Your Expert Guide

Turtle Creek: The most walkable neighborhood in Dallas

There are so many great places to live in Dallas that it helps to have an expert on your side. The Neighborhood Guide presented by Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty gives you insider access from the agents who live and work there, providing in-the-know info about your possible new community.

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Real estate agent Faisal Halum, who leads the No. 1 small team in Texas as ranked by RealTrends, has owned three homes in Turtle Creek since 2005 — including his current one — proving just how much he loves the area.

"I live in Turtle Creek, so naturally I love working in the neighborhood, too," he says. "It’s in the heart of Dallas, and it’s the most walkable neighborhood in the city thanks to its close proximity to amazing restaurants, shops, parks, and trails."

The architecturally diverse area is home to some of the first high-rises ever built in Dallas, newly developed condos and townhomes, and beautiful bungalows and cottages in residential neighborhoods like Northern Hills.

"There's a type of home for every lifestyle and phase of life, from young professionals to families to retirees," says Halum. "There is also a host of exciting new projects popping up, such as The Terminal at Katy Trail, a luxury mixed-use development that includes residences, shops, and restaurants."

Halum offered up a few more of his personal favorites about life in Turtle Creek. Here's his guide to the area:

Where to eat & drink
"I love Beverley's on Fitzhugh Avenue, it's my go-to for a bite to eat," Halum says. "I’m liking Greg Katz’s new spot, Clifton Club, which opened down the street in spring 2022. Le Bilboquet and Georgie on Travis Street are also on heavy rotation."

Halum also mentions the iconic Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek: "The bar is a great place to meet a friend for a cocktail, and the restaurant is one of Dallas' most celebrated dining spots."

Where to play
"I love that health and fitness are so easy and accessible in this neighborhood," he says. "You can hit up the Katy Trail for a run or head over to Equinox for a workout. Turtle Creek Park is a relaxing spot to stroll around the creek or take your dog for a walk."

The Conservatory in Highland Park Village is just down the road, and is Halum’s favorite spot for gifts for men, women, and the home.

What to see
"The Turtle Creek neighborhood's proximity to downtown makes it one of the best spots for taking in the city’s cultural offerings," Halum says. "You're minutes away from the Dallas Museum of Art and the Nasher Sculpture Center, as well as the Dallas Theater Center. Our arts scene is thriving."

Where to live
Halum's former listing at 4347 Avondale Ave. is a modern masterpiece by renowned architect Lionel Morrison. Built in 2014, the 3,114-square-foot, two-bedroom home combines simple finishes with seamless indoor-outdoor living, creating an urban oasis in Turtle Creek.

From its white stucco exterior and Roman travertine rain screen to its unique L-shaped courtyard layout, the two-story home was designed to offer calm, comfort, and privacy.

Currently, Halum is representing The Terminal at Katy Trail and the penthouse (#2307) at One Arts Plaza. Previous significant sales in the area include #8A at the Residences at the Stoneleigh, 4011 Turtle Creek Blvd., 3628 Springbrook St., and 2801 Turtle Creek Blvd. #4E.

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Faisal Halum lives, works, and plays in Turtle Creek. For more information on buying and selling a home in the area, click here, email fhalum@briggsfreeman.com, or call 214-240-2575.

Agent Faisal Halum

Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty

Agent Faisal Halum.

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Prep to Protest

Texas homeowners have one month to protest and lower their property taxes

Jessie Street home front Austin tour of remodeled homes

Photo courtesy of Austin NARI Tour of Remodeled Homes

Here's how Texans can correct their property taxes when they feel their home appraisal is too high.

Texans who are unhappy with their home appraisal this tax season have a chance to do something about it if they get the process going in the next month. The deadline for most people to protest their property valuation — thus lowering their property tax — in Dallas County is May 15.

If you haven't done it before, don't worry: There are steps to follow online and companies that do it for you at no cost unless you save money.

Why protest?
Texans pay the 7th highest property taxes in the country, according to personal finance website WalletHub. If your county has overappraised your home, you are paying more than you need to in property taxes.

Protests are especially important and easy for people who closed on their homes in the past year, because the value of the property upon sale is accepted as the true value of the property. This assumes that if the property were worth more, it would have sold for more. The more recently the home sold, the more likely it is that homeowners haven't meaningfully altered the property since the purchase.

Submitting a protest is free, and there is almost no risk in doing so. The Appraisal Review Board is prohibited from raising the property value in a hearing. Homeowners may decide it's not worth their time if their appraisal barely changes and they don't save a significant amount of money.

When to submit
Most homeowners whose home has increased in value according to the county should have received a Notice of Appraisal in the mail by now. It tells them how much the county believes their home is worth this year. To check online, homeowners can search for their property at dallascad.org.

The deadline to submit a protest is May 15 or 30 days after the notice is mailed — whichever comes later. However, the notice may have been lost or delivered to the wrong place, so it is important to check before May 15 just in case. Notices are also sent later for property owners whose primary residence is somewhere else.

There are lots of ways homeowners can try to prove their home value has not increased, or even that it has decreased due to damage on the property. Whether the evidence is photos of damage or "comps" around the neighborhood — comparing the home's value to others of a similar quality in the same area — homeowners submitting their claim themselves should be prepared to meet with an appraiser or even a review board.

Set it and forget it
Homeowners who don't want to deal with the paperwork, phone call, or hearing can hire service to protest on their behalf. For them, savings are essentially passive income; the service uses data from past years and the surrounding neighborhood to argue the client's case. It is easy to find a service that works on a contingency fee, so the cost is only a portion of the successful savings. Ownwell is a popular choice, but it's not the only one.

Finally, homeowners should also make sure they're not leaving money on the table by applying for a homestead exemption. This is available to people who own the homes they live in, as opposed to people who own homes and rent them out to others. It subtracts $140,000 from the total valuation of the home before applying the tax rate.

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