relocating: where to rent before buying a home? (Dallas, Spring: apartments, safe area)

[pelucula]

we are child and pet free.
husband's office will be located in addison while i will work in downtown (main street district).
looking for a 2 bed 2 bath at least.
our budget is no more than $2K per month.
we are not interested in amenities, but would like a location close to shopping and a park.
also, we would like to rent in an area that is foremost safe and accessible to both of us during lunch time. is this realistic? we eat lunch together today in south florida (believe it or not ) and would like to continue doing this after we move.
once we get to know dallas on our own, we will look for a home.

[TurtleCreek80]

Roughly halfway between downtown and Addison is the Park Cities. I would look at the Pavillion Townplace apartments off West Lovers Lane just west of the toll rise. Extremely safe area, lots of restaurants & shopping within walking distance. Many parks nearby- Germany Park @ University & Tollroad has a 1/4 mile track, Goar Park & Williams Park on University east of Preston, Curtis Park on Lovers east of Preston, etc. The one catch is your budget is only going to get you a 1 bedroom; 2 bedrooms run in the $3k range. Halfway between downtown and Addison are the ,out expensive neighborhoods in all of DFW. If you do truly want to meet for lunch, you may need to adjust your space expectations.

[bigbear63]

So here's my opinion having grown up here. The shuttle between downtown and Addison for lunch is going to be too much after a few attempts and nasty mid-day accidents. So that aside, where to live? Look at the North Dallas Tollway as the major artery for you both. Somewhere along it would be the best IMHO.

Addison (far north) has a bunch of great restaurants, bars, and nearby shopping/malls. The central part of Addison has the "Addison Circle" area (parks, bars, bistros) which is very young-couple friendly location.
But...that would make for a rough daily drive for you working downtown. I like the Park Cities suggestion above. In fact stretching that over to the Uptown/Oak Lawn/Wycliffe/Cedar Springs (far south) area might be a good choice. It'll reverse the drive for your husband but that is the "opposite" flow in the mornings.

Another mid-location area to look at is near Northwest Highway and Tollway. If you want high-rise or upper-grade apartment living there are lots of choices in that area. That location would put each of you 25-35 minutes away from work with medium traffic. Excellent central point for shopping, restaurants, and general access to most of Dallas.

Also depending on your style you might like east of Love Field area. It's going thru somewhat of a revival right now.

[WorldKlas]

I also suggest anything a few blocks north or south along Northwest Highway between the Tollway and Central (75). Stay east of the Tollway and west of Hwy 75 which is known locally as Central

The lunch thing will be tough in Dallas traffic.

[HP48G]

Unless you have a 2 hour lunch break, it's not going to work.

[n2da2nd]

So i'm kinda in the same boat as the OP. Any suggestion for places around Headquarter Drive?