Living in Dallas (Irving, Addison, Henderson: apartments, established neighborhood, schools)

[socketz]

Dallas has things to do, I wouldn't argue that.

But the coasts are alot different. Let's just admit that and face there are trade-offs that need to be addresed. Obviously people are paying alot more to live on the coast for a reason. But like Oso said,Dallas offers a nice reasonably safe surburban lifestyle to raise a family. Who needs to surf, smell the salty air blowing off the ocean or be within 1 hour of ski slopes. That's all fun, but is it necessary to live life. probably not.

We argue this same point over and over and nobody is going to win.

[emcee09]

This has been very helpful. I was hoping to relo to Dallas from Los Angeles (for cost of living) but as a single, are there opportunities for socializing?

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

There is no state income tax but property taxes are higher than most other states' (well, maybe not NY, NJ, CA) so it is a trade-off. When I move, my taxes will easily be more than twice what I pay in UT for a similarly priced home.

Any area is what you make of it. Read the Charlotte, NC, forum for thrads on NYers moving there and complaining that it's different. They apparently ahve a lot of people from the NE moving down there.

[Lakewooder]

Originally Posted by osjo73

On one hand dallas is a good place to raise kids. the subs have a good school district record. Not too much trouble to get into....on the other hand, the mentality here is very materialistic. Like I said before, there is not a lot to do but shop. And since it is relatively cheap to live here, kids' parents tend to have these big mcmansions and expensive cars...It could be difficult to teach kids about the finer things in life leaving here. Personally, I would prefer some place a little more cultural and open to different things....oops, I think they call that liberal...or nowadays progressive loons...oh, I forget ;-)

Well that's what you get if you don't move to Dallas but live in some generic suburb.

[daddymaxjr]

I've been in the Dallas area(west Plano now Celina) for about 5 years and I STILL get very home sick now and then. I'm originally from Queens, NY but I also grew up in Maryland. To be honest, after being on the east coast so long I was lookin' for a change. In addition, my job transferred me here(move or lose it) and I was feeling adventurous at the time so I took the plung.

I go back to visit every now and then but it isn't enough. I've got a family down here now so I'm kinda stuck!

Funny thing is, most of the friends I've met are transplants like me!

The cost of living and no state income taxes are great but that's where the joy stops(for me).

Sorry to sound like a sour puss...

[daddymaxjr]

Part II of my message:

I've been wanting to start an online forum or community for people from the north east(Boston, Philly, NYC, Jersey, DC, etc) living in Texas. I think we have plenty of transplants in Dallas to support an online community.

Ideas?

[GayleTX]

daddy.....we have so many people moving here the past year or two from 'far away places'....most of them come because they have to just to be able to survive financially. I feel for them.....I can't image\ine having to give up everything familiar and 'normal' and going to a strange place with different customs just because the cost of living was insane. I admire their courage in making the move and trying to make the best life they can for their families and their future. It's probably almost as difficult for some of them as those who come from other countries.

[badr]

Hello all'

My wife and I recently moved from Crofton Maryland to Plano, TX. We gathered some intelligence from the area, and we packed everything we could fit on a jetta, and we left maryland like a bat out of hell. We had been having a lot of problms with the Baltimore area, the crimes, the drugs, ugh... horrible even for a couple who have no kids.

Coming to Plano has been a breath of fresh air. In a lot of ways at least...

Its reasonably cheaper here than in Maryland, and much better quality of life, without costing you and arm or a leg. The area we live in, (ridgeview, near independence pkwy) is good for us. We have everything we need close but when we come home there is nothing around, but more homes, apartments, a couple of streetmalls, townshops, etc.

We live in a very nice apartment complex, that is much nicer and cheaper than the one we used to live in Maryland.

The people around the neighborhood are nice, overall people are nice, they actually greet you, open doors for you, its an environment you can easily cope with.

We are a young couple, and when we go out, we can drive to the places that have nightlife and they are no far... We still have to go to museums, or hike around the bunch of parks in the area.

We are renting an apartment right now, but in the future we want to buy a house. I am unsure if it will be in Plano still but not that its bad here or anything bad, its just that we would like to get a property with a big yard. My wife always wanted to have a dog and you need a yard for that... Most houses here have a smallish yard.

Then again, those houses are only in plano, since I have seen houses with bigger yards in Euless and other areas.

The one thing that has made a huge impact for me at least has been finding work. I am an IT Professional, and I used to get calls for projects and assignments in maryland a lot more than I have gotten here, which has been zilch, zero, nada... A friend of mine that is a local insists its because this is "Corporate America" and my resume apparently looks too menacing for here. Meh. I used to work for goverment, i have a clearance, I have a lot of experience in my field, and I have listed my resume over 100 times and have only gotten 1 call that has gone cold already.

Its frustrating, because we are living out of our savings, and we have been here just one month and I still have not been able to find work in my field of expertise. Its the only thing I havent liked so far. I'm hoping It changes soon or else we are going to be in serious trouble...

But quality of life speaking, we love it here.

[badr]

I feel for ya... really, I am from Puerto Rico and I moved to the states in 2005 (to maryland), i am lucky that some of my friends live here in texas, but still I dont see them much...

So if you want to hang around or do something let us know, we are up for anything cool.

Originally Posted by daddymaxjr

I've been in the Dallas area(west Plano now Celina) for about 5 years and I STILL get very home sick now and then. I'm originally from Queens, NY but I also grew up in Maryland. To be honest, after being on the east coast so long I was lookin' for a change. In addition, my job transferred me here(move or lose it) and I was feeling adventurous at the time so I took the plung.

I go back to visit every now and then but it isn't enough. I've got a family down here now so I'm kinda stuck!

Funny thing is, most of the friends I've met are transplants like me!

The cost of living and no state income taxes are great but that's where the joy stops(for me).

Sorry to sound like a sour puss...

[daddymaxjr]

DUDE! Your situation sounds like mine!

After working for a major IT company for 8 years (top 5 in the world and headquarters are in Plano; dead give away) they laid me off along with the rest of my group! I have 14 years IT experience and since 12/08 I've had ONE interview! I have a house and a 2 year old in daycare and times are getting hard.

I feel your pain.

So definitely we can hook up some time.

P.S.
I was living in downtown Silver Spring right before I moved to Texas and I loved it.

Originally Posted by badr

Hello all'

My wife and I recently moved from Crofton Maryland to Plano, TX. We gathered some intelligence from the area, and we packed everything we could fit on a jetta, and we left maryland like a bat out of hell. We had been having a lot of problms with the Baltimore area, the crimes, the drugs, ugh... horrible even for a couple who have no kids.

Coming to Plano has been a breath of fresh air. In a lot of ways at least...

Its reasonably cheaper here than in Maryland, and much better quality of life, without costing you and arm or a leg. The area we live in, (ridgeview, near independence pkwy) is good for us. We have everything we need close but when we come home there is nothing around, but more homes, apartments, a couple of streetmalls, townshops, etc.

We live in a very nice apartment complex, that is much nicer and cheaper than the one we used to live in Maryland.

The people around the neighborhood are nice, overall people are nice, they actually greet you, open doors for you, its an environment you can easily cope with.

We are a young couple, and when we go out, we can drive to the places that have nightlife and they are no far... We still have to go to museums, or hike around the bunch of parks in the area.

We are renting an apartment right now, but in the future we want to buy a house. I am unsure if it will be in Plano still but not that its bad here or anything bad, its just that we would like to get a property with a big yard. My wife always wanted to have a dog and you need a yard for that... Most houses here have a smallish yard.

Then again, those houses are only in plano, since I have seen houses with bigger yards in Euless and other areas.

The one thing that has made a huge impact for me at least has been finding work. I am an IT Professional, and I used to get calls for projects and assignments in maryland a lot more than I have gotten here, which has been zilch, zero, nada... A friend of mine that is a local insists its because this is "Corporate America" and my resume apparently looks too menacing for here. Meh. I used to work for goverment, i have a clearance, I have a lot of experience in my field, and I have listed my resume over 100 times and have only gotten 1 call that has gone cold already.

Its frustrating, because we are living out of our savings, and we have been here just one month and I still have not been able to find work in my field of expertise. Its the only thing I havent liked so far. I'm hoping It changes soon or else we are going to be in serious trouble...

But quality of life speaking, we love it here.