Forestcrest Estates may not be a name that rings a bell because the homeowners here know they have a good thing going on. They seldom move and are pretty happy you don’t know their secret.
Well, until now, because I’m going to tell you about this lovely neighborhood and a terrific opportunity to finally nab a house in this exclusive enclave.
In 1956 Raymond Nasher developed the neighborhood, knowing that the Hockaday School had recently purchased land across the street to construct a new multi-million dollar campus. The groundbreaking was slated for September of 1960, and during the students’ Thanksgiving break in 1961, all grades moved from the existing Greenville campus into their stunning new digs on Welch Road.
To say Raymond Nasher was a man of vision is a colossal understatement. He was always ten steps ahead of everyone. Hockaday had already gained a substantial reputation as THE place to educate the young women of Dallas so having a residential neighborhood just across the street was undoubtedly, in his view, a necessity. By 1957 Nasher was opening a second section of Forestcrest Estates.
A 1957 Dallas Morning News article touted the neighborhood as:
A highly restricted area that will ultimately contain 171 luxury-type homes, Forestcrest Estates will contain 92 acres of high, gently rolling terrain with a creek on the east side. Homes in Forestcrest Estates must contain a minimum of 2,000 square feet of living space. Lots range from 16,000 square feet to three-quarters of an acre with frontages ranging from a minimum of 100 feet to 140 feet. An architectural control committee will pass on all home plans to ensure them passing requirements.
The celebrated 1957 Better Homes and Gardens Magazine “Idea Home” is located in Forest Crest Estates.
Let me tell you how cool it was to have an Idea Home here. It meant, from the inception of this neighborhood, living here was the ultimate residential experience. There were only 77 Idea Homes built across the country. If I were a betting gal, I’d wager a few pennies that Nasher had a hand in getting one for Forestcrest Estates!
It’s a blueprint for your future, a forecast of a way of living best suited to your family.
Better Homes and Gardens, September 1957 issue.
So, now you know WHY you want to buy a house in Forestcrest Estates. Nasher set the pace establishing a neighborhood ahead of its time in a fabulous location, and things have only gotten better. Even if you don’t have a daughter attending Hockaday, Jesuit is at the northern end of the neighborhood for your boys. You are only 15 minutes from downtown Dallas and mere blocks from the Dallas North Tollway.
Now you have to know WHERE to find a house here. A few days ago, 4832 Nashwood Lane slipped onto the market with 5,772 square feet, five bedrooms, four bathrooms, a powder bath, and a gorgeous saltwater pool. We noticed immediately and knew we had to get the word out! This is a custom build with magnificent trees that no doubt date from when this was farmland.
The backyard is a little slice of paradise with a saltwater pool, an outdoor kitchen perfect for your favorite grill master, an outdoor living area, and a lovely bistro area. Anyone with kids in high school knows this will be the house where everyone congregates, which is always good because you can keep an eye out for any shenanigans! Of particular note is that Hockaday will cease their boarding program in 2025 makes an even stronger case for house-hunting families to try and buy a home in Forestcrest Estates.
I think Nasher would be so pleased his 1956 dream neighborhood is still just that, a place for dreams to take shape and unfold.
RE/MAX DFW Associates agent Aundrea Whalen has 4832 Nashwood Lane listed for $2.5 million.
