Are People Flocking to Melissa, Texas, For Luxury Homes or a $35M High School Football Stadium?
Share News:
Melissa, Texas, is one of the fastest-growing cities in the region, and there’s no shortage of stunning listings available.
It might be due to the sprawling acreage and lower property tax rate, but it doesn’t hurt that the high school recently unveiled a 10,000-seat, $35 million football stadium.
They’re clearly expecting a lot of visitors from out of town — enrollment at Melissa High School is about 1,300.
Realtor Jenevieve Croall with JLux Homes Southlake Realtors, said excitement is in the air around Melissa.
“There is a deep sense of community and pride within the town,” she said. “I have seen this over and over again not only for new residents but also for longtime homeowners. I think this is mainly rooted in, of course, its small-town charm but most recently has been attributed to the incredible strategic growth plans the town has put into place, with an intense and intentional focus on the A-rated, state-of-the-art new schools.”
Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose
Nearby Allen High School opened its $60 million, 18,000-seat stadium in 2012,
A high school football stadium may be a worthwhile community investment, as Texas produced more professional players last year than any other state, according to NFL.com. The Melissa stadium is already catching the eyes of the NFL — and pretty much everyone else with Internet access, the Houston Chronicle reports.
“I think [the stadium ]is definitely a big draw for many families who have young athletes,” Croall said. “There are many small towns in D-FW that are also experiencing expansive growth similar to Melissa. However, many of these towns are playing catch-up in trying to build new schools at a record pace and these school amenities, like larger stadiums and practice fields, are still not built out and won’t be for a number of years. Yet in Melissa, the leadership has made it a priority to focus on the future generation and make it a town effort to bring the dreams of so many Melissa residents to fruition.”
The Melissa Cardinals played their first game of the season Friday night at the massive Kenny Deel Stadium, defeating Argyle, 50 to 14.
But there’s another draw to the booming Collin County town: its real estate.
18 Shadywood Lane
You can’t visit Melissa without checking out the $1.35 million estate at 18 Shadywood Lane.
The home, listed by Croall, is less than five miles from Kenny Deel Stadium.
“The first time I walked into 18 Shadywood Lane a few years ago when helping my clients relocate to Texas, I simply fell in love with the large private lot,” Croall said. “The incredible entertaining opportunities of this home are what most dream of, with the first floor sporting a game and media room, which flow outside into one the best outdoor living setups I’ve seen. And to be truthful, the laundry room blew all of us away.”
The six-bedroom, five-bathroom home sits on 1.5 acres on a private road in the gated Country Ridge Estates. It features extensive custom touches, an outdoor living retreat with a pool and spa, and incredible living spaces, Croall said.
Just in time for fall tailgating, an outdoor screened-in patio features a kitchen with a fireplace, space heaters, and surround sound.
The interior boasts hand-scraped hardwoods, cedar beams, and Old Chicago brick accents. The kitchen has a quartz island with a prep sink, a gas range with pot filler, double ovens, and a white farmhouse sink.
A game room and wet bar flow into a fully outfitted media room. A shiplap attic playroom and Pinterest-worthy laundry room are included among many bonus features.
Housing Boom in Melissa
More than 500 Melissa properties are currently listed, including several new builds and a lot of land ready for a dream home.
Even those who don’t have a football player in the family are drawn to the Friday Night Lights vibe of small-town Melissa.
“Many of the neighborhoods, both new and established, are golf-cart friendly, which families love,” Croall said. “They can zip around to neighbors’ houses and community amenities. I have found that Melissa has been a hot place for many relocating families to settle into due to its quick highway access to [Interstate] 75, affordability compared to Plano, Frisco, and McKinney, new construction opportunities, and the draw of large-acreage lots.”
Suburbs have always been a big draw for families who want room to roam and high-rated school districts with a low teacher-to-student ratio, Croall said.
Melissa High School is above the state average in key measures of college and career readiness, according to GreatSchools.org.
“Now with work-from-home and the overall growth of D-FW, living in the suburbs is more attainable for many families,” Croall said. “The National Association of Realtors just released a report that for 2022, the median distance moved was 50 miles, with one-quarter of buyers traveling over 470 miles to find their new home. Traditionally, buyers have stayed close to their past homes. From 1989 to 2021, the median distance moved was just 10 to 15 miles.”
As residents continue looking for their dream home, it sounds like Melissa, Texas, is gearing up for an end-zone victory dance.
