Martindale on the Monon (work, housing, crime)

[krazycp]

I'm thinking of moving downtown to the Martindale on the Monon development. I like the house but I have a few concerns:

1) Safety- What are the chances I'll come home from work and find my front door kicked in and my posessions stolen? What can I do to minimize this?

2) Resale- Will I be able to resell the house in 5+ years without taking a major lose due? In other words, can I expect property values to increase.

3) Development - Will this development spur more? Can I expect more and more people to continue moving to this area?

Thanks for any input you might have.

[sweetana3]

I have been meaning to drive on over there and look at that development. I like the plans.

I dont have a crystal ball but Fall Creek Place is on the move to the East. The homes on Carrollton dumped a whole bunch of money into new housing in the area between Martindale and the Near Northside.

You can check crime with a visit to the police dept. or there is an online way to enter an address and check to see what types of crime are seen there or the surroundings. I tried it and it was very very interesting.

You would be somewhat of an urban pioneer for the area much like those who moved into the Northside were years ago. If you are buying for substantially less than you could get from Fall Creek Place etc. you may have a chance to get appreciation. Fall Creek originally had some small houses with 2 car garages for $125,000 and up.

Personally, get out of the car and actually walk each block surrounding where you want to get the house. See if you can talk to anyone you see during your walk. One to see if they are friendly, and two to see if you can get some actual specific information about the area. Check all the alleys, check for empty houses, etc. Best on foot since you can study it.

I have even done this when we thought about a house in Broad Ripple. I was not impressed with what I saw in back of the house I was looking for.

If I can get hubby to drive over there, I will take a look.