moving to baton rouge (Baker, Zachary: apartments, rental, houses)

[abradl04]

Ok here is my story and I need some advice. My husband is a liscensed roofer/builder in michigan with no job, and I am an LPN. My brother and his family live in Baton rouge, Bocage area, and we are considering moving here. What is the work like, the economy seems fine in BR. Will my husband find a good paying roofing job, and I know as an LPN I can get work. We have a daughter in 10th grade and one in 2nd. School is an issue I dont think we can afford private, and I know about the public. I like the area, and the weather, but I am scared will we find a safe rental house were we can have are kids go to school? Any advice would be great ly appreciated, thanks My husband is thinking of leaving next week and I will wait until thanksgiving

[MetroBTR]

Well, one thing is for sure. If you cannot afford private schools, you want to live in the Zachary School District, Livingston, Ascension, or West Feliciana. I would lean more towards Zachary and West Feliciana because they are more affordable and traffic is not as bad.

[darylwi]

Yeah, the report came out yesterday that our economy here is actually supposed to grow while other places falter. Besides hurricane recovery, which will provide plenty of roofing jobs here and in the area (not to mention SE Texas as well), there are a lot of things in the works here. A new alternative fuels processing plant down in Geismer for example.

Schools, yes the private ones tend to be better quality, but there are several good public schools too (or should I say, schools with excellent students in them that overcome poor infrastructure and perhaps a majority of enrolled who don't care to succeed). Problem may be that everyone is trying to get into the same schools.
If commuting isn't much of an issue for you, Zachary and Livingston are options. Traffic is much worse heading to/from Livingston Parish though, and Ascension isn't much better plus it's getting crowded down there quick. West Feliciana is good too. I don't know about rent houses near St. Francisville, but most of the other locations you shouldn't have much problem. Housing values haven't dropped here like other places though so don't be surprised if you see something you might think would be over priced. Our market is really just starting to level out now after Katrina and the experts don't expect that value to drop off a lot. I think it depends on what happens from here on out with the national economy.

Talk things with your brother. If his family lives in Bocage, they are probably very knowledgable of the area as well and will tell you whether you're getting into a good/bad area or if you're paying a fair or not price.

[mugadzatamara]

the schools in Baton Rouge are great! I have a 4 year old going to a public school and she is writing her name and can read simple words. she also can count and knows her abc's. you can find great apartments and there is a lot of work I am not from Baton Rouge and love it !

[hatnic]

If you cannot afford private schools I would move to Livingston or Ascension Parish. I would not send my children to Baton Rouge public schools. I am from Baton Rouge and I got out of there when I had children. The area is fine the schools are not. I am happy with the schools in Denham Springs and I know plenty that are happy with the schools in Ascension Parish. The traffic does get bad, but trust me it is worth the commute for your children to be in a much better school district.

hatnic

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by abradl04

Ok here is my story and I need some advice. My husband is a liscensed roofer/builder in michigan with no job, and I am an LPN. My brother and his family live in Baton rouge, Bocage area, and we are considering moving here. What is the work like, the economy seems fine in BR. Will my husband find a good paying roofing job, and I know as an LPN I can get work. We have a daughter in 10th grade and one in 2nd. School is an issue I dont think we can afford private, and I know about the public. I like the area, and the weather, but I am scared will we find a safe rental house were we can have are kids go to school? Any advice would be great ly appreciated, thanks My husband is thinking of leaving next week and I will wait until thanksgiving

A lot depends on where your husband will be working, because some traffic commutes (like those involving I-12 from Livingston Parish and lately I-10 from Ascension Parish) are pretty bad. For schools, if youn want to stay in EBR, there is the Central and Zachary school districts. Baker has been having management issues, so I don't know if I'd want to put kids there.