Dallas, Fort Worth or Austin (Plano, Richardson: crime, credit card, houses)

[lakehighlands]

Originally Posted by UTDGraduate

To me I feel it is normal to have disagreement. I am not going to argue or debate with you on this. I just try give the asker some input/feedback based on my observation, perspective and my life experience living in here and that maybe total different from yours. I am sorry, but I have good reasons to avoid those mentioned areas (except Highland Park). That is what I feel.
I live here long enuf to see most bad news/problems usually come out in South Dallas areas and I did not mean other areas does not have problems, but very less(very minimal) comparing to South Dallas or South side of HW 635.

The area directly to the south of 635 is not South Dallas.

The neigborhood with the second highest crime rate in the city of Dallas sits to the north of 635, at the intersection of Forest and Audelia.

What area of town do you live in, UTDGraduate?

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by UTDGraduate

To me I feel it is normal to have disagreement. I am not going to argue or debate with you on this. I just try give the asker some input/feedback based on my observation, perspective and my life experience living in here and that maybe total different from yours. I am sorry, but I have good reasons to avoid those mentioned areas (except Highland Park). That is what I feel.
I live here long enuf to see most bad news/problems usually come out in South Dallas areas and I did not mean other areas does not have problems, but very less(very minimal) comparing to South Dallas or South side of HW 635.

South Dallas is south of I-30, not south of 636. I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt that you're new to the area and are just a little confused. With the exception of the Five Points are (Park Lane, east of Greenville), and small pockets of East and West Dallas, the city of Dallas north of I-30 is very safe- I'm willing to bet just as statistically safe as Plano, Richardson, McKinney, etc.

By never going south of 635, you miss almost all that Dallas has to offer:
-a beautiful sunset at White Rock Lake
-watching the Mavs play at home
-all the great concerts that come through AAC, the Granada, House of Blues, The Palladium, etc.
-the entire arts district- the DMA, Nasher, and Crow museums and the symphony, opera, and theatre houses
-watching the Christmas lights be lit at Lee Park and Highland Park Village
-scoping out where all the billionaires in Dallas live- mainly the Park Cities and Preston Hollow areas
-feeding the ducks along Turtle Creek
-the annaual historic home tours in North Oak Cliff and Swiss Avenue
-the State Fair of Texas
-the Dallas Summer Musicals at Fair Park
-the art gallery walk along Fairmont Street
-the original Neiman Marcus downtown
-great local theatre talent at Theatre Three, Two, and the Pocket Sandwich Theatre
-most all of the best local restaurants in town
-NorthPark!!! And NorthPark at Christmas, with Scrooge and the 12 Days of Christmas
-Amazing high school football, steeped in tradition at Highland Park, Lake Highlands.
-Amazing high school basketball at Kimball, Carter, etc.

But whatever, we're all naughty down here. Stay in your white tower in the northern burbs.

[Lakewooder]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

-Amazing high school football, steeped in tradition at Highland Park, Lake Highlands.

Steeped in tradition? How about two Heismans and the second largest number of inductees into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame? BTW, we call LH "The Copycats" because this is archetype:


Friday, October 16, 2009 Woodrow Wilson Wildcats 64, Thomas Jefferson Patriots 0






Yes, that's Tim Brown

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by UTDGraduate

I totally argree with you. It's so pathetic that someone at this forum feel bad/flame up with my sincere comments. Since I like to live with healthy(not naughty) entertainments/activities sucha as arts & music to cultural events. I have visit most of these places(Dallas Aquarium, Zoo, Fair Park, Reunion, White Rock Lake Garden...so on.). But living in Murphy or Allen does not mean you find hardly to access to these areas. Most people go to work on weekdays and visit the entainment places on weekend. I don't see many people here go to visit those places daily.
So my point is even you live in good city such as Murphy or Allen, you can go to visit or attend cultural arts/events on weekend. You can attend music/arts at community college(Richland College, Collin Community College) or unviversity(UTD).
I am a single guy who is currently workingfor Texas Instrument betweet HW 75&635 and Dallas area is good for me since near my workplace, but I did not pick to live in the areas in the south side of HW 635. To me those areas are wellknow of buglary, drug, drunk driving and naughty stuffs. I don't feel safe to go or walk on streets at night on those areas. That is what I have observed since I live here. All my sincere advice to you is you should try doing some research on the areas that recommended by people here and analyze it base on the facts to determine your choice.
Good luck!
Adios,

Hate to bust your bubble but your wrong on many acconts. Not just opinion but factual.

I know of MANY singles that live IN Dallas, yes SOUTH of LBJ aka 635 and they go out EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. Not just weekends. Going out during the week for many singles is actually normal behavior. I'm in Dallas late at night on weekdays and it is a pretty hoping place and NO BAD STUFF HAPPENS This whole "naughty stuff" is so far off base. I'm going to also give you the benefit of the doubt like TurtleCreek did as I believe you being so new to the Dallas area that your not very acquanted with it at all.


By reading the OP's first and only post I'd say that living IN Dallas itself is actually her prime spot. As is teaching in the Dallas ISD. Believe it or not the school districts in the burbs have corruption going on within them as well.



See notes in RED

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

OMG, now I am just laughing! Burglary, drugs, drunk driving, and "naughtiness" happen all over DFW- not just south of 635. You have to be kidding me or really, really sheltered. Case in point:

-my boss' home was recently burglarized in the oh-so-prestigious and safe gates Starwood subdivision in Frisco.
There was also a HUGE drug bust at a home in Starwood just a few years ago.
-One very high up man in my company is a hard, partying GAY guy who lives in Fairview.
Yep, gay people live in the SUBURBS! Shocking I know
-Another coworke had a very hard time selling his Frisco home because apparently his subdivision is well-known for attracting swingers
My sister teaches in McKinney and apparently there is a large swingers group in the area near her school as well. She was invited to go out with them one night and almost went. Then she found out they were all SWINGERS. It was kind of funny.
-high profile murder of real estate agent holding an open house in McKinney
-crazy drug users mutilated a poor woman last fall in a Richardson neighborhood full of $400-500k homes
Actually, the house where this murder happened was in one of the lower end tract home builders subdivision. Homes were/are in the $180-200K so range.
-this summer it was announced that a man living in a very nice Plano neighborhood had raped and murdered a woman some 20 years ago in Ft Worth
Remember the news story last year about the sex offender in Plano that the neighborhood wanted to try and force them to sell the HOA the house.
-Two of the last 3 "wrong-way" drunk driving incidents have been north of 635 (on the Tollroad in Frisco and on Central just south of George Bush).

I'm not saying Dallas is Disney World, but good Lord, there is crime and bad people everywhere- the naughty bad guys don't magically turn around at 635!

"naughty bad guys". LOL!!!!

Originally Posted by UTDGraduate

To me I feel it is normal to have disagreement. I am not going to argue or debate with you on this. I just try give the asker some input/feedback based on my observation, perspective and my life experience living in here and that maybe total different from yours. I am sorry, but I have good reasons to avoid those mentioned areas (except Highland Park). That is what I feel.
I live here long enuf to see most bad news/problems usually come out in South Dallas areas and I did not mean other areas does not have problems, but very less(very minimal) comparing to South Dallas or South side of HW 635.

Watching the news some does not hardly quaify one to throw a huge blanket over an entire city when one doesn't even know the actual areas to begin with that are being mentioned on the news where "naughty" things happen.

And as others have said, SOUTH OF 635 IS NOT "South Dallas". The area south of 635 is known as NORTH DALLAS!

[hokie728]

Thank you so much for all of your responses. Sorry if I unwittingly encouraged a 635 debate...although I must admit the comments made by TurtleCreek80 and momof2dfwmade me laugh. : ) Gays in the suburbs, imagine that! haha

Since you asked for more specifics here you go...I am a high school teacher and would like to continue teaching at that level. I have heard iffy things about Dallas ISD, but I'm glad to hear you guys don't seem to think it is too scary. (Of course after teaching in a school with gun violence, bomb sniffing dogs and tons o' drugs, not too much would scare me.)

As far as a house goes...I would prefer a house over a condo. I would like an established neighborhood with trees and that doesn't seem too cookie cutter. Yep, I'm asking for all of this near the 150-170k mark. Can this be done?

TurtleCreek80 thanks for the advice about the East Dallas neighborhood. I will look into it. : )

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by hokie728

Thank you so much for all of your responses. Sorry if I unwittingly encouraged a 635 debate...although I must admit the comments made by TurtleCreek80 and momof2dfwmade me laugh. : ) Gays in the suburbs, imagine that! haha

Since you asked for more specifics here you go...I am a high school teacher and would like to continue teaching at that level. I have heard iffy things about Dallas ISD, but I'm glad to hear you guys don't seem to think it is too scary. (Of course after teaching in a school with gun violence, bomb sniffing dogs and tons o' drugs, not too much would scare me.)

As far as a house goes...I would prefer a house over a condo. I would like an established neighborhood with trees and that doesn't seem too cookie cutter. Yep, I'm asking for all of this near the 150-170k mark. Can this be done?

TurtleCreek80 thanks for the advice about the East Dallas neighborhood. I will look into it. : )

Based on what your looking for in a home then I'd say stay far away from the NEW suburbs. Look in Richardson in the areas known as The Heights and in and around there. Lake Highlands will have a few and is south of LBJ aka 635 and these are in the Richardson ISD. In the areas that Turtle Creek mentioned you might also be able to find something in your price range. All of these are in older well established neighborhoods that are VERY stable and have seen an INCREASE in value and hold steady. Your also more likely to be closer to a lot of your single friends and close to all of the action for nightlife. Then if the time comes and you decide to take the plunge and get married your still in a great area to start a family

Check out the Dallas ISD, Richardson ISD and Garland ISD if you get a house in any of those areas. It will keep you close to home. I have a good friend that teaches high school in the Dallas ISD and she loves her job.

[AK123]

Originally Posted by hokie728

I'd like to be near cultural "stuff" i.e., theatre, concerts, museums, etc.

Not much of that in Austin with the exception of music...
In Texas that's all in Dallas and Houston... not sure about FW.

[Lakewooder]

You might find something in that price range in Little Forest Hills or Junius Heights Historic District (vintage Craftsman bunaglows) but you will probably have to do some repairs at some point. Then again, those are excellent areas for appreciation.

[TrueDat]

Unlike many on this forum, the OP doesn't seem afraid to live in the city and wants a house in an older, established, non-cookie cutter neighborhood. That being the case, North Oak Cliff (Kidd Springs or Kings Highway specifically), Junius Heights, Little Forest Hills, and Cochran Heights would be obvious choices.

[UTDGraduate]

Sorry everyone! I gave up with this topic. At least now I learn that Dallas people in the south side of HW 635 are so convervative. LOL!
As mentioned in my previous posts, I don't like to live in areas of South Dallas or South side of HW 635 and I have my good reasons for that. I also strongly not recommend these areas to my friends or new people. But it's their choice to pursuit for their quality of living/life. That's the reason I recommend Allen, Murphy or Richardson(I like to live in areas between streets Renner, Campell, Plano Road, North Star. I can enjoy to walk at the park at night without hesitating about safe.
I dont feel safe to walk/jogging at night in the areas of the South side of HW 635, around HW 635 and South Dallas. But it's up to the asker who is the decision maker. Maybe some days you find out the reality as I tell you today. I bet the asker making a try walking in late evening or at night on Ferguson Road, South Skillman, South Abrams, Easton Road, East Mockingbird, North Buckner..so on
then you can feel how safe you are.
The main thing I have negatively comment on these areas because you are a teacher and I dont recommend to work under the Dallas School Districts that has corruption scandals lately. To me School is a place where to make an good example for students. How they can teach their kids/students if they are corrupters. That the key thing I would not recommend you to work under those bad districts.

This is also my last post. Muncho gracias! LOL!