Where to move in Dallas
Posted by MetalsRus23@reddit | askdfw | View on Reddit | 24 comments
Hey Dallas folks! I'm relocating from Washington DC and would love some on-the-ground advice before I start my apartment search.
A bit about me and what I'm looking for:
- Age/situation: 36, single, moving solo — don't know anyone in Dallas yet, so finding a neighborhood with a social, active community would mean a lot
- Work: I'll be commuting to Irving daily (getting a car), so somewhere with parking
- Budget: Under $3,400/mo for a 2-bedroom
- Priorities: Walkability, safety, good restaurant/bar scene, somewhere I can take evening walks without worrying about safety
- Coming from: DC, so I'm used to walkable urban neighborhoods and would love something with a similar feel if possible
I've heard Uptown Dallas comes up a lot for people in my situation — does that still hold up? Is it actually walkable day-to-day or more of a drive-everywhere situation once you get off the main strips?
Also really curious about specific buildings — there's so much out there and it's hard to tell from listings alone which ones have a good vibe, well-run management, and residents who are actually around and social.
Any advice — neighborhoods, buildings to target, buildings to avoid, things I'd only know if I lived there — is hugely appreciated. Thanks in advance!
NYerInTex@reddit
I’m going to hard disagree with Las Colinas if you want a true walkable urban lifestyle. It’s at best walkable light - it’s better than a 100% auto only neighborhood but won’t at all approximate a true walkable lifestyle.
As someone from back east (NY) I get what you are seeking. All the moreso as someone who is single and would like to likely find a balance between living on a quiet enough block but within a short walk to a lot of options.
Uptown is likely your best bet, but if you can find a place in the arts district that’s a fantastic place if in budget (Atelier in their lofts, where I live, might have a 2 bedroom at the top of your budget but the location is perhaps the best in Dallas for a mix of quiet block but in the middle of everything, and a half block from the pretty great Klyde Warren Park). Victory Park is an option and while a bit “grittier” you can get good bang for your buck in the historic downtown Main Street area.
Las Colinas is an auto oriented suburb with one area in particular that has some collection of mostly chain bars / restaurants, a legit great larger format music venue (Toyota Music Factory) and nice lawn/public green space but it’s really a shadow of real walkability.
Regarding commute, that’s your decision - the walkable urban core will be 20-35 minutes, depending on when you drive and to where, specifically. Personally I’d much rather make the relatively short commute and then walk everywhere from my apartment than the alternative.
I am in real estate development with a focus on mixed use, and I’m an urbanist at heart so walkability and city living are my thing. I own an apartment locating company (www.DFWcityliving.com) with a focus on luxury apartments in the walkable mixed use areas, and have moved people to Las Colinas, but truly think you’d be better off in the real walkable urban core.
Im happy to help you find a place to just guide you with advice so feel free to message me or ask more questions here.
Good luck on your move! I made mine from NY a decade ago and LOVE my walkable day to day life here.
NorthTexasNomad@reddit
Apartment locator is your best bet for leveraging their knowledge of the area, your wants/needs/budget and to have access to exclusive deals and perks.
Not sure if you need movers to do the unloading but if so I’d recommend the guys over at the DAM Moving Company. I’ve used them numerous rimes. They also helped a friend of mine moving from out of state unload his belongings. Ask about an “unload only” type of move. Welcome to Dallas!
Otherwise-Millennial@reddit
State Thomas neighborhood of uptown fits all your desires and it’s the best neighborhood in Dallas.
_TurboHome@reddit
Honestly the reason Uptown comes up a lot is that it's a good answer. Turtle Creek/McKinney Ave corridor is as walkable as Dallas gets, has the best best restaurant/bar density in the city, and $3,400 is very achievable ($2,800-3,200 for a solid 2BR in most buildings)
Knox-Henderson fits more of a DC neighborhood feel: local wine bar/restaurant scene, Katy Trail right there, less club scene. Lower Greenville is cheaper and more local but not as many options to walk to and have a beer on a Friday night.
Commuting to Irving from uptown is about 30min on a good day. Buildings worth looking at in Uptown: The Centrum, The McKinney, Gables McKinney Ave. Read recent reviews on management, specifically from the last 6 months, for any apartment you're considering.
MetalsRus23@reddit (OP)
Thanks so much for your thoughtful and informative response. Would you also know of any building options in Knox-Henderson and/or Lower Greenville that you’d recommend checking out?
NYerInTex@reddit
Lower Greenville would be a trek getting to/from Las Colinas - it would add a good chunk of time during rush hours, especially. You’d want to be in the other side of downtown (if not uptown then turtle creek, oak lawn as examples which would be a bit closer even then Uptown. Bishop Arts is super cute and it is walkable, but you’d be pushing a few more minutes for commute again, though not as much as Lower/Lowest Greenville.
_TurboHome@reddit
I'm not super familiar with apartments out there but I had a friend who lived at Nove at Nox and it was pretty nice! Though this was a few years ago.
Darby, Vidorra, and the McKenzie seem nice as well, but I'm hesitant to personally recommend them because I haven't actually been in any of the units or known anyone who has lived there.
just-getting-by92@reddit
There’s plenty of places to grab a beer at on a Friday night in lower Greenville
_TurboHome@reddit
Er yeah I just meant as far as walkability but fair point
mrkrabz1991@reddit
If you're working in Irving, I'd recommend just living in the Irving/Los Colinas area. Los Colians is very similar to Uptown (shops, walking, bars, etc..), and it's not a 30-minute drive like it is from Uptown, plus with a $3400/month budget, you can get a WAY nicer apartment (Uptown is incredibly expensive to rent)
Feel free to DM, I'm a RE Broker in Dallas.
Upstairs_Balance_464@reddit
Las Colinas is in no way similar to Uptown. I’m guessing you get nice commissions from the Las Colinas complexes?
mrkrabz1991@reddit
Nope, actually, it's user/NYerInTex who gets a huge commission and doesn't have to drive far if he pushes clients to Uptown. He also has multiple accounts downvoting other agents/opinions and upvoting his own. Super shady guy and account. Should probably be reported to TREC.
askdfw-ModTeam@reddit
You're comment had been removed based on rule 2.
This is a community for helping others. Don't troll, antagonize, threaten, flamebait, or otherwise be a jerk.
NYerInTex@reddit
Wow - so we are going to extend to blatant lies and slander?
If you feel I should be reported to TREC then please do so - you aren’t worried that I will do the same since you make completely false and inflammatory accusations? And you know this, since you are the one making the false accusations.
Show us even one other account I have. Show one example of me downvoting or saying even a derogatory comment about another agent. We are waiting.
I’m pretty transparent here - my work as a locator is a side gig because my primary work is as a developer and advisor for mixed use development and downtown revitalization.
I’m an avowed urbanist, who believes in walkable places built for people, not cars. As such, I have a deep knowledge of this market.
Mostly I help friends and friends of friends who seek great apartments in these walkable urban places - but happy to assist a Redditor as I have a few times before.
It is really sad that you would resort to legit disgusting lies about another agent - careful of throwing stones when in a glass house. I’ll consult an attorney friend of mine though if you retract your lies I’ll just let it slide.
FWIW, I never attacked you in any way - the actual truth, which any Redditor and/or client deserves to know is that Las Colinas is NOT a walkable urban neighborhood. It has some characteristics but it’s not uptown, or downtown, or victory park or the arts district.
Also, as my clients are often friends or referred by friends, I’d say most are a budget of well under $2000… I don’t steer anyone to a higher than their budget option.
Please do better - you make yourself and the profession look utterly sleezy when there are many good agents out there.
mrkrabz1991@reddit
So you wrote a novel response in the 5 minutes I made my comment. This is incredibly shady...
InformationOk6366@reddit
Seconding Las Colinas
kmartinkc@reddit
Uptown or Bishop Arts
auLR@reddit
North Oak Cliff/Bishop Arts area
CarryTheBoat@reddit
As someone who just finished a property tour for my move here in a few weeks, with a very similar profile, (also 30s, single, looking for city-level walkability), Uptown/Knox is indeed your best bet. Lots of options in that price range. I would not live in Irving like some people said. Yes you can buy more apartment, yes the commute will be shorter. I tested my commute to Grand Prarie during rush hour and it was not bad, only about a half hour.
But anyone looking for city life explicitly understands the trade off of getting less physical building but more social opportunity.
Outside of Uptown, old east Dallas has lots of townhomes. The vibe is quieter there but get yourself an eboard or scooter and cruise to uptown in 10 minutes.
I’d look at bishop arts too. It was like a tiny NOLA when I was there (people roaming around, live jazz playing) less polished more chaotic-chill than uptown.
MetalsRus23@reddit (OP)
Hey thanks for your response. Any properties that stood out to you?
CarryTheBoat@reddit
Oh, but if you’re sensitive to noise, will ever WFH, etc, do check flight paths. I was looking at a townhouse around turtle creek and it was right under the landing approach and the jets were pretty loud even inside.
CarryTheBoat@reddit
I can’t comment on the apartments because I was solely looking at ones which had attached private garages. I just remember a lot showing up in my search which looked high quality. But you know how listings can sometimes be deceiving.
My vibe as a fresh outsider though is that McKinney north of Hall St, it turns more city-community vibe (dog walking, yoga people, the occassional boarder, patios). Then if you keep going north past Blackburn, it gets slows down more residential feel. Still city/townhomes but less foot traffic. As you head further south of Hall towards victory park, it gets more metropolitan/professional vibe (higher rises, more Polish).
I hit a couple chill street side pubs, Blackfriar and Uptown pubs. Solid vibes in that Hall to Blackburn stretch.
Dr9jagal@reddit
I’m moving to Dallas, I found a relator that gets paid by the apartment, she’s been helpful and sent a list of apartments that fit my criteria ($1900 for 2bd, 15mins from hospital, can move in quickly) DM me I’ll share her contact
Puzzleheaded_Ad9492@reddit
Los Colinas is in Irving. It is as you described.