Help? Regarding outside of downtown

[mike all together]

I ended up spending many months researching/visiting downtown, considering moving into a small loft down there. After thinking it over for what may have been a year or so (heh), I ended up deciding against it.

However, due to my strange ambitions*, I am heavily considering purchasing a condominium/townhome outside of downtown. However, I am pretty unfamiliar with most of the areas where I have seen some cheap ads listed and was wondering if I could get some tips on what the areas are like. Obviously they aren't going to be like what a lot of people are used to on this board, but I'm just trying to get a general feel on the areas.

It'd take me forever to visit each of these spots during the day, during a weekend night, during a weekend day, etc. It'd be nice to get a quick no if the place is really crappy, etc.


Anyways, here are a couple spots that I'd consider if the actual area isn't terrible. Let me know what you think:

Copperrun Condos (http://homes.realtor.com/search/listingdetail.aspx?poe=realtor&lid=1080422976#Detail) -- map of location (http://maps.yahoo.com/#tp=undefined&tt=7431%20Holly%20Hill%20Dr,%20Dallas,%20TX&mvt=m&trf=0&lon=-96.755884&lat=32.878308&mag=3)

River Oaks Condos (http://homes.realtor.com/search/listingdetail.aspx?ctid=27116&ml=3&mxp=11&typ=2&sid=c87c31b9e712498d8f85aff5cd7a34c2&pg=3&lid=1082538601&lsn=23&srcnt=187#Detail) -- locationisms (http://maps.yahoo.com/#tp=undefined&tt=4837%20CEDAR%20SPRINGS%20RD,%20dallas,%20tx&mvt=m&trf=0&lon=-96.821802&lat=32.819901&mag=3)

Cambridge Condos (http://homes.realtor.com/search/listingdetail.aspx?cmid=1014644%2c1014645%2c1014646&ml=3&mxp=11&bd=3&typ=2&sid=d2d65d022c71426bbea7d3c7e41eca91&lid=1080731694&lsn=9&srcnt=62#Detail) -- map (http://maps.yahoo.com/#tp=undefined&tt=11480%20AUDELIA%20RD%20,%20dallas,%20tx&mvt=m&trf=0&lon=-96.71756&lat=32.905155&mag=3)

I'd prefer an area well south of 635 but am somewhat flexible. I am just looking for cheap condo that isn't in the middle of a gun fight. :)

--
* my ambitions = purchasing and paying off a cheap place quickly, and living cheap and enjoying life without having to bust my ass 55 hours a week if I don't want to do so.

(I swear there are like 400,000 more smilies on the side of this thing than there were last time I posted!)

[psukhu]

I'd go for the Cedar Springs location. I think that area will see the quickest appreciation of the three.

The Cedar Springs bridge over the Tollway is under construction right now, which may be having a negative short term impact on the real estate market on the area just west side of the Tollway. Now may be a good time to make a deal.

[mike all together]

Thanks for the reply. Heh, that Cedar Springs place went a bit quick! :)

Is anyone familiar with the Cambridge Condominiums in my OP? There are quite a few places for sale in that complex and I'm thinking they may have just converted them from rental units or something. Can't seem to dig up any information online about the place, though. I'll have to try working in a trip out there next weekend.

[monogodo]

Thanks for the reply. Heh, that Cedar Springs place went a bit quick! :)

Is anyone familiar with the Cambridge Condominiums in my OP? There are quite a few places for sale in that complex and I'm thinking they may have just converted them from rental units or something. Can't seem to dig up any information online about the place, though. I'll have to try working in a trip out there next weekend.
I'm not familiar with that property in particular, but back in 1990-1991 I lived up the street from it at Audelia and Forest. One of the main factors of motivating me to move from that complex was the gun fire in the neighborhood.

[mike all together]

I've pretty much given up on the idea of buying a cheap condo. I know, I know... they're that cheap for a reason. :)

I did see a listing for a small condo in Bryan Place which was really low compared to everything else right there. And it seems like that area is doing nice. The place is off of Allen and San Jacinto.

[Lakewooder]

I saw a listing on Sandhurst for around $150K in Sunday's paper (search 75206) - that is an area of converted and well-built condos and apartments --- four of the remaining apartment buildings are about to come down for more upscale development.