Irving

The thriving master-planned community of Las Colinas is considered a Dallas suburb, but the word ‘suburb’ doesn’t quite do it justice. Centrally located between Fort Worth and Dallas, Las Colinas boasts a range of residential and commercial spaces as well as many large corporation headquarters, world-class entertainment venues and miles of greenbelts, waterways and canals. This is a vibrant, walkable area for people to live, work and play. The community’s convenient proximity to the Dallas-Fort Worth airport, located just 10 miles north, has helped transform this area into the booming 12,000-acre planned community and urban center it is today. “After the recession, we got the Toyota Music Factory near the canal, which is a lovely area to walk through and enjoy the water,” says Courtney Tauriac, a Dallas Realtor at Compass RE Texas LLC. Tauriac made the move to Las Colinas in 2007 and says it was the “perfect move” for her, due to the growing arts, culture and food scenes. “We have a great cost of living compared to the rest of the country." The tidy, curved streets of Las Colinas have tree-lined sidewalks that lead to neighborhood parks, restaurants and an expanding retail scene. “We’ve got some beautiful winding streets and big trees and hills, which you don’t typically see in Dallas,” Tauriac says. “It’s unique to us, whereas everything else is a grid pattern. If you go to McKinney, Frisco, etc., it’s all a big old flat grid.” There's a wide range of housing options in Las Colinas, including contemporary condos and luxury townhomes. Larger, custom-built single-family homes are accented by a mix of Mediterranean and Traditional influences. Prices for a 1970s condo are in the $150,000 to $250,000 range, whereas 1,500-plus square foot residences often start at $400,000 and cap at around $1.6 million for larger six-bedroom estates with golf course views. Students in Las Colinas attend schools in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District. Las Colinas Elementary School has an overall grade of A-minus from Niche. Bush Middle School earns a B score. Ranchview High School, which receives a B-plus, launched the Information Technology Academy in 2021, which offers students college-credit courses like cybersecurity and web design. Las Colinas is known as the “headquarters of headquarters” due to the large number of Fortune 500 companies in the area. Companies like Kimberly-Clark, Vistra and McKesson are drawn to Las Colinas or its central Dallas-Fort Worth location and widespread 5G technology availability. Several universities and colleges are nearby, such as the private Catholic University of Dallas. Las Colinas’ central location offers easy access to several major Dallas area highway systems and a 15-minute commute to downtown Dallas. The 10-mile drive to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport also makes for quick and easy travel. Dallas Area Rapid Transit serves the Las Colinas Urban Center, referred to by locals as ‘DART’. The DART includes plenty of bus stops and the light rail’s orange line, which conveniently connects to the DFW airport. Healthcare needs can be found at Medical City Las Colinas off President George Bush Turnpike. At the heart of Las Colinas is Lake Carolyn, an 87-acre manmade lake surrounded by the charming, Venice-inspired Mandalay Canal system. Here, locals can enjoy the water in many ways, renting paddleboards or Aqua Cycle Water Trikes or enjoying a relaxing guided gondola ride. Residents also head to this area for walking, running and biking on the 2-mile paved pathways, to walk dogs or simply enjoy an evening stroll through the neighborhood. Parks like Thomas Jefferson Park on Hidden Ridge Road feature playgrounds, sports courts and picnic pavilions. Golf lovers can head to Las Colinas Country Club for a day on the green. For an extended adventure, Irving’s Campion Trail – a concrete greenway that spans nearly 17 miles – starts on MacArthur Boulevard and offers a mix of natural and urban views as it winds its way north to Valley Ranch. Tauriac frequently jogged the trail system, adding that having this stretch of green space nearby was a nice benefit while living in Las Colinas. Locals can enjoy dinner by the water at Lake Carolyn hot spots like Pacific Table, which serves seafood with a view. For pub fare in an easygoing atmosphere, Cork & Pig Tavern is a popular pick. Thirsty Lion offers a similar vibe, and the unique appetizer offerings and craft cocktails are what stand out to the locals. MacArthur Park is a retail mecca, consisting of familiar big-box stores like Target and TJ Maxx. Locals can make the drive west to Grapevine Mall or I-183 South to downtown Dallas’ North Park, as well as the Galleria. Locals can also swing by Kroger, Walmart and Target for groceries. This area is also home to several notable music venues, the largest of which is Toyota Music Factory on Las Colinas Boulevard. This 18-acre open-air venue boasts several restaurants and a 4,000-seat concert hall that can open to an 8,000-seat amphitheater. In addition to Toyota Music Factory’s live entertainment, the Irving Arts Center offers a collection of sculptures, paintings and other works – some having been loaned by The Smithsonian Museum. Additional attractions are located downtown, including the Dallas Zoo and the Dallas World Aquarium.

Valley Ranch, a master-planned community in Irving less than 20 miles northeast of Dallas, has grown immensely beyond the 19th-century cattle ranch for which it is named. The community weaves thousands of homes and condos alongside local businesses, restaurants, acres of green space, walkable paths and man-made waterways. The community enjoys easy access to both Fort Worth and Dallas but is removed from busier areas in the metroplex to offer a more laid-back pace. “Valley Ranch has a great location, a neighborhood feel and is close to everything,” says Eva Hines, the owner of Dallas and Beyond Real Estate Group. “Our clients also love all the parks and bike trails, and also the diversity of the area.” The many subdivisions of this master-planned community are filled with a mix of single- and two-story houses that share features like red and brown brick facades, outdoor patios, and one- or two-car garages and are connected along a series of oak tree-lined residential streets. While Valley Ranch offers a variety of home styles and sizes, all the community’s offerings are popular with buyers. “Demand is strong because inventory is still low,” Hines says. “There is not one style that is more popular because price and move-in ready condition are more important than style.” A single-family home in Valley Ranch ranges between $400,000 to $800,000 and custom-build homes can reach up to $1 million or $2 million. Valley Ranch also has other housing options, like condos that hover around $300,000. Valley Ranch is known for its greenbelts, pedestrian paths, and landscaped canals that are scenic and protect the community from flash flooding that is common in the area. One of the largest dedicated green spaces in the area is Sam Houston Trail Park, which is off Interstate 635 and bordered by the Elm Fork Trinity River. The park provides a resting spot along the 22-mile paved Campion Trail, which stretches from Valley Ranch to Las Colinas. The Valley Ranch development is also dotted with some community parks, like North Lake Ranch Park on Ranch Trail and Cimarron Park, which is just off Valley Ranch Parkway and home to sports fields, a jogging trail, a recreation center and an aquatic center. Valley Ranch families can send their children to the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District. The district includes schools like Freeman Elementary School and Bush Middle School, which both score a B on Niche. Ranchview High School has a B-plus score on Niche and offers specialized cybersecurity courses alongside regular coursework. Valley Ranch is about 8 miles away from the University of Dallas campus in the center of Irving. There are over 100 businesses inside the Valley Ranch development, spanning from medical offices to restaurants. While shops are dotted across the community, the neighborhood’s major retail hub is MacArthur Marketplace on Walton Boulevard. Residents will find almost everything they need here, from grocery stores like Kroger and Sam’s Club to fast-casual restaurants and department stores. North MacArthur Boulevard, located at the heart of Valley Ranch, is home to many of the community’s best restaurants, like Bruno’s Ristorante, an upscale Italian eatery where guests can dine on steak and pasta while overlooking Valley Ranch’s canal system. On the same street, Our Place Indian Cuisine serves classic Indian and halal entrees cooked in a clay tandoor oven, and on hot summer days, locals can go to Kwality Ice Cream for frozen treats, cakes and gourmet ice cream. Valley Ranch is bordered by the Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway and Interstate 635 to the south and to the east by President George Bush Turnpike. These major highways connect the community is several nearby urban hubs. Valley Ranch is 10 miles from the center of Irving, 20 miles northeast of Dallas and 30 miles from Fort Worth. The community is also just 10 miles from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. Most locals prefer to drive, but those who rely on public transportation can find Dallas Area Rapid Transit bus stops on North MacArthur Boulevard and Valley Ranch Parkway.

Live, work and play in the same place. Settle down in Urban Center Irving — 12 miles from Dallas and 31 miles from Fort Worth. One of the forty villages of the Las Colinas master-planned community, this modern neighborhood combines a downtown lifestyle with scenic beauty and convenience. "You've got the Campion Trail right next to you, a 13-mile hike and bike trail," says Brit Ewers, a Realtor with Dave Perry Miller Real Estate. "You're near Lake Carolyn, which has a trail that you can jog around," This mixed-used district not only has high-rise condos and offices but is a walk away from concerts highlighting big-name musicians and Irving's most visited annual events. Las Colinas was designed with access to nature in mind, and Urban Center is no different. The area is close to several private places to play golf, including Las Colinas Country Club and Cottonwood Valley Golf Course, within a 2-mile radius. Bird's Fort Trail Park is on Riverside Drive, along the Elm Fork Trinity River and is an access point to Las Colina's Campion Trail connecting to various parks throughout the community. The Mandalay Canal Walk is along the lake, lined with stone and stucco buildings reminiscent of Venice—here, locals can rent a Gondola and enjoy the views. The community is home to Irving's biggest events, where crowds gather to watch the fireworks reflect on Lake Carolyn during Independence Day. In February — Frost Fest blankets this Texas neighborhood in snow for family-friendly festivities. Aside from being home to the Irving Convention Center, The Toyota Music Factory is a large entertainment complex that hosts concerts year-round and can seat 2,500 people in an intimate setting or open for an 8,000-seat outdoor show. The Texas Lottery Plaza across the street is typically filled with locals playing cornhole outside, beer in hand, before heading into or after a show. Mustangs of Las Colinas Sculpture is a famed city landmark, depicting nine bronze horses galloping through water. Travelers come from all over to experience this energetic entertainment district. Pacific Table is revered for its curated menu of fresh sushi, oysters, and weekend brunch. Cork & Pig Tavern is firing up pizza and smoked ribs —Hugo's Invitados plates up elevated, traditional Mexican favorites. For quick grocery items, locals walk to Urban Center Market and Tom Thumb on North MacArthur Boulevard to fill the pantry. MacArthur Marketplace is just 5 miles north for dozens of big box stores, and 11 miles is Dallas' premier shopping destination, The Galleria. "It's vibrant and probably the most convenient location in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex," says Laurie Kane, a Realtor with Re/Max DFW. Condos, townhouses, lofts and apartments satellite Lake Carolyn—Spanish-inspired buildings with red-stucco roofs and contemporary designs with sleek exteriors. Residences mingle between hotels, entertainment venues, business offices and restaurants, marking it as a mixed-use residential district where locals are just footsteps away from dinner or work. Many residences have upscale amenities, including resort-style pools, courtyards, fitness centers, parking and 24-hour concierges. Prices in the area can range from $260,000 for a high-rise one-bedroom condo to over $640,000 for a three-bedroom townhouse. Students may be a part of the Irving Independent School District. Farine Elementary earns a B, minus according to Niche, Travis Middle earns a C-plus, and Macarthur High School earns a B-plus. Seventh and eighth graders can be part of the Futures Program, allowing them to receive high school credits. Macarthur High continues this specialized focus through its pathway programs centered on computer science, architecture, and business. The area is also 3 miles from the University of Dallas. Las Colinas is a sought-after community for Fortune 500 companies to place their headquarters, including ExxonMobil Corporation and Caterpillar Inc. Across West Northwest Highway to the Urban Center's eastern edge is a big industrial and manufacturing park. Whether driving on Highway 114 or taking the bus or the orange line of the DART light rail, "most people like the area because you're 10 minutes from Dallas. You're right in between the airports," Ewer says. The community is smack-dab in the middle of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport, within a 9-mile radius, and Medical City Las Colinas is 3 miles north.

Located almost halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth, Irving, Texas, was a central hub of the DFW area long before the term metroplex was uttered. The well-established neighborhood of Barton Estates exemplifies Irving's flair for convenience and good living. "Barton Estates is a traditional neighborhood in a great central Irving location," says Realtor James Manglona of Shield’s Realty, LLC, who has lived in the area for over 20 years. “There are so many reasons to move here. The area is growing tremendously. It has easy access to shopping, major freeways and the Dallas Fort Worth Airport.” Houses in this quiet community are mostly ranch-style and Traditional single-family homes built between the 1950s and the 1990s. Homes in Barton Estates sit back from the streets on tidy lots with well-kept front yards. Most homes have attached garages and private driveways. Sidewalks are found throughout the area. Home buyers can expect to pay between $200,000 for a 1,300 square-foot home and $400,000 for a 2,000 square-foot home. Area youngsters attend schools in the Irving Independent School District. Barton Elementary has a C rating from Niche and a 15-1 student-teacher ratio. Crocket Middle has a C rating and a 14-1 student-teacher ratio. Irving High School has a B-minus and has a 16-1 student-teacher ratio. High school students can earn certifications in a range of professional and technical careers, including aviation, biomedical sciences and business fields. When it’s time to get outside, neighborhood residents can walk to Wyche Park, a 17-acre green space in Barton Estates with swings, a paved walking path, basketball court and a soccer field. Locals can walk or drive to the West Irving Aquatic Center on summer days. The center’s several pools, water playground and slides will help beat the Texas heat. Residents can also venture to nearby Towne Park to enjoy the ducks, geese and turtles frequenting the park's two ponds and burn off energy at the large playground, basketball court and soccer field. For those who prefer putting over playgrounds, the Las Colinas Country Club's 18-hole course overlooks the downtown Dallas skyline. Those seeking indoor activities may want to visit the Irving Arts Center. The facility houses 10 arts organizations, including a symphony orchestra, arts council and theatrical group. Nearby, St. Luke Catholic Church has been a mainstay in the community since 1902. The church facilitates several outreach programs, including crisis interventions and food and transportation assistance. Masses are said in English, Spanish and Portuguese. On Fridays in April, many residents pack a picnic, grab lawn chairs and loved ones and head to nearby Heritage Park to enjoy an evening of musical performances. Food trucks on are on-site for those who don’t have time to prepare a dinner. In May, locals head back to Heritage Park to celebrate Fusion, a one-day festival that observes Irving’s many cultures. Attendees can enjoy cuisines from various food vendors, participate in salsa dancing or get an elaborate henna tattoo. In October the city puts on Eerie Irving, held at Trinity View Park. The event features five “haunted” scenes where attendees are terrified by monsters, ghosts and other scary creatures. Should this whirl of activity work up an appetite, nearby eateries include Mariscos La Marea, a Mexican-style seafood restaurant. For breakfast fans, there's Mama's Daughters' Diner, a local family-owned chain serving home-style favorites like fresh-made cinnamon rolls and fluffy pancakes. Fueled up after a Saturday morning syrup-topped short stack, residents can head to the nearby Kroger to pick up groceries and then dash up N. Beltline Road to Home Depot for weekend DIY supplies. There is also a Target is nearby for any other essentials. Barton Estates is bordered by N. Beltline Road to the west. Major thoroughfares are just a few blocks away on all sides. Downtown Fort Worth is 24 miles via Interstate 30. Downtown Dallas is 14 miles via Texas Highway 183 East. Dallas Fort Worth Airport is 5 miles on 183 West. DART buses run through this car-dependent neighborhood. From parks to pancakes and fairways to freeways, most everything in Irving is conveniently close to Barton Estates.

The streets of Broadmoor Hills, an Irving neighborhood, are lined with modern homes that sit on nearly identical lawns. This Irving neighborhood is almost entirely residential, apart from a few houses of worship. Even so, it is easy for people to travel almost anywhere from their front door. “You’re right in between everything,” says Austin Killian, Realtor with Scott Real Estate and former local. “You’re really close to the airport, and you’re really close to a lot of shopping and dining.” When Killian says “really close” to the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, he means it is directly next to the neighborhood. This has led to more commercial properties, such as the Irving Mall, and a wide selection of eateries within 5 miles. Broadmoor Hills neighbors Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). While it is easy to travel, the proximity to the airport leads to increased noise levels. “We are in regular contact with DFW Airport, so if they do have a change in their flight pattern and there is going to be elevated noise over particular areas of the city, we do put out communications,” Vasquez says. Many of the folks in Broadmoor Hills commute to Dallas, with state Route 161, or the President George Bush Turnpike, leading the 20 miles into the heart of the city. The closest emergency room is at Medical City Las Colinas, about 4 miles away. Small oak trees dot the sidewalks of Broadmoor Hills. The wide roads offer enough room for street parking and two-way traffic, although some properties have driveways. Brick and stone new traditional homes, with contemporary and Tudor influences, fill most of the neighborhood, sitting on manicured lawns with neat bushes. Many houses built between the 1980s and 2010s feature hip and valley roofs and tall, narrow windows. Properties closer to the airport can cost between $350,000 and $425,000, while prices can range from $450,000 to $625,000 closer to the turnpike. Monthly homeowners association fees of about $50 cover yard maintenance. More than half of the residents are renters, who can expect to pay about $2,500 to $3,000 a month for a single-family home. At the Broadmoor Villas apartment complex, a two-bedroom apartment can cost between $1,500 and $1,600. While Broadmoor Hills is almost entirely residential, it is just a short drive from a buzzing dining scene. “There’s every restaurant you can think of close by,” says Killian, attributing this to the proximity to DFW. The Cottonwood Crossing shopping center is a prime example of that, with a variety of independent eateries next to each other. Po’ Melvin’s serves New Orleans-inspired food, including fried shrimp po’boys and seafood gumbo, while Thai Monkey offers traditional Thai dishes like papaya salad and sticky rice with mango. The closest grocery store is Kroger. At the Irving Mall, about 3 miles away, shoppers can visit major retailers, such as Macy’s and American Eagle. Walmart, Target and Home Depot are all about a 5-mile drive. The City of Irving has a full calendar of events, starting with its Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Observance event, which features performances from the Dallas Black Dance Theatre and Kamica King. Every Friday in April and October, folks can attend free concerts at Heritage Park for the Music on Main Concert Series. In December, the city comes together for Holidays at Heritage, a two-week celebration with a parade of lit-up cars and trailers riding through the Heritage District. “Everyone convenes at Heritage Park, where the tree lighting happens,” says Isaac Vasquez, communications manager for the City of Irving. The night ends with a hot chocolate bar, live music and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. As part of the Irving Independent School District, students can start at Townsell Elementary School before heading to Houston Middle School. Both schools receive a C-plus. MacArthur High School earns a B-plus and offers career and technical education courses in a wide range of subjects, from architecture to business, marketing and finance. There are plenty of opportunities to get outside around Broadmoor Hills. Families can walk to Dorris Park, where kids can run around the playground before sitting down for a picnic. “A lot of people who like to golf live over there because there’s a lot of nice courses,” says Killian, highlighting the Bear Creek Golf Club and Hackberry Creek Country Club, both about 4 miles away. At Bear Creek Golf Club, anyone can schedule a tee time at one of the two championship layouts designed by Ted Robinson or the nine-hole course. Hackberry Creek Country Club’s 18-hole course by Byron Nelson is reserved only for members, who also enjoy the club’s outdoor pool and tennis courts.