Moving to Dallas July 2010 (Plano, Irving: apartment complexes, skateboarding, to rent) - Texas (TX) - City-Data Forum

pandabox · 07-16-2009, 01:40 PM

Hello all...I currently live in Baton Rouge, LA and absolutely hate it here, and the crime wave isnt exactly helping my feelings

I am getting married next July and my future wife and I have plans to move to Dallas after marriage. I have been looking at apartment prices and they are wayyy lower than the average price for the same thing here in Baton Rouge. I have a few friends in Dallas thanks to a nationwide car club I was in so its not like we would be totally alone in our move when we get there.

I have worked in transportation (delivery driver for ups, fed ex etc) and retail (hardware/building) and my fiance has worked in retail pretty much her whole life. Neither of us are college graduates but also neither of our line of work requires a degree which is why we never finished college. I currently make 2200 a month and she makes about 1500 a month. So combined we make 35-3700 a month. Would I be able to live comfortably in Dallas if we made that, or as low as 3000 a month combined.

We have glanced over the McKinney and Dallas downtown and uptown areas...she is 22 and I'm 23, no kids and dont really have any in our future for at least a couple years. I enjoy skateboarding and riding mountain bikes, and being outside, bout the same with my woman. Anyways, I really hope to get some feedback from you guys...thanks a million.

pandabox · 07-16-2009, 09:58 PM

anyone?

DFWNewHomeSpecialist21 · 07-18-2009, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pandabox

Hello all...I currently live in Baton Rouge, LA and absolutely hate it here, and the crime wave isnt exactly helping my feelings

I am getting married next July and my future wife and I have plans to move to Dallas after marriage. I have been looking at apartment prices and they are wayyy lower than the average price for the same thing here in Baton Rouge. I have a few friends in Dallas thanks to a nationwide car club I was in so its not like we would be totally alone in our move when we get there.

I have worked in transportation (delivery driver for ups, fed ex etc) and retail (hardware/building) and my fiance has worked in retail pretty much her whole life. Neither of us are college graduates but also neither of our line of work requires a degree which is why we never finished college. I currently make 2200 a month and she makes about 1500 a month. So combined we make 35-3700 a month. Would I be able to live comfortably in Dallas if we made that, or as low as 3000 a month combined.

We have glanced over the McKinney and Dallas downtown and uptown areas...she is 22 and I'm 23, no kids and dont really have any in our future for at least a couple years. I enjoy skateboarding and riding mountain bikes, and being outside, bout the same with my woman. Anyways, I really hope to get some feedback from you guys...thanks a million.

Hi Pandabox!

Yesm you would be able to love comfortable with that income. I would suggest to rent for a year or two and than purchase! I would recommend Las Colinas/Valley Ranch area in Irving. I think it would be great for a young couple like yourself. Convenient to restaurants, retail shopping and entertainment!

Try using an Apt Locator to assist you on finding an apt!

Dallas/Ft. Worth Apartments

TXLara · 07-19-2009, 02:03 PM

Income doesn't sound like it'd be a problem. Luckily, it's not too expensive here. There are a ton of apartments. As for location, well...you're going to have a lot of conflicting opinions on that!

I lived in Plano/Frisco for a long time and loved it. I've also lived in North Dallas and liked that too. Irving/Las Colinas is a good area. I think the above poster's suggestion of finding an apartment locater is a good one. That will help you narrow down your areas. Luckily, retail jobs are still pretty easy to come by here.

Good luck with everything!

dfwcre8tive · 07-20-2009, 12:23 PM

There are a lot of options in Uptown/Downtown and it's a good area for active young professionals. There's all the nightlife (bars, restaurants, festivals), outdoor activities (parks, bike trails) culture (Arts District, Fair Park) and shopping (West Village/Uptown, Downtown, Northpark isn't very far). The Dallas Center for Performing Arts as well as new downtown parks open Fall 2009.

Uptown is going to more expensive and have more of the luxury apartments, while downtown is going to have the more affordable urban lofts mixed with new luxury apartments. Deep Ellum or the Cedars might be a more affordable option as well. It's pretty easy to get around with DART and the streetcar... I lived downtown for 2 years without needing a car.

If you want more of the suburban lifestyle you can look at Las Colinas or Addison for semi-urban villages, but those aren't going to give you everything that living in the downtown area would and will be pricey.

dfwcre8tive · 07-20-2009, 12:33 PM

Visit this site for a map of the downtown area with a list of all the apartments in the area:

Downtown Dallas

Lakewooder · 07-20-2009, 03:14 PM

I recommend the area along E. University (75206) - look at this map for a condo re-development - lots of well-built apartments mixed in - and many SMU students and staff. NorthPark and a lot of other retail businesses are nearby - just south of the famed Village Apartments. There is a free SMU shuttle bus which also goes to DART rail stations nearby:

Veneto Condos in Dallas, Texas (http://www.venetocondosdallas.com/condos_dallas/neighborhood.html - broken link)[/

nacoconut · 07-20-2009, 11:59 PM

I would suggest living in Dallas. I live in what I would call central Dallas, right between Plano and Downtown. On a normal day, it takes me at max 10-15 minutes to get anywhere I need to be (work, shops, restaurants, parks, etc.)

The traffic here is also not bad if you learn to avoid it. You can do this by not traveling at certain times, which can be impractical, or using the access roads of Central expressway/I 75.

Housing can is affordable, for what you could pay a month, and you will be able to live in a decent/nice area. Crime is low, people are friendly, but not in other areas. Downtown, I would never live in. I hardly venture to downtown, and when I do I find it to be a pain. Areas around downtown are fine, however, just not right in the center. You might find the rent to be much more expensive as well in surrounding areas. You've got Highland park: tiny houses that are very overpriced. The people live here because they can talk about it. They have a high view of themselves, etc. Not everyone but the majority. That is what Highland park is known for. They have tons of those "cute" boutique shops and that sort of thing. The police are horrible. They WILL get you for anything they can without fail. university park near SMU- where all the highland park kids go to college) Is about the same but would be a bit better. "Uptown" is very expensive and carries the same attitude. This is also where you will find many multi-million dollar homes and condos that people have paid in great excess for.

Stay away from Oak Cliff altogether. Lots of crime, and people you don't want to be around. I lived there for three years and ended up leaving after a bullet hole ended up three inches from my window.

Richardson, about five minutes from Plano isn't bad. There isn't a whole lot around but it is decent. You are close to China Town, Plano, and a performing arts theater.

Addison is all about food and not so much about your workplace. There are plenty of apartment complexes here that are affordable. The only tolled road system in Dallas in nearby, and it is sually the best way to get to and from, uneless you find another longer route. I know a few people who live in this area and they like it. However, they find work and fun elsewhere.

There is also an area near White Rock lake which is the perfect place for biking. No one skiis in the lake, it is more for sailing and that sort of thing. This area, however, is reletively unsafe at night.

Now back to my suggested area. There are a mix of single family homes, duplexes, and apartments to rent. You are close to everything you need. Clubs downtown are not far, nor is the lake, or pretty much antything else you may want to do. There are lots of friendly neighborhoods and most with yards. Plenty of parks to go to as well. Inbetween I-75 and the Tollroad. Close to some of these intersections Forrest/Preston Royal/Hillcrest Inwood/Forrest and in the general areas of these locations.

Hope this helps and good luck!

pandabox · 07-21-2009, 01:08 PM

:clap:

awesome! thanks so much for these replies guys...this is very much some of the info i was looking for!

i will def check into the areas you guys told me about...and reply back..thanks so much

Lakewooder · 07-21-2009, 02:04 PM

Well naconut has included a lot of stereotypes! The first one was quite entertaining but I didn't much care for the others!