The real scoop on Dallas (Houston, San Antonio: condos, movie theater, allergy)

[GoPadge]

Originally Posted by cosmochick

...

Don't forget about the ridiculous school taxes. If you don't have kids and you own property, you still have to pay for school taxes. No exceptions!

Where exactly, have you lived where people weren't taxed for school if they didn't have kids?

I'm just curious, since every place I've lived, they have taxed all property to pay for schools.

[USA_Mom]

Originally Posted by aceplace

You've hit it on the head... people can't confront their personal failures, so they blame others, or the city they're in, or the country they live in.

I agree to a point. When we were offered this position in Columbus, being apparently naive, we thought because they put us in now what we know as the "good part of town" it was ALL like that. We were told via their relocation department, as well as the realtors, you *had* to rent (we were not going to buy initially--which was good) IMMEDIATELY as houses went quick. There are houses still available to rent that were available in September of LAST YEAR. We were told that homes were cheaper here and shown comps. What those comps do NOT include in this state are square footage OR location, and that is REALLY hush hush here. There is a BIG difference from poverty TO MIDDLE CLASS. You won't see "Fox and Jacobs" type neighborhoods, they are REALLY crime ridden or over $400K PERIOD. Nothing in between. We were stupid. I should have listened to my instincts, but I thought *I* was being superficial because I was used to not worrying about home invasions (something that is VERY hushed out here but is a HUGE problem for this area), gangs (again my naviety I didn't know that the graffiti all over the place once you are away from the 2 *good streets* are gangs signs), the racism, the terrible way they treat the military here (I have seen and witnessed them being EXCUSED from the premises places or at restaurants having MANY *locals* given a table beforehand--it's pathetic). I could go on and on.

That isn't to mention the fact that rental we did get ended up having TOXIC MOLD and there is NO RECOURSE in this town. I called over 100 attorneys, but it's such an "Ole Boy" network the ONLY way I could get any of the money back (*I* had to prove it, *I* had to pay for lab results, *I* lost my hearing, smell and sense of taste for a few months as well as our dog losing his hair) was to try Atlanta. I did. I was told by the lawyer up there that "Well the thing is we have to try the case there, and those companies (the rental agency and DH's company) are very connected..you might win but you will never see your money." I was out between we figured with missed work, doctor's appointments, the lab fees to prove the mold was there, the vet for the dog, and the air purifiers, as well as various times cleaning the damn house $5-7K and frankly it's not enough to pursue to stay here. I've lived in about seven different towns in now four different states. I have NEVER been willing to allow my credit and reputation to be ruined by walking out on a lease (they did release us from the lease but forfeited our deposit--we lived there less than 6 weeks). There are a lot of other things we were told by his company and other places that were really LIES. That's not to mention our 2005 truck, which has gone camping with us and towed our boat probably 10 times in the state of Texas, was during one of my doctor's appointments hit (this is a BIG truck obviously) and the tailgate dented so badly that the person HAD to have known they hit it. My mom's rental car was also involved in a hit and run in a parking lot at the hotel. Geez there are so many negative things that have happened to us here, it's hard to remember because I'd be negative all the time LOL.

Anyway I do agree in my friend's case her hubby tainted her view. In my case my husband and I admit that we were stupid to believe the grass is greener--it only LOOKS greener (although ironically Georgia is in a drought now) because of the amount of fertilizing it takes to maintain it's appearance.
Ironically ALL the people we have met here that are geninuely nice are from out of state, i.e., New York, Louisiana and Texas mostly. There are some nice natives here, but usually you can see why the *norm* is to tip 5-10%, service sucks. I was warned about this place when we first came out ot look by a guy from NYC. I assumed he was just looking to complain. He said "these people are nice, but spit in your coffee" although with more colorful language. I guess he was right in our case anyway.

[txman]

I moved to Fort Worth from Boston several years ago. Fort Worth had a "quaint" downtown, althought there were too many chain restaurants, and nightlife was boring. So downtown was okay, but the rest of the city was a snooze fest. Also Fort Worth is somewhat of a racist town and not very diverse. So after contemplating moving back home, I decided to give Dallas a try...and I love it here.

The people are friendly here, food is great, jobs are plentiful and nightlife is good. The people take pride in thier appearance here too, and I quickly lost the extra twenty lbs. I gained bored to tears in Fort Worth. I love watching the city transform from sprawling surburban development, into a more urban city. What's going on downtown, where I live, is amazing.

The only drawback sometimes is the hot weather, which I'm getting used too. Put unlike that sunbelt person, I guess I can read, and knew it was hot in Texas before I got here.

[Lakewooder]

Cosmochick Moderator cut: Personal comments removed

IF you came here for Real Estate you ought to be deliriously happy if you bought in East Dallas, North Dallas, Park Cities or Oak Lawn/Turtle Creek/Uptown. Home prices have doubled, tripled and quaudrupled in these areas during just the last few years.

I don't know how you can go to Plano or other northern regions and expect to find friendly Texans when most of those people are from other states.

We're pretty friendly around here --- except to people who are rude and insult our hometown.

[maddyzmommy]

Lakewooder,

Careful the chip on your shoulder doesn't decapitate you when you look over that shoulder in your incredibly paranoid fashion...

M

[kittyhox]

I've never heard of a place where property owners without children don't have to pay for school taxes. And frankly, I wouldn't want to live in such a place. If one existed.

[Stony]

Originally Posted by jfre81

@the OP - have fun with them taxes in Wiscahnsin, kiddo. Ain't none of it getting you endzone seats at Lambeau. You'll be watching on TV just like me. The difference is 11 will be the channel my TV's set to, and not the temperature outside.

LOL...

[KerrTown]

Originally Posted by jfre81

The difference is 11 will be the channel my TV's set to, and not the temperature outside.

Which station: KHOU-TV in Houston or KTVT in Dallas?

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by KerrTown

Which station: KHOU-TV in Houston or KTVT in Dallas?

Who cares? Either way I can go outside to grill my brats without freezing.

[CallMeLaura]

Originally Posted by SickOfTheSunbelt

If you move here your friends will never come visit because there is literally nothing for the out of town visitor to do besides shop, eat and drink. And brace yourself for the "fine patio dining" options in Dallas. Gee. This patio overlooking a parking lot or freeway sure is nice.

You can only go to the 6th floor museum so many times....

This city has no character, no soul and no beauty. It just doesn't have an identity....sorry DFW'ers....leading the nation in "restaurants per capita" is not something to be proud of. But it's pretty much the only thing the Dallas visitors bureau has to work with.

I'm not a negative guy. Just speaking the truth. After 7+ years here, I have to say that enough is enough. I'm outta here as soon as I can.

Ok, what "natural beauty" is there in Milwaukee? The one week the trees are pretty?

After two years we've:
- been to the Milwaukee Public Museum
- toured the Miller plant (yuck!)
- driven down the lake road (omg, the smell...)
- gone out to eat (cheese is NOT a seasoning, folks)
- left town for things to do

Yes, the quaint towns are picturesque. How many times can you do that? If you don't like being cold and wet, anything you can find to do here in the winter, you can find in Dallas.

Dallas doesn't suit everyone, but that doesn't mean there isn't anything to do.