Moving to Dallas - suggestions?

[Schadenfreude]

OP: tl;dr - we're moving from Chicago to Dallas. Where should I live?

ZOMBIE UPDATE:
- Not that y'all (yes, I've put that there on purpose) may care, but after much consideration and efforts, we finally signed up for a short-term apt in the DFW area - we arrived a while back actually, we just didn't have the internet set up for a while. We're slowly but surely getting acclimated to the area. Thanks again to all who gave their input!

P.S - What's with stores closing down early on Sundays and stores selling only beer and wine (but no liquor)?
P.P.S. - if we do decide on a Dallas ATOT meet, I vote Hard Eight BBQ wowee.

 

[Safeway]

Los Colinas is a large commercial development. Everyone living there works there. Think Office Space, as it was filmed on location in Los Colinas.

If you really don't want to commute, pretty much any complex there will suit your needs. Since there are so many apartments, you can find an apartment that exactly meets your budget.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Which part of Dallas will you be working in?

 

[Wreckem]

Like Safeway said most live close to where they work.

The reason for this is, if you do not you will have long commute times. Traffic has always been terrible, but there are massive multi-year highway/freeway construction projects all across the northern part of the DFW metroplex.

The occupancy rate for the DFW metroplex makes it easy to find an apartment.

 

[spacejamz]

plenty of apartments off macarthur from northlake college to north of 635 as well as around las colinas blvd....you definitely won't have a problems finding a place to eat...and you can finally get in on all of those deals from Frys...

and if you want to get a masters from UOP, there is a campus right there as well....LOL

 

[Safeway]

Yea, I think the MacArthur @ 635 location would be better than living in the heart of Los Colinas. That's more in the Valley Ranch area. Tons of restaurants and shopping.

 

[Schadenfreude]

My work is slightly West of Hackberry creek - now my friend who lives in Dallas recommended against living in Irving compared to Dallas - but wouldn't get into the details of it - is there any reason why?

 

[spacejamz]

My work is slightly West of Hackberry creek - now my friend who lives in Dallas recommended against living in Irving compared to Dallas - but wouldn't get into the details of it - is there any reason why?

you don't want your car breaking down by Irving Mall or anywhere south of 183...or pretty much anything off Beltline...if we get into details of why, we might be labeled as racists...

Valley Ranch and Las Colinas are definitely your best bets and you should not have any problems finding an apartment...

I used to live off Kinwest and Parkridge back in the mid 90's... which is down the street from Hackberry...

 

[akahoovy]

My only advice, be very picky if you're going to live in Dallas at sub 1k/month... it's ghetto.

 

[Charlie98]

you don't want your car breaking down by Irving Mall or anywhere south of 183...or pretty much anything off Beltline...if we get into details of why, we might be labeled as racists...

...

this....

If you don't mind a bit of a drive, think Denton or maybe even Lewisville...

 

[Schadenfreude]

Like Safeway said most live close to where they work.

The reason for this is, if you do not you will have long commute times. Traffic has always been terrible, but there are massive multi-year highway/freeway construction projects all across the northern part of the DFW metroplex.

The occupancy rate for the DFW metroplex makes it easy to find an apartment.

this....

If you don't mind a bit of a drive, think Denton or maybe even Lewisville...

Nah, I'd rather not have a long commute if possible - I was initially considering it as I don't like that it's so close to DFW, but that's a lesser evil I can deal with IMO.

So if >$1k is living in the ghetto - which I don't think is true based on what homework I've done so far - there seem to be plenty of nice 1 bdrm apts in the $800~900 range; what is the "average" apt budget for someplace a bit nicer/mid-class for a young couple?

 

[dmcowen674]

I'm working in Plano right on the border of Richardson this week and it's typical Surburbia.

Custer Parkway, Independence Way, Alma etc along 635 Corridor.

Plano Parkway where I am working runs parallel.

 

[SSSnail]

DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT become a Cowboys' fan. You'll be disappointed all the time.

 

[Phoenix86]

You are in the right range at ~$900 and the Las Colinas area is what you want. Quick search shows:

http://www.apartmentguide.com/apartments/Texas/Irving/The-Resort-At-Valley-Ranch/2174/

1 bed, 1 bath ~800 sq ft. ~$800/mo.

That's definitely not the ghetto.

 

[brainhulk]

dallas has a west nile virus infestation

http://news.yahoo.com/dallas-mayor-declares-emergency-over-west-nile-virus-185126639.html

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

My only advice, be very picky if you're going to live in Dallas at sub 1k/month... it's ghetto.

So I guess I lucked out? I'm in Farmers Branch (though it's pretty much Addison - Preston & Alpha) and am renting a fully-furnished 800sq ft 1BR for $850 w/$100 of utilities included.

~3 miles from work, tons of restaurants and shops nearby including Microcenter (Spring Valley & 75N) and two Frys within a reasonable distance (Marketplace Blvd in Irving and Executive Dr in Dallas).

 

[spacejamz]

Nah, I'd rather not have a long commute if possible - I was initially considering it as I don't like that it's so close to DFW, but that's a lesser evil I can deal with IMO.

So if >$1k is living in the ghetto - which I don't think is true based on what homework I've done so far - there seem to be plenty of nice 1 bdrm apts in the $800~900 range; what is the "average" apt budget for someplace a bit nicer/mid-class for a young couple?

not sure where he came up with that BS....You definitely won't have a problem find a nice place for $1K/month....Valley Ranch (which is pretty much a straight shot from Hackberry going North on Macarthur) is loaded with apartments...going south, there are bunch of apartments near Walnut Hill/Macarthur as well...this is right next to North Lake Community College...

Alot of newer apartments on Las Colinas Blvd as well...but this will prob more than $1k/month...

 

[Mixolydian]

Watch out for West Nile.

 

[Gibsons]

Los Colinas is a large commercial development. Everyone living there works there. Think Office Space, as it was filmed on location in Los Colinas.
.

Office Space was filmed in Austin.


OP - Las Colinas area is probably your first choice. You can move further away to some nice places, but they won't be much different or better.

If you drink, get a second beer fridge or something. Irving is dry so you can't just go to the kwik e mart to get a six. You can still get drinks at restaurants though.

 

[spacejamz]

Office Space was filmed in Austin.


OP - Las Colinas area is probably your first choice. You can move further away to some nice places, but they won't be much different or better.

If you drink, get a second beer fridge or something. Irving is dry so you can't just go to the kwik e mart to get a six. You can still get drinks at restaurants though.

parts of it were filmed in Los Colinas....

I think Lawrence even says he was going to put up some drywall at the new mcdonalds in Las Colinas...

forgot about the that part being 'dry'....nearest beer/liquor store is probably 10-15 minutes away on NW HWY west of 35E by the Sam's Club...

 

[RagingBITCH]

Office Space was filmed in Austin.


OP - Las Colinas area is probably your first choice. You can move further away to some nice places, but they won't be much different or better.

If you drink, get a second beer fridge or something. Irving is dry so you can't just go to the kwik e mart to get a six. You can still get drinks at restaurants though.

What spacejamz said. The opening scene where he's stuck in traffic? 635. You even see the FedEx building in the background.

 

[xochi]

Welcome to Texas.

I lived in Irving in the 90's and currently live in Arlington. There are plenty of nice apartments in Irving, around the Cool River Cafe. Get one in your budget and explore the area. When you lease is over you may consider getting a house. Compared to other parts of the US, nice houses are dirt cheap. The Grapevine/Colleyville area is nice and still close to Irving.

Texas summers offer unforgiving heat, Winters are generally mild, but plenty to do no matter what your interests are.

 

[akahoovy]

So I guess I lucked out? I'm in Farmers Branch (though it's pretty much Addison - Preston & Alpha) and am renting a fully-furnished 800sq ft 1BR for $850 w/$100 of utilities included.

~3 miles from work, tons of restaurants and shops nearby including Microcenter (Spring Valley & 75N) and two Frys within a reasonable distance (Marketplace Blvd in Irving and Executive Dr in Dallas).

North Dallas is fine, from what I hear and have looked into. That seems a bit far for Las Colinas though. However, I really meant the city of Dallas when I made the sub 1k/month comment, that's not necessarily true for the other cities around Dallas. I don't doubt you can get a very nice place in Irving or Las Colinas for under 1k/month.

I have not heard good things about Lewisville, but I haven't lived there either.

 

[Gibsons]

What spacejamz said. The opening scene where he's stuck in traffic? 635. You even see the FedEx building in the background.

There are some bits from Dallas, but the vast majority is Austin.
http://home.earthlink.net/~gsmithhart5/

 

[Safeway]

So I guess I lucked out? I'm in Farmers Branch.

Farmer's Branch is not Dallas. It is Farmer's Branch. If you want to live IN DALLAS for under $1,000/month, and are OK with a 1-bedroom, there are several non-ghetto areas to choose from: the Village, Uptown, ...