Renting a House in Richardson/Plano (Dallas, Spring: low income, apartment, rental)

[DallasDreamer]

My husband and I are coming to Richardson/Plano next weekend to find a rental house close to UTD. We're moving mid-September. Our price range (for a 2-3 bedroom) is $1100-$1300/month since we want to save for a down payment on a house. I have been looking in the Dallas Morning News and craigslist but most of the rental houses/duplexes are above our price range, and they seem to be renting out fast right now. I'm concerned we won't find anything suitable during our four day visit.

One rental manager suggested that we get in touch with a realtor who can help us find a rental in exchange for the possibility of helping us buy our house eventually. Does anyone know of a realtor who would be helpful and interested?

Thanks very much for your help.

[FarNorthDallas]

You just may have to drive around. I see For Rent signs in yards and they are gone quite fast. I am near UTD and have seen a couple of For Rent signs in the last couple of days. One was on Melrose, south of UTD. But they are there and then they are gone. Fast. Some are even not that desirable and they are still gone fast.

There is usually a duplex for rent on El Estado. The northern portion of that street is not that nice, but it's a way for low income folks to get into an exemplary elementary school. All of the duplexes on that street were part of a multi-family development, apts and duplexes, but many years they sold off all the duplexes on the norther part of the street, so those units have individual owners. You can tell when you go from one to the other because the ones that are still part of the busines are well maintained with nice grass.

[DallasDreamer]

Thanks for your input. We'll plan to drive around a bit with cell phone in hand.

For now, we don't have to worry about a good school district, which makes things a bit easier.

Do you have any thoughts on any specific streets/neighborhoods/areas to avoid, either due to road noise, crime (that maybe is not evident based on daytime appearance), or any other factors?

[FarNorthDallas]

I would not rent an apartment on McCallum which is west of UTD. Another bad crime area is a few miles south of UTD - Spring Valley and Coit and just east of there all the way over to Central.

Do you have a Mapsco or something?

[DallasDreamer]

Great! I do have a mapsco. Thanks for taking the time to help.