Possible relocation from So Cal to Fort Wayne (Lafayette, Clinton: real estate, housing)

[Xlr8r]

I am looking to possible relocate to Fort Wayne from So Cal. I work for Raytheon and understand they have a facility there in the NW quadrant. I currently live in the desert in So cal and commute 165 miles a day. It is destroying my life and my family. I have got to get out of here! I applied for a position there and hope to hear something soon. I have read all the love/hate posts about FTW and can understand those who posted negatively. BELIEVE ME, the grass is not greener on the other side of the fence!!! It's an illusion created to draw you into the vicious circle of emptyness. I grew up in Ohio in farm country and can sympathize with those who feel they have no life. I joined the Navy to see the world. That was 20+ years ago. Now I realize that a slow paced life is what I have truly longed for. Screw the Joneses!!! They're not happy either!!!

With all that said, I have also read the posts about where and where not to live. The Southeast sounds pretty broad and so does the Southwest. If you live in the SW, say, South of Rudisill, how far east is safe? Are you ok if you are W of Clinton/Lafayette or do you need to be on the other side of Foster Park? I am interested because my wife and I both love Victorian homes and it seems like most of them are in the S/SW.

I also am interested in how safe the NE side is, say, N of Stellhorn and E of St. Joe. I saw a nice Victorian on Kenwood. Is that area ok for a typical family of four?

Thanks in advance for all your input. I appreciate your love for your city.

Mike

[H00sier Mike]

I just recently moved to Fort Wayne from Corona Cal and I love it. 70's in the summer and a change of seasons!

[mbuszu]

I have posted a lot about Fort Wayne over the past year - please search my previous postings here as many FAQ-type questions have been answered before.

You have three things to do in being really thorough about relocating to Fort Wayne. 1st, listen to opinions about what areas to look at, things to do, and general feelings about this vicinity. 2nd, do some research via the US Census bureau and sites like City-data as well as Fort Wayne city web sites. The Census Bureau has mappings of their data which are awesome for detecting where the wealth or families of an area is concentrated (and there is a large quantity of other demographic information you may likewise be interested in). 3rd, come visit to get a feel for this city... there's only so much you can learn through reading. A guide such as a local realtor can be invaluable because what you need is someone who really knows the area driving you around it and describing the trends that you otherwise couldn't gleam from just getting lost on your own.

For the 1st thing... I believe you'll want to live on the SW side of town working for Raytheon - somewhere near Highway 69 (since Raytheon is right off of exit 111). I have a personal preference for the SW side of Fort Wayne because it is growing rapidly, has a great percentage of affluent people and more businesses & restaurants than you could ever need. If you live anywhere near Highway 69's exit 105 you'll only be a few minutes from Raytheon. It also is only about 15 minutes from the Airport. It is extremely safe, clean, and you'll be able to traverse quite a bit of Fort Wayne very quickly. The logical alternative area for you to look at is NW Fort Wayne. In the NW area you have comparable schools and businesses and neighborhoods with the largest difference in my opinion being that the vicinity is a little less built up in what I perceive to be a slower-growing part of town with a few more lower income areas dispersed within. You'll also still see large stretches of farm land between some neighborhoods.

Regarding information research, in particular the US Census Bureau, I would encourage you to explore their website. The amount of data they collect and put into map-format can be intimidating, however, I hope you take the time check it out anyway. I've lived in many parts of this country in many different cities and it is true that the census data paint a picture which although usually only a snapshot in time typically can be very insightful when relocating. The zip codes in the SW portion of Fort Wayne I would examine are 46804 or 46814. 46804 is pretty close to Highway 69 and I would highly recommend exploring the housing options there.

Here's some links you may wish to leverage:
US Census Bureau home: Census Bureau Home Page

American Factfinder home: American FactFinder

American Factfinder "Fort Wayne" Fact Sheet: Fort Wayne city, Indiana - Fact Sheet - American FactFinder

Fort Wayne Relocation Information: leisure vacation, convention services - fort wayne convention & visitors bureau

Maps for Getting Around Fort Wayne: leisure vacation, convention services - fort wayne convention & visitors bureau

Fort Wayne zip code map: http://www.cityoffortwayne.org/image..._printable.pdf

Lastly if there's anything else you wish to know or if you are looking for someone who can give you a tour around this vicinity, just send me a personal message with what you're looking for. I have a positive feeling about this city and have been here a few years. I am not a realtor, politician, nor do I have any vested interest in helping out except that I live in Fort Wayne and like to encourage other educated professionals to relocate out here. If I don't know the answer to something I'll point you in the right direction.

Good luck and take care :-)

[Xlr8r]

H00sier Mike - good to hear other So Cal people like the area. I am from Wildomar, just south of Lake Elsinore. I drive through Corona every day on the 91 parking lot!

mbuszu - thank you for the data. I will be looking at it. Are the areas you are describing in the SW all new developments or are there still some older houses with character available? I don't necessarily need a Victorian house, but I definitely want something with a basement! I haven't seen one of those in years! I would probably want an area with a little slower growth just because I am living in an area that was just overgrown. In 1999 when I moved here to Wildomar, there was probably 120,000 within a 15 mile radius. Now there are 500,000 and about 3 times as many houses, and the infrastructure has not been improved one bit! They are now just starting to address this huge issue. I don't want to do this again. Thanks again for the info, as soon as I know something, I plan on taking a trip out there to see what it is like. I promise you, nothing will shock me!

[domergurl]

You'll probably be shocked in a good way! Welcome to our fair state. You won't know what to do with yourself without your commute!

[mbuszu]

Originally Posted by Xlr8r

Are the areas you are describing in the SW all new developments or are there still some older houses with character available? I don't necessarily need a Victorian house, but I definitely want something with a basement! I haven't seen one of those in years! I would probably want an area with a little slower growth just because I am living in an area that was just overgrown. In 1999 when I moved here to Wildomar, there was probably 120,000 within a 15 mile radius. Now there are 500,000 and about 3 times as many houses, and the infrastructure has not been improved one bit! They are now just starting to address this huge issue. I don't want to do this again. Thanks again for the info, as soon as I know something, I plan on taking a trip out there to see what it is like. I promise you, nothing will shock me!

The SW areas I've described have plenty of older homes with character. You'll be pleasantly surprised at their cost too - real estate here has always been among the most affordable in the country... and when I moved from NYC years ago I couldn't believe what I saw... 10 year old 2250sq foot homes for $150k... 3000 sq foot homes on small ponds/lakes with finished walk-out or daylight basements at $230k. These days the numbers aren't much higher as many people in this vicinity make it a hobby to build new homes every few years thus repressing home price inflation. There a handful of older neighborhoods with absolutely awesome homes and landscaping in Fort Wayne... the ones off the top of my head are in the SW vicinity.

[hinata70]

Hi Xlr8r,

I live in the NW just a hop away from Raytheon (just off exit 111), and I am moving away from Ft. Wayne due to job loss. I have lived here since 1999 and have lived in Indiana all my life. My accessment is that Fort Wayne is a great place to live, but it doesn't have any 'wow' factor. The Fort has a great zoo, good parks, nice summer festivals, good shopping, fun sports teams, good concerts, etc., etc., etc., but nothing that says 'this place is really awesome'. If you aren't looking for that 'wow' factor, then I think Fort Wayne would be a great place for you to relocate. There a plenty of things to do in the area, it just takes a bit more effort to find them sometimes.

The SW side of town is a bit more 'happenin' than the NW, but the NW is less congested and has less property tax. The far NE is growing exponentially. If you have young children the elementary schools have not kept pace with the growth in the NE. The SE is still run down despite efforts to revitalize. The downtown area is undergoing a revitalization, but it is slow going. You would really just have to visit or rent for a while to figure out which side of town best suites you.
Best of luck to you.

[H00sier Mike]

Originally Posted by domergurl

You won't know what to do with yourself without your commute!

Sleep an extra two hours in the morning

P.S. Want to buy siggie and avatar!

[domergurl]

Originally Posted by H00sier Mike

Sleep an extra two hours in the morning

P.S. Want to buy siggie and avatar!

Mine?

[Jakehorror]

Good Luck in Indiana! Hope it all works out for you and your family.

We are actually moving to SoCal March 1st, so we're kinda like, trading places! Hahaha!

If your into raising a family and the slower pace lifestyle and don't mind all the wierd weather patterns you will like Indiana. It's not a "bad" state, it just is what it is. Things don't change much here really, we're not that progressive. The fashions are about a year behind SoCal I have noticed. It's 2 different worlds as you will see when you arrive. We're not as "po-dunk" as some of the other states, but we're not really cutting edge either. Get ready to see lots of Nascar stuff and there seems to be more smokers here too than CA. Just my observations, I'm not judging anyone or anything.