New Nurse relocating to McKinney Texas, need advice!

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Jul 2, 2005

I don't know Mckinney enough to recommend places to stay, etc.

If you haven't already picked a job, if possible (and I'm not sure it is), I'd avoid a 'Group One' facility.

Enter "group one" (use parenthesis) in the search parameter on this site if you don't know what I'm talking about. McKinney is prime "Group One" area.

Or look it up on the Texas Nurse Forum.

It's a organization created by a group of hospitals (mostly in the Dallas area) that report and share subjective information about their employees that leave between each other. Because it's subjective, you can be 'blackballed'.

I wouldn't work at one on the principle of it.

~faith,

Timothy.

sunnyjohn · Jul 2, 2005

Hi, I have a questions for someone who had recenlty relocated to Texas. My family including DH, 2 DS (3.5 years old and 2 years old) will be moving to McKinney on Sept 1 and the new house that I am building in McKinney will not be done until late Sept. Now , my question is where should we stay before we can move in to our new house? Since we are moving from Minnesota, we have no idea what hotel is good and has reasonable price. Anyone know of any extended stay hotel that will provide a nice kitchen and rooms (at least 2-3 rooms) for our kids to nap and play in?We only need to stay in a hotel for a month so anything that can save us some money, it will be great. We don't mind staying around McKinney area such as Plano, Frisco...
Also, I am wondering if anyone has experience using any movers or pods before? Any good tips on relocating your family? Please post here.
Thanks ahead for your information.

Try these three. I've stayed in all of them in the North Dallas area and they were clean and decent.

http://www.budgetsuites.com/

http://www.extendedstayamerica.com/

http://www.oakwood.com/ (This one was the nicest and most comfortable. I have stayed with them all over the country.)

landonsles · Jul 3, 2005

hi there! i live in mckinney--it's pretty out here! there are some apts that will let you rent short term--some even go month to month. here's a link--

http://www.apartments.com/search/oasis.dll?page=region&state=tx&partner=seo

(choose plano/carrollton)

stay away from mansions at stonebridge ranch--that's where i live and i hate it...i'm sure the day i move (less than one month away!!) will be one of the happiest days of my life--right up there with my wedding and kids births lol.

anyway--pm me if you need any info about the mckinney area.

LadyStorm · Jul 3, 2005

I don't know Mckinney enough to recommend places to stay, etc.
If you haven't already picked a job, if possible (and I'm not sure it is), I'd avoid a 'Group One' facility.
Enter "group one" (use parenthesis) in the search parameter on this site if you don't know what I'm talking about. McKinney is prime "Group One" area.
Or look it up on the Texas Nurse Forum.
It's a organization created by a group of hospitals (mostly in the Dallas area) that report and share subjective information about their employees that leave between each other. Because it's subjective, you can be 'blackballed'.
I wouldn't work at one on the principle of it.
~faith,
Timothy.

Never heard the term Group One. I tried to search it below and came up empty handed. I am currently considering a move to the Dallas Fort Worth area. Could you please elaborate?

moliuchick, RN · Jul 3, 2005

hi there! i live in mckinney--it's pretty out here! there are some apts that will let you rent short term--some even go month to month. here's a link--
http://www.apartments.com/search/oasis.dll?page=region&state=tx&partner=seo
(choose plano/carrollton)
stay away from mansions at stonebridge ranch--that's where i live and i hate it...i'm sure the day i move (less than one month away!!) will be one of the happiest days of my life--right up there with my wedding and kids births lol.
anyway--pm me if you need any info about the mckinney area.

stonebridge? how come you don't like it? i think it is very nice.

we are moving to craig ranch and this is the very first "new" house that i have ever moved in my life. my husband and i are very excited. we just sold our 20 years old house(2,800 sq ft) in mn for a decent price. we are able to put the money from selling our old house to our new house plus some extra money in our pocket. the house that we are getting in texas is 3,200 sq ft and brand new 5 bedrooms.(i bet your house is bigger than ours) i still can't believe what a deal it is. who cares if it is going to be 100 degrees everyday in texas during summer. it is still better than crabby weather in here. rainy and humid during the summer time and freezing cold in winter. our kids can't even play or go out during winter! i can't wait to move and it will be the happiest day of my life -- right up there with my wedding in hawaii and kids births... (quote from landonsles):chuckle

by the way, i am trying to convince my husband to stay in a short term apartment. he keeps saying, "apartment is for the low income family" (i know there are a lot of nice apartments, lofts out there which are not for low income) are the apartments on that website pretty decent? are they mostly for business travelers?

moliuchick, RN · Jul 3, 2005

i like some apartments on that website in mckinney. do you have any idea which one is good? they all look the same to me. i saw stonebridge ranch too and it is a little more expensive than the other ones. how come you don't like it there?

hi there! i live in mckinney--it's pretty out here! there are some apts that will let you rent short term--some even go month to month. here's a link--
http://www.apartments.com/search/oasis.dll?page=region&state=tx&partner=seo
(choose plano/carrollton)
stay away from mansions at stonebridge ranch--that's where i live and i hate it...i'm sure the day i move (less than one month away!!) will be one of the happiest days of my life--right up there with my wedding and kids births lol.
anyway--pm me if you need any info about the mckinney area.

landonsles · Jul 3, 2005

I like some apartments on that website in McKinney. Do you have any idea which one is good? They all look the same to me. I saw stonebridge Ranch too and it is a little more expensive than the other ones. How come you don't like it there?

Stonebridge Ranch the housing community is very nice and beautiful (and expensive!!!). Mansions at Stonebridge Ranch the "luxury" apartment complex is where I live. I love the layout of my apartment, but the management and neighbors are horrible. The mgmt has lied to my face, and then turned around and lied about me to a resident. No one here cares about the rules--trash, dog poop, illegal parking b/c they know the mgmt will do nothing about it (my husband's truck was blocked in our drive way one Sunday am and he ended up being late to work--I called the mgmt but they told me to figure it out myself.) Oh I could go on and on--just trust me, stay far, far away from these fools. As far as good apts, pick something in the 75070 zip code...most of them are pretty decent. I have heard good things about the Amli at Stonebridge Ranch and El Lago.

Good luck on your move--I think Craig Ranch is awesome!

PS--Where will you be working?

moliuchick, RN · Jul 4, 2005

Stonebridge Ranch the housing community is very nice and beautiful (and expensive!!!). Mansions at Stonebridge Ranch the "luxury" apartment complex is where I live. I love the layout of my apartment, but the management and neighbors are horrible. The mgmt has lied to my face, and then turned around and lied about me to a resident. No one here cares about the rules--trash, dog poop, illegal parking b/c they know the mgmt will do nothing about it (my husband's truck was blocked in our drive way one Sunday am and he ended up being late to work--I called the mgmt but they told me to figure it out myself.) Oh I could go on and on--just trust me, stay far, far away from these fools. As far as good apts, pick something in the 75070 zip code...most of them are pretty decent. I have heard good things about the Amli at Stonebridge Ranch and El Lago.
Good luck on your move--I think Craig Ranch is awesome!
PS--Where will you be working?

I will stay away from the Stonebridge Ranch. I think I saw El Lago on that website, I will have my husband check it out when he goes down there in late July. I am going to work at Methodist Charlton in DFW. I mapquest the location and I think I will have to drive 50mins to work. You have any idea how I can get there faster? Any short cut that I can take? I know mapquest is not always accurate in their direction.

Where are you moving to next month? Do you mind if I ask? I just love the McKinney, Plano and Frisco area. It is so nice, clean and new. By the way, has the Ikea opened yet? Where do you usually do your shopping? Groceries and clothings? I wish they have Trader Joes down there. Are there any second hand shops that you will go to get your furniture, toys or clothings?

I am a bargain shopper, you have any suggestions for bargain shopping?

landonsles · Jul 4, 2005

I will stay away from the Stonebridge Ranch. I think I saw El Lago on that website, I will have my husband check it out when he goes down there in late July. I am going to work at Methodist Charlton in DFW. I mapquest the location and I think I will have to drive 50mins to work. You have any idea how I can get there faster? Any short cut that I can take? I know mapquest is not always accurate in their direction.
Where are you moving to next month? Do you mind if I ask? I just love the McKinney, Plano and Frisco area. It is so nice, clean and new. By the way, has the Ikea opened yet? Where do you usually do your shopping? Groceries and clothings? I wish they have Trader Joes down there. Are there any second hand shops that you will go to get your furniture, toys or clothings?
I am a bargain shopper, you have any suggestions for bargain shopping?

Let's see, I'll start with the easy stuff first!! We are moving back to Frisco to another apt, just a couple of minutes from the mall. (I graduate next May, and once our lease is up we will move into a house--finally!--at that point we will more than likely move back to McKinney b/c you get more house for less money!

I, too, am bargain queen--I try to never pay full price for anything if I can help it. I do most of my grocery shopping at Walmart Supercenter. I also like Market Street--their groceries can be a little expensive at times, so I just stick to sale items, but I LOVE their deli/food court area (that's where we end up eating out quite a bit!) As far as clothes, I like Kohl's, esp when they have their 80% off sales! I do shop Old Navy, but I only shop clearance.

Ikea has not opened as of this moment, but I'm sure they will be by the time you move here. There's a store called Once Upon a Child in Plano that I go to for 2nd hand children's toys/clothes/furniture. There's also a 2nd shop in McKinney that has clothing for all ages, but I can't remember the name right now--I'll think on it and let you know.

Ok--work--I don't have any shortcuts that I think would help you--and believe me, I live for shortcuts--LOL. SH 121 is awful right now--construction everywhere--but it really depends upon the time of day that you will be going. On a good day, you could probably get to the tollway from your house (via 121) in about 15 minutes. Honestly, the first day you go, I would give yourself 1 1/2 hours or so just to make sure you don't run into any surprises.

If you want, PM me with your email address--I'll work on that shortcut for you!

moliuchick, RN · Jul 4, 2005

Let's see, I'll start with the easy stuff first!! We are moving back to Frisco to another apt, just a couple of minutes from the mall. (I graduate next May, and once our lease is up we will move into a house--finally!--at that point we will more than likely move back to McKinney b/c you get more house for less money!
I, too, am bargain queen--I try to never pay full price for anything if I can help it. I do most of my grocery shopping at Walmart Supercenter. I also like Market Street--their groceries can be a little expensive at times, so I just stick to sale items, but I LOVE their deli/food court area (that's where we end up eating out quite a bit!) As far as clothes, I like Kohl's, esp when they have their 80% off sales! I do shop Old Navy, but I only shop clearance.
Ikea has not opened as of this moment, but I'm sure they will be by the time you move here. There's a store called Once Upon a Child in Plano that I go to for 2nd hand children's toys/clothes/furniture. There's also a 2nd shop in McKinney that has clothing for all ages, but I can't remember the name right now--I'll think on it and let you know.
Ok--work--I don't have any shortcuts that I think would help you--and believe me, I live for shortcuts--LOL. SH 121 is awful right now--construction everywhere--but it really depends upon the time of day that you will be going. On a good day, you could probably get to the tollway from your house (via 121) in about 15 minutes. Honestly, the first day you go, I would give yourself 1 1/2 hours or so just to make sure you don't run into any surprises.
If you want, PM me with your email address--I'll work on that shortcut for you!

Hi there,

Thanks for your inf. I shop a lot at once apon a child. And big lots is my favorite shop to go to get bargain toys. I once told my husband's friend about big lots, he said, "I will never go to a place like this" oh well, he is trying to be "Mr high class" (he is the type that never has a job and claims that he has his own business that is doing so well) Recently, I have heard that he is looking for a "real" job, just so that he can make some "real" money. I think maybe he and his wife should consider shopping there now. :)

It is great to talk to you especially you know so much about the area. I will have more questions for you when you email me . By the way, where is Market street and is the closest Walmart Superstore in Plano? Thanks!

military spouse · Jul 5, 2005

How long is the drive from Frisco to Grapevine? Is the tollway expensive?

Are there many nursing jobs in the McKinney/Frisco area?

Thank you!