When I was campaigning for Dallas City Council back in 2017, I stumbled upon a gated neighborhood in far north Dallas. The community blew me away the moment the gates opened.
It is called Oakdale.
(Please don’t ask how I got into those gates because there is no solicitation allowed behind them, which is another huge plus of living there.)
Developed in the 90s by a handful of Dallas’s luxury builders du jour, Oakdale was one of the last remaining tracts of land east of the Dallas North Tollway, west of Preston, and south of Frankford.
Single family homes range from $800,000 to upwards of $2 million. Properties are generously sized from 5,500 up to 10,000 square feet.
Because I am also a house aficionado as well as a politico, I researched the neighborhood thoroughly. Every homeowner I met was thrilled with their home and location: conveniently near to Plano and environs north, just a few miles south to LBJ and Preston Center/Park Cities. Families have their choice of excellent Plano public schools or a bevy of private schools from Greenhill to Trinity Christian Academy to Shelton.
“You can choose to shop at Legacy or Preston Center,” one homeowner told me, “depending on the traffic and what you need. And there are plenty of local supermarkets.”
She also told me she would never sell her home. That could be why listings are seldom available in Oakdale, and why an available home on one of the development’s three sparkling lakes has not surfaced in two years. One new home was completed on the creek in 2019, Oakdale’s last available lot.
But alas, we now have 17624 Woods Edge Drive, a private listing that’s not in MLS.
“I’ve sold more homes in Oakdale than any single agent in the last ten years,” says veteran Ebby Halliday agent Alan Levy. “I’ve seen the development grow from one of the first greenbelt developments committed to luxury convenience gated living, to one of the most highly sought after communities in our city.”
It’s a development loaded with professionals and prominent names, as I discovered while campaigning: former city councilman Ron Natinsky and his wife lived in Oakdale, as did several executives, including the owner of 5423 Edgehollow Place, which snagged the historically highest sales price in the area. Because of the exclusiveness of the location and the intense security, owners are not afraid to add to their equity. That is why, says Levy, you have a smattering of properties here that rival a Four Seasons with putting greens, pools and water features on several homes. The development also has large, verdant walking trails, mature trees, cul de sacs and a huge greenbelt on the southeastern flank.
The HOA takes care of exterior lawn and common space maintenance.
Levy’s exclusive listing is a transitional build of 6,140 square feet with four bedrooms and four and half-baths.
Throughout the home are fresh new hand-scraped hardwoods, marble floors, and carpet, as well as new light fixtures and ceiling fans, new natural stone vanity tops in the remodeled bathrooms, and even new fireplaces.
The living room looks onto a charming fountain square; the kitchen and morning rooms face a beautiful pool and spa and the lake. The kitchen underwent a remodel including granite counters, a six-burner Dacor gas stove with new exhaust fan, new appliances (including the wine cooler in the bar), and beautiful hand-painted glazed cabinetry.
The second floor has a large game/media room that could be a perfect home office right about now. There is also an exercise room/study on this floor.
The second story game room/home office that sports a large patio balcony overlooking the gorgeous community lake, where one could repose or even sing out to neighbors daily.
The sellers at 17624 Woods Edge are principles in the hotel business, which is just like buying a home from an interior designer: the home is kept hotel-pristine and spotless at all times. The resort-style custom pool and spa were added about six years ago. The asking price for the whole package is $1.4 million.
“All showings will be done in compliance with Dallas County’s showing restrictions, and the owners themselves shot the video,” says Alan Levy. “How adaptable is that!”
Very adaptable. Welcome to real estate in the coronavirus age. Contact Alan Levy at 214-535-1777 to arrange a showing… and stay safe out there!
