Realistic rental costs?

[Willsson]

Try this, at the corner of Oak Lawn and Lemmon Ave. It's a secure building with underground parking. I found it on Craigslist. I lived here for 5 years before buying a condo.

Small building with courtyard pool and garage parking

Probably the best location in the city, right next door to EatZi's. From the view at the link, that second floor with dark window and balcony with plants would have been mine. At the extreme left of the photo is an elevator, from underground to 3rd floor. The same floor plan as at the link.

[SunnyTXsmile]

Originally Posted by Scout_972

There's a Budget Suites in Irving off MacArthur Blvd in Irving. It's in a safe area and would allow you access to many areas in Dallas. You may even like some of the apartments in the area of the hotel.

Great tip. I haven't yet read much about the west side of Dallas (west of 77). I'm Googling that now. Thanks!

[SunnyTXsmile]

Originally Posted by tofurkey

Try this, at the corner of Oak Lawn and Lemmon Ave. It's a secure building with underground parking. I found it on Craigslist. I lived here for 5 years before buying a condo.

Small building with courtyard pool and garage parking

Probably the best location in the city, right next door to EatZi's. From the view at the link, that second floor with dark window and balcony with plants would have been mine. At the extreme left of the photo is an elevator, from underground to 3rd floor. The same floor plan as at the link.

I'm super excited about this place. I sent you a DM since I don't know if I'm allowed to post property questions here. I love the garage, elevator, and pool. From their site, the rates are much higher than the ad. I hope they come down, and are pet-friendly. My search would then be over.

[RockyJoe817]

Just the close proximity to Eatzi's would have won me over.

[TulipGrl]

Try "behind the pink wall", roughly between Preston and Edgemere, north of NW Highway. A renovated but small studio can sometimes be had for about $800, including utilities and cable tv. BPW is a series of garden-style apartment buildings, primarily built between 1950-1970 and converted to condos in the late 1970s.

They are not much to look at from the street but tend to be quite big inside. The original owners are downsizing and moving on and increasingly the area attracts younger professionals.

[TXRunner]

Make sure they don't accept Section 8 first of all. Most $400/month will accept Section 8 and you will be knee-deep in crime and drugs. Apartment Ratings :: The leading source of apartment reviews by renters for renters. This site will give you some useful information about what to expect, but some of the ratings are just personal grudges. Around DFW and most of Texas I would be afraid to pay anything below $550 for a 1-bedroom. $550 for a 1-bedroom is my starting price for an apartment that won't be surrounded by drug users. I've lived in places 7-12 years ago that were in the $300-$400 range and I never had at least one neighbor who didn't regularly use drugs.
For me, anything over $800-$850 for a 1-bedroom is a big waste of money.

[ChristieP]

Originally Posted by TXRunner

Make sure they don't accept Section 8 first of all. Most $400/month will accept Section 8 and you will be knee-deep in crime and drugs.

Very true here! You do NOT want to be in a Section 8 complex!

[synchronicity]

FWIW, I'm renting a 1 BR with a "den", and it's currently $665/month, but it's a somewhat scruffy apartment complex (but then, it was only intended to be a short term "crash pad"). I would agree that anything under $550/month would set off huge alarm bells.

[SunnyTXsmile]

Originally Posted by synchronicity

FWIW, I'm renting a 1 BR with a "den", and it's currently $665/month, but it's a somewhat scruffy apartment complex (but then, it was only intended to be a short term "crash pad"). I would agree that anything under $550/month would set off huge alarm bells.

That info really helps give me an idea of what's realistic. I wasn't able to rep you again yet, but thank you.

Thank you again to everyone else, too.