“It was bittersweet to learn that we were leaving,” said Mrs. Powell, 44. “It was really good for our nuclear family. We explored and experienced a different culture.”
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But they quickly embraced the move to Texas, their home state.
Mrs. Powell was born and raised in Austin, about three hours south of the Dallas area, where Mr. Powell, 45, grew up. After meeting at Abilene Christian University, the couple married in 2005 and moved to a suburb between Dallas and Fort Worth. Six years later, work took them to Britain, and then to Morristown, N.J. By 2017, the couple were back in Dallas, where their daughters, Charlotte and Olivia, were born.
While they packed up their apartment in Liechtenstein, they began considering where in the Dallas area they wanted to live this time. “I kept saying, I don’t want to touch my neighbors,” Mrs. Powell said. “I want some space out there.”
So they looked to the city’s sprawling suburbs for a home large enough to accommodate both sets of grandparents, who live in Texas, as well as extended family members.
“We wanted a space that was open enough for them where they could stay with us instead of in a hotel,” Mrs. Powell said.
She also wanted a spacious kitchen with an island large enough for “at least three or four people.” The biggest must-have, though, was a high-ranking public school district with a pre-K program.
For guidance, the couple contacted Lauren Moore, a Dallas-based Compass broker. She suggested Collin County, an area about 30 miles north of downtown Dallas with a top-rated public school district.
To afford a home in Collin County that met their criteria and required minimal renovation, the couple set a budget of up to $1.3 million. After exploring the area online, they focused on the towns of Fairview and Lucas. The goal was to buy a house before they returned to the United States last spring, so Ms. Moore would FaceTime from homes the couple found online.
Among their options:
No. 1
Six-Bedroom Craftsman in Fairview
This six-bedroom, 4,387-square-foot house from 1983 sat on three acres. The airy eat-in kitchen had an island, glass doors out to a patio, and orange tiled floors that continued into the open living room, which had a high, wood-beamed ceiling. There was also a small indoor “therapy pool.” Mrs. Powell especially liked the detached 900-square-foot apartment with its own bathroom, kitchen and living room. Mr. Powell liked the outdoor amenities, including a covered outdoor kitchen with a built-in grill and fireplace, a pool, and a pool house. Parts of the house, including the kitchen, were in need of updates. The asking price was $1.3 million, with annual property taxes of about $20,000.
No. 2
Six-Bedroom on a Cul-de-Sac in Fairview
This six-bedroom, 4,231-square-foot house from 1992 stood on a one-acre hilltop lot. The updated kitchen had custom cherry woodwork, granite countertops and high-end appliances. Mrs. Powell liked the large primary bedroom and en suite bath, which stepped out to the backyard. Although the kitchen was missing an island, she liked its wood floors. There was an office space downstairs and a game room upstairs, but the house was a bit dark, and the guest bedrooms were awkwardly laid out. The grassy backyard had a pool. Mr. Powell appreciated the oversized two-car garage, which connected to the main house via an enclosed breezeway. The price was $1.29 million, with annual taxes of about $18,000.
No. 3
Six-Bedroom With Guest House in Lucas
This 4,784-square-foot home from 2008 stood on 1.3 open acres and had been recently updated with new floors, new bathrooms, and a new kitchen with a breakfast nook, an island and stainless steel appliances. There was also a home theater and an upstairs game room. The couple liked the guest house, which came with a full kitchen with quartz counters, a dining area, a living room and a full bath. It sat beside an updated pool with a covered patio and grilling area overlooking the grounds, including a sprawling green lawn. The couple didn’t love the extensive solar panels, which they had heard could ruin roofs. The asking price was $1.435 million, with annual property taxes of about $19,000.
Find out what happened next by answering these two questions:
Which Would You Choose?
Six-Bedroom Craftsman in Fairview
Six-Bedroom on a Cul-de-Sac in Fairview
Six-Bedroom With Guest House in Lucas
Which Did They Buy?
Six-Bedroom Craftsman in Fairview
Six-Bedroom on a Cul-de-Sac in Fairview
Six-Bedroom With Guest House in Lucas