On the Market

Dramatic touches spring up all over this elegant Fairview home

Looking to add a little drama to your dinner parties? At 231 Latham Dr., you can slide open the rustic barn doors for a big reveal of the dining room, with its wall of windows and timelessly elegant light fixture.

There are several glamorous touches to be found through the American Legend home, which has only had one owner since its 2012 construction. It is located in the Fairview Downs neighborhood, right above The Village at Allen, Fairview Town Center, and Allen Premium Outlets, so superior shopping, dining, and entertainment are all just a stone's throw away. A greenbelt and hike and bike trails are also nearby.

But you may not feel the need to go out often, thanks to a media room that comes with built-in speakers and an oversized game room with a Juliet balcony and a wall of windows that allows copious amounts of natural light.

Downstairs, the open gourmet kitchen is outfitted with such entertaining must-haves as a built-in wine rack and large island with extra seating. Granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, a five-burner gas range, walk-in pantry, and plenty of cabinet and drawer storage complete the setup, along with a large window overlooking the expansive yard with its stained concrete patio and TV area with CFA lights, lush landscaping, lots of trees, and a sprinkler system.

The main living room is crowned by a corner stone fireplace that extends up to the two-story ceiling, which nicely complements the hand-scraped hardwood floors and yet more windows. A first-floor study with plantation shutters is a great front-of-home bonus space.

There are four bedrooms, three full bathrooms, and one partial bath in the 3,533-square-foot home. The master suite has more of those sophisticated plantation shutters, as well as a roomy walk-in closet, granite countertops, dual vanities, and a sparkly chandelier over the soaking tub.

Don't overlook the home's eco-conscious aspects, either: a 13-15 SEER air conditioning unit; low-e, double-pane windows; two gas water heaters; and a programmable thermostat all help to keep costs low and the ecological imprint small.

The O'Gorman Group with Ebby Halliday Realtors has the listing, which is priced at $470,000.

The home at 231 Latham Dr. in Fairview is listed for $470,000.

Photo courtesy of Ebby Halliday Realtors

The home at 231 Latham Dr. in Fairview is listed for $470,000.

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bang for your buck

These are the 10 most affordable ZIP codes for Dallas-area renters

Photo by Jenifer McNeil Baker for Greystar

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Buying a home in Dallas is difficult enough to afford these days, and doubly so if you're already paying high rent on an apartment or a house. But there are 10 Dallas-Fort Worth ZIP codes where renters can get the most bang for their buck, according to a new study by financial services company CashNetUSA.

To find the most affordable ZIP codes to rent in the U.S., analysts compared median household incomes by ZIP code to the average annual rent costs using the Zillow Observed Rent Index. ZIP codes where the average annual rental costs required the lowest percentage of median household income were considered the "most affordable."

Two Dallas suburbs and their ZIP codes specifically stood out in CashNetUSA's ranking of the most affordable ZIPs for renters across the Metroplex: 75013 in Allen (No. 1) and 75033 in Frisco (No. 2).

According to the study's findings, the average monthly cost of a rental in Allen comes out to $1,716.45, and the median annual income of an Allen household is $145,220. Analysts then calculated that the annual rent of a home in the Allen ZIP code only takes up 14.18 percent of a household's median income, which is the No. 1 lowest in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Allen was recently named one of the best small cities to live in, with a scorching hot real estate market to match its thriving popularity and growth.

In Frisco's 75033 ZIP, annual rent costs only represent 14.89 percent of a household's median annual income. The area – which encompasses the Meadow Hill Estates, Preston Highlands North, Christie Ranch, Newman Village, Shaddock Creek Estates, and Collin neighborhoods – has a median household income of $149,525, and average rent costs add up to $1,855.49, according to the study.

Meanwhile, Dallas' own 75214 ZIP code ranked No. 8 in the metro-wide ranking of most affordable ZIPs for renters. This area consists of several established Dallas neighborhoods, including Northeast Dallas, Wilshire Heights, Lakewood, Lakewood Hills, Junius Heights, and Munger Place.

The median annual income for a household in 75214 comes out to $104,583, and the average rental costs $1,669.40 per month. That means annual rent payments account for 19.15 percent of a household's median income, according to the study.

The seven other ZIPs that make up the top 10 most affordable ZIP codes for renters in Dallas-Fort Worth include:

No. 3 – 76248 in Keller
No. 4 – 76085 in Weatherford
No. 5 – 76262 in Roanoke
No. 6 – 75078 in Prosper
No. 7 – 75048 in Sachse
No. 9 – 75077 in Highland Village
No. 10 – 75093 in Plano

Top ZIP codes for renters in the U.S.
CashNetUSA found the No. 1 most affordable ZIP code for renters nationwide is 66224 in Leawood, Kansas, where annual rent only takes a 10.57 percent cut out of a household's median annual income.

Elsewhere in Texas, San Antonio's 78248 ZIP ranked as the No. 4 most affordable ZIP code for renters in the U.S., and the No. 1 most affordable ZIP code statewide.

Two Houston-area ZIP codes – 77401 and 77094 – ranked No. 9 and No. 12 nationally, while Allen's 75013 ZIP code fell two spots behind to claim the No. 14 spot.

frisco suburbs zip codes rent