1

You're going to be working from home?  Richardson's not bad.  If you don't mind living a way from downtown, I hear Frisco's supposed to be an up-and-coming place.  It seems like the environs north to northwest of the city are somewhat cheaper than those to the northeast, where I live now (I moved out here just over a year ago.)

2

Further--I'd recommend getting one of the apartment guide listing books that you see in any major city.  If nothign else, it'll give you an idea for relative pricing.  Only thing is I'm not sure if they're easy to get one for City A if you are in City B.

Carrollton, which I've driven through a few times, looks to be a decent area, too.

 

3

Wish I could be of more help. The only time I've been in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area was last spring in Justin, a stone's throw from Texas Motor Speedway. It was a decent area if you were looking to buy acreage, but I don't remember any apartments out in that area.

On the other hand, I know someone who grew up there and moved out here to Arizona just a couple years ago. Maybe I'll bounce her a question or two.

4

Plano/Richardson area is good; lots of modern conveniences, new apartments and the like; still growing out and filling up as you get up to the G.Bush Tollway.  Great places to eat all up and down 75; that's DrHeinous' stomping grounds (and mine when I'm up there). 

Frisco is boonies on the North Central Expressway (toll road) , a bit less developed, but also growing up fast.  Neither of these areas are really cheap, (Look towards Arlington/NW).  I doubt it's a consideration (yet), but the students at the school district near our mutual friend Dread Pirate Pintiteaux (Carollton?) are said to have an average IQ in the "Shhhhh, don't tell!" range.

5 Well, lemme put it this way - I'm going to be working at an office in Richardson, and I value a short commute enough to pay a bit more, especially since it's a nice area. Lived only a stone's throw from ADV for years, and that -wasn't- a nice area, but because of that my '01 Malibu has less than 60k on it...

I'm more interested in just finding out if anyone's in the area. I know one of the guys at the future office, and through him a couple of other people, and that's it. I'm not someone who goes out to party every weekend and who needs a thoroughly-developed social network, but it's nice to know people, right?

6

Sad to say that even though I've lived in the metroplex for all but four years of my life I can't really help you out.  I never got out of Arlington much.  But currently I'm looking for an apartment in Arlington, for when I move back to the area and go to UT Arlington. 

7 Well, having done the move from Houston to Dallas a few years ago, here are my two cents (Ubu Roi asked me to pop by and give my suggestions, especially as I moved up here to take a job in Richardson).

I did the same thing, my commute to work after I moved from Friso to Richardson was maybe two miles. It seriously irritated people in my office who had 45 minute commutes (i.e. Frisco and the like). Sadly my office has moved down to 635, so now I have to drive 6.5 miles each way. Quite sad.
When I first moved up here, I got an apartment in Frisco, as I knew some people that lived there. Frisco is nice enough, however it is the ultimate expression of suburbia; everyone who lives there has the requisite 2.1 children under five. Frisco is nice, but it is definately a family oriented place.

Since you are working in Richardson, somewhere in Richardson or southern Plano would likely be the best. Nice area with everything you'd need, plenty of apartments that are relatively inexpensive and nice. There are a slew of nice ones around George Bush and 75 (added bonus is a Fry's right there).

Another good thing about Richardson is it's one of the more 'ethnic' areas of Dallas. Lots of good authentic Chinese/Thai/Vietnamese places and the like.

Really, I'd agree that southern Plano or Richardson, you won't go wrong. If you'd like any specific information on anything, I'd be glad to help!

8 You know, until I went looking in your back posts and saw the bit about the Buffalo Bayou Regatta, somehow it had completely escaped me that you lived in Houston!

Per Dr.H, you will love the lack of humidity in summertime Dallas. And I agree.

9

I've lived in six different apartments around that area before I got my house.  There's a whole mess of apartment complexes around the UT-Dallas campus that might be suitable.  Look up and down Renner Road west of US75, and the cross streets Alma and Custer.  Also look west of Coit on Campbell or Frankford.   Don't know much about what's east of 75, but I think it's mostly single-family dwellings over there.  If you want to go cheap but not in the ghetto, you can look over in the Dallas/Carrollton/Plano off the Turnpike and past the Tollway.  South of BeltLine in Richardson, particularly west of 75, is a little scary, but not overtly dangerous.  I still wouldn't recommend living there unless you're bilingual though. Get a TollTag regardless of where you end up, but there are apartment complexes all over the place around that area.  If I have some time I'll get names and #s from some of them around the area this weekend.  BTW Avatar, I think you're getting the WallBaby® cubicle till we do the remodel later this year.

Ubu, when was the last time you were in Frisco?  There's almost 100k people in my town, and  the only things I have to travel for beyond work are a few restaurants, Central Market for random weird or really high-quality grocery stuff, and whenever I want to go to The Lodge (or some other evening entertainment, most of the good clubs are still way south).  Restaurants, malls, sports teams, it's all up here. And my commute to Richardson is only about 25 minutes, though I do work hours that let me avoid traffic most of the time.

 

10 "WallBaby"?

Also, JD, mind if I swing by Sunday evening so I can spend Monday (and maybe Tuesday) apartment-hunting?

11 East of 75 is mostly single-family houses but there are apartment buildings.