Information Please (Dallas, San Antonio, Garland: 2009, apartments, rent)

[bluebell71]

Hi
I am actively seeking employment in the Dallas area and would like information about housing and schools in the area. We currently live in Grand Forks, NORTH DAKOTA (its oh soooo cold) and my husband has 1.5 years left in the military here. I will be moving early in order to set up house and scout the area for the best place to build our home when he retires. In the meantime, the two youngest will live with me, they are 6 and 2. We also have a son in high school that will stay here until summer. I need information about apartments and schools. I need something with 2 bedrooms and under $700 since we currently own our home and with the market as it is, cannot sell it until spring. I am not familiar with Dallas much, we lived in San Antonio for 8 years but we always have wanted to come home to Texas. I am leaning towards the east side of Dallas (Garland area?) but all feedback is greatly appreciated.

Please help me with relocation information! I really could use an insiders point of view. Thank You!!!

[BstYet2Be]

Originally Posted by bluebell71

Hi
I am actively seeking employment in the Dallas area and would like information about housing and schools in the area. We currently live in Grand Forks, NORTH DAKOTA (its oh soooo cold) and my husband has 1.5 years left in the military here. I will be moving early in order to set up house and scout the area for the best place to build our home when he retires. In the meantime, the two youngest will live with me, they are 6 and 2. We also have a son in high school that will stay here until summer. I need information about apartments and schools. I need something with 2 bedrooms and under $700 since we currently own our home and with the market as it is, cannot sell it until spring. I am not familiar with Dallas much, we lived in San Antonio for 8 years but we always have wanted to come home to Texas. I am leaning towards the east side of Dallas (Garland area?) but all feedback is greatly appreciated.

Please help me with relocation information! I really could use an insiders point of view. Thank You!!!

This not may be helpful in relocating... but just some food for thought... have ya'll really thought this plan through? None of my business, really, but some points to ponder... you mention you have an application pending w/the DOL (Dept. of Labor?) in another thread, you are also looking for a home daycare and an apartment for three (possibly four?) for $500-700/month.

Even if you were to make a very good salary here -- the cost of daycare, plus utilities, plus rent (it's going to be VERY HARD to find a safe, decent place for three-four w/good schools at $700/month even in Garland), plus the cost of auto upkeep and gas for commuting to/from a job -- it's going to be "one tough row to hoe" as they say in Texas lingo!

Also, as far as finding a job here, you're best bet is to post your resume on Monster.com, Dice.com, CareerBuilders.com and HotJobs.com as that is where most employers here post their job openings.

I don't mean to rain on your parade, but if it were me, I'd at least think of waiting to relocate until the whole family is able to or at least until your house sales, or both.

Either way, good luck to you and yours and your move to Texas!

[bluebell71]

Thanks new2sa that was good advice! Actually, we have only the 2 small children that would move with me. I would prefer to move in the summer but not sure if the job market or housing market will be the same since this is such a huge time of moving across the nation...so I'd really like to take advantage of being able to move early. There is no way we can wait until June 2009 to move, then we would both be searching for employment, a home and schools for the kids. It may make things tough for a while but I think putting down some roots and getting the younger kids into a good school is main priority right now. Its hard to live "in limbo" we've only been in Grand Forks for a year but we've known we would not be staying long and it just doesn't feel like home here. I am currently employed and would not move until after landing a job. Just trying to get a feel of what the local area is like right now.

I appreciate your input!
Kim

[ladysrodgers]

Originally Posted by bluebell71

Hi
I am actively seeking employment in the Dallas area and would like information about housing and schools in the area. We currently live in Grand Forks, NORTH DAKOTA (its oh soooo cold) and my husband has 1.5 years left in the military here. I will be moving early in order to set up house and scout the area for the best place to build our home when he retires. In the meantime, the two youngest will live with me, they are 6 and 2. We also have a son in high school that will stay here until summer. I need information about apartments and schools. I need something with 2 bedrooms and under $700 since we currently own our home and with the market as it is, cannot sell it until spring. I am not familiar with Dallas much, we lived in San Antonio for 8 years but we always have wanted to come home to Texas. I am leaning towards the east side of Dallas (Garland area?) but all feedback is greatly appreciated.

Please help me with relocation information! I really could use an insiders point of view. Thank You!!!

There is already a TON of information in these threads, that answer your questions, just take a peek.