[nitram]

We're interested in the Mountain Home area of the Ozarks. Can anyone fill us in on the area. Cost of living and home prices in the 1800-2000 sq ft range.
We visited some friends recently in Mtn Home and loved the greenery, the climate then, and the cleanliness of the area. People were so friendly and the food was great where we ate out.
What's good, what's bad if anything.
Thanks in advance for the info.

[nmnita]

for ideas on home prices just log onto realtor.com. That will give you some idea of what to expect. We have heard nothing from good things about Mountain Home; for us the location isn't right. NMnita

[HotSpringsnewbie]

Originally Posted by nitram

We're interested in the Mountain Home area of the Ozarks. Can anyone fill us in on the area. Cost of living and home prices in the 1800-2000 sq ft range.
We visited some friends recently in Mtn Home and loved the greenery, the climate then, and the cleanliness of the area. People were so friendly and the food was great where we ate out.
What's good, what's bad if anything.
Thanks in advance for the info.

I first went to Mountain Home since I too thought the area was pretty. The costs of housing is ridiculous for Arkansas. The prices are as high as out west. I decided to go to Hot Springs and bought a house at a MUCH cheaper price and the scenery is every bit as pretty if not prettier than Mountain Home. I am not sure why Mountain Home has such high prices (for Arkansas). It is pretty remote too. Hot Springs is less than an hour to Little Rock for stuff to do and hospitals. Hot Springs has a great hospital anyway. There is a lot to do in Hot Springs too. For cheaper house prices try Hot Springs or up in Fayetteville.

[mlrfo4]

Originally Posted by HotSpringsnewbie

I first went to Mountain Home since I too thought the area was pretty. The costs of housing is ridiculous for Arkansas. The prices are as high as out west. I decided to go to Hot Springs and bought a house at a MUCH cheaper price and the scenery is every bit as pretty if not prettier than Mountain Home. I am not sure why Mountain Home has such high prices (for Arkansas). It is pretty remote too. Hot Springs is less than an hour to Little Rock for stuff to do and hospitals. Hot Springs has a great hospital anyway. There is a lot to do in Hot Springs too. For cheaper house prices try Hot Springs or up in Fayetteville.

Northwest Arkansas is much more expensive then Mountain Home. Having come from out west........................the prices and taxes don't compare (poor example). You can purchase a brand new home, 3br/2ba in the $150-200k range......................that's not expensive. Try out west and get you a home built in 1950 and no central heat and air in a very bad neighborhood....all this for only $400,000. Check it out for yourself or send me a PM if you need any help.

[Stormcrow73]

Originally Posted by mlrfo4

Northwest Arkansas is much more expensive then Mountain Home. Having come from out west........................the prices and taxes don't compare (poor example). You can purchase a brand new home, 3br/2ba in the $150-200k range......................that's not expensive. Try out west and get you a home built in 1950 and no central heat and air in a very bad neighborhood....all this for only $400,000. Check it out for yourself or send me a PM if you need any help.

LOL I was thinking about taking a swing on that post as well. That post was obvious salesmanship!

[arguy1973]

the cost of homes in MH is due largely to the lake (NORFORK). Cheaper to live outside MH a little ways, such as Flippin, etc.

[mlrfo4]

Originally Posted by arguy1973

the cost of homes in MH is due largely to the lake (NORFORK). Cheaper to live outside MH a little ways, such as Flippin, etc.

I purchased in October of 2004, brand new home. 2800 sq feet plus, 5 br/3ba with 7 acres for $187,500.......in Clarkridge, just north of Mtn Home. You can get a 3br/2 or 1/2 ba right in town in good shape for $100k.......smaller sq footage. There's a wide variety here, depending on location.

[arguy1973]

My dad lives on the lake there, so I guess i associate the whole area with being pretty high, compared to other areas anyway.

[Sam I Am]

Originally Posted by HotSpringsnewbie

I first went to Mountain Home since I too thought the area was pretty. The costs of housing is ridiculous for Arkansas. The prices are as high as out west. I decided to go to Hot Springs and bought a house at a MUCH cheaper price and the scenery is every bit as pretty if not prettier than Mountain Home. I am not sure why Mountain Home has such high prices (for Arkansas). It is pretty remote too. Hot Springs is less than an hour to Little Rock for stuff to do and hospitals. Hot Springs has a great hospital anyway. There is a lot to do in Hot Springs too. For cheaper house prices try Hot Springs or up in Fayetteville.

The cost of housing, as anywhere else, is governed by supply and demand. There are an enormous amount of retirees and an influx of people moving to these areas from higher places in the U.S. If the market will bear it, the houses will sell at higher prices. It's called "free trade".

I'm sorry - the houses in Mountain Home are NOT as high as "out west" if you're talking California or somewhere....and if you want to see housing prices going through the roof, just toodle on up to Fayetteville. Anything in NWA has gone up dramatically in the past 10 years or so. Who in the world told you it would be cheaper to live there?

It's no different than any waterfront area - everyone wants to live right on a lake or whatever - well, you're gonna pay for it. Scoot back from town a little bit and things are very, very low compared to the rest of the nation....and yes, there are areas in Hot Springs that are less expensive, but Hot Springs Village or any house on Lake Cathering, Ouachita or Hamilton, is not going to be cheap - and Hot Springs Village most definitely is not one of the cheaper areas - it's in high demand and it's very nice, so they ask the price and get it.

[nitram]

I appreciate all the comments. Yes I live out West and the prices for houses in our area run around $500,000+ for a 2000 square foot home. When we visited Mtn Home earlier this year, we saw equivalent homes for $185,000+ and couldn't believe the differences. The home prices, plus the scene'ry, the cleanliness and the friendly people in the Ozark area are giving us an incentive to move there.