Possibly moving to your area!

[AmyLee78]

Hi. My name is Amy and I'm a stay at home mom to 3, married to Ian. We are currently living in Northern California, but Ian may be getting transferred to the Dallas area this summer. So, we've been researching towns around there and so far we like Flower Mound. Also, his old boss lived there for a long time and highly recommended it. We have moved 10x in 14 years. Ian and I are originally from New England. Texas will be our 6th state in 14 years

So, what can you tell me about it? Do the schools provide school buses? My kids will be going in to 10th, 6th and 4th grades. I assume the town is family friendly. Is there a Walmart, Target, mall? What kind of grocery stores do you have there? Do you have a Costco or Sam's Club?

We also will probably be renting. Where are the best neighborhoods? What is the average rent for a 2200-3000 sq. foot house?

Those are all the questions I can think of for now. I look forward to any answers I might get and hopefully meeting/making new friends!

[AmyLee78]

Oh I did think of another question.

What is the crime rate? Is it a fairly quiet town? Is it a small-ish town?

[admin]

Here is a great resource to start with when researching Flower Mound: http://www.flowermoundchamber.com/Custo ... ageid=5777

[Uther]

For goodness' sake woman, stay out of Flower Mound! It is a hotbed of political intruge, where the Mayor and Town Council play loose and fast with businesses just to satisfy their own megalomania. This leads to a reduction in the quality of businesses and many empty storefronts. it is also the center of many Oil and Gas activities that pollute and contaminate not only the atmosphere, but local groundwater and lakes. The frequent leaks and spills from the O&G stations lead to deteriorating air quality and leukemia clusters that have been investigated by the EPA and other concerned parties.

Since so many business owners are driven out of business, they and their children lead a life of crime - drugs and other illegal activities are rife in the High (and Middle?) schools. The police don't talk about it much, but they are ever-vigilant and very aggressive. They will use the smallest pretext (especially after dark) to stop vehicles - it usually turns out to be a multiple police car event and the occupants are tuned over, searched, quizzed and arrested whenever possible.

Some of the roads were designed by a lunatic and the lanes swerve and change unpredictably - the Federal and State funds allocated for road construction were appropriated by a Town Council and went into improving barriers in selected neighborhoods, with the roads remaining unimproved. This led to many vehicle accidents and a number of fatalities, especially in the teen age group every year. Some blame underage drinking, but who can blame them when things are so bleak and they have little prospects? Additionally, the parents live high on the hog and provide the kids with luxury or sport vehicles that they are not often qualified to drive - all this is funded by credit.

There is shopping, but again, the best shopping is in the adjacent municipalities of Grapevine, Highland Village and Lewisville. As I said, the major, as part of her recent election campaign, conducted some vendetta with a local developer that was trying to bring an upmarket development with many amenities to property on Flower Mounds Lakeside that has been undeveloped for a number f years due to planning and zoning concerns.

All of this you can establish by reading on these boards. I'd link you, but I'm lazy. Your husbands manager must have lived here during the idyllic past of Flower Mound. Those times are long gone.

My opinion, if you want to experience the very best of what Texas has to offer, you should look seriously at Lantana, a nearby planned community development with that "Hill Country" feeling to it, a strict HOA that maintains standards, wonderful amenities and trails, great schools, (not in the same school district as Flower Mound) and great community spirit with committees that organize events, etc. Prices in Lantana are very affordable, you don't have to mow your own front yard and many other great things. Many shops restaurants and gas stations are nearby, with more planned just down some excellent roads that are being widened to accommodate a smooth commute while not actually in Lantana and thus causing any issues with businesses that may detract from the quality of life.

[JKTex]

There are busses depending on how far you are from the schools. I think the limit it 2 miles, however, we're < 2 miles from the Elementary and Middle School my daughter has gone to and we still have a bus for both, although she's never ridden. Many neighborhoods are so close to schools, walking, riding bikes/scooters etc. is easy.

And yes, being family friendly is probably the biggest draw. All of the stores you mentioned are either here in FM or close. Close meaning within 10-15 minutes usually. As for malls, within 20-30 minutes you easily have 4 or 5 including 1 or 2 that some might consider a little more upscale. There are several more if you go into Dallas which depending on traffic could easily be 30-45 minutes tops depending on traffic, like the Galleria for example. Shopping is not in short supply!

Crime, here in FM is generally isolated to bored spoiled kids and vandalism and petty crimes like hot check kind of things. Traffic stops yield passers through in possession of things they ought not have or ought not be doing while driving. A few car burglaries which are 90% or more of the time, cars left unlocked with valuables, usually in sight. Dumb things. So the short answer is, crime is very low. It's rare to hear about anything major.

As for rent, for what you're likely paying in Nor Cal, you can come here, buy a 3000 sq ft house and lease it out while renting a 10k sq ft house. Seriously, people move to Texas and are blown away at our housing market. You can get a lot of nice house for a fraction of what you can in other parts of the country. Depending on the house, in that size range I'd expect rest/lease to be in the $2500-$3000 range. That can vary of course from a pretty basic home to a much more custom. In the grand scheme of things, the average home in FM is in a price range much higher than most areas in Texas. Whether exaggerated or not, most people from outside the area know FM as being very affluent, yet more family oriented and conservative.

Good luck on your home hunt and move!

[JKTex]

Uther cracks me up! Hill Country living? The "hill's" were cut down to accommodate that 8 home per acre dense mega city on the prairie. And how about all that crime?

BTW, as of Monday night, we have a civil and productive council. Y'all are gonna have to look elsewhere for the comical, sad, scary town politics issues now. Mayor Hayden put the "We're Open" sign up to ensure people know, we're now back on track and moving forward, finally!

[Rosemary]

My opinion, if you want to experience the very best of what Texas has to offer, you should look seriously at Lantana, a nearby planned community development with that "Hill Country" feeling to it, a strict HOA that maintains standards, wonderful amenities and trails, great schools, (not in the same school district as Flower Mound) and great community spirit with committees that organize events, etc. Prices in Lantana are very affordable, you don't have to mow your own front yard and many other great things. Many shops restaurants and gas stations are nearby, with more planned just down some excellent roads that are being widened to accommodate a smooth commute while not actually in Lantana and thus causing any issues with businesses that may detract from the quality of life.

Well said, and rental housing is available most of the time.

[JKTex]

Many shops restaurants and gas stations are nearby...

Ya, in FM or in Highland Village, which is closer to FM. Y'all did get that 7 Eleven though. (and I'll give it to you, Mi Sueno is much closer, and that's worth it)

Y'all know I'm just messing with you. And you're right, rentals may be more plentiful in Lantana. I think there are more than ever before in FM, but they're also in high demand and can bring a premium.

[Pipeline]

(and I'll give it to you, Mi Sueno is much closer, and that's worth it)

Definitely worth the move. Went on Mutha's day, and fajitas, muy excellante.

[Common Sense Al]

Funny, Uther.

Anyway, be prepared for the heat... last summer we set a new record for # of days over 100 degrees... and it's not a "dry heat". But it makes you appreciate the rest of the year more, especially when the first powerful cold front comes in after a long, hot summer to usher in the fall.

[roadkill]

1. The biggest problem with Flower Mound is the school district. Lewisville ISD is a borderline joke. It's way too big for a school district and the students waste a lot of time on things that are irrelevant (of course, you could say that about Texas schools in general). If schools are the biggest motivator, look to Frisco or anywhere in the Lovejoy ISD. Also, there are almost no alternatives to the public schools here, so don't expect to go the private school route. There aren't any.

2. Do not move to Lantana unless you know what you're getting into. Lantana provides exactly zero access to pretty much anything else in the area. It's one of those master-planned developments they forgot to build roads to. It's a fantastic looking group of neighborhoods, but you will struggle to get to places you might want to go. Flower Mound used to have that problem, but it's been alleviated a little since the (partial) completion of 121. Lantana also has the special paradox of being out in BFE but feeling cramped. If you like the Lantana vibe, go with Bridlewood instead. It's the same sort of idea without being located in New Mexico.

3. Flower Mound has very little real crime. The schools have a small and growing drug problem. We're kind of like a Plano starter-kit in that regard. On the other hand, the cops in FM don't really do a whole lot, which leaves them plenty of time to write speeding tickets.

4. Others have mentioned the political games in Flower Mound. In a nutshell, the town is struggling with what it wants to be. It's a very big town with two distinct halves. The eastern half is kind of headed towards the Plano model (three-quarters full shopping centers on every corner), but we've got the gas drilling nonsense coming from the west. Some people want FM to invite more businesses in, despite the fact that so many buildings are empty, and others want FM to keep its heavily residential feel.

[roadkill]

BTW, as of Monday night, we have a civil and productive council. Y'all are gonna have to look elsewhere for the comical, sad, scary town politics issues now. Mayor Hayden put the "We're Open" sign up to ensure people know, we're now back on track and moving forward, finally!

Moving forward in this case means 20 for-lease signs in a 1.5 mile stretch of road instead of just 12.

If we build it, they will ignore it.

[Pipeline]

3. Flower Mound has very little real crime. The schools have a small and growing drug problem. We're kind of like a Plano starter-kit in that regard. On the other hand, the cops in FM don't really do a whole lot, which leaves them plenty of time to write speeding tickets.

You are correct. When I was in the Lewisville school district back in the 70's they had a real drug problem. Not near enough to go around. But you can sure buy a six pack on any corner around these parts now, and not have to go to Lake Dallas. I have to take my shoes and socks off to count the times mommy and daddy had to pick me up in Lake Dallas for attempted under age alcohol purchases. Talk about cops with nothing to do.

Maybe you better pick another state. We obviously have issues.

[Pipeline]

It is a hotbed of political intruge,

Is intruge a word? I can't Wiki it. Did you mean intrigue? You are the spelling cop.

[Rosemary]

Is there a Walmart, Target, mall? What kind of grocery stores do you have there? Do you have a Costco or Sam's Club?

Walmart, Target, Sam's Club, outdoor mall are all nearby. Grocery stores are Kroger, Tom Thumb (Randall's), Albertson's, as well as Walmart and Target grocery departments. Drug stores are Walgreens and CVS mainly with a few independent pharmacies. Indoor mall is in Lewisville, and another one in Denton. Costco is a little further away. As far as restaurants go, just about all the major chain restaurants are convenient, as well as some good local restaurants.