DALLAS FORT WORTH | Urban + Suburban P & C

[LB Life07]

Hello all, I'm new to posting anything on the Dallas thread, I'm from Cali, I live in the Los Angeles\ Long Beach metro area in the city of Long Beach, I'm planning on making the move to the Dallas \ Ft. Worth area by the end of the year. It's been a hard decision for me to leave Cali, I'm born and raised in the Los Angeles area my whole life. I've been a lot of places in my life and I haven't been to a place that I can say has better weather, a better natural setting and that's really as culturally diverse. However, quality of life is declining, our state tax is 10%, the cost of living is extremely high, commute times are ridiculous and as a family man with 2 young children I'm really beginning to feel the effects of living in a 17 million person metro region. Crowding, weakening education systems, median home prices of 350,000 to 450,000 just to get a small two or 3 bedroom home in a not so decent area with no yard because of no room to put a patch of green space between houses. So you see how my reasons for leaving out weigh my reasons for staying. I've been to dallas a few times before and even spent 6 weeks in the area on job related business so I know what to expect as far as the differences between the two cities, my question for forumers is, what are some of the nicer areas to live? Keeping in account that I work for Department of Homeland Security, my work would be in the city of dallas, I don't mind a commute of 30 minutes or so. I'm looking to spend between 150,000 to 200,000 on a home but will probably rent for the first year I'm there so I can have a complete feel of things. I'm 29 going on 30, my wife is 27 and we have 2 kids, age 7 and a little one who turns 3 on Halloween. I've heard Fortworth is nice as well as Arlington and Plano but how far of a commute to my work location would those places be? Also any other suggestions are appreciated and thank you in advance