(Driving to DFW Airport: About 45 minutes)

The Near Southside community is Fort Worth’s new creative enclave. The historic neighborhoods of Fairmount, Ryan Place, Mistletoe Heights, and Berkley Place surround one of the coolest and hippest parts of town: the famous Magnolia Avenue. Once neglected, save for the medical district, Magnolia is now blooming with funky retail shops and a growing assortment of local bars, coffee shops, and restaurants to fit every taste bud and occasion, like BREWED, known as the locals’ living room. The eatery, craft beer hub, and coffee shop (a.k.a. gastropub) is a community gathering space with artfully designed rooms filled with shabby-chic furniture and vintage décor. It’s a place where you can sit and ponder the meaning of life or meet for a quick (and fresh) Sriracha Stout Burger with sweet potato fries. Co-owner Joey Turner says BREWED is all about creating community alongside some of the best food, craft beer, and kombucha flavors in the city.

Of course, with the most talked about nightlife and independent restaurant scene just down the street, the neighborhoods surrounding Magnolia Avenue are a hot commodity. These bungalow and craftsman-style homes are still affordable, but prices are quickly climbing. Fairmount and Ryan Place are selling fast at around $188 and $175 per square foot, respectively. Berkley Place and Mistletoe Heights, which are a little further away in more established neighborhoods, go for a lot more.

Texas’ Big 12 football star, Texas Christian University (TCU), is about ten minutes away from Magnolia Avenue. Apartments and rental properties surround the 277-acre campus, with its meticulously landscaped grounds and historic buildings. The private university is located five miles from the center of downtown. Just down University Drive is the Fort Worth Zoo. It’s the oldest zoo in Texas—open 365 days a year—and the place to see nearly 7,000 animals from all over the world, including two baby giraffes, lion cubs, and a baby zebra.

Tanglewood is another neighborhood of note that sits northwest of TCU. Lush biking and hiking trails surround these spacious mid-century homes. Children who live here get to attend Fort Worth ISD’s prized Tanglewood Elementary. But the money parents save on private school will go toward a substancial mortgage payment. Houses here sell for about $186 per square foot, but with these types of homes, and a highly rated elementary school, it’s a good investment.

Life in the Near Southside

It’s a hipster’s paradise where local coffee shops and the city’s only vegan restaurant flourish alongside funky bars, doctors’ offices, independent ice creameries like MELT, and a community glass studio called SiNaCa Studios. Music makes up the soundtrack of life in the Near Southside with outdoor concerts and shows happening frequently, surrounded by craft beer and food trucks. Prices are going up quickly for homes in this area, but stealthy buyers can still find a cute bungalow if they act fast.

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