Casa Linda Estates is one of the best-kept secrets in Dallas. It’s a great neighborhood, filled with large homes that have huge backyards and some of the best private schools, including White Rock Montessori, are nearby. You can get to White Rock Lake in minutes and access downtown without getting on a highway. Best of all, it’s still an area where you can get incredible bang for your buck. One of my favorite houses in the area, 1545 N. Bucker Blvd., hit MLS last week for $1.495 million, and frankly that is a steal for this property.
I love this house for a multitude of reasons. First, it’s a home with a distinct family feel, built to entertain the way everyone really likes to entertain: casually. Second, it’s on a huge lot — over an acre — and beautifully landscaped. My third and best reason for loving this house: it’s owned, and was completely renovated several years ago by one of the most respected builders in town. When you purchase the home a builder has built for himself, you know there’s no skimping going on and that everything you see is well thought out, solid, and built to last.
Yes, it’s on Buckner, and Buckner is a busy street, but trust me — it’s set far enough back from the street, behind a landscaped front yard, that you don’t hear a sound inside the house or in the backyard. It’s easy to get on and off of Buckner from the circular driveway in front, so just forget about the street being an issue. It’s not.
When the kitchen was renovated it was planned with entertaining and kids in mind. A built-in fridge, Viking range, coffee maker, an eat-in breakfast area and walk-in wine storage show just how well it was thought out.
There are four bedrooms, three full and two half bathrooms, a study, workout room, and a media room with a 110-inch screen. The master closet is, well, masterful. I’d say it’s No. 4 on my list of things to love about the house. You could pretty much live in here. There’s a huge island with enough space to pack your suitcase, a place to sit and drink wine with the girls while you try on evening gowns, even a place to put on your makeup. Glass-fronted cabinets are a nice touch as they keep dust off your handbag collection and let you see them at a glance.
The kids rooms are upstairs, along with a living area so large they they will only come down to raid the SubZero.
Last, but not least, there’s that backyard. Nothing is missing. Covered porches, gardens, a gazebo, a pergola, the giant lap pool and yes, a guest house. One of the things you will only see on a visit is the four-car garage that opens at both ends. You can move the cars out to the porte-cochere and voila, another entertainment area. Like I said, a builder’s own home is always well thought out and all the bases are covered. The house is listed by Charo Costello with Costello & Associates and frankly I think it’s one of the best buys in town right now.
