Look at this charming, neat-as-a-pin, well-decorated, freshly painted three-bedroom and two-refinished-baths ranch in Northwest Dallas. I know what you will think: God that’s adorable! Storybook cottage, Property Brothers style. The home is located west of Marsh Lane south of Royal Lane. It’s on a juicy, .22-acre treed lot. The trees are abundant in this part of town, I know because…
We once lived in Northwest Dallas!
Our very first home in Dallas was at 3550 Ainsworth, north of Royal, but same wonderful quadrant of town. We moved in fresh from New York City (after a very short stint in an Oak Lawn apartment with aluminum wiring!) and dinner was served, courtesy of our neighbors, who still live next door to that Ainsworth house this day! I was blown away by the neighborhood kindness: dinners, cocktails, wine, party invitations, warmth. And when the time came for a poor, medical-school-debt-burdened OB resident’s family to have their first child, a crib was given to us by one neighbor, freshly re-painted by another. There were plenty of moms to offer parenting advice when the ‘rents and in-laws were 1,200 miles away!
I tell you this because 3480 Timberview, listed for $335,000 (reduced from $350,000) has this same spirit and is so much more than cute photos (with a cute agent, Rustin James.)
You are buying 1,655 square feet in a solid, 1956-vintage, post World War II ranch built when the Northwest Dallas neighborhood was proliferating with similar homes. This entire area was new — the outpost of Dallas. You are buying in a neighborhood where homes are being scraped to make way for bigger, stonier two-story models sold for twice as much money. You are investing in a solid neighborhood with nearby parks, and great private and public schools — Degolyer for elementary, Marsh for middle, and W.T. White for high school.
And you are buying those terrific neighbors.
The Northwest Dallas house has a two-car, front-facing garage — perfect for security — and the traditional 50s ranch configuration has been turned open-style floor plan. There is plenty of natural light, but also some welcomed shading. The updated, eat-in kitchen with granite counters boasts stainless steel appliances, gas range, and a large dining area with skylight. The kitchen is located off the attached two-car garage.
Both baths are updated, the master with dual vessel vanities and an over-sized, walk-in shower with rainwater overhead spout. The other two bedrooms have the cute single hall bathroom with tub, Leave it to Beaver-style. Or perhaps Brady Bunch-style: you know, when every child didn’t have an en suite bath and somehow, miraculously, survived.
The yard is neatly groomed, professionally landscaped, includes a large entertaining deck, and a separate grass area perfect for a swing set. Or how about a rope swing from those thick, mature trees?
Now a funny story about this Northwest Dallas home. I know the current owners. And this is a story I have long wanted to tell:
When they bought this house and moved in, the sellers (who had already closed and funded the home, mind you) did not want to leave!
Can you imagine pulling up with your full moving van of stuff, and you arrive to find that the sellers have not yet vacated the property?
They were extremely friendly, they still loved the Northwest Dallas house. Who wouldn’t? In fact, they hated to leave the house so much they didn’t! The buyers, (now the sellers), ended up helping the sellers pack up, move their stuff out, at which point someone discovered a bottle of wine and, well, let’s just say the sellers were almost camping at 3480 Timberview that night.
Which is the basis for a real estate reality show I want to write — a blend of Candid Camera and oh, Chip and Joanna with some Survivor mixed in. In my script, there will be little surprises, such as, “No, the sellers are not really vacating the home. They changed their minds and they are staying — you move in and figure out how to get along. Surprise!”
Like I said, I know the current sellers: they will promise to move out in a timely manner, and just may be able to help you not only with packing, but with your financing at Inwood National Bank!
