Who wants to help me? "Moving to Indiana" (Indianapolis: 2015, car registration)

[johnd393]

Before you write off NW Indiana, do a search for homes in 46385 in the 250k to 400k range.

[indy_317]

Originally Posted by noahp45

good day people of City-data

I will be moving to Indiana from California in less then 9 months. I have been looking at homes in Bloomington, Evansville, Outside of Indianapolis and cities close to Cincinnati like St Leon or Greendale.

I want to be close enough to the city so I can have internet, shop at malls and Costco. But at the same time be far enough so I can have at least 4 acres of land. Will need internet for my two Teenagers. And a great High School! Also don't want to spend more then 400k and I would like to have job options.

The farther you live from the main city centers, the cheaper land will be. However, you will always be driving if you want malls and Costco. Internet can be iffy. My sister is on four acres, three of it flood zone, just outside Indy. She has to have satellite cable and internet because she lives on a street where a farmer just sold off some acreage and someone came in and sold lots for nice custom homes. Utility companies don't provide services just areas with twenty or thirty homes, so be aware of that.

Lots where I move in NE suburban Indy were $100K for the five acre lots that were being sold. The two acre lots were $50K. A nice custom home would run one $300K, so a more reasonable home might only costs $250K, so I think if you are looking more rural, your price point should be doable.

Originally Posted by noahp45

Would like to be in Law enforcement, OR something that allows me to help people.

How old are you? Most municipal LE jobs are in the 77 PERF pension fund here in Indiana. Age cut-off is 36 years old. Not sure about Ohio and Kentucky. They changed the age cap for firefighters (same pension plan) to 39 I believe. Most sheriff's departments, university, and other LE agencies (K-12, airport, etc.) might be in other plans that don't have age caps, but some of these agencies might not offer any sort of pension plan at all, just a 401(k) style plan. Some Indiana sheriffs have went from a deputy patrol division to a police officer patrol division, to get their patrol officers under the better 77 PERF plan (St. Joe County and Lake County are two that I know of). Indiana also has an excise police department and a gaming commission police agency. They have their own pension plan as well. There are two Indiana casinos in the St. Leon region, but the workplace will obviously be smoky. Note, the gaming positions are more investigative than uniform policing, but you still work in the casino so the smoke will still be there.

Don't discount the university police agencies. Some pay well and the pension/savings plan might not come with age restrictions (or even health test restrictions). Univ. of Miami in Oxford, OH pays very well (their contract is on-line). Univ. of Cincinnati didn't pay as well as U. of M. from what I recall. Checkout the airport police agencies as well. Indy airport police don't do too bad anymore. They were smart and raised their pay and benefits to keep and attract quality people.

LE in Indiana is in transition. A lot of the larger city and the middle and higher income suburbs have pushed pay higher than I ever thought they would. LE as a whole is having a hard time attracting people. The smaller cities and towns in more rural areas are having a hard time for sure. You might out around $50K/year with a take home car, but their budgets are really keeping them from giving good raises and such. A lot of the good folks will flee to the larger urban areas where wages in into the mid-$60Ks and they are offering lateral/experience pay benefits.

NW Indiana and Ft. Wayne will be colder with likely more snow. Indy will be a little less cold and snow. The Cincinnati area, Louisville area, and Evansville area will be even more mild, at least on average. While you might be OK with the cold, are you OK with snow and how much? It is true that ice could be an issue along the areas closer to the Ohio River due to the more mild winter temps, though I don't think they really get ice storms often (and we get them here in Indy every so often as well).

[noahp45]

Originally Posted by indy_317

The farther you live from the main city centers, the cheaper land will be. However, you will always be driving if you want malls and Costco. Internet can be iffy. My sister is on four acres, three of it flood zone, just outside Indy. She has to have satellite cable and internet because she lives on a street where a farmer just sold off some acreage and someone came in and sold lots for nice custom homes. Utility companies don't provide services just areas with twenty or thirty homes, so be aware of that.

Lots where I move in NE suburban Indy were $100K for the five acre lots that were being sold. The two acre lots were $50K. A nice custom home would run one $300K, so a more reasonable home might only costs $250K, so I think if you are looking more rural, your price point should be doable.



How old are you? Most municipal LE jobs are in the 77 PERF pension fund here in Indiana. Age cut-off is 36 years old. Not sure about Ohio and Kentucky. They changed the age cap for firefighters (same pension plan) to 39 I believe. Most sheriff's departments, university, and other LE agencies (K-12, airport, etc.) might be in other plans that don't have age caps, but some of these agencies might not offer any sort of pension plan at all, just a 401(k) style plan. Some Indiana sheriffs have went from a deputy patrol division to a police officer patrol division, to get their patrol officers under the better 77 PERF plan (St. Joe County and Lake County are two that I know of). Indiana also has an excise police department and a gaming commission police agency. They have their own pension plan as well. There are two Indiana casinos in the St. Leon region, but the workplace will obviously be smoky. Note, the gaming positions are more investigative than uniform policing, but you still work in the casino so the smoke will still be there.

Don't discount the university police agencies. Some pay well and the pension/savings plan might not come with age restrictions (or even health test restrictions). Univ. of Miami in Oxford, OH pays very well (their contract is on-line). Univ. of Cincinnati didn't pay as well as U. of M. from what I recall. Checkout the airport police agencies as well. Indy airport police don't do too bad anymore. They were smart and raised their pay and benefits to keep and attract quality people.

LE in Indiana is in transition. A lot of the larger city and the middle and higher income suburbs have pushed pay higher than I ever thought they would. LE as a whole is having a hard time attracting people. The smaller cities and towns in more rural areas are having a hard time for sure. You might out around $50K/year with a take home car, but their budgets are really keeping them from giving good raises and such. A lot of the good folks will flee to the larger urban areas where wages in into the mid-$60Ks and they are offering lateral/experience pay benefits.

NW Indiana and Ft. Wayne will be colder with likely more snow. Indy will be a little less cold and snow. The Cincinnati area, Louisville area, and Evansville area will be even more mild, at least on average. While you might be OK with the cold, are you OK with snow and how much? It is true that ice could be an issue along the areas closer to the Ohio River due to the more mild winter temps, though I don't think they really get ice storms often (and we get them here in Indy every so often as well).

I will be 39yo, but Indiana gives me a waiver since I'm retiring from the military. Dont really care about making a lot of $ I just want to help people and be involved in the community

[noahp45]

Originally Posted by johnd393

Before you write off NW Indiana, do a search for homes in 46385 in the 250k to 400k range.

Good looking out I found a few homes there I loke.

Wife is curious about the winter there vs southern Indiana

[noahp45]

Originally Posted by noahp45

I will be 39yo, but Indiana gives me a waiver since I'm retiring from the military. Dont really care about making a lot of $ I just want to help people and be involved in the community

I love the cold and snow I would move to Alaska if my wife would follow me..

She doesn't want too much snow.

[noahp45]

Originally Posted by Peter1948

No...but Lanesville, Floyds Knobs, and Harrison County schools are. Look especially at Lanesville. An absolute hidden gem! Feels rural but right in the Louisville MSA...beautiful rolling hills, caves, and cheap land! shhh don't tell everyone

Only one house for sale in lanesville

[Veniceman]

Originally Posted by Peter1948

Let's be real here though...Indiana's effective second largest city is NW Indiana. After that, Louisville's S. Indiana Suburbs combined are about the same size as Ft Wayne...add in much better weather and the Louisville MSA which is substantially bigger than Ft Wayne....the op needs to seriously consider this area.

Valparaiso seems like a nice town but I never cared for much of the rest of northwest Indiana. Too congested to suit me. To each their own, though.

[Peter1948]

Originally Posted by noahp45

Only one house for sale in lanesville

search “harrison county” and “floyd county” on zillow.

[noahp45]

Originally Posted by Peter1948

search “harrison county” and “floyd county” on zillow.

Thank you, I seen a few but nothing that got my attention.

I did just find a few in Evansville I love. I'm going to call North Posey High school and ask about open enrollment.

[popcorn247]

What about the area around Lafayette/West Lafayette? It is far enough south so you won't get lake effect snows. West Lafayette has some of the best schools in the state.