Guess we are moving....

[Stetson]

My wife wants to move to Dallas, ASAP.

So I have some questions.  

What are good places to live and the ones to stay away from?  (No, no job yet but there seems to be some openings there)

I know what the cost of living is supposed to be, but what are grocery prices like, utilities, etc.., in general?

Any employers to stay away from?

Thanks in advance


c):{

[TarpleyG]

I grew up in Plano but that was when the population was 80,000 or so.  It's probably 5 times that now but still a nice place.  Look northeast in towns like Wylie, Rowlett, Sachse, etc.  Not sure how built up they are now.  You can also look south west in areas like Grand Prarie.  McKinney is nice but is growing super fast...not my kind of thing.

Greg

[Brad Johnson]

Why don't you come to Lubbock? It's only a 6 hour commute to Big D.

Brad

[Stetson]

Why don't you come to Lubbock? It's only a 6 hour commute to Big D.

Brad

Not sure the wife would let me.  She wants to live in either Dallas or Shreveport, LA.  There just arent any jobs in Shreveport.  My dad just moved to Jefferson, near Lake O' The Pines and my wife loved the area when we were through there a few yrs ago, so thats where she picked.

Im from Houston originally but she doesn't want to go there.  Id be happy in E. TX, around Timpson but there are no jobs there either, for what I do either.

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

Yeah, but unless you run a B&B or an antique store, you can't find work in Jefferson.

Richardson/Plano/Garland  are still ok, for the most part. Frisco is still growing exponentially. Wylie, Sachse, Murphy Rowlett aren't far behind. Several of the folks I work with live in HEB or Grand Prairie/Arlington and points south.  

North is good. Further north is ok, but Allen has some serious property tax issues. Far North Dallas proper isn't bad by any means. You probably want to stay north of Arapaho, though.

Regards,
Rabbit.

[Stetson]

Looks like Texas Instruments, in Plano, is hiring.  I recieved a reply to my resume for one of their openings.  Will see how that goes.  

I can run a B&B, I have the experience.  Set up a B&B with a range out back and hire my dad to take people to the good fishing spots....hmmmmm

[Art Eatman]

Today's world, I think I'd get somewhere within 10 miles or so of the edge of the metroplex and find a cheap motel.  I'd spend about a week, just driving around, looking at maps and reading the ads for rentals as well as looking into the job market.

Most any cop in your area of interest can tell you what areas to generally avoid...

Art

[Stetson]

Thanks Art.

Anyone want to chime in on the real cost of living?  Utilities, average groceries, etc?  This is my REAL worry.  That the general cost of living may be lower but we are going to get nailed with utility costs and food and such.

[El Tejon]

If you were to live downtown Dallas, where would one look?

[Waitone]

Google up "comparative cost of living".  A number of sites exist.  Prowl around Monster .com for the same kind of info.  Look at a number of different data aggregators.  

http://www.city-data.com/ is pretty good for demographics info

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

http://www.analyzedallas.org/AnalyzeDallas/Default.aspx

Might be insightful.

Regards,
Rabbit.