Canadian moving to Dallas! Need some apartment help
 

Hi folks!

First of all, thanks for taking a gander at this post. I've been offered a job with PepsiCo in Plano, TX and I need some help looking for apartments. I currently live in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.. if you need a size comparison - it's 1 million people spread out over around 40 mi. I've been to Dallas before and took a shine to it as I found the people were, in general, friendlier than Ottawans (possibly due to the fact Ottawa is a very government-driven city). It's quite similar to Arlington, VA actually.

I'm moving down there on my own and would like some apartment recommendations. I've heard Plano is a rather snobby area and I'm more easygoing/blue-collared so I'm a little worried about getting an apartment in that area. I was shocked at the prices of the rentals in Dallas as they're about half the price as Ottawa, so I can afford up to $1000/month in rental fees. Proximity to a shopping center or a town plaza would be really ideal.

I'm a huge fan of public transportation so I was wondering if anyone could lend some insight on the transportation in Dallas.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks so much!

~Anne

Hi Anne,

Post your question in this relocation forum. I'm sure you'll get tons of great advice!

http://www.city-data.com/forum/dallas/

I would recommend that you go to an apartment-finding firm (Apartment Finders, Apartment Locaters, etc.) in the north Dallas area and tell them what you are looking for. There is no fee for you and they are pretty good about finding several options for you. My kids have used them twice and they were a good way to sort out a confusing place. Also, they are usually sensitive to safety issues for women.

You might want to pay a little more in monthly rent in order to take a shorter lease (6 or 9 months) so that you could move later to a place you prefer.

You're probably going to have to drive to work. DART (light rail) does go there from downtown, but it may leave you off a very long way from your office. There are several huge malls in the area but I don't think they'll meet your idea of a town plaza.

Plano can be somewhat "snobby" but there are parts that are not so bad. (I agree with the advice regarding the apartment locators!) Look at the new Austin Ranch development in far west Plano. Also, see about possibly renting a house instead of an apartment. There are many smaller homes in The Colony that fit in your price range. Frisco also has a HUGE mall and retail complex.

You'll want to live fairly close to your work unless you really want to waste a LOT of your time commuting. I would highly recommend that you NOT rely totally on public transportation. As happytourist said, the trains will usually leave you off a LONG way from work, and the buses take forever. (See above regarding wasting time commuting...) www.dart.org for more info on public transit.

$1000/mo should get you a reasonable place in Uptown area in Dallas. It's an area where youngish, mainly single people live (think mid 20s - early 30s). There're plenty of shops and restaurants within walking distance, and plenty of bars if you're into nightlife. <b>However</b>, it'll be a royal pain to commute from Dallas to Plano every day...

I would actually suggest you look into <b>Legacy Center</b> in Plano. Plenty of apts and still quite a lively neighborhood with restaurants and such.
http://www.legacyinplano.com/

Wow, thanks for all the quick comments! I've already started checking into the suggestions you've given me. Hopefully it won't be too much trouble getting a car in Dallas as I don't currently own my own car. Can anyone recommend some good retailers? (I'm really branching off, eh)... Once again thank you so much for all of the recommendations! Is the traffic bad in Plano if you're commuting just within the city itself or is it mostly going into/out of DFW on the major freeways?

~Anne

by the way, I just checked out Austin Ranch and it is AMAZING! I was stunned at the apartment complexes in Dallas. It's also a 2 minute walk from my work. Thanks so much for recommending it!

~Anne

Anne-

You won't have a hard time buying a car in Dallas - everyone here drives one so they're plenty of car dealership around. My DH bought a used Honda Accord from Rusty Williams - they sell both new Hondas as well as used ones and have a good warranty.

I live in Dallas and rarely venture north to Plano, so can't speak for the traffic. But traffic is pretty bad in Dallas itself, esp on the highways. Thank goodness my commute to work is all on local roads. Every morning I listen to traffic report and it's just a mess out there.

Bottom line - try to live as close to your work as possible and you'll be happier!

The Legacy Town Center is really cool! If I were to live up north in an apt, that is what I would enjoy. It has excellent restaurants, boutique shopping, indie movie theatre. In my opinion, central Dallas is way more snobby than Plano, but you'll find nice people everywhere. :)

Post properties Legacy center,close to your work and lots of other things!

Thought I'd throw in one thing to keep in mind - while traffic can potentially be bad any time going anywhere, you're going against most rush-hour traffic in both directions if you lived near downtown and worked in Plano.

BTW - if you &quot;took a shine to&quot; Dallas after your first visit, you're already learning to speak Texan! Welcome.

If this Legacy area in Plano is where the Angelika movie theatre, etc. is located...it's a great area - it's own neighborhood.

Even tough you may be able to walk to work...in the other location, you'll still need a car for grocery shopping, etc. You'll notice that most Plano cars are SUVs. Don't be afraid to purchase a regular car.

CarMax has a good selection of used cars that usually have a warranty. You can even search for cars on-line. I haven't bought from them, but you see quite a few CarMax stickers on the backs of cars.

All this info is great help! I'm really excited about the Texas climate since the cold weather here really makes outdoor transportation a little difficult. It was a good thing I visited Texas in the summer to get a feel for the temps... if I can survive sitting in a traffic jam near Austin on I-35 for 2 hours in a car with no a/c, I think I'll be able to survive the weather.

Does anyone have recommendations for little hidden gems in the DFW area (like stores, restaurants, parks, etc)?

Thanks yet again for all of the help! This site really makes a difference!

~Anne

Traffic is awful.
www.guidelive.com
M

I think it would be wise to live in a 5 mile radius from Pepsi-Frito Lay. Try to stay off the North Dallas Tollway during rush hour, no matter what direction! There are many apartments along Preston Road both south and north of Legacy Drive. I'd stay south of Legacy due to the traffic around highway 121.
We love living in Plano; it's not snobby but West Plano is &quot;upscale.&quot;
Have fun and welcome to Texas!