Your Expert Guide

Belmont Park: Modern vibrance and friendly vibes in Old East Dallas

Agent Barbara Arredondo and her team.

Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty

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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As an East Dallas resident since 2001, real estate professional Barbara Arredondo has enjoyed witnessing the revitalization in this area’s neighborhood pockets.

“Belmont Park in particular has come a long way with new-construction projects, and I love the energy of the neighborhood's original charm mixed with modern-contemporary styles,” she says.

While she works all across Dallas-Fort Worth, Arredondo loves showing off this vibrant, friendly part of town that boasts a number of coffee shops, bars, restaurants, and gyms.

“A lot of neighbors know each other, so there’s also a small-town vibe here,” she adds. “You’ll probably see a lot of residents going for a run or walking their dogs after work.”

The Central, a Dallas development that’s on the border of Belmont Park, is also on the horizon. The progressive mixed-use community will be centered around a park and will celebrate connectivity and wellness. Arredondo believes it’s only going to increase the desirability and property values in the area, too.

When Arredondo isn’t working, she serves on several boards and actively advocates for her community.

She offered up a few of her personal favorites about life in and around Belmont Park. Here's her guide to the area:

Where to eat & drink
Arredondo loves that there are so many great restaurants nearby, including Beverley's Bistro & Bar, The Rustic, Gemma, Zalat Pizza, and more. But for the best made-to-order sandwiches around, she goes to Jimmy's Food Store. “They’re a must-try!”

For “authentic street tacos without all the fuss,” Arredondo recommends Tacos La Banqueta. “E-Bar Tex-Mex is another local spot where the food is great," she says.

And to caffeinate in a quaint, charming spot, you can’t go wrong at the local hang Fiction Coffee.

Where to play
Naturally, White Rock Lake is a big attraction in this part of town, for walking, running, and biking as well as water activities like kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding.

The Dallas Arts District is only about two miles from Belmont Park, where you can browse the Dallas Museum of Art before heading across the street to Klyde Warren Park. There’s always something happening at this urban green space — think Movies in the Park, regularly hosted yoga and fitness classes, and other community festivals and fun.

Arredondo also loves catching a show or concert at the historic Majestic Theater.

Where to live
Belmont Park is a diverse neighborhood that has a mix of new construction properties, including modern-contemporary half-duplexes and single-family homes in addition to original ranch-style brick houses.

“Many young professionals are attracted to this area because of the quality of the newer builds with all the modern conveniences and styles — along with yard space for their pets,” says Arredondo.

The half-duplex at 4616 Coles Manor Place exemplifies the type of home in this area. Arredondo represented the seller of this 3,168-square-foot beauty that features an oversized rooftop deck with downtown views.

“Barbara and her team customized a marketing plan for our home knowing the market was shifting and truly provided a luxury experience,” said the seller. “She is one of the finest communicators we have met!”

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Barbara Arredondo works and plays in Belmont Park. For more information on buying and selling a home in the area, click here email barredondo@briggsfreeman.com, or call 214-642-7696.

Photo by Ren Morrison

Agent Barbara Arredondo.

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living single

Dallas lands among 10 most affordable U.S. metros for living alone

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In DFW, renters can afford to live solo.

Not everyone is cut out for living with roommates, but finding an affordable place to live alone can be tricky. Luckily, Dallas-Fort Worth sits among the top 10 most affordable U.S. metros for living by yourself, according to a new report.

Analysts at Apartments.com discovered North Texas renters spend the seventh lowest share of their monthly income on single-bedroom rent out of the 50 biggest metros in the U.S.

The study used a 30 percent "common budgeting guideline" to calculate the share of median renter household income spent on one-bedroom asking rents across the 50 largest U.S. metros, and determined renters can only afford to live alone in 24 of the 50 metros without crossing the 30 percent threshold.

The median annual income of a DFW renter household is $63,172, and the findings show the typical asking rent for a one-bedroom apartment comes out to $1,348 per month. The study determined single renters spend 25.6 percent of their monthly income on rent based on the budgeting suggestion.

Texas' favorable rental market also extends outside of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex: Austin surprised as the No. 1 most affordable metro for living alone, and San Antonio appeared among the top 10.

Austin renters spend the smallest share of their income on single-bedroom apartment rent, at 23.1 percent. That's based on a median renter household income of $70,008 and a $1,348 monthly one-bedroom asking rent price.

Dwindling rent prices and the prevalence of major tech employers are also attracting new renters, and the city has an 11.6 percent apartment vacancy rate.

"The average rent in Austin has decreased year over year, and construction of new housing increased by 30 percent over the past decade," the report's author wrote. "Tax incentives in Texas draw large tech corporations, like Google and Apple, to the Austin area, which has increased average wages, added more jobs to the local economy, and attracted renters in the process."

San Antonio ranked right above DFW in sixth place nationwide with solo renters spending 25.4 percent of their monthly income on single-bedroom rent, coincidentally the same share as single renters living in Raleigh, North Carolina and Salt Lake City, Utah.

This is the income and one-bedroom rent data in San Antonio:

$51,029 – median renter household income
$1,082 – one-bedroom monthly asking rent

A separate Apartments.com survey found 39 percent of U.S. adults would never feel comfortable living with a roommate, and 16 percent of renters would rather pay more in rent to live alone than consider living with a roommate.

"Factors contributing to lower rents may include recent high levels of construction, rising vacancy rates as renter demand catches up to supply, and fewer regulations, such as flexible zoning and lower development costs compared to other parts of the country," the report said. "Living alone has become a non-negotiable for many renters, and some renters are willing to make tradeoffs to afford this lifestyle."

The top 10 most affordable U.S. metros for living alone are:

No. 1 – Austin
No. 2 – Oklahoma City
No. 3 – Phoenix
No. 4 – Raleigh, North Carolina
No. 5 – Salt Lake City, Utah
No. 6 – San Antonio
No. 7 – Dallas-Fort Worth
No. 8 – Denver
No. 9 – Portland, Oregon
No. 10 – Columbus, Ohio

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