East Dallas Duplex Disaster: Hunting 2 BRs (Austin, Greenville: hardwood floors, apartments, rentals)

[DallasNewb]

My girlfriend and I currently live in Austin but we're working in downtown Dallas starting in August so we decided to go apartment hunting in East Dallas, esp. between Greenville and Abrams, driving street-by-street as many here advised. Because we're both studying for the bar exam in July, we had no time to spare, but we needed a place, so we bit the bullet and made the trek.

We spent last Friday and Saturday calling all the "For Rent" signs in appropriately sized duplex apartments (2 BR, 1000+ square feet, central AC, hardwood floors, budget up to $1200 if necessary). We loved East Dallas and found a great two-bedroom upper floor unit. We visited twice, called the landlord on Sunday morning, and said we wanted the place. He agreed. We offered to come sign the lease and give a security deposit, but he said he was busy and would email the lease, and we could mail the check on Monday. Just to make sure, I quickly called back, and again offered to come and sign the papers, but he told us it'd be fine. Based on his assurances, we drove back to Austin on Sunday afternoon and passed on the other apartment we liked.

Monday morning arrives. He calls early and claims his son is now moving to Dallas, he needs to put him in that apartment, and he can't rent to us anymore. Riiiiiight...if you believe that. To add insult to injury, he barely apologized. By this point, we panic and then find out the other apartment we looked at is now taken. Disaster sets in. To spend another long weekend doing this all over again could be the difference between passing and failing the exams.

If anyone knows of any 2 BR duplex apartments for rent in East Dallas, esp. upper floor ones, please shoot me a PM. I've read through so many threads on this forum and understand how generous and helpful a community this is. I hate to make my first post a hat-in-hand request for apartment tips, but we're quite desperate and would be so immensely grateful for any leads.

[goodhugh]

Hey DallasNewb... sorry you had a bad experience. My suggestion is to check MLS which you can do from the comfort of your home in Austin. There are many upper level duplexs in the area you are looking for.

Welcome to Dallas.... I hope the move it not too much of a culture shock from Austin.

[TurtleCreek80]

I would also look at the Power Properties website. They are a bit futher east - more Junius Heights & Lower Swiss Ave areas (Gaston & Abrams-ish) than M Streets where you were looking - but they own a TON of well-maintained historic properties, including duplexes, fourplexes, etc. You may have luck there from a distance.

[goodhugh]

Thanks for the Power Properties reference TurtleCreek80. I wish I had found that site when I was looking for a place.

[Lakewooder]

Those two story (mostly Tudor) brick duplexes start around Marquita and go all the way down to Swiss and Live Oak -- there are also some in Junius Heights---so be sure to drive the full length of the streets. I have a friend with a nice one on Belmont near Abrams, so I will check with him.

Yep when dealing with individual landlords YMMV...I am landlord also (full up, haven't had a vacancy in more than a year) oftentimes tenants will say they are going to sign and give you the deposit but don't show up again...so it works both ways... sometimes you just have to look more to find the right place in our area -- it's not an easy decision like it is in some areas -- more risk/more reward IMO.

[CGGirl]

One weekend less of studying won't kill you especially if you are taking a bar review course during the week. It's definitely not the difference between passing or failing! I never studied on weekends when I was studying for the bar - just Monday - Friday all day each day (since my firm was paying me a stipend for the summer to study).

[DallasNewb]

I appreciate everyone's advice. And Lakewooder, if your friend has any vacancies, please don't hesitate to message me.

The bummer with this landlord was that he twice gave us assurances that he'd email us the lease on Monday. We even called back a second time on Sunday, again offering to come sign a lease and give a security deposit, but he said there was no pressure, and he trusted us. What's so odd is that we both have excellent credit and references, but he never asked for either before breaking the news to us. His loss, I suppose.

Should we wait a couple of weeks before heading back? Or go back on July 1? How frequently will new duplex vacancies turn up on the market in a month like June? We'd like to move in between August 1-15, so we're trying to time it out right.

Thanks again for the help.

[Macbeth2003]

From the perspective of someone who rented in East Dallas until getting our house, I wouldn't wait. Places seem to pop up for rent, and then lease pretty unpredictably. I once had a landlord who unexpectedly had a property come up in January rent it to us, offering either a 6 or 18 month lease, as he wanted it to come available in the summer - his heavy rental period.

I'm going to PM you a name and number. This gentleman was our landlord for 3 years. He was honest, responsive, and owns quite a number of duplexes and fourplexes in East Dallas. We rented in Junius Heights, but he has places throughout East Dallas as well. I have a good friend who also rented from him years ago and was very happy. He doesn't get a huge amount of turnover, but has enough places that he usually has something available. I recommend you give him a call and ask what he has, or will have when you need it. We rented a one bedroom with large study (which we used as a second bedroom) from him, but he also has many two bedrooms.

[DoneWithDallas]

Check the M streets area off Greenville and Mockingbird. There are lots of houses, converted duplexes and such.

[ut15]

Rentals go quickly in Dallas right now. We were in a similar situation where a landloard never returned the realtors call. We ended up viewing a place just put on the market that day and submitting an application on the same day with 9 other applicants. Tells you how tight the rental market is.

Might want to work with realtors. As they can at least pull the MLS listing. Moderator cut: no solicitation permitted