Your Expert Guide

Preston Hollow: The best of Dallas, all in one neighborhood

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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Preston Hollow has been part of real estate agent Nora Kutob's life for years. Her family lives in the neighborhood, her daughter attends Dallas International School, and she has worked with clients in the area for more than a decade. Between family, school, and her business, she spends much of her time there.

That close connection gives Nora a personal perspective on what makes the neighborhood appealing.

"It's incredibly central, but it still has that family-oriented, neighborhood feel," Nora says. "You have great schools, restaurants, and shopping nearby, beautiful homes and established neighborhoods, and you're minutes from so much of Dallas. It's really the best of both worlds."

Along Preston Road, residents can pick up groceries, take a pilates or yoga class, or meet friends for dinner close to home.

Nearby private schools, including The Hockaday School, St. Mark’s School of Texas, and the Episcopal School of Dallas, are another draw for many families.

In real estate since 2014, Nora helps buyers find a home that fits their needs in a neighborhood she knows well. Here are a few of her favorites and the features she appreciates most.

Where to eat & drink
"R+D Kitchen is my favorite spot near Preston Hollow," Kutob says. "Whether I’m in the mood for a sushi roll or a steak, it’s an easy choice for lunch or dinner with friends."

Where to play
Preston Hollow Park offers tennis courts, a playground, and space for a picnic. For a walk, run, or bike ride, nearby Northaven Trail provides another way to enjoy time outdoors.

Where to live
Spacious lots and tree-lined streets are part of Preston Hollow’s appeal. Pockets such as Old Preston Hollow, Preston Hollow East, and Preston Hollow North each have their own character, with homes ranging from classic ranches and traditional residences to contemporary custom builds. In Old Preston Hollow, larger properties offer room for gardens, pools, and outdoor entertaining, while established landscaping provides privacy.

"Each home has its own character, whether it’s a classic traditional, something transitional, or a contemporary design," Nora says. "It's an area where buyers can really find something that fits their style and the way they want to live, rather than choosing from homes that all feel the same."

The home at 5807 Park Ln., sold by Nora, offers a glimpse of Preston Hollow’s appeal. Designed by David Stocker of SHM Architects, the Santa Barbara-inspired residence pairs gardens and outdoor terraces with the privacy that draws buyers to Preston Hollow.

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Nora Kutob lives, works, and plays in Preston Hollow. For more information on buying and selling a home in the area, click here, email nkutob@briggsfreeman.com, or call 903-312-0108.

Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty

5807 Park Ln. was designed by David Stocker of SHM Architects.

neighborhood guide preston hollow nora kutob briggs freeman sotheby's home for sale promoted

Made-for-TV listing

Chip and Joanna Gaines put fixed-up Waco mansion on market for $7.4M

Facebook/Magnolia Realty

A Waco mansion fixed up for TV by Chip and Joanna Gaines is on the market for $7.4 million.

A Waco estate that will star in Chip and Joanna Gaines’ latest TV series, Fixer Upper: Chip Bought a Mansion, has gone on the market for $7.4 million.

The more than 14,000-square-foot mansion sits on a 5.7-acre site at 5305 Hillcrest Dr. that boasts views of Lake Waco. The listing, held by Amanda Nesbitt of the Gaineses’ Magnolia Realty, says the home “will be thoughtfully reimagined to reveal a timeless, more neutral-leaning palette for a future owner.”

Listing photos show the pre-renovation state of the mansion.

The European-style mansion, featuring a red-brick and cast-stone façade, looks similar to luxury homes you’d find in Preston Hollow, Highland Park, and other high-end neighborhoods in the Dallas area.

A light-filled, two-story foyer with a floating staircase and ornate iron banisters greets visitors, as do parquet flooring and stately columns.

Gaines Waco mansion The mansion foyer before the renovation.Facebook/Magnolia Realty

Venturing into the six-year-old home, you’ll find six bedrooms and 11 bathrooms. The first-floor primary suite offers two bathrooms, several closets, and courtyard access. A guest suite comes with a bedroom, bathroom, living area, kitchenette, and private entrance.

Amenities include:

$\u200bGaines Fixer Upper mansion$

Facebook/Magnolia Realty

A Waco mansion fixed up for TV by Chip and Joanna Gaines is on the market for $7.4 million.

Private study
Billiard room
Media room
Wet bar
Wine cellar
Butler’s pantry
Gym with a steam shower

Outside, several covered porches, an outdoor kitchen, an infinity-edge pool, and a pond let residents and visitors soak up nature. A motor court and four garage bays provide ample space for parking.

As part of the Fixer Upper renovations, the home’s architectural details, such as trim, moldings, and millwork, “will be preserved and elevated in order for their craftsmanship to shine,” the listing says.

Gaines Waco mansion The mansion has a splendid view of Lake Waco.Facebook/Magnolia Realty

Meanwhile, the kitchen will be turned into the “central heart” of the mansion, according to the listing.

“Additional design refinements throughout the home will set an elegant, renewed vision for all that Hawkesdene Estate will become,” the listing says.

Fixer Upper: Chip Bought a Mansion, a six-episode series, is scheduled to debut Dec. 27 on the Gaineses’ Magnolia Network and HGTV. New episodes will be available to stream the next day on HBO Max, according to TV Insider.

Chip purchased the mansion three years ago as an investment property, People magazine reported. The series follows the Gaineses as they confront budget challenges and a three-month deadline to sell the property.

“This will be the biggest fixer we’ve ever done,” Joanna says in a clip from the show.

Chip and Joanna recently sold a 136-year-old Waco castle that served as the foundation of another series, Fixer Upper: Welcome Home – The Castle. They listed 6,176-square-foot Cottonland Castle at nearly $2.7 million. The sale price wasn’t disclosed.

chip and joanna fixer upper hgtv luxury mansion texas waco home-for-sale