Contemplating a move from Bay Area, CA to Dallas, TX...trying to find a good area for us (Fort Worth: transplants, rent)

[ssillen]

So we are still in the "trying to find the right place for us" planning stages, but would really appreciate some insight into the Dallas area. I am married with 2 kids (one is graduating high school and one is 3 years old). My husband and I are both in the medical field (I am a MRI Technologist and he is a X-Ray Technologist). We both grew up in the San Francisco bay area; however, we have both lived in various states of the country. We make decent money, but can't afford anything around here! lol We would love to be able to buy a nice home to call our own and have our son grow up in. Homes in this area (Campbell) are 700k and up (for decent ones). I refuse to pay that for what you get. Long story short, we have been doing a lot of research, trying to find out what states and areas would give us most of what we want. Low cost of living, great education, low crime, accessibility to amenities. We long for a friendly, small community. We do not want to live in the city, but would prefer a suburb, i.e., Frisco, Plano, Allen, Garland, etc.
I realize we would be giving up some nice things too, like weather :-) But we are at the point that we would sacrifice that to have a nice home and not feel like we are living in a rat race. We cannot get ahead! By the way, we both have lived in Florida and know all about hot weather
Any advice on areas to look more into would be greatly appreciated!

[High_Plains_Retired]

Sorry no one has yet replied but I'll kick your query back to the top and hope someone from the Dallas area can help.

BTW, your medical fields would seem to work well in Lubbock as well would your desire to get out of a rat race.

[ssillen]

Thank you very much for your help :-) I will have to look more into Lubbock!

[Poe777]

Frisco/Mckinney Area is awesome if you have a family

[TurtleCreek80]

Your home budget, job location, and desired commute time will dictate the advice you get on where to live. Without the crucial bits of info regarding job and commute, you won't get much specific advice on this post.

[ssillen]

Originally Posted by Poe777

Frisco/Mckinney Area is awesome if you have a family

Thank you! I was actually looking into those areas. I was a little concerned about the distance of McKinney, but that was based on the assumption I would find a job in the city. But I am in the medical field, so wherever they have a medical center, I could have a chance :-) I do have a family and that is what I am looking for a family friendly community with great schools and affordable homes.

[ssillen]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

Your home budget, job location, and desired commute time will dictate the advice you get on where to live. Without the crucial bits of info regarding job and commute, you won't get much specific advice on this post.

TurtleCreek80, thank you for your response. Our home budget would be about 350k or under. As of right now, we do not have any jobs lined up; however, the medical facility I work for has centers in Plano and in Dallas (so transferring would be a possibility if they have open positions). I am a MRI Tech and my husband is a X-Ray Tech at a level 1 Trauma center. So wherever they have medical facilities, hopefully we could get jobs. We have not started applying, because we have not made that "final decision" to make the move. We know we want to move, we are weighing out all the pros and cons of different areas. So I guess any advice on the areas would be appreciated. We would rent for a bit before we buy, so we can get a good feel for the different areas. Thanks again!

[Squirl]

Smaller communities near DFW with good schools that you might like:

Coppell
Rockwall
Trophy Club
Argyle
Roanoke

[ChristieP]

Male sure that you live within an easy commute of several hospitals. Many of the communities that Squirl mentions are only near one or two hospitals, and if those hospitals don't need anyone in your field, you will be facing a lengthy commute to the main medical districts, which are near downtown Fort Worth and just north of downtown Dallas.

Again, as we often tell potential transplants, find the job first, and then decide where to move!

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

The only Level I Trauma Centers are in downtown Dallas or Ft. Worth. Not to say other hospitals don't need techs but if he is used to fast-paced work, that's where it is.

Baylor has a big new hospital just west of McKinney on Hwy 380. Plano has a lot of smaller facilities. There's childrens hospitals in Ft. Worth and either south Frisco or north Plano, I never know where I am over there!