Moving to DFW in Spring '08...Advice (Dallas, McKinney: apartments, city hall)

[DFW Bound]

I am relocating to the DFW area in spring '08, and currently researching the best, safest and most affordable areas to live in. I am a legal professional and will likely seek employment at a law firm the metro area, perhaps in downtown Dallas or even Forth Worth; more than likely in a mid to large sized firm. I would like easy access to the highways, or even DART access to ease the commute (30 minutes at most) and pet friendly. I will rent for 6 months, get familiar with the area and explore other housing options later. Any suggestions regarding rentals in a safe, diverse area with easy highway, tollway or DART access in the DFW area, $700-$1000 range? Preferably townhome or small house (I can do the apartment thing temporarily too, but sharing walls sucks). I like the arts/entertainment/shopping to be easily accessible too. I am completely clueless as to the best place for me to start. I am a single woman, so safety is of utmost concern. Thank you for any suggestions.

[TXTwizter]

Theres hundreds of threads that already cover this. It all depends on where your job will be, do you want to drive, take public trans, etc.

[Willys]

Here's a response I gave to an OP looking for something intownish...

To satisfy a 'grocery/library/reataurants/fun' near downtown you'll want to focus on the State Thomas to Uptown area.

The nearest libraries are either the back side of downtown or OakLawn (2 blocks off OakLawn at Cedar Springs) and is also the location of the Kroger Grocery. This area is also the 'gay' strip though trending to a very high dollar neighborhood. Before moving away a couple of months ago, I saw a lot (as in a house used to be there) with four townhomes at $400k each.

Four principle groceries will be Albertsons/WalMart/Kroger/WholeFoods. The first three will have most typical foods and Whole Foods is a good specialty food place. Nearby is a pretty cool deli, EatZi's (Lemmon/Oak Lawn). There is a specialty grocery on the back side of downtown (don't recall the name - maybe Uptown Lofts - would be kind of pricey, really just local market - this is NOT my ref to the UpTown area) and a farmers market on the north end of downtown. My ref to 'backside of downtown' for both the library and specialty grocery are to the far east side, near city hall. Not much entertainment over there, though that's a matter of judgement as well...

On a maps.google.com, enter the zip 75219 for a local map. You'll find US 75 going north out of downtown and a couple of streets west of 75 is McKinney/Cole. McKinney/Cole extends from Pearl (next to downtown) north to Knox and the SMU area. McKinney at Pearl is very near to the AA Center (sports arena) and nice apartments can be found in that area as well as downtown's West End entertainment.

From Pearl to near the cemetery is State Thomas, a very old area that has been refurb'd with condos and townhomes. The WalMart Grocery is near this.

Continuing north is Uptown, with muchos entertainment, etc. Uptown at Lemmon to Fitzhugh is currently the hottest of the spots. Albertsons is located here. The UpTown area will provide you with foot access to food and entertainment but you'll have to judge for yourself. UpTown is next to a metro train station with easy access to downtown. There is also a metro Trolley for getting around the McKinney UpTown area, really cute From that metro train station you can also get to North Park Mall, a pretty nice mall and the only one I would go to. Also the West End and the AA Center. And to Mockingbird Station for more shopping and indy movies.

Further along Lemmon (northwest) you'll find the EatZi's (exotic deli) and to the TollRoad is WholeFoods, now an international specialty food store.

Probly the UpTown with Trolley and Metro Train would give you the greatest mobility without a car but you will want to drag that thing out on occasion. You'll be bit challenged to find an apartment for $1000 but can be done. A DART monthly pass runs about $50 and will get you by bus/trolley/train to all of those places.

Good luck

Read for options 'near downtown'

[FarNorthDallas]

What area of law are you in? Will you already have a job? What do you do? I just ask because there have been some law firm closings and downsizing due to tort reform.

[DFW Bound]

Thanks for the advice. As for the tort reform issue...my areas of specialty are insurance defense, workers compensation, civil litigation, med mal, personal injury...I prefer working on the defense side of things, but I have experience on the plaintiff's side as well. The paralegal market seems to be descent from what I see online, considering that it is the end of the year. Things usually pick up after the first of the year, so maybe that's a plus. Any additional information regarding the legal market for paralegals in DFW would be appriciated.

Thanks