Relocating to North Texas
Relocating to Southlake, Colleyville, and Keller: find the right neighborhood first, then the right house.
I am Amy Spock, a Realtor with SERHANT. Many of my clients are families moving to Dallas-Fort Worth from California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, and Florida, and almost all of them start with the same problem: every suburb on the list has good schools and good homes, and from a thousand miles away they look the same. They are not. This page is how I help you tell them apart before you book a single showing.
How it works · The three cities · What is different in Texas · FAQ
Why neighborhood first
Relocation regret is almost never about the house.
When a move does not work out, it is rarely the square footage or the floor plan. It is the commute that turned out to be forty minutes instead of twenty, the school zoning that changed one street over, or the pace of a town that did not match how the family actually lives. Those things are decided by the neighborhood, not the house.
So my process starts there. We narrow the entire metro to two or three places that fit your commute, your schools, and your weekends. Then, and only then, we look at homes.
How it works
The relocation process, start to finish.
- A first call about how you live. Where you need to be and how often, what your weekends look like, what you are leaving behind and what you want to keep. I tell you which parts of the metro fit that and which do not.
- Neighborhood comparison guides. I send guides that compare the areas on your short list by commute times, school districts and their programs, restaurants and activities, and the typical homes you will find in each.
- Local education before you arrive. My videos and social media content show the area as it really is, including the questions people ask most: schools, weather, and property taxes.
- Home previews and virtual tours. Before you book a flight, I preview homes for you and walk you through them by live video, so the trip is spent on real candidates.
- An exploration trip. One or two days on the ground, planned tightly. We drive the areas on your short list, see the homes lined up in advance, and time the commute at rush hour.
- Buying remotely when needed. If your move date arrives before you can tour in person, I handle the offer, inspections, and closing with you from wherever you are.
She was incredibly responsive and understanding of what we were looking for in a home, she considered all of our requests prior to sending us homes to look at virtually. When we traveled to Texas, she had lined up the perfect assortment of homes to look at.
Relocating buyer, Zillow review
Where I know the streets
Southlake, Colleyville, and Keller, side by side.
These three cities sit next to each other in Northeast Tarrant County, share easy access to DFW Airport, and feel different from one another. Here is how I describe each one to a client on our first call.
Southlake
Energy: Small-town feel with upscale restaurants and shopping at Town Square, and a community calendar that stays full.
Schools: Carroll ISD, a single-high-school district known for strong academics and athletics; many families move here for the schools alone.
Commute: DFW Airport about 15 minutes; Dallas and Fort Worth roughly half an hour each.
Homes: Established luxury neighborhoods, custom homes, and newer builds; limited acreage. It comes at a premium, and most owners will tell you it is worth it.
A strong fit if you want: walkable dining and events, a single-campus school pipeline, and strong long-term value.
Colleyville
Energy: Quieter than Southlake and happy about it. Refined, established, and private.
Schools: Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, with two high schools and a reputation for strong academics in a less pressured setting.
Commute: DFW Airport five to ten minutes; Dallas and Fort Worth about half an hour each.
Homes: Custom homes on larger lots, mature trees, and some of the best acreage opportunities in the corridor.
A strong fit if you want: privacy, space, and strong schools without the constant calendar.
Keller
Energy: The most hometown of the three: neighbors who know your dog’s name, youth sports, and Friday night lights.
Schools: Keller ISD, a well-regarded district with several standout campuses.
Commute: DFW Airport and Fort Worth both within easy reach; Dallas is the longer drive of the three.
Homes: A mix of established neighborhoods with mature trees and newer communities with modern layouts; generally more home for the money than Southlake or Colleyville.
A strong fit if you want: a true community feel, more space, and strong schools without the premium.
Beyond the three.
Grapevine, with its historic Main Street and the airport next door; Trophy Club, with golf and greenbelts; Westlake, with acreage and gates; and Dallas, from the Park Cities to Lakewood. If none of the three cities above is right, I work across the whole metro and will point you somewhere better.
What is different here
What out-of-state buyers ask me most.
Property taxes.
Texas has no state income tax, and property taxes are higher as a result. The rate varies by city, county, and school district, so two homes at the same price in neighboring cities can carry different annual bills. I show you the actual tax on every home we consider, and we talk through the homestead exemption once you move in.
Schools and zoning.
Attendance zones can change from one street to the next, and districts adjust boundaries over time. I share each district’s published information and confirm a specific home’s zoning with the district before you commit.
Weather, hail, and insurance.
Summers are hot and spring brings a storm season that can include hail. Roof age and condition affect both the inspection and the cost of insurance, so I recommend getting insurance quotes early in your option period rather than at the end.
The Texas contract.
Texas contracts include an option period, a short negotiated window after you go under contract when you can inspect the home and walk away for any reason. Title companies, not attorneys, typically handle closing. If you are coming from a state where the process looks different, I walk you through each step before it happens.
Timing the move.
If you are selling a home in another state, I coordinate with a trusted agent there so the sale and the purchase here line up. If you need to buy before you arrive, we plan for that from the first call.
We were out of state buyers and were referred to Amy by another couple who used her to purchase a house in dfw… She really cares about your wants and needs, offers excellent suggestions and her negotiating skills are top notch. We are very happy with our new house and would recommend Amy to anyone, especially anyone relocating.
Liza M., Google review
Questions I hear most
Frequently asked questions.
Can I buy a home in DFW without seeing it in person?
Yes. I preview homes for you, tour them with you by live video, and guide you through inspections and closing remotely. Many clients still prefer to visit before they commit, and I plan that trip with you.
How long should we plan for an exploration trip?
One or two days is usually enough when it is planned well. We spend the time on the areas and homes already on your short list, and we drive the commute at the hour you would actually drive it.
Should we rent first or buy right away?
It depends on your timeline and how confident you are in the area. Some families rent for a few months to be certain; others buy before they arrive because they already know where they want to be. In both cases, the neighborhood decision comes first, and I help you make it.
When should we start the search if our move is months away?
Start the neighborhood conversation now. Narrowing the metro to two or three areas takes time and is best done before the pressure of a move date. The home search itself can wait until the timing is closer.
How do Carroll ISD, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, and Keller ISD differ?
Carroll ISD is a single-high-school district known for strong academics and athletics. Grapevine-Colleyville ISD has two high schools and a reputation for strong academics in a less pressured setting. Keller ISD is a larger district with several standout campuses. Zoning can differ street to street, so I confirm each home’s zoning directly with the district.
How do property taxes here compare?
Texas has no state income tax, so property taxes are higher than in many states. Rates vary by city, county, and school district. I show you the actual tax on every home we consider so there are no surprises.
What is the weather really like, and what about storms?
Summers are hot, and spring brings a storm season that can include hail. Roof age and condition affect inspections and insurance costs, so I recommend getting insurance quotes early in your option period.
Which areas are closest to DFW Airport?
Colleyville and Grapevine are five to ten minutes from the airport, and Southlake is about fifteen. Keller is a short drive as well. If you travel often, this is one of the first things we map.
How does buying in Texas differ from where I am moving from?
Texas contracts include an option period for inspections, title companies typically handle closing, and property taxes work differently than in many states. I walk you through each step before it happens.
How do we time selling our home out of state with buying here?
I connect you with a trusted agent in your current state and coordinate both timelines with them directly. If you need to buy before you arrive, we plan for that from the first call.
Free guide
Not sure which city fits? Start with the DFW neighborhood fit guide.
A side-by-side look at Southlake, Colleyville, Keller, and the suburbs around them: the pace of each town, how the school districts differ, what the commute really looks like, and the kind of homes you will find at each price point. It is the same material I walk through with relocating clients on our first call, so you can narrow the map before you book a flight.
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Begin with a conversation.
Twenty minutes. No pitch. Tell me how you live and where you need to be, and you will leave knowing where to start looking.