Fairview Tx

Fairview Texas Realtor Jane Clark discusses Fairview Real Estate Communities

Jane Clark Neighborhood

Jane Clark on Monday, 15 December 2014 published in Cities

Are You a fan of "close-in" country? Does the thought of having your family grow up around with horses, great schools and nearby retail convenience appeal to you? Then you may want to take a look at the Fairview Tx real estate market.

There are some wonderful areas in Collin County that seem to blend together because they are so similar in what they have to offer. The Fairview Lucas corridor is an area with many similarities that has attracted a great deal of homebuyer attention in recent months. People new to the area sometimes wonder which area is a better choice for their particular needs. Of course, that's an impossible question for your Fairview Texas Realtor to answer without a bit more information about you. There are a lot of similarities, but there are also some significant differences between Lucas and Fairview Real Estate.

School districts are a big part of that answer. Both towns participate in the Lovejoy ISD which is a major draw for families with school age children. There are four other school districts in Lucas and one other school district in Fairview. Most of the homes in both towns are on at least one acre. Both Fairview and Lucas are small towns from about 5,000 to 10,000 people, and of course, the two towns border each other. So lets look at some other factors

• Schools
• Location
• The Land
• Services
• Housing
• 5 Star

• Lovejoy School System

  The Lovejoy ISD has always been a prime driving force behind Lucas and Fairview real estate. In fact, many buyers will begin their home search by first researching area school ratings. After finding the best location, they start to look for their home in that district. If you are looking for a top flight school district in Texas, the Lovejoy ISD which primarily services parts of Fairview, Lucas and Allen, will jump out as a fantastic choice.

  As with all successful school districts, it all starts with the parents and Lovejoy parents are second to none in volunteer work and fund raising. As an example, the Lovejoy Foundation raises over $100,000 for the district in their annual Denim and Diamonds gala event. Lovejoy is a considered a wealthy school district by the state of Texas standards, and not surprisingly, that translates into quality administrators, teachers, staff, and facilities.

  People are the heart and soul of any community and Fairview and Lucas are no exception. There is a teamwork volunteer spirit that seems to let you know that education is of paramount concern. The parents volunteer time willingly and happily. Whenever there's a need for a teacher's aide, it is filled in just a few hours. Whenever there's a meet the teacher event, both parents will usually attend.

  Lovejoy ISD is currently an all exemplary school district, and it has been one from its beginning. That means that every school in the district has earned the highest rating by the Texas Education Agency. Lovejoy shares the same great reputation as Southlake and Highland Park.

  Many of the Lovejoy schools are brand new and well integrated with the latest teaching technology. Lovejoy student sports facilities are first class.

  Housing market

  Fairview and Lucas both have their share of fine homes, but from a Realtor’s perspective, there are far more high end homes in Fairview. Fairview has beautiful subdivisions like Oakwood Estates, Stone Creek, Ascot Heath, and The Woods of Ascot Heath, and Tranquility Farms. Homes in those neighborhoods start at around $600K and will go up to $2 million. Lucas also has many homes in the $500's to $700's in subdivisions like The Estates of Huntwick, Forest Creek Estates, Creekwood Estates, and Tokalaun.

  But it's important to understand, that there are many affordable homes in the more mature neighborhoods of Fairview. And some of those are in the prettiest subdivisions in the entire area, such as River Oaks One (Lovejoy ISD) or River Oaks Two (McKinney ISD). It might an older property with a great opportunity to remodel to your exact needs. You can find them in the $400's if you are patient, and there isn't a prettier subdivision anywhere in this part of Texas.

• Convenient to Major Arteries

  Fairview borders along Central Expressway (US 75) on its west side, so it offers quick access to a major thoroughfare to get you to downtown Dallas. SH 121, the Sam Rayburn Tollway is now complete and there are now no stop lights between Fairview and DFW Airport. The route is now a major highway, and it's fast. Many Residents cite that as a major reason for choosing the Fairview area

  Lucas is west and south of Fairview and wraps around Allen on the east side. But there are parts of Lucas that are about five minutes from Central Expressway too, so it's also quick access.

  Fairview has begun several major improvement projects to smooth traffic flow to I 75 during the morning commute. Major arteries like Stacy road are being widened and upgraded to remain viable for the expanding population

  Lucas is fairly isolated from the congestion especially if you know all the little back roads. The lots are larger in Lucas, which means fewer homes. There's really little in Lucas that could be considered commercial or retail.

  Lucas is quiet and the nights are dark with nothing but Lake Lavon just to the east. You'll see more wildlife in Lucas (red tailed hawks, road runners, rabbits, owls, woodpeckers, coyotes and maybe a bobcat or two ducks, turtles, etc. because of its proximity to all of the corps of engineer land around the lake. So if open Country Land is your choice, Lucas Real Estate has much to offer.

• Natural Beauty

  Fairview is known for its fabulous, hilly, wooded subdivisions. In fact, the subdivisions like River Oaks One, River Oaks Two and Ascot Heath are as impressive as any subdivision in Dallas or Collin County. Some have likened it to the Texas hill country. Lucas has its own beauty. Lucas seems like open range country compared to Fairview. the land becomes a bit more rolling as you move east ward and becomes more heavily wooded as you approach Lake Lavon. Many people prefer the wide open spaces of Lucas and the larger lots. There is something to be said for looking out to a sunset or across open land rather than living under a canopy of trees. That said, many, if not most, buyers prefer the trees. Although there is not as much wooded land in Lucas as Fairview, there are several beautiful, heavily wooded lots scattered throughout the town with homes already on them.

  Recreation

  Both Lucas and Fairview are horse country with the larger lots and more room to roam. There's an active network of vets, farriers, hay providers, and support services. There are riding groups, stables, and lots of potential trail ride partners. Lucas is also part of the Trinity Equestrian Trail, an 18 mile long path around Lake Lavon. One of the trailheads is located in Lucas at Brockdale Park. Lucas also has two boat ramps servicing Lake Lavon, one of the Dallas area's best kept lake secrets. Water skiing, fishing, sail boating, and other water sports; you have it all if you are a lake person. The Army corps of engineers owns all of the land around the lake, so there are plenty of places for a private picnic on public land. Fairview also has a large soccer facility. Recreation is a strong point for the area

• Infrastructure

  Fairview is hands down the winner in the city services and infrastructure department. It's a wealthy town with all of the retail along Stacy Rd and the great number of very expensive homes. They have their own police force and even mounted police, whereas Lucas relies on the Collin County sheriff's department. Fairview has a city fire department and just completed a beautiful new satellite fire station. Lucas is an all volunteer fire department with high ISO ratings and 6-7 minute average response times. Both towns get their water from the North Texas Municipal.

  Retail Convenience

  Lucas has little in the way of retail conveniences. The Lucas Food Store was the only retail store until 2013 when Walmart added a store location. Most of the Lucas residents rely on Allen’s major retail district for shopping convenience. Allen has grown all the way to Lucas' boundaries. Major Allen retail developments like the beautiful Watters Creek at Bethany Rd and Hwy 75, are within easy driving distance. Allen has definitely arrived and Lucas is right next door.

• Housing market

  Fairview and Lucas both have their share of fine homes, but from a Realtor’s perspective, there are far more high end homes in Fairview. Fairview has beautiful subdivisions like Oakwood Estates, Stone Creek, Ascot Heath, and The Woods of Ascot Heath, and Tranquility Farms. Homes in those neighborhoods start at around $600K and will go up to $2 million. Lucas also has many homes in the $500's to $700's in subdivisions like The Estates of Huntwick, Forest Creek Estates, Creekwood Estates, and Tokalaun.

  But it's important to understand, that there are many affordable homes in the more mature neighborhoods of Fairview. And some of those are in the prettiest subdivisions in the entire area, such as River Oaks One (Lovejoy ISD) or River Oaks Two (McKinney ISD). It might an older property with a great opportunity to remodel to your exact needs. You can find them in the $400's if you are patient, and there isn't a prettier subdivision anywhere in this part of Texas.

  Lot Prices

  There has been a somewhat shopworn rule of thumb about land prices in Fairview and Lucas. A two acre lot in a custom home subdivision in Lucas mighty sell for about the same price as a one acre lot in a nice subdivision in Fairview (around $175,000). That has changed with the shortage of lots, but it still trends in the right direction. With the increasing popularity of the region Fairview lot prices are escalating.

  There are so few lots in custom home neighborhoods like Tranquility Farms, the one acre lots start at about $230K. And there aren't many lots left in Lucas either. If you can find a two acre lot in the $200K range in a custom neighborhood, it is a good bet that it won’t last long.

  Fairview texas real etate is not quite at the point of Highland Park (Dallas' premier location) where older homes are being torn down to build new homes on the land en masse, but it is more common than you might think. I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see that happen in the next 5 to 10 years if the demand continues.

What’s Right for You?

When people say they want "country" that often really means they want “close-in” country. They want some land around them and are tired of living one house on top of the other. But at the same time, They want airport convenience and they don't want to drive half an hour to get to the store or have dinner out. Fairview offers that easily but in many cases so does Lucas. There are many personal preference issues that we need to discuss before that “best choice for you” decision is made. Fairview tx real estate has the panache and sizzle. Lucas appeals more to those who enjoy a more laid back, country feeling.

Bottom-line, both Fairview and Lucas are wonderful places to live, and you can't go wrong in either town. If you want to live in a town where your neighbors wave at you when you drive by, or where the teachers know the parents and the children and the children grow up in a school district where they're not lost in the crowd, you'll find all of that in both Fairview and Lucas. These two small towns are as close to small town America with big city conveniences as you'll ever find.

• Tagged in: Fairview Lovejoy ISD

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