Amitae, I'm assuming your fiancee's job offer will be near Carrollton? If so, the area up north along 190 and 121 is the nicest part of Carrollton. Use an apartment locator to find the best apartments. If the complex has to advertise on rent.net or in thos emagazines you get in the grocery stores, there is probably a reason they are having so many vacancies.

His job is in Addison. Thanks for all the advice! COLD weeks like we are having this week in Iowa I can't get to TX soon enough!

Hi Amitae,
Dallas has so many different areas, plus the suburbs. If I were you, I'd consider a short-term apartment (maybe in the Quorum in Addison) and explore them all to decide exactly what feels right to you. Depending on your style, you might love the more laid back White Rock Lake area, the hip new area around McKinney Avenue in Dallas or the yuppie scene in the suburbs of Coppell, Plano or Frisco. Keep in mind if you want to buy that schools will be a concern sooner than you think if you plan of having kids.

Amitae,

Glad to you like the area. I moved from Chicago to Carrollton 14 years ago. It's wonderful here in the winter and will take some adjusting in the summer. It is hot but it's not humid like the Midwest can be.

If you can swing it, try for a house right away. The interest rates are low and there are still some bargains to be had compared to some places in the Midwest.

If it's an apt you want, Addison or Northeast Carrollton would be best. Driving from NW Carrollton to Addison could be either expensive (the Bush is higher than tollroads even in Chgo) or slow. There is no infrastructure to speak of for mass transit. I live about a mile west of the Addison airport and find the area very nice for gettgin everywhere without the noise and congestion of the highways.

PS: True, golf can be played year round - my husband is an avid golfer. However, the grass used here is different than the Midwest and he may notice a difference. I have no clue what the types are but I hear him grumbling about bent grass or something.

tmh,
I do think we will stick with an Apt for now. I am currently looking for a job also. Any jobs that you know of?

It has been SO COLD up here that I can't move soon enough! It snowed another inch this morning! YUCK!
That is funny about the grass. I'm sure I will be hearing about it also.

amitae....Hi! What kind of work are you looking for?Last time I was there, my TA had someone at his desk who was migrating and there seem to be ample supply depending on what you are looking for.........S

Hopefully you're not interested in the telecom business as that has been foundering here. Although, Verizon just had a massive retirement due to a package and I understand they are hiring for several management positions in the Irving area. (About 30 minutes form C'ton during rush hour and 20 after 9 am.)

I'll be interested to hear what BeachBoi says about positions. I haven't looked in awhile.

If you need some assistance when you get to town let me know.

I live in a community that was primarily occupied by the telecom employees (Sachse) and I can tell you that the pickin's are slim.
I commute to DFW for my job and we have gone from 13,000 employees to 4,000 during the past 3 years.
I think it's better here than many markets but MANY telecom and software jobs have moved to India and Poland.
Good luck!

I'm a refugee from the telecom industry, too. Many of my former coworkers are still looking for work in the telcom/high-tech field, and the market in this sector is positively flooded.

I'm a human resources professional, and I have noticed that the job market in Dallas/Fort Worth is starting to pick up again. If you're looking for administrative positions, you might have more luck doing a temp-to-perm job through one of the larger staffing companies. Dallas also has a LOT of call centers, and they are also starting to rehire after sending jobs overseas and realizing it was a mistake.

Thanks for all the advice! There are a great number of jobs in the Dallas area compaired to where I live!! I know I won't have a problem but it is always nice to hear what it out there. Thank you!! Any info it wonderful!

tmh...I really wasn't "in" on the conversation,just eavesdropping.And since I am a bonafide visitor, I had no reason to take notes.But the guy was I'm guessing 28y/o and had applied for a job/jobs at a new resort in the area.He also seemed quite excited about the number of positions seemingly available in the healthcare market.Also, he indicated many of the surrounding cities (City of.........)had openings as well.

That sound interesting. You don't know what the resort was called? That is nice to know. I am not interested in the healthcare but still nice to know. THANK YOU!

amitae......here's the website
www.gaylordhotels.com......click on The Texan.....havent seen it but looks fab..If you are interested in retail, there are several malls in the area you are talking about being in...

That place looks VERY cool!!

I'm a transplant from Southern IL - I've been here 23 years. Frankly, I'd take 98 degrees and 30 percent humidity in Dallas over So Il's 89 degrees and 98 percent humidity any day. Some people tolerate heat well/others don't. I don't know how I stood 23 yeas of IL winters (wearing my winter coat from October - April.) The Dallas area is a gerat place to make a living...but has little or no physical beauty that isn't man made. It's fairly easy to get into a sedentary, materialistic lifestyle of shopping and eating out...you will not believe the number of restaurants in Addison! But the business climate is great.

You'll positively love D in the summer, oh yes. Is it too late to turn down that job? That town is a dump, believe me. One trip out there was enough for us.

Amitae: With the economy the way it is, I am glad your fiance got the offer. And you say there are more jobs oppurtunities for you in Dallas than where you are from. That's a big deal. Personally, I think a person could adapt to the heat in Dallas if they had a good job and security. I lived in Houston for years and was fine w/heat. Glad to be away from it now, but I didn't leave that heat til I had another job in the east. And you know what, now I don't like the cold and ice, but I'm staying here. There are other good things going for the area I live in and I have a good job. Make the best of what you have whereever you are. IMO, Dallas is not nearly as bleak as some say.
About schools- it is hard to think about what you would even look for regarding schools when you don't have kids. You can decide on schools later. Chances are you'll move, maybe more than once, before you have kids. And then likely move again when you have real decisions to make on schools.
Let us know how your transition goes.