KnowYard Community

Rent went up $400 and they didn't fix a single thing

Lease renewal came in. $400 more per month. Same unit. Same busted dishwasher I reported 6 months ago. Same stain on the ceiling from the upstairs leak they "fixed" twice.

Gaming and esports in DFW: LAN events, tournaments, and communities

DFW's gaming community is bigger than you think.

• DreamHack Dallas — major esports tournament + gaming festival. Source: dreamhack.com
• Local LAN parties — DFW Gaming Community on Discord organizes monthly events. Various DFW locations.
• Nerd Street — competitive gaming centers with DFW events. Source: nerdstreet.com

DFW fiber internet expansion map: Where AT&T Fiber is coming next

AT&T Fiber availability in DFW is expanding rapidly. Here's the current status and what's coming.

• Most of Dallas proper (inside 635 loop)
• Plano — extensive coverage
• Richardson — most areas

Texas drivers... let's talk about it

I've driven in a lot of states. Texas is on another level.

Kia and Hyundai owners in DFW: How to protect your car from the "Kia Boys" trend

If you own a Kia or Hyundai manufactured between 2011 and 2021, your car is a target. Here's why and what to do.

• Kia: Optima, Forte, Sportage, Rio, Soul, Sorento, Seltos (select years)
• Hyundai: Elantra, Sonata, Tucson, Santa Fe, Accent, Venue, Kona (select years)
• Push-button start models are generally NOT affected

Just got laid off. Tech industry is brutal right now.

Got the email Wednesday morning. My entire team — 14 people — eliminated. 2 years at the company. Good performance reviews. Didn't matter.

Contractor scam targeting hail damage homeowners in north DFW — do not sign anything

After the recent hail storms, unlicensed "storm chasers" are going door-to-door in Frisco, Prosper, Celina, and Allen offering free roof inspections.

• Door-to-door solicitation right after a storm
• Pressure to sign anything immediately
• Company name you've never heard of with out-of-state plates

Suspicious door-to-door "security company" canvassing our Frisco neighborhood

Two men going door to door in our Frisco neighborhood (near Stonebriar area) claiming to represent a security company doing "free home security audits."

• They don't have a Frisco solicitor's permit (required by city ordinance)
• When asked for credentials, they got evasive
• They were taking photos of houses including garage doors and side gates

Catalytic converter theft in DFW: Which cars are targeted and how to protect yours

Catalytic converter theft is a nationwide epidemic and DFW is a hotspot. Here's the data and the fix.

• NICB (National Insurance Crime Bureau) — catalytic converter theft data
• Texas HB 4110 (88th Legislature, 2023)
• DPD — catalytic converter theft prevention events

Property tax protest -- did anyone actually get theirs lowered?

First time protesting my property tax appraisal this year. The county raised my value by $35K which makes zero sense because nothing about my house or neighborhood has changed.

Rideshare safety in DFW: How to avoid fake Uber/Lyft drivers and what to do if something goes wrong

Fake rideshare drivers are a real threat in DFW, especially in entertainment districts at bar close.

• Deep Ellum (Main St/Elm St area) after midnight
• Uptown/McKinney Ave on weekend nights
• Lower Greenville on weekends

Road rage shooting on 635 near Garland — suspect fled in black truck

Garland PD is investigating a road rage shooting that occurred on I-635 near the Jupiter Road exit around 5:45 PM.

• Two vehicles were involved in an altercation on eastbound 635
• Shots were fired from a black pickup truck (possibly Ford F-150)
• One person in the other vehicle was hit — non-life-threatening injuries per Garland PD

Active police situation on Greenville Ave near Lowest Greenville — area blocked off

Dallas PD has blocked off a section of Greenville Ave between Belmont and Prospect. Multiple units on scene.

• Police arrived around 2:30 PM
• Several blocks cordoned off with yellow tape
• SWAT truck spotted heading toward the area

Remote work in Texas -- anyone else never going back to office?

I've been fully remote for 2 years. My company just announced a "hybrid" return — 3 days in office. Which means I now need to commute 45 minutes each way, pay for gas, buy lunch, and wear pants.

Is now actually a good time to buy in Texas?

Interest rates are still elevated. Prices haven't really come down. Insurance costs are through the roof — literally, because of all the hail and storm claims.

What's actually hiring around here that pays decent?

I've been applying for weeks. All the Indeed postings are either scams, ghost listings that have been up for 6 months, or they want 5 years of experience for $18/hour.

Interview red flags from Texas employers

I've been job hunting for a few months and the number of sketchy interviews I've had is wild. Compiling a list so others know what to watch for.

• "We're like a family here" = you will have no boundaries and be guilt tripped for using PTO
• Won't give a salary range = it's low and they know it
• "We work hard and play hard" = 60 hour weeks and a pizza party once a quarter

Side hustles that actually work in a Texas city

I need extra income. Not passive income guru stuff. Not dropshipping. Not "invest in real estate with no money down." Real things that real people are doing to make extra money.

Texas severe weather emergency prep: Your DFW survival checklist

DFW gets hammered by severe weather. Tornadoes, derechos, ice storms, extreme heat. Here's the real prep list from someone who's lived through all of them.

• Download a weather app with polygon-based alerts. Recommended: RadarScope ($10, one-time) or Weather Underground (free)
• Know your safe room: interior room, lowest floor, no windows. Bathroom or closet.
• NOAA Weather Radio with battery backup (~$30). When the power is out, this is your lifeline.

Best affordable areas that aren't sketchy?

Looking for a new apartment or maybe renting a house. Budget is around $1,200-1,400 for a 1BR or small 2BR. I know that's tight.

DFW board game cafes and tabletop spots: Where to roll dice

Board game culture in DFW is strong. Here's where to play.

• Madness Games & Comics (Plano) — massive game library, weekly events, Magic: The Gathering tournaments. Free to browse, games for sale. Source: madnessgames.com
• Collected Comics & Games (Fort Worth) — Fort Worth's best. Game nights weekly. Source: collectedfw.com
• Cidercade (Deep Ellum) — 180+ arcade games, $12 unlimited play, BYOB. Not board games but adjacent. Source: cidercade.com

Safest cities in DFW by the data: Where the numbers actually point

Everyone has opinions about safe vs. unsafe areas. Here's what the actual data says.

• Dallas: 7.8 per 1,000
• Fort Worth: 6.2 per 1,000
• National average: 3.7 per 1,000

Honest pros and cons of every DFW neighborhood: Where to live

Apartment hunting? House hunting? Here's the real talk on DFW neighborhoods.

Custody and family law basics in Texas: What DFW parents need to know

Not legal advice — but the basics every DFW parent should understand.

• Texas uses "conservatorship" not "custody." Source: Texas Family Code Chapter 153.
• Joint Managing Conservators (JMC) — both parents share rights and duties. This is the default in Texas.
• Sole Managing Conservator (SMC) — one parent has primary decision-making. Courts rarely grant this without evidence of danger.

DFW holiday markets and artisan fairs: Support local this season

Skip Amazon. Buy from DFW makers at these holiday markets.

• Dallas Farmers Market Holiday Market — November-December weekends. Extended vendor list. Free entry. Source: dallasfarmersmarket.org
• Bishop Arts Holiday Market — December weekends. Local artisans, food, music. Source: bishopartsdistrict.com
• Cowtown Christmas Market (Fort Worth) — Will Rogers Memorial Center. 200+ vendors. $10 admission. Source: cowtownchristmasmarket.com