Locations for couple in early 30's with no kids (Carmel: home, resale)

[missik999]

Originally Posted by jongordo8

I wouldn't say we want an urban enviornment, just a place that has DINKS like us (I love that term) and unique and exciting dining opportunities. So broad ripple,meridian kessler, carmel, westlake. Should I include Butler Tarkington? SoBro? What about Nova or Castleton?

Not Castleton so much, or Nora, IMHO.

My DINK friends all live in Carmel and love it. Although they all have dogs that are like their children, which is a large part of the reason they love dog-friendly Carmel. So I guess technically they are DINKS + dogs.

[msamhunter]

Originally Posted by jongordo8

I wouldn't say we want an urban enviornment, just a place that has DINKS like us (I love that term) and unique and exciting dining opportunities. So broad ripple,meridian kessler, carmel, westlake. Should I include Butler Tarkington? SoBro? What about Nova or Castleton?

U would love butler tarkington. Everything revolves around the university but it keeps you young. Holcomb gardens plus immediate access to the canal is a definite bonus along with ima being right there. For dog lovers the way the parks are lined up, each township has a major park each with a bark park and there are some standalone bark parks throughout the city. Garfield, sahm, nw way, sw and se way, cant remember for wayne and perry along with eagle creek (flagship park) offer great amenities. Then you have smaller parks like holiday and perry that also offer what you are looking for. The dogs would really like holiday park.

[ischyros]

Originally Posted by jongordo8

I wouldn't say we want an urban enviornment, just a place that has DINKS like us (I love that term) and unique and exciting dining opportunities. So broad ripple,meridian kessler, carmel, westlake. Should I include Butler Tarkington? SoBro? What about Nova or Castleton?

Nora and Castleton about just about the epitome of chain restaurants/shops and heavy traffic. Sure, there are a few mom & pop shops mixed in, but Castleton is dominated by the largest mall in the state so you can imagine it's mostly chains and lots of traffic and stoplights. Nora is a little better but certainly not on the scale of the Meridian-Kessler area.

[luzclara]

For established urban environment, I would go with SoBro (south Broad Ripple). It's not in the thick of Broad Ripple (less congestion/bars/college students) and continues to attract locally acclaimed restaurants like Recess. For the dog, there is a bark park in Broad Ripple.

For an up and coming urban environment, I would hands down go with Fountain Square. It has a fabulous collection of local restaurants plus my new favorite - Bluebeard - whose young chefs were just recently nominated for a James Beard award (Merchant Directory). There is no bark park nearby, but I've heard plans are under way for one at 25th and the Monon. Another plus to the area is the completion of the Cultural Trail.

I'm less familiar with suburban areas. I'll just second/third the previous statements of Nora/Castleton as being chain heavy.

[msamhunter]

Originally Posted by ischyros

Nora and Castleton about just about the epitome of chain restaurants/shops and heavy traffic. Sure, there are a few mom & pop shops mixed in, but Castleton is dominated by the largest mall in the state so you can imagine it's mostly chains and lots of traffic and stoplights. Nora is a little better but certainly not on the scale of the Meridian-Kessler area.

Southlake mall still has more gla and sq footage than castleton square. Its just not part of simons world real estate domination

[ischyros]

Originally Posted by msamhunter

Southlake mall still has more gla and sq footage than castleton square. Its just not part of simons world real estate domination

I'm sure that's true. When I lived in Fort Wayne I kept hearing Glenbrook Square was the largest in the state as well and it's also not owned by Simon.

[msamhunter]

Originally Posted by luzclara

For established urban environment, I would go with SoBro (south Broad Ripple). It's not in the thick of Broad Ripple (less congestion/bars/college students) and continues to attract locally acclaimed restaurants like Recess. For the dog, there is a bark park in Broad Ripple.

For an up and coming urban environment, I would hands down go with Fountain Square. It has a fabulous collection of local restaurants plus my new favorite - Bluebeard - whose young chefs were just recently nominated for a James Beard award (Merchant Directory). There is no bark park nearby, but I've heard plans are under way for one at 25th and the Monon. Another plus to the area is the completion of the Cultural Trail.

I'm less familiar with suburban areas. I'll just second/third the previous statements of Nora/Castleton as being chain heavy.

Bluebeard is fletcher place not fs. Have tgey finally finished the bridge section yet if u know?

[jongordo8]

Thank you to everyone who responded. My fiance drove through several areas today that you mentioned and spent some time in broad ripple. She said she loves these areas. So we are going to focus our search on Broad Ripple, Meridian Kessler, Butler Tarkington (stay above 44th street is what I am reading, and SoBro. We just got a recommendation for a realtor so we will pass the information I got from here to them and start looking.

If we decide to rent a house instead of purchasing, any websites you suggest for these areas? Looking on cl and on the mls I didnt find a whole lot that are out there.

[msamhunter]

Originally Posted by jongordo8

Thank you to everyone who responded. My fiance drove through several areas today that you mentioned and spent some time in broad ripple. She said she loves these areas. So we are going to focus our search on Broad Ripple, Meridian Kessler, Butler Tarkington (stay above 44th street is what I am reading, and SoBro. We just got a recommendation for a realtor so we will pass the information I got from here to them and start looking.

If we decide to rent a house instead of purchasing, any websites you suggest for these areas? Looking on cl and on the mls I didnt find a whole lot that are out there.

For mk and bt above 44th is more important for mk than bt. Bt 44th is right behind fraternity row so you'll deal with rentals and college students. Your realtor should have some credible homes available for lease.

[bertrandandjules]

Originally Posted by jongordo8

Thank you to everyone who responded. My fiance drove through several areas today that you mentioned and spent some time in broad ripple. She said she loves these areas. So we are going to focus our search on Broad Ripple, Meridian Kessler, Butler Tarkington (stay above 44th street is what I am reading, and SoBro. We just got a recommendation for a realtor so we will pass the information I got from here to them and start looking.

If we decide to rent a house instead of purchasing, any websites you suggest for these areas? Looking on cl and on the mls I didnt find a whole lot that are out there.

I would think you'd be okay staying above 42nd in both MK and BT. And, in a few more years, you can probably be okay through the entirety of MK and BT. Right now, anything between 38th and 42nd is dodgy, but you can probably get a good deal, and the areas are definitely improving. If you're willing to deal with a slightly above-average crime rate, you will probably have a great investment 10 years down the road.