Moving from DFW to S.A. (Houston, Dallas: university, prices, moving to) - San Antonio - Texas (TX) - Page 2 - City-Data Forum

amexicano · 03-07-2012, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satodfw

Do you have to move to San Antonio or is it just an option? It will be culture shock for sure. My wife and I both grew up in the Northeast, met in Phoenix, and moved to San Antonio from Orange County CA. And we feel like we're in the move 'My Cousin Vinnie.' It's really that backwards redneck. We just got a house in Preston Hollow, Dallas and cannot wait to move.

Don't get a dog for protection here. Get a gun.

For the OP it won't be quite the shock you went through. Dallas and San Antonio are very similar in many ways, particularly for her that lived in the suburbs. Dallas suburbs are far from unique. I used to live a few miles from where she lives and in like San Antonio much better.

amexicano · 03-07-2012, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quattro72

Get ready for a culture shock. Quarry area would be closer to what you are used to in Valley Ranch.

I disagree. Valley Ranch is just another plain-vanilla suburb of Dallas. Nothing unique about it. I used to live pretty close to it. If you want to compare something to it in San Antonio, perhaps I would pick Stone Oak, although SO is much more happening than VR.

rare_commodity · 03-07-2012, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satodfw

Do you have to move to San Antonio or is it just an option? It will be culture shock for sure. My wife and I both grew up in the Northeast, met in Phoenix, and moved to San Antonio from Orange County CA. And we feel like we're in the move 'My Cousin Vinnie.' It's really that backwards redneck. We just got a house in Preston Hollow, Dallas and cannot wait to move.

Don't get a dog for protection here. Get a gun.

Well I was offered a job but based in some of these listings I'm nervous about accepting!

rare_commodity · 03-07-2012, 08:24 PM

Oh by the way I'm African American I don't mind staying around whites, blacks, Mexicans or working class people just don't want to be in or near the hood or ghetto.

rare_commodity · 03-07-2012, 08:28 PM

There is an area off 35 going North about 15 miles from downtown that has seems to be pretty nice visually. Ill check the Stone Oak and Quarry areas...

makiten · 03-07-2012, 08:52 PM

It may need some adjusting if you're not used to the smaller AA concentration.

As for locations, I never lived in Dallas (I lived in Houston), but I'm AA and my brother lived in Frisco for awhile and have been near VR and other areas. If you're looking for something similar, 20-30 minutes north on 35 will net you that, and AAs tend to align themselves near 35. But there's a fair helping of congestion along 35.

I would recommend the Quarry location-wise, but that's the only reason I would. Stone Oak is also decent, but dealing with congestion issues (if you've even been near Preston & El Dorado Pkwy before construction ended, that's essentially what you'll deal with in SO) could be a hassle.

As far as not being near the hood, I'm better at pointing out where NOT to be. You don't want to be immediately east of downtown and south of 35 at all. In fact, you're better of going further south of I-10 along 37 or 35 north of Walzem Rd. My wife and I looked around here when we got married, but I don't work downtown, so it was too far from work/school for me.

A working class area that isn't totally corrupted yet is south of I-10 outside Loop 410 between Rigsby Ave and Southcross. This would be the SE side, which is fairly mixed. My wife (also AA) grew up there, and some areas (along Southcross) are newer builds. This area hasn't expanded as much as the northern half of SA has, so if you've been on 380 in between Denton and McKinney, you'd get that without the big highway.

Also, east of Foster Rd and north of I-10 would be okay. These areas give you pretty good access to downtown, and most of the amenities you're looking for.

teenwolf80 · 03-07-2012, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rare_commodity

Well I was offered a job but based in some of these listings I'm nervous about accepting!

Please ignore that poster. They're insanely negative with everyone of their posts. SA is most definitely not redneck nor remenesint of My Cousin Vinny. I can fully 100% guarantee that.

If you're working downtown, I'd recommend the north central area of San Antonio north of 410. Castle Hills, Inwood, Hollywood Park, etc.

281 can be hellish during the peak of rush hour but 281 is the worst north of 1604.

Rasero · 03-07-2012, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satodfw

Do you have to move to San Antonio or is it just an option? It will be culture shock for sure. My wife and I both grew up in the Northeast, met in Phoenix, and moved to San Antonio from Orange County CA. And we feel like we're in the move 'My Cousin Vinnie.' It's really that backwards redneck. We just got a house in Preston Hollow, Dallas and cannot wait to move.

Don't get a dog for protection here. Get a gun.

This is one of the most absurd comments I have ever read about San Antonio. To the OP, ignore this poster. San Antonio is not redneck and it sure as heck is not like "My Cousin Vinnie".

I lived in Dallas for 12 years (East Plano, West Plano, North Dallas) and my wife and I moved to Austin in 2004, then to San Antonio in 2006, and we have NEVER LOOKED BACK TO DALLAS. We love San Antonio compared to Dallas. So much more to do here, love the people, love the vibe of the city. Dallas is big and great and all that, and it has its pluses and minuses, but it has just as many scary ghetto areas if not more than San Antonio. I'm not sure exactly how the area is where you'll be living, we live on the far NW side of the city near Helotes and love it out here. But traffic is a nightmare (I work from home though so fortunately I don't have to experience it that often). Places out near 151 and the Sea World area are really nice, not sure how bad traffic is going downtown from that area.

I'd say WELCOME to San Antonio, you'll love it here, especially if you keep an open mind as it appears you have, about other races. Heck I'm white and even I'm a minority here because I believe this city is what, 60% Hispanic? My wife and I even attended a mostly African American church off of Highway 90 for a few months and really enjoyed it. You will notice though a big difference in the number of AA here as compared to Dallas. There aren't as many. But, San Antonio has one of the largest MLK marches in the entire U.S. every year, so I think that really says something about tolerance and race in this city.

Rest assured, you'll probably love it here and never want to go back to Dallas. At least that's how I feel. Been in San Antonio since '06 going on 6 years and Dallas is just a distant memory (there are things I love about Dallas, don't get me wrong, but when I weigh everything, San Antonio always comes out on top. And the rent here is cheaper than Dallas so you should be able to find something in that range, hopefully!)

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions. My wife and I are in our low 30's as well.

teenwolf80 · 03-07-2012, 11:40 PM

It's actually THE largest MLK march in the US/world.

Quattro72 · 03-08-2012, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amexicano

For the OP it won't be quite the shock you went through. Dallas and San Antonio are very similar in many ways.

Disagreed. D/FW Metro compared to San Antonio is day and night. Sure if you are talking about N.Y. City and D/FW/SA, then there is not as much culture shock when comparing D/FW to SA. I would say Houston and Dallas are much more comparable to each other.