Moving to Dallas
Live large, think big! That's the slogan for Dallas.
Dallas/Fort Worth and the surrounding area - known as the metroplex - is one of the largest metropolitan centres in the United States with more than five million people living in the city and its surrounding areas. It's located in the southwest region of the U.S., making it easily accessible from all the other regions of North America.
The city gets its fair share of tourists every year and offers a variety of places to dine and shop; but it is also known for business. Many of the companies in Dallas are on the Fortune 500 list.
There are a host of other attractions that keep the residents and visitors occupied year-round: visit the many museums and festivals, the Dallas Opera or the symphony orchestra and, for history lovers, research the fascinating information on Dallas' past.
Living in the city
When it comes to finding somewhere to live, you’ll have so many choices: the cities of Plano, Richardson, Frisco and Las Colinas are very popular with expatriates. In the neighbouring Fort Worth area, the most popular spots are in Southwest Fort Worth. Single family homes (both for rent and purchase) and courtyard-style apartments are readily available in both cities and all the surrounding suburbs. Driving distance to your work location (and schools if applicable) should determine where you live.
Other areas to consider are the northwest suburbs of Southlake, Colleyville, Flower Mound, Coppell, Keller, Highland Village, Grapevine, Argyle, Westlake and Trophy Club. More than 380,000 people now make their homes in these areas. For children, well-maintained playgrounds and parks are located in these neighbourhoods and safety issues are no different here than any other areas.
Prices for homes in Dallas are very reasonable compared to other cities in the US. In some cases it is much less and part of Dallas' grand appeal.
Getting around
- It will be fairly easy to navigate the areas in and around Dallas. With the help of expansive highways, well maintained local roads, street signs, public transportation and the availability of GPS systems, a newcomer to Dallas will have no trouble getting from place to place.
- For most areas you will need private transportation to get around, but in select areas you can find bus services or a commuter rail service. You can drive with an out-of-state or international driver's permit from your home country for a limited time (90 days) after which you'll need to produce a valid Texas driver's licence in order to operate a vehicle. If you normally drive on the left, now would be a good time to practice right-hand side road etiquette.
- In Texas, teenagers are allowed to start driving at age 16, which is unfamiliar territory for many foreigners. So bear in mind this will give your child greater independence, at an earlier age, from parents or school buses transporting them.
- On some highways, at specific times of the day, traffic can become an incentive for living next door to your office and saying no to "mom, can I borrow the car?" Give serious thought to this when settling in, but apart from that you can anticipate adventure in exploring Dallas.