Dallas Real Estate in Mixed Use Neighborhoods

There is a big nationwide trend towards purchasing real estate in mixed-use neighborhoods. The term mixed use refers to neighborhoods where there are residential buildings in the same area as commercial buildings and entertainment options (such as shopping and dining). Dallas real estate trends seem to be reflecting this nationwide trend. More and more people in Dallas are interested in moving in to the city's few mixed-use neighborhoods. As this demand increases, it is possible that some of the city's other popular neighborhoods may increasingly become mixed-use neighborhoods.

There are a number of reasons why mixed-use neighborhoods are so trendy right now. The basic underlying reason for this is that these types of neighborhoods reduce the need to commute around town. People may be able to give up their cars or reduce their use of vehicles when they live in mixed-use neighborhoods. They can live, work and play in the same area without having to drive anywhere. This saves money on owning or driving a car. It also helps to save the earth. Additionally, it saves time for people. Many people are increasingly aware of the value of their own time. They don't want to spend time commuting back and forth between work and home.

This was certainly not always the trend. For a long time, people wanted to live in gated communities or suburban areas on the fringes of town. They would commute in to work or school each day. There were certainly benefits to this. You can have a larger house and sometimes a more secure neighborhood if you are living in a residential-only area. However, the benefits of living in a mixed-use neighborhood increasingly outweigh the benefits of a residential-only neighborhood for many people. This is especially true as some cities invest money into revitalizing and improving the safety of formerly commercial areas.

Dallas real estate is starting to pick up on this national trend. It is still not a full-blown trend in the city. Of the many neighborhoods in Dallas, there is only a handful of neighborhoods that currently have a very good mixture of residential, commercial and entertainment buildings in one spot. However, there are a few neighborhoods that are on the brink of seeing this change. Those may be the best neighborhoods to consider if you're planning to purchase Dallas real estate.

Downtown Dallas is a great example of this type of neighborhood that is on the verge of becoming mixed-use. In the area surrounding Main Street, it is definitely possible to get a nice home that is within walking distance to businesses of all kinds. Another neighborhood that offers a nice range of mixed-use real estate is East Dallas. Although it remains heavily residential, there are pockets of East Dallas that offer other opportunities as well. Oak Cliff around the Bishop Arts area and Northwest Dallas are two other neighborhoods that are beginning to offer mixed-use living.

The neighborhood that has best implemented this way of life so far is Oak Lawn. Urban professionals live in townhouses and condos that are close to restaurants, bars and clubs. This neighborhood is also close to downtown Dallas.

The city of Dallas is planning an extensive map of new bike trails. This will further enhance urban living in mixed-use neighborhoods. This could mean new residences popping up in areas of the city that were primarily only commercial. People interested in mixed-use living will have a lot of options. Of course, this type of living still won't be right for everyone. There will remain plenty of Dallas real estate available for folks who do prefer to live in residential-only neighborhoods.