

[tressa27884]

Here are a few more.
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/153-FM-2121_Paris_TX_75462_M76949-81492
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/247-County-Road-45480_Paris_TX_75462_M82110-98349
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2401-Fm-74_Atlanta_TX_75551_M80880-50273
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/270-County-Road-1180_Cooper_TX_75432_M77601-97351
http://www.realtor.com/realestatean...rm-Road-197_Arthur-City_TX_75411_M84518-86901

 

[tressa27884]

The last group.
http://www.realtor.com/realestatean...y-Road-1200_Mt-Pleasant_TX_75455_M84105-39039
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2532-FM-1184_Paris_TX_75462_M85415-07304
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/183-County-Road-42370_Paris_TX_75462_M70937-56652

 

[Goat Whisperer]

Happy is a relative term, I'm the type that'd be happy down the longest dirt road you could ever find... Others not so much?

Joking aside, good luck on the move! I don't know anything about the areas you are looking at, but I'm sure some others will pop in

 

[Baymule]

Mount Pleasant and Mineola are both nice towns. Greybeard has already weighed in on Lamar County. I don't know anything about Paris or Lamar county.

http://www.city-data.com/crime/crime-Paris-Texas.html

Enter towns you are interested in, in this site and look up the crime rate.

http://www.city-data.com/crime/crime-Mount-Pleasant-Texas.html

http://www.city-data.com/crime/crime-Mineola-Texas.html

It seems most of what you are looking at is in the Paris area. Look at other areas as well, there are lots of nice little towns in east Texas.

 

[Baymule]

I like the house in Atlanta too, even though it is so far away from me! I hope it looks as good in person!

 

[Latestarter]

Ummmm not to be "picky" or anything, but 7/27 to 7/31 is long gone by, and I don't think you're talking about next year. You mean August? Where you buy is going to depend on a LOT of things, specifically with the kids... Are they boy/girl/one of each? With that age separation, they'll probably be into totally different things and you'll need to assess if those will be available where you're going. One's going to be finishing up high school and the other will still be in elementary school... How about jobs? Will you need to work? You're gonna want to be close to your job if so...

I had looked at (online only) the 3rd property in the first group: http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2401-County-Road-2420_Sumner_TX_75486_M86136-50684 I was primarily interested as I could rent one of the places out... The problem is the big/newer home is NOT the one near the barn The barn is actually behind the older/smaller house and not readily accessible without bothering the tenants in the smaller house That's also higher than the price range I thought you said you were looking for?

I put an offer on the 2nd place I looked at yesterday. Haven't heard anything back yet I hope you find just the right place for you and your kids! Also hope it's close enough that you can join our newly forming "TX partners in crime" (kidding) group with @Baymule @Devonviolet @Ferguson K (We all hope) and myself Once I get settled in, I hope to invite a few other TX folks for a visit with us

 

[Devonviolet]

I don't know much about schools, because our kids are off with spouses & kids of their own.

I looked up the property, in Sumner, that Latestarter mentioned. Google maps shows it to be about a half hour from Paris, but not too far from Telephone.

We had high hopes & looked at properties near Telephone & Bonham. We were very disappointed.

Telephone seemed to be a dying widespot in the Road and Bonham was an older town, that has seen better days. Both were rather depressing. Bonham did have a large cattle sale barn across from the air strip, if you are into buying & selling cattle.

I can't speak for Sumner though.

 

[tressa27884]

Happy is a relative term, I'm the type that'd be happy down the longest dirt road you could ever find... Others not so much?

Yeah, me too. Not sure about my kids though.

 

[tressa27884]

Ummmm not to be "picky" or anything, but 7/27 to 7/31 is long gone by, and I don't think you're talking about next year. You mean August? Where you buy is going to depend on a LOT of things, specifically with the kids... Are they boy/girl/one of each? With that age separation, they'll probably be into totally different things and you'll need to assess if those will be available where you're going. One's going to be finishing up high school and the other will still be in elementary school... How about jobs? Will you need to work? You're gonna want to be close to your job if so...

Good catch! Yes 8/27-8/31! My daughter is 7 and my son is 16. I'm retired so work isn't an issue.

I had looked at (online only) the 3rd property in the first group: http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2401-County-Road-2420_Sumner_TX_75486_M86136-50684 I was primarily interested as I could rent one of the places out... The problem is the big/newer home is NOT the one near the barn The barn is actually behind the older/smaller house and not readily accessible without bothering the tenants in the smaller house That's also higher than the price range I thought you said you were looking for?

It IS a higher price range than I was looking at, but a friend and her wife are also looking at moving to Texas and we're talking about buying one property we can both live on.

I put an offer on the 2nd place I looked at yesterday. Haven't heard anything back yet I hope you find just the right place for you and your kids! Also hope it's close enough that you can join our newly forming "TX partners in crime" (kidding) group with @Baymule @Devonviolet @Ferguson K (We all hope) and myself Once I get settled in, I hope to invite a few other TX folks for a visit with us

How exciting! Good luck! What town did you choose?