Anyway, I came back here for some more recommendations. We're looking to buy our first home sometime between now and August. I've done lots of research and posted a thread if you want all the details, but it didn't get much traction:
https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/how-to-prepare-for-first-home-purchase-aka-are-we-readyAsking for recommendations for the below. I'll add some details for context. The more recently you used them, the better.
1. Realtor: someone who knows the types of houses and neighborhoods we want. More below. Also, must be patient with first-timers who need some hand-holding.
2. Lenders: obviously want a great rate, but also will be patient with us and dependable and picks up the phone. Individual lender brokers, or credit unions or banks you've used?
3. Neighborhoods I may not have considered. We're looking for 3+/2+, around 2000 sq ft, in the range of 275-300. Most importantly, we want a big/huge yard and hopefully mature trees. I'm thinking a quarter acre lot, at least. I understand this will be difficult, but I have seen many in the past month we could be happy with. We're fine with doing some cosmetic work on outdated homes. All of the family lives in the DFW area, mostly in Denton county. Another factor in our favor is we're pretty open on geography (other than being in/around Denton county), as I work from home, and SO is a teacher who can easily get a job in a nearby school district, wherever we end up. We know we want to live in this area, are getting married this year, and want to have kid #1 in a few. Between that and me working from home (especially when she's off during summers) is why we are looking for more than just a starter home. Many in the family have bought homes and stayed in them for 10-30 years, so that could very well be us...I'd like a house now that will work for kids later (playing outside, etc). Also, would like at least a mediocre school system. Doesn't have to be great, but also can't be terrible.
So far, neighborhoods I've found that could work in our price range are:
North Denton: probably the place I've seen the most homes we'd like that are in our range. Makes sense, as it's far from Dallas. Bonus: houses of both pairs of parents are between Denton and Lewisville.
Lewisville/Flower Mound/Highland Village: a few in west Lewisville are in the better school system. Seen 1 or 2 in older parts of HV; same for FM.
North Carrollton: seen a few around here. I think anything south of PGBT would have bad schools, and shady areas.
Oak Point: seen a few in this tiny town between Denton and Little Elm.
Little Elm/Frisco: seen a few in the older parts (west side), close to Lake Lewisville.
McKinney: seen a few that are newer construction (no trees), but this is further away from where we'd like to be.
Plano: seen several that are right around 350 for outdated homes. Seems like money doesn't get you as much here as it does in the above neighborhoods, probably due to all the business HQs moving here.
Any other neighborhoods I should be looking at? Also would like to start talking to realtors and lenders soon. So if you've got 'em, send 'em my way. Feel free to send a private message if you're more comfortable with that. Thanks in advance!