Originally Posted by
TOMFORD
Hi folks, I am forming an exploratory committee of myself and all of yall to explore the possibility of me living in Dallas (or neighboring cities). Let me tell you what I love, in no particular order.
- Highrises
- Floor to ceiling windows
- Proximity to grocery stores
- Proximity to bars/restaurants
- Cheap gas + fast cars
And what I don't like
- Traffic. I know we all hate traffic, but I hate it on a whole new level
- Being far from big airports
- Paying more than $1500 for rent (I pay $~2500 now, but I expect Dallas to be cheaper than DC
- Mexican food
- Tex-mex food
- Guns
- Raised trucks
And what I do not care about
Is Dallas for me? From a quick look on apartments.com there seem to be a lot of new highrises and they are all very modern. I also know that the traffic in and around Dallas is awful. How is the DART rail? Is cost of living in Dallas really that much cheaper than DC? What about neighboring cities?
I have lived in Dallas for years now and still contemplate on moving out of Texas. The low cost of living and my job is what keeps me here.
* High-rises are pretty much are only in the Dallas or Fort Worth core area and they are expensive.
* Proximity to things are possible depending on the area. Uptown is better.
* Cheap gas and fast cars is a common thing. The Dallas metroplex is actually quite wealthy so it's not uncommon to see exotics. Hang around Highland Park or Plano and BMWs and Mercedes are as common as Hondas and Toyotas. Cars and Coffee is the first Saturday of every month and you will see everything from Bugattis to antiques.
* Traffic in Dallas sucks especially during rush hour. But most people live in the suburbs so no way of avoiding it unless you can walk to work or work from home.
* If you live in the Dallas core, the closest airport is Love Field. DFW is going to be about 30-45 minutes away. At least you can take the train straight to DFW airport now.
* Rent in Dallas can be expensive in the prime areas. I was paying about $1200 for a 800 sq foot apartment in downtown Las Colinas. My friends in uptown and downtown pay closer to $2000. Most people buy houses for that price.
* Mexican and Tex-Mex is everywhere. I'm not a big fan of them either, but Dallas has a range of restaurants. No Michelin star restaurants, but we have good BBQ and steak. Some decent seafood. A good range of ethnic restaurants.
* Guns are also common. People love their guns here.
* I don't see many raised trucks.
I find Dallas boring since the only thing to really do is eat out and shop. You really have to be able to deal with the heat since the summers can be weeks of 100+F. The cost of living and the number of professional jobs is the saving grace in my opinion.