OT: Info needed on McKinney, TX area. Whats it like? Might move there.

Just looking for area info on whats going on there. Hot rod scene...whats there to do, etc etc.

Thanks for any and all info.

 

mckinney's north of dfw. lots of hot rod stuff in the metroplex. it's a nice place that's growing rapidly. heck, just about everywhere north of dfw is starting to grow! plenty of us hambers around.

 

Ill most likely be moving to that area. I dont know anyone down there at all.

Finding a job is what Im worried about most.

 

It's just an hour north of Dallas so.. there's plenty of hot rod stuff. It's far enough north to have it's own weekend shows and stuff as well. If you are willing to drive 30 mins to an hour you will be able to find something to do every weekend of the month. One other advantage is that you are already on the edge of the DFW area, so taking a weekend trip to look for old tin would be easy. There's plenty of back roads to go looking around there.

 

Whats the deal with owning and driving a classic car in TX? Any special rules?

 

I used to live in Plano, just a few miles south. There are lots of rodders in the area. I've got a good friend who moved to McKinney last summer and he really likes it there.

 

http://www.dot.state.tx.us/services/vehicle_titles_and_registration/specialty_plates/antique_and_classic_vehicles/default.htm

Lots of yuppies in McKinney. You'll get good at dodging soccer moms in H2's with cranial-rectumitis.

Really nice homes, good schools.

You may find work up there (I'm guessing you're a welder?), but you should have no problem finding work down in Dallas.

Everything's spread out here. You'll drive everywhere, get prepared for that, it freaks a lot of folks out.

I have a 50 mile commute each way, it takes me an hour with no traffic, and often it takes nearly 2.

You're probably going to think you're melting come late July/early August, but the winter's not nearly as bad as it is up north. We don't get snow, just ice; and the whole damn place shuts down when it does. I stay at home and watch the idiots slide into each other on TV, it's hours of entertainment. I don't even bother going to work when it's icy.

 

40 miles north of McKinney is Bonham Tx . In the summer every friday night the Red River Rally Car Club meets at the town square and shows off their cars . Also in Anna which is between McKinney and Bonham there is a club that meets every saturday night at a small bar-b-que joint in town to show off their rides. My father lives in Bonham and drives a 60 T-bird . If your interested in any of the car events in the area PM me and I'll pass along his number

 

North Texas is great ..
July / August are plenty warm ..cold beer tastes better THEN !
McKinney is a upscale area ..
Traffic can be a little rough 2 hours in morning 3 hours in PM
Car scene in Texas is great, weather 9 1/2 months a year helps

One thing you will get ..allot, You are a "Yankee" get thick skin
most mean it as a joke ..some, well ..laugh, ignore it

Finding a job in North Texas, if you have any skilled trade, etc
should take all of a week ..maybe ..

signs everywhere looking for help ..


I'd say come on down .. good luck, you will enjoy the change
people, Texas music ..etc

 

Expect to pay a premium price for land big enough to put up a shop. And be prepared to fight for your right to do so. Many homeowners associations around there don't allow work on cars in the neighborhood. Might be easier to look south of dallas. Ellis county still has open areas and lower prices for homes with land big enough for shops.

 

I bought/built this 1 year ago
I have 1.72 acres ..My opinion ..I got a deal I think
Paid 155 then

I'm told it is worth buck eighty now

 

Ok wel the house i live in now is .25 acre and is worth about $500,000.

For that amount of money down in TX I can own a good size piece of land. Im looking for nothing less then 4 acres. I like land...i have a hunting dog and I like privacy. Excpet for fellow hot rodders..they are always welcome.

 

What other towns are in the area that i should look in?

 

That really depends

Can you give me more idea, what you are looking for
married, kids ?

Dallas is the high life .. More of everything

Fort Worth is laid back ..lot to see / do

I live by Denton (north of FW) I like it allot here

The Hill country is awesome .. Austin, San Marcos etc

 

Im married(she works on cars..yes!!). Dont mind an older home. I would like 2-4 acres. I dont have to be really close to Dallas. I like open roads.

 

Dallas area north, Frisco, Plano, Mckinney is
heavy traffic, and they haul ass ..15 /20 mph over speed limit
zero lot lines ..most have HOA's that will not allow anything parked
in driveway ..My opinion ..Those snobs can have that side
over run with starbucks (4bucks) strip Malls, --closer you get
to downtown Dallas ..crime rate goes up
Irving, Garland --shit holes

I like FW allot, people are much different, no we dont have
the fancy crap that Dallas has
Stay closer to FW .. Unless you like HIGH SOCIEITY

 

Don't over look Rowlett, Wylie, Sachse, and rockwall. Rowlett and Wylie are lower income areas, but are becoming popular like alot of the suburbs, it also is one of the few places that doesn't have a million HOAs and you can actually find some empty land there. Sachse is the same except slightly behind the other two. Also, Rowlett and rockwall border a lake if your into that. Rowlett just got a brand new (huge) mall with nice theater and it is growing like crazy. Rockwall is more upscale and has already been "upgraded" with all the trendy restraunts etc, but land can still be found. Rowlett also has a pretty healthy car community. I used to joke that every single time I went through there I would see something, a muscle car, hot rod or something..

You have to look at suburbs if you want 4 acres. Richardson and most of plano won't have 4 acres without 57 houses on it. Same with Dallas, Addison, Highland park or anything that is within 20 miles of the downtown area.

 

Live in Fairveiw next to McKinney, it all depends on really on what you are looking for. Mckinney is a great place to live in, but as you have read it is getting more congested. I live in a horse comunity with about 3 acre. But with the money you got you will have no problem.

 

You will have to drop the Jersey accent though. Tough to do I know, but hey,,,better than getting your ass whipped a lot....LOL, just kidding about the whippings

 

Damn, I have Brooklyn, Ny accent in me too. I once got pulled over in OK on the 40. The cop told me to get my ass through TX cause the cops there will rip me a new asshole just for being from NJ.

Does it help that i listen to old country and fly a us flag on my front lawn??

 

xxwelderxx,

You'll find the cost of living a little cheaper here. So's the wages. Here in Elmendorf (about 26 miles south of downtown San Antonio), homes sell between $60,000-$100,000. I paid $82,000 for mine and it's got 2.2 acres. Moble homes are much cheaper. They don't stick them into trailer parks like parked cars in a parking lot. They have communities with half acre to 5 acre lots you can buy. Of course you'll have to put up with the gruelling winters that last up to 6 weeks with temps in the frigid 50 degree range. But that's where I live, and you're asking about McKinney. Texas is like any other state. The further from the big city, the cheaper the cost of living, and the lower the wage. The trick is to live in the boonies, and work in the big city. Before you go jumping in to anything, check out the pay scale in the closest large city. Then check out the prices of homes in the rural areas outside of that city. Most important, check out the crime rates in those rural areas. It will give you an indication as to why they are cheaper. There are other reasons they may be cheaper. Like in my town, it's cheaper because they don't want commercial business, no Starbucks, McDonalds, or fast food joints, and worst of the worst...NO TIME WARNER/ROADRUNNER CABLE. Dish is ok, but has to be hidden from view. This keeps the money flashing, land tax and price raising Yuppies out. Our community is blue collar, middle and upper middle income families. Keep in mind, the further you get away from the city, the further you get away from big city crime. It's better to have to listen to crickets, birds, and the wind through the trees, than to listen to honking, boom-boom car radios, and sirens. Some thing to think about...

 

damn sure won't hurt...................... real/old country on the radio around here on a couple of different stations.
Watch the HOA's..Buddy of mine got a letter letter because he changed a water pump in his driveway ( his suburban looks like a "non running vehicle)
Personally, i like the west side,(Ft Worth) lot more laid back. Any reason for McKinney?
land is cheaper, relativly speaking once you get about 20/30 miles outside the loop

 

Dude - come on down. We have a great time, lots of cars, babes and beers........ And no, you don't HAVE to wear the pointy-toed boots, but it helps.............

 

82'-84' went to X-Ray school in Tyler, Tx (100 mi. east of Dallas). Came from Wa. state and got a lot of "You're a Yankee". Started asking them "What's a Yankee"-they'd say "Anyone north of the Mason-Dixon line" I'd ask them "Where's the Mason-Dixon line?" Most could'nt answer that question. Another response I'd use to "You're a Yankee", I'd say "You know what, to the rest of the world we're all Yankees". You should see the puzzelled look on their faces. But good people all around. Some culture shock. By the time I got back to Wa. state I had developed a bit of the East Texas drawl and people were then always asking me where I was from. I now wish I had stayed in Texas. BUTCH. Go for it!

 

Texas Rocks! Especially for Cars and Swap Meets. Moved here from Boston, and I think it was the best decision i have ever made. I live 10 minutes from D/T Dallas, Have enough roof to park 5 cars under and only paid a little over 100k. There are alotta positives, but be prepared to drive everywhere. I hear alotta people not from Texas say'n I'm not from Texas, but I got here just as quick as i could. If your into music, its pretty cool also. Oh, I just paid 1.95 per gallon.. NICE..

Neal0o

 

4 acres minimum, you've got 500K to spend? You're gonna be one happy SOB!

Not to let the cat out of the bag, but I'm looking real hard at Farmersville (REAL hard!)

 

I live in McKinney and it's a great place to live and be
a hot rodder.
Don't let the accent worry you.You may get a little
good natured kidding sometimes but it's never hostile.Cops are NOT going to single you out over
your accent.
There's lots of car nuts here and lots of space!
With your 500K you can have an excellent new home
on 5 acres with a cool shop,horses and dogs and still
have about $100K left over to blow on a hot rod or
some Codd Biteington abortion or Foosemobile.
Hopefully you are into REAL hotrods!
You're gonna like it here but don't tell everybody.

 

North of Mason-DIxon hell

Try the red river ..

 

There is a new development near Red Oak called Shiloe Acres. Can get 3-5 acres and 2500-3000 sq ft home for 250K range. No restrictions because it is in the county, far from any city limits. I have a 2000 sq ft home on 1.1 acre worth 135K on the tax roles close to same area, but still in county.

 

That is south Dallas for those that dont know

Like 30 miles or so --Red Oak/Desoto -- kind of