Champaign-Mahomet-St Joseph (Thomasboro, Bondville: relocating, real estate, military)

[TBouck]

Hello to one and all. I have been reading all the threads, strings and replies about Champaign and the surrounding communities. Really informative stuff. I'm not reading because I'm bored. I'm retired military who still has a day job with the government and soon to be re-located to the Corps Of Engr Research Lab at Champaign. Relocating from Germany does not allow for on-site visits so your discussions have really helped a lot. My question for all is of course about housing...after all the posts, I've decided that I like Mahomet and/or St Joseph but...try as I might...Realtors are few unless you are looking for an upscale mansion. Our needs are small, just me and the better looking half. We like the outdoors, small village atmosphere. We are not city folk, hate crowds..!! Problem...we want to rent a house for at least the first 6-12 months to get a feel for the area before we buy. The only rentals that we can find are apartments/condos/townhouses. We want a single family home...would even consider lease to buy if we liked the place. Any suggestions...? We really are a couple of low maintenance types who enjoy gardening, fresh air, etc.., 50yo, no 6 figure income but certainly over the 65k line.

[ndb]

I can point you at a good, trustworthy realtor. PM me if you're interested. At any rate, if you're looking at Mahomet or STJ, a simple thing I always thought of when considering them was that driving to and from work, coming from mahomet you're driving into the sun both ways. ST Joe is sun to teh back both ways. Both towns are similar in size and attitude. Mahomet, if I recall correctly, is a little more expensive.

[TBouck]

ndb,
Thanks. Your point about the sun is very good. I always forget that until after I have a place. Advertising here is not allowed as I understand it. Please send your Realtor info to be at bouckt@rocketmail.com. I also used Google Earth and found a few other really small places (Thomasboro, Bondville, etc..), if you know of other places not already mentioned, that you would recommend looking into, send them along as well. Thanks again.

[Drover]

I second St. Joe because it is more disconnected and distant from Chambana and has retained more of its small-town feel so it fits your "small-town feel" criteria a little better. Champaign and Mahomet are maybe 10 years worth of development away from having contiguous housing from one to the next.

Too bad about your timing; my MIL just sold her very nice little 3-acre spread on the outskirts of St. Joe complete with detached guest quarters with its own kitchenette and full bathroom and quansot hut partially finished with a heated and separately wired workshop.

[TBouck]

Drover,
Thanks. Timing with the government is never optimal. Whats more is they gave me notice last week to be on station NLT 17 March...if you think that's fast, consider where I'm coming in from and the fact that I'll also have my entire household goods and family in tow. After 20(+) years with the military I've gotten use to it but it never gets any easier. Even if we find a place right away, we will be waiting a couple of months for our belongings to catch up (government contracted slow boats and moving companies). However, you have helped to narrow my focus somewhat. Thanks again, and if you wouold like to send me the Realtor information to the address (provided earlier to ndb), please do.

[Drover]

ndb is going to be a better source for a realtor in the area. The one I'm familiar with is on more-or-less permanent maternity leave.

[chambana]

IMO St Joe cannot even be compared to Mahomet. Mahomet has more going for it then St. Joe...A much nicer town core and rolling hills with plenty of trees. There are some great old houses in St. Joe, and some that are in desperate need of renovation(like virtually everwhere). But really, Mahomet has it beat hands down for that small town feel, beautiful countryside.
All St. Joe has is a couple of new subdivisions and corn fields.

[Katiana]

I was just talking to my DH about this issue today. I said if we had stayed in the Champaign area, we probably would have bucked the trend of many University types and lived in either Mahomet or St. Joe. I once lived in St. Joe, and liked it. However, I concur that Mahomet has more hills and trees. Another advantage to Mahomet from the OP's point of view is that his job will be in west Champaign, and Mahomet is west of Champaign. It will be way closer to drive to than St. Joe would be.

[M TYPE X]

I would concur that Mahomet would work better for the OP. I haven't looked at any real estate guides with respect to any houses for sale and their prices, though.

[TBouck]

Thanks all (ndb, drover, chambana, pittnurse, m type x)...I've gotten in touch with a couple of realtors who appear to working with me...my first selection was Mahomet, had to reconsider StJ after all the posts. It will now all come down to whats available. Thanks again, every little bit helps when you can't visit the place prior to the move. You have been great, open and honest.