So I've used this forum a lot and need help again! (Dallas: apartments, rent)

[justaskin]

So, like a few other threads on the forum, I'm moving back to Dallas (THANK GOD) for residency at UTSW. I'm a single person, who is in a unique situation.


My family lives in Mckinney. They are really pushing me to live at home, to save some $$ and pay off my student loans. Now I've done the drive from home to UTSW during rush hour, taking me about 2 1/2 hrs each way, and its not bad but its not exactly ideal. I'd much rather live close, so I can avoid 5 hours of my life being wasted in traffic.

So these are my questions:
1) if you were in my situation, would you live at home and commute or live closer?

2) if you did live closer, condo or apt?

3) can i get a condo/apt for less than $1000 a month?

4) is downtown dallas living safe? What about the immediate area near UTSW (like 5-6 mile radius) I've been living in NYC for the last 2 years, and have to use the subway super early and super late. I've never been "scared" but there have been things I'd much rather have avoided, I dont expect to have things like that happen in Dallas, but I'm not familiar with downtown living at all.

5) How living in downtown? are there super markets and such easily available?

Thanks SO much for reading and helping out!

[Squirl]

Will you be traveling during rush hour? Can you rail in from Plano and drive the rest of the way home? Sure would be great to pay off those student loans. I know a lot of people who live in McKinney and commute during rush hour and 2.5 hrs is NOT the norm.

[justaskin]

Originally Posted by Squirl

Will you be traveling during rush hour? Can you rail in from Plano and drive the rest of the way home? Sure would be great to pay off those student loans. I know a lot of people who live in McKinney and commute during rush hour and 2.5 hrs is NOT the norm.

hi, thanks for replying.


usually in the mornings it will be just before rush hour hits.

in the evenings though, i'll be leaving between 3-5. the past few times i've been stuck in traffic for that long it was leaving btwn 430-5. i didnt get home until 630-715. there were no accidents. i didnt take 75, and took the tollway to avoid longer traffic times.

I'm just not sure what is the best thing to do.

I know people who used to drive btwn Commerce and Dallas, w/o any problems.

If i can find affordable housing ( less than $1000/mon) then it would be much more practical and justifiable to live downtown.

so what would you do?

[ghaladh]

It depends by your needs. I mean, I would never live far from away from my family, but I also understand your concern about the commuting time. My wife (she works in UTSW) and I choose to live in Uptown because we want to stay in a more alive area, since we enjoy a lot the local nightlife. Around UTSW there is very little for your enjoyment although houses and apartments are cheaper.
Downtown, by other hand, is alive but more expensive and trafficked, and I'm not sure you will be able to find a nice apartment for less than 1k$, unless you are happy with studios or small places.

[Lakewooder]

I would usually say stay at home and save money while you can..perhaps if you get to know a few people at UTSW they can guide you - you could probably find a less expensive apartment or get roommates after that... in any case you should able to find something for less than a grand.

[justaskin]

normally i wouldnt want to live away from family either. but its literally moving back in with my folks.

this requires a lot of thinking tbh. im pretty torn on what to do. :S
thanks for reading!

[Big G]

If you're doing a residency, you're probably at least mid-20s. No way in Hades would I live with my parents at that age, absent severe financial constraints that left no other viable option. I don't care if they live 5 minutes from UTSW.

Beyond that, I don't know what kind of hours they claimed you'll be working. Whatever they told you, it's a lie. You'll be pulling 70-80 hours regularly. You want to tack on a 90+ minute commute on top of that??? That's crazy talk.

[justaskin]

thats what im talking about big G, but my parents did worse for work. my dad still drives 90+ mins for work daily, hes like if i can do it at my age, why cant you.

he really believes in early debt pay off, so he is all for saving as much $$ as possible.

but living alone for so many years, the thought of living back in my parents house, in my sisters room, ugh.

[TurtleCreek80]

Maybe try 1 year at home?

You can definitely rent within 10-15 minutes drive to UTSW for <$1000/mo. Depending on the kind of neighborhood you like- Uptown, Downtown, North Oak Lawn, the Design District, and North Oak Cliff/Bishop Arts District would all have apartments in the $750-1000 range.

McKinney to UTSW is a long long drive (it won't be 2.5 hours each way on a regular basis...but will take 60-90 minutes most days)- especially after working a long residency shift. I wouldn't trust myself to drive an hour or more after working 24+ straight hours, but you know yourself.

[EDS_]

Originally Posted by justaskin

So, like a few other threads on the forum, I'm moving back to Dallas (THANK GOD) for residency at UTSW. I'm a single person, who is in a unique situation.


My family lives in Mckinney. They are really pushing me to live at home, to save some $$ and pay off my student loans. Now I've done the drive from home to UTSW during rush hour, taking me about 2 1/2 hrs each way, and its not bad but its not exactly ideal. I'd much rather live close, so I can avoid 5 hours of my life being wasted in traffic.

So these are my questions:
1) if you were in my situation, would you live at home and commute or live closer?

2) if you did live closer, condo or apt?

3) can i get a condo/apt for less than $1000 a month?

4) is downtown dallas living safe? What about the immediate area near UTSW (like 5-6 mile radius) I've been living in NYC for the last 2 years, and have to use the subway super early and super late. I've never been "scared" but there have been things I'd much rather have avoided, I dont expect to have things like that happen in Dallas, but I'm not familiar with downtown living at all.

5) How living in downtown? are there super markets and such easily available?

Thanks SO much for reading and helping out!

As a resident you will not have "enough" time under any circumstances. Why blow precious hours per day in the car? Find and apt. And cograts on UTSW that's an awesome accomplishment.