Tyler and Longview (Spring, Kilgore, White Oak: RV park, loft, hotels)

[ripley]

Those are the three to check first. A couple others are OK, but these are the three best from all I've heard.

Home rentals are a little more difficult. I'll try to do some checking.

[txstate]

Remember Its still East Texas

[Back2TX]

Originally Posted by txstate

Remember Its still East Texas

What does that mean?

[MJ_is_in]

Curious as to where the nearest driver license place is to Longview to change over our driver's license and car registation.

Also, is commuting from Tyler to Longview tough? I haven't seen many choices in Longview as far as available housing (on line that is) and Tyler seems to have plenty.

[destin04]

I wouldn't think the commute would be bad. We live right on I-20 north of Tyler and it's almost as quick for us to go shopping in Longview as it is for us to drive to south Tyler. I-20 can be wonderful unless there is an accident and then it's terrible!

[Mary4364]

Lindale is on I-20 and has quite a few home rentals up right now. It's 10 minutes north of Tyler and 45 (?) minutes from Longview (interstate). I'd think driving from south Tyler to the interstate would be a pain on a daily basis, but maybe if you found something on the north or east or even southeast side in Tyler it wouldn't be bad.

[ripley]

Unless you have to go to the Gregg County Courthouse to transfer the tags or something, the Drivers License office is on Lake Lamond Road here in Longview. There is another office on Karnes Road (FM 1845), the Motor Vehicles Division, that might be where you have to go for part of the transfer junk.

The Gregg County site has some info on what is needed and where to go to get it done.

Don't know where you'll be working, but the trip from South Broadway to North Longview is every bit of 1 hour on a good day. Not worth it. Unless you and your wife are in love with Tyler, you'd be better off to live in Gilmer and drive 30 minutes in to Longview to work.

Your $600-$1000 range will limit you some, but here are today's listings from the online edition of our wonderful Longview News-Journal:

CONDOS & TOWNHOMES

$925 Willowcreek/Hallsville Like new 3BR/2BA with appliances! Util rm, FP, tile floors & landscaping. $925mo, $500dep. No pets. 903-777-4543

$975 TOWNE LAKE VILLAGE. 2/2/2, patio, yardcare, pool. NO PETS/SMOKING $975mo, $500dp, call 903-235-4142

DUPLEXES or 4-PLEXES

$700 3/2, Pine Tree , fenced bkyd. 105B Cherie St. $700/mo $400 dep. 903-235-1107

$700 2/2. White Oak 305-A Quail St. All elec. New appls, remodeled, tile, water pd. $700m/$600 dp. 1 yr lease. No pets or smkrs. 903-738-4834

$795 2/1.5, 2-story , stained concrete, 1050SF, LGV, convenient, $795 mo, water pd. 903-452-0146

$575 HAPPY EASTER in PTISD 2/1, ceil. fans, fenced yd, ch/ca, W/D conn, water pd, $575mo $200dep, 903-758-0131

$565 2/1, w/d conn, exc. cond. water paid. $565/mo 903-236-9157 100 Pinebrook. Watson Properties.

$600 PTISD. 1715D Shely. Upstairs unit w/balcony. 2/1/1, Wtr, trsh, yd pd. $600/$300 903-988-2500

$850 3/2/2 carport in Pine Tree. $850/month $600 deposit. Call 1-800-466-5107 code 020 for more info.

$725 3/1.5, 1502 Arland. PTISD. $725mo+dep, call 903-720-7333

EFFICIENCY APARTMENTS

$975 Historic Firestation Loft Washer/dryer incl. 1BR.2 left. Starting at $975/mo, 720-3739

FURNISHED APARTMENTS

$1,000 Exec. Apt . 1/1, Util, Internet/Cable, Downtown area. No smoking $1000mo, $350dep 903-431-0540 Home - TNT Development, Inc.

HOUSES UNFURNISHED

$600 Gladewater, nice 2-br, CH/CA, h/w flrs, stge, $600/$400. 844-0202

$900 3/2, Pine Tree , fenced bkyd. 1306 Annette St, $900/mo $500 dep. 903-235-1107

$650 PTISD, 1bdrm, newly updated. $650/mo, wtr pd. $600/dep 759-0245

$500 2br/1ba in Kilgore. $500mo/$500dp. 903-844-1365

$850 Gladewater 3/2, lg yd, range, garage, FP. Nice area, No pets. $850/ $350. 239-2002.

$700 Gldwtr, 3br, ch/ca, fence, screened porch $700/$500 844-0202

$675 Neat 2br/1ba. Updated! Fresh paint, hd flrs. W/D conn. LGV. $675/$300, No pets. 903-230-9025

$900 3/2 Brick w/workshop in LISD. Ref s & credit check req. 1year lease $900mo, 1st & last mo rent. 903-738-3225

$950 Quiet country home for lease. 3/2 with carport, laundry room. Water and yard care furnished. East Mountain area. Gilmer ISD. $950/mo. First/last w/$500 dep. No pets. 903-297-2251 or 903-576-2805

UNFURNISHED APARTMENTS

$650 Private country setting, N. LGV 1/1, open kit/liv. Professional feel! No smkrs/pets. $650mo incl util. 663-9688 lvmsg

$790 Summer Brook apt. 2Br, 2Ba, 3rd floor, Avail. 03-09, either monthly or 6 mo lease. W/D incl. for free! $790/mo, call Steve 903-720-4327.

$575 1-br near Good Shepherd, $575/mo No smkr. 903-431-0540 Home - TNT Development, Inc.

If I see some others as I am out-and-about, I'll pass on some numbers.

[AllenKarber]

Originally Posted by Metro Matt

I would say Longview is just a tad more Liberal than Tyler too. You can't buy any alcohol at the grocery store or corner gas station in Tyler, but you can in Longview.

On a side note, you can buy & sell Texas made wine now inside the Tyler city limits. Weird laws I know.

You can buy alcohol in the parking lot of the hospital in Longview.

[MJ_is_in]

The local newspaper seems like the best option in looking for housing. Are there any companies in the area that specialize in potential house rentals?

I guess we are going to plan spending a full week in Longview for our housing search. I would love recommendations on where to stay hotel wise for that week. We would prefer something like an Extended Stay America (somewhere with a full kitchen).

[ripley]

MJ, don't stay at any of the hotels out near I-20.

We now have plenty of options on the Loop near the center of the action. I would not stay at anything not on this list.

Hampton Inn & Suites @ 3044 Eastman Road is one of the newest ... Target, Hollywood Cinema, Buffalo Wild Wings, Cheddars, Kohls , Starbucks, Lifeway

LaQuinta Inn 908 E. Hawkins Parkway ... near Eastman Road and Hampton

Fairfield Inn on N. 4th Street ... just off the Loop, across from Wal-Mart, Sam's, Chik-Fil-A, Outback, Wendy's, Whataburger

Comfort Suites 3307 N. 4th ... next to Fairfield Inn

Wingate Inn on the Loop ... in a row with Fairfield Inn & Comfort Suites, close to Carino's Italian

Holiday Inn Express on Tuttle Drive ... Behind Papacita's just off the Loop.

Best Western on Loop 281 ... Behind Double Dave's Pizza, Texas Road House, Waffle House (or Shoppe)

Hamton Inn on Eastman, LaQuinta Inn on Hawkins, & Holiday Inn Express on Tuttle would be my Top 3.