Richardson is most recognizable as the home of the “Telecom Corridor,” a vast business center where more than 5,000 companies including many of the world’s biggest technology giants are headquartered. The Corridor employs more than 80,000 people and is a big reason Richardson appears on so many of those “Best Places to Live in Texas” lists. How’s that for a “shtick?”
The city now sports a decent mix of dive bars, live music joints, hookah cafes, pub houses and other after-hours gathering spots. We don’t want to give you the impression that Richardson is Partytown, Texas, though, because it isn’t. Our advice for night owls: Dallas, with all its charms and hotspots, is just 12 miles away, so lean heavily on the big “D” for your after-hours kicks.
The Dallas Area Rapid Transit light rail does service the city and hits up the Corridor, but it’s more convenient for outsiders coming into the city than commuters looking to travel around Richardson itself. Just be sure to give yourself plenty of extra time for your daily commute until you get a feel for how long your journey takes.
New units have sprung up in recent years around the Corridor, while plenty of other neighborhoods, from Buckingham along the southern edge all the way up to the Plano Road area, offer a fair share of apartments, condos, and houses for rent as well.
Most of Richardson’s residential properties were built prior to the 1980s. Other apartments are brand-new or recently renovated, though, so don’t feel like you have to settle for a dated crash pad if you’d rather live in an ultramodern luxury unit. Just be sure to visit a place in advance to see you find its amenities and appearance agreeable or not.
Nope, just a thumb and a toe!
Kidding. Like much of North Texas, Richardson is remarkably affordable. Apartments might go for as much as a couple grand or as low as $500, depending on size and amenities, but a rule of thumb in Richardson is that if you’ve got a grand to spend on rent each month, you’ll have no problem finding an attractive 1-2BR apartment with decent amenities.
Just be prepared. You’ll need a list of previous residences and proof of income to get approved for a lease, as well as a decent credit history (most landlords run background checks on prospective tenants). Or, you'll need a co-signer to piggyback their name onto your lease.
Leases range from 6 months to 1 year or even 2 years, and a few properties also offer short-term, corporate, and month-to-month leases. Chances are, when you sign your lease you’ll have to buck up a good-faith deposit, which is typically refundable if you take good care of your new humble abode.
Make sure you give your apartment a good inspection before settling in and make note (better yet, take pictures) of any blemish you notice. Most property managers in Richardson are almost always willing to fix any imperfections in your apartment (even the most minor ones) regardless of how long you’ve lived there, but it’s always easiest to get their attention before you’ve even unpacked.
Finally, don’t mess with Texas (why? because bumper stickers all over the state say so!) And on that note, you’re ready to begin the hunt for the perfect apartment. Welcome to Richardson and happy hunting!