Follow one family’s life in Walsh with residents-to-be Ryan and Angela Mordecai.
Moving into a new home and community is one of the most significant events in any young family’s life. As they build and decorate, they put down roots that affect their lives as well as the lives of generations to come.
Native Texan Ryan Mordecai was already on the fast track as a Fort Worth banker when he met his wife-to-be, Angela. A military brat who was working as a travel nurse in Texas, Angela met her future spouse in a young professional’s group at their local church.
Friends first, the duo had begun dating before she decided to finish her degree in nurse anesthesiology at Texas Wesleyan University.
“I didn’t even know I’d stay here, but I fell in love with Fort Worth,” Angela recalls. “When we got married, we heard about Walsh and knew that would be ideal for us. I was really impressed by how beautiful it is—it’s close to the city, but it doesn’t feel like the city.”
Currently BBVA Compass’ market president, Walsh appealed to Ryan because he grew up in the more rural area of Azle, Texas, 16 miles northwest of downtown.
“I enjoy being out in the great outdoors and my wife is more of a city person—with all of the parks and 700 acres of green space it allows us to have both of those things in one community.”
Because Walsh was still in the planning stages when the duo wed, the Mordecais purchased a small starter home elsewhere in town while they signed on as one of Walsh’s first 50,000 plus residents.
Searching for the right builder to construct their dream home, they ultimately chose Drees Custom Homes, using a Mediterranean-style stucco house from Republic Property Group’s Phillips Creek Ranch development in Frisco as a template for its design.
“We saw a house and fell in love with it, and it’s the same (style), but improved upon,” says Mordecai. “It has vaulted ceilings and a Juliet balcony that looks out over the front yard. It faces the west so that you can see the sunset and from the backyard, we can see downtown Fort Worth.”
As the Mordecais have a two-year-old son, the exemplary Aledo school system and Walsh’s green space were also draws, assuring he’ll grow up with a lively mind and plenty of room to run and play.
“We feel like it’s going to be a great place to raise a family and to have all the schools and parks within walking distance. We feel it’s like a small town within a large town,” says Ryan.
At the moment, the couple is still in the design phase, selecting everything from countertops to doors, Angela is monitoring Pinterest boards for paint and tile as her husband makes last-minute construction decisions such as adding a side patio to the breakfast area.
Their larger journey of moving furniture in, meeting their neighbors and assimilating into the local culture has just begun, but it is one they look forward to with anticipation.
“Since we’ve been telling people we’re building here, we’ve had two friends from my wife’s work who are also building at Walsh, so that’s exciting,” says Ryan Mordecai. “I grew up without close neighbors in the country, so for me, that’s one of the biggest draws. Being in Walsh (my son) is going to have the best of both worlds.”
“The schools are amazing, and the community is amazing,” Angela enthuses. “It’s the best place to raise a child. This is the house we wanted to raise our family in and live in for a long time even when our kids have kids; we’ll still be there.”
Join the Mordecais on their journey as one of the first families of Walsh in our continuing series.
