Considering moving to the Dallas areas (Plano, Garland: apartment, buying a house, transfer)

[kr2670]

My husband works for Verizon so he'll be transfering his position. I believe Verizon is in the Dallas area, Lewisville, Garland, Irving.
We have 2 children that will be attending kindergarten and 1st grade so I'm looking for a neighborhood that is close to schools, libraries, etc.
Maybe you know where Verizon is as well so my husband wouldn't have to commute too far.

Also, tell me more about the weather, is it really humid, what about the severe weather such as tornadoes?
And bugs? Is there alot of mosquitoes, flys, etc.?

Thank you!

[bluescreen73]

I think Verizon's main office is in Irving. Could be wrong there, though.

Humidity is subjective. Where are you at presently? We moved here from Colorado and it's humid as all get out here in comparison.

We have severe weather season twice a year. The most common severe weather we see are thunderstorms with strong gusty winds and occasionally large hail. Everybody fears tornados but your likelihood of ever taking a direct hit from one is pretty small. Since we are in tornado alley they are always a possibility but I've been here 10 years now and have never seen one that wasn't on TV.

Mosquitos are prevalent here but unless you really enjoy the stifling heat of a Texas summer you won't be outside much at dusk from mid-June through mid-September.

[WillysB]

Verizon Texas HQ is in Irving, 600 Hidden Ridge, Irving, TX 75038 but occupies several offices, principally in the Irving, Lewisville and Grapevine areas, and Garland and Plano. Pole climbing school is in Lewisville. So, depends on what your husband does for Verizon and at what location. I've worked at several of them myself. The Hidden Ridge facility is a fairly nice campus but not so well kept since the merger. Co-workers come from all parts of the DFW, really... all over. You might want to get an apartment in Las Colinas or Valley Ranch or elsewhere nearby whichever office while shopping neighborhoods.

No, the humidity is not that bad. Yes it does get humid but Texas now has some air conditioning in work places, cars and homes. If you have autos without AC then leave them where you are. Nobody will want them. Yes, there are bugs but generally speaking most people are able to recognize methods to deal with them and adjust accordingly. Mostly, just don't leave doors and windows open unless you have screens on them.

So, where you coming from? Basking Ridge, NYC, DC, Baltimore, LA, Tampa, Everett, other?

[momof2dfw]

As mentioned, Verizon has offices in several different locations: Irving, Lewisville, Carrollton, Plano & Garland. I'd find out first which office he will be working out of and go from there. If he does not want a long commute there is no need to even live somewhere too far from any of these locations as they all have areas that would fit what your looking for. He could be 5 minutes from work and close to home, school, shopping, parks, libraries, etc. Even one of the Garland offices (they have 2 locations in Garland) is right across the street from a library, backs up to a park and is within walking distance to both an elem. and middle school as well as a water park.

[kr2670]

We live in Northeast Pennsylvania. So we do see humidity in the summer and we have a lot of mosquitoes where you don't want to go out after dusk.
The problem living here is there is no parks, the jobs aren't there, etc.
And buying a house in this area is near impossible without paying $200 to $300 thousand.
Where I'm seeing you can get a very nice house under $200.

[bluescreen73]

Originally Posted by WillysB

No, the humidity is not that bad. Yes it does get humid but Texas now has some air conditioning in work places, cars and homes.

It's not oppressive but when you're used to 30% humidity being "humid", 65% humidity and 98 degrees can really suck.