[TRex2]

I have never been a fan of "dental plans." For almost everyone, if you can put away the money yourself and pay cash for dental work, you will come out ahead. Some dental offices will give a discount, too, since they don't have to deal with the red tape.

[mgforshort]

I have never visited the state of Arkansas, but I heard its praise, here on City Data, and also by talking to people. Nita is an enthusiastic promoter of Bella Vista, and the more time I spend on Zillow the more I have to agree with her.

A house I like in BVista might go for 200 K; the same house here would be 300 K; in Orange County 850 K.

Without ever setting foot in Arkansas, we would prefer the Bella Vista-Bentonville area due to the abundance of medical services. Once we decide to move and rented a place for a few months this might change, because at that time we'll be able to visit Eureka Springs, Mountain Home, Hot Springs, Cherokee Village and many others.

The abundance of lakes in Bella Vista is a huge draw for me. I'm a poor swimmer and lousy fisherman, but nevertheless, the water is important to me. My wife couldn't care less.

Thanks for everyone here taking their time responding.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by mgforshort

I have never visited the state of Arkansas, but I heard its praise, here on City Data, and also by talking to people. Nita is an enthusiastic promoter of Bella Vista, and the more time I spend on Zillow the more I have to agree with her.

A house I like in BVista might go for 200 K; the same house here would be 300 K; in Orange County 850 K.

Without ever setting foot in Arkansas, we would prefer the Bella Vista-Bentonville area due to the abundance of medical services. Once we decide to move and rented a place for a few months this might change, because at that time we'll be able to visit Eureka Springs, Mountain Home, Hot Springs, Cherokee Village and many others.

The abundance of lakes in Bella Vista is a huge draw for me. I'm a poor swimmer and lousy fisherman, but nevertheless, the water is important to me. My wife couldn't care less.

Thanks for everyone here taking their time responding.

I think you will like BV much better than Cherokee Village. Just my opinion. You will enjoy visiting Eureka Springs, but I doubt you would want to live there. I don't know much about Mountain HOme.. It is one area we did not visit. After we found BV we were satisfied and just didn't bother.

[mgforshort]

Thanks, Nita, good advice, as always.
Can you tell us about the Highway 49 going through Bella Vista?
I remember visiting Grass Valley, CA, and crossing from one side of town to the other we had to search because a freeway is in the middle of the town. For locals it shouldn't be a problem but I found it a bit irritating.

Are there any preferences regarding living on the west side or on the east side in Bella Vista?

By the way some of the homes on Zillow in the 200-225 K range are amazing and beautiful in your place.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by mgforshort

Thanks, Nita, good advice, as always.
Can you tell us about the Highway 49 going through Bella Vista?
I remember visiting Grass Valley, CA, and crossing from one side of town to the other we had to search because a freeway is in the middle of the town. For locals it shouldn't be a problem but I found it a bit irritating.

Are there any preferences regarding living on the west side or on the east side in Bella Vista?

By the way some of the homes on Zillow in the 200-225 K range are amazing and beautiful in your place.

Well 49 is really 71 when you come into BV unless you are talking about the bye pass/ Right now the bye pass is about 12 miles and is a dream come true for those of us living in the Highlands area. It connects us to the southern most part of BV and Bentonville in about 1/2 the time it take if we go over to 71. The money that Mo was supposed to use to help connect us to their state got spent on some other project, so right now the highway stops at the far end of the Highlands.

As for living on what side?that is a debate that can go on forever. The advantage some will say of living on the east side is Bentonville schools which is good for re-sale and some of the homes on that side are hooked up to the sewer system. The benefit on the west side, overall the homes are a little nicer. This isn't saying there are no nice houses on the east side. Our grand daughter and family live on the east side and have a very nice, 2 level home with about 2500 sq feet. The west side is more convenient to the bye pass if you live in the Highlands area and the Lake Point restaurant and the best lake are on that side.

[Lake 5]

Yeah, we lived in BV from 2000-2009 in the Highlands area-WS is better, IMO. If you like to golf, you got a lot of variety, and it was pretty cheap- but I walked. If Lake life is what floats your boat, I'd check out Norfork or Bull Shoals. Mt. Home would be the town for medical and everything, and it is rural all around-except the town. You could live in town and still go to the lakes. But yeah, NW AR. has everything if you want and more of a big towns close.

The lakes at Bella Vista are small. We had a wood stove and our power was out 3 days during one ice storm-but only once. Power goes out now and then when a storm passes, but usually it's back on pretty quick. It is a retirement community, so a lot of social opportunities, or not if you don't want to.

We are thinking of Bull Shoals area after living here in AZ for awhile, that's why I joined the Forums to find out more of the Bull Shoals area. Hope this helps!

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Lake 5

Yeah, we lived in BV from 2000-2009 in the Highlands area-WS is better, IMO. If you like to golf, you got a lot of variety, and it was pretty cheap- but I walked. If Lake life is what floats your boat, I'd check out Norfork or Bull Shoals. Mt. Home would be the town for medical and everything, and it is rural all around-except the town. You could live in town and still go to the lakes. But yeah, NW AR. has everything if you want and more of a big towns close.

The lakes at Bella Vista are small. We had a wood stove and our power was out 3 days during one ice storm-but only once. Power goes out now and then when a storm passes, but usually it's back on pretty quick. It is a retirement community, so a lot of social opportunities, or not if you don't want to.

We are thinking of Bull Shoals area after living here in AZ for awhile, that's why I joined the Forums to find out more of the Bull Shoals area. Hope this helps!

actually it isn't as much of a retirement community as it was when you lived here. The median age keeps going down each year. there are a lot of activities for seniors that is for sure. That is one thing a lot of people love about it. There is no excuse for feeling shut in or bored unless one chooses to but there are lots of things for the younger people now as well