I would start just to start the elimination process bc Dallas is huge and going off the internet pictures will have you living in the hood!

Haha yes! You can be in a nice "area" but go just a few miles away or even turn a corner and you could be in a bad neighbor or area.. BUT its beauitful out here!

Mayjay - that's part of my concern. Even complexes less than a mile apart have hugely different neighborhoods around them. Maybe we'll start driving through areas on weekends to get a feel for them.

And touring a month or a little more beforehand.

Thanks for the input!

I would the month before, we are planning on moving December 1st, I started looking but stopped when I found out most places want you to be ready the 1st of the upcoming month, I'm not in Texas but that's my experience

There is so much out here in dallas id look 2 months in advance. Also you have to keep in mind aboit what area in Dallas. Some arent as nice as they seem from online i promise

Depends on when you need it and what part of town...some parts are more difficult to get into without some advance notice

The month before? They won't usually reserve it for someone who won't be able to move in the next month, unless you're willing to pay for it. They'll go for someone who can so they can make the money. We looked mid Dec. and signed a lease to be in for Jan 1st.

You can look around now, sometimes they'll say some will be available later on if they know the tenant isn't staying after their lease. Generally though if you aren't moving for months, nothing available now is going to be available then so you could like a place now that when the time comes isn't an option.

I would start now so you can narrow down what you want and not feel rushed.

Some apartments might also have waiting list.