Haute Property

Updated midcentury feels like a retreat in one of Dallas' most convenient 'hoods

You know what we need more of in this town? Homes that make you happy and cheerful, even on rainy days. And 11316 Valleydale Dr. in North Dallas does just that.

It was gray and overcast the day I toured it, but the home is so uplifting, with its clean lines, pops of color and huge window views of the lushly green lawn — the result, of course, of all the recent rain. The original home was built in 1959, but it was taken down to the studs in 2012 and then both renovated and added onto by owner (and architect) Alex Eskenasy.

Offered at $1,025,000 by J.L. Forke and Margaret Walsh of Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate, this midcentury treasure is a bit pricey. But it is essentially new construction, with all 3,756 square feet on one floor — which is what both downsizing baby boomers and millennials with children want.

A concrete screen, painted the same soft blue-gray as the exterior, pays homage to the era of this home. Inside, the entrance offers a panoramic view of the interiors, with glass walls peeking into the dining and formal living areas. The floor plan was designed to take in the full beauty of the .38-acre lot loaded with huge Live Oaks.

The northern wing holds the sleek, contemporary kitchen with a Viking stove and all the latest and greatest appliances (even a wine fridge and breakfast bar). Off the kitchen is the laundry room, plus an exit to a carport that doubles as a party pavilion.

Overall there are four bedrooms and four baths. The newly constructed master takes up an entire wing, and it is connected to the home by a stunning glass hallway. Spacious at 18 feet by 18 feet, the master feels even more grand, thanks to an unusual, octagon-shaped raised ceiling. Off this room is a huge closet, a mini laundry room and a bathroom.

Oh the bath! It has a free-standing vessel tub, huge walk-in shower, double vanities, storage and loads of light.

The perfect way to finish off this home? Get Harold Leidner over there to design a pool right off the master suite. It would make the home a complete resort hideaway in one of the city’s best locations.

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A version of this story originally was published on Candy’s Dirt.

The home at 11316 Valleydale Dr. is listed for $1,025,000.

Photo courtesy of Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate Lee Lormand

The home at 11316 Valleydale Dr. is listed for $1,025,000.

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Suburbs news

North Dallas neighbor ranks as No. 1 most affordable city in U.S.

Photo courtesy of City of McKinney

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A Dallas suburb has landed on top of a new list of the most affordable places to live: McKinney ranked No. 1 based on its relative cost of living and high median household income.

The report by personal finance experts Motley Fool Money, "The 10 Most Affordable Cities With High Salaries and Low Costs of Living," compared hundreds of U.S. cities based on their income-to-expense ratio, where a higher ratio means better affordability. Median income was sourced from U.S. Census data, while cost of living was taken from a 2024 cost of living index from the Council for Community and Economic Research.

McKinney had the highest income-to-expense ratio (1.55) out of every U.S. city on the list to claim the No. 1 spot as the most affordable place to live. According to the report's analysts, McKinney's cost of living index is three points below the national average.

Residents in this Dallas suburb make a median income of $116,654, a staggering 43 percent higher than the national median. That's more than enough to cover the report's estimate of $75,348 for the city's cost of living.

Motley Fool Money says McKinney is alluring for "mid-career Americans."

"The average age [in McKinney] is 37 and the median property value is $440,000, which is about $20,000 higher than the national median home sales price," the report's author wrote. "The largest industries are professional, scientific and technical services, retail, and healthcare."

Plano also earned a spot in the top 10 most affordable places to live, coming in at No. 6 with an income-to-expense ratio of 1.28.

The findings show Plano households make about $108,594 in median annual income to offset an $84,931 cost of living estimate. No wonder residents are happier here than in any other city in Texas.

Plano Arts District Photo by David Downs/Visit Plano

Plano's economy is the strongest factor attracting people to this popular suburb, as well as greater Dallas-Fort Worth's entrepreneurial spirit.

"Toyota Motor North America has its headquarters in Plano, and other large companies have significant footprints there including JPMorgan, JCPenney, and Frito-Lay," the report said.

Plano also excels as one of the best places to raise a family, demonstrating the city's true versatility for both career-focused and family-focused Americans.

Though both McKinney and Plano ranked on the list of the most affordable cities to live, neither appeared in Motley Fool Money's separate ranking of the cheapest places to live. Earning the No. 1 spot in that category was Decatur, Illinois.

The only Texas cities to rank on the list of the cheapest places to live were the Rio Grande Valley cities of Edinburg (No. 3) and Harlingen (No. 6), as well as Amarillo (No. 10) in West Texas.

The top 10 most affordable places to live in the U.S. are:

No. 1 – McKinney, Texas
No. 2 – Morristown, New Jersey
No. 3 – Edmond, Oklahoma
No. 4 – Midland, Texas
No. 5 – Austin, Texas
No. 6 – Plano, Texas
No. 7 – Joliet, Illinois
No. 8 – Kansas City metropolitan area
No. 9 – Atlanta, Georgia
No. 10 – Charleston, South Carolina

dallas suburbs mckinney plano rankings