Quad City Area-w/children (Davenport, Iowa City: credit, real estate, fsbo)

[my_tula_son]

Hi:

My husband may be accepting a position in the QC area soon which will mean a move for us this year (from Central Illinois). I have a few questions:

1. We will be looking for a home in the 150-200,000 price range. Good schools are a top priority. Also, we are looking for schools that may be somewhat diverse or open to diversity...our children are both adopted internationally and are of different races than my husband and I. Thus, we hope to be in a somewhat diverse area that has great schools if that makes sense. So, recommendations on where to look for a home/what kind of home we can expect to get for that money would be great. Right now we have a simple 3 BR, 2 BA home in a good neighborhood...

2. I will likely be looking for a job there after we get settled. I am a masters level social worker so suggestions on potential places to look would be helpful.

3. Basic pros and cons of the various areas (IA vs. Illinois side, vs small surrounding towns) are appreciated...but I would most love to hear what people like or love about a particular area. I am having a hard time with the idea of moving but this is a good opportunity for my husband so am trying to stay positive!

4. I just thought of one more question...my son (age 8) is really into acting/drama etc. Where we live there are several summer camps and community theaters which give children the opportunity to act...is there anything like that in the QC or surrounding area?

Thanks so much

[QuadCityImages]

Here are some quick answers before I go to bed, (3rd shifter) and I can add more later.

1. You'll have a pretty easy time with that price range, in my opinion, but you may have expensive tastes. A lot of people would see your "good schools" and say Bettendorf, but then they'd see your "diverse schools" and think, definitely not Bettendorf, Pleasant Valley, or North Scott. I would suggest taking a look at the McClellan Heights neighborhood of Davenport, which would be at the upper end of your price range (or potentially many times your price range for some of the mansions in that area), and would put your kids in the boundaries for Central High School. This house seems like a good example of some of the non-mansion homes available in that area, although not to great looking on the exterior.

2. We have lots of social work agencies, some say too many, so you shouldn't have much trouble finding a job.

3. Both sides have their pros and cons, I'll let others weigh in here. I'm biased towards Iowa even more than I'm biased towards Central HS.

4. In Davenport (one of the reasons I suggested it) there's a group called Junior Theatre that unfortunately doesn't have a website. It seems like just what he's looking for. They perform in a historic theater that was formerly a church located a civil war orphan's home in east Davenport.

[my_tula_son]

Thanks for the information...

You brought up a good point regarding what my expectations are in housing...

I would say we are not looking for the perfect home. We love older homes that may need some fixing up (but hopefully nothing extensive). We also enjoy newer homes (we are in one now) but it would be considered a "low-end" new home if that makes sense. Space, well, we need 3 BR and hopefully 1.5 or greater baths...would be perfect if we either had a basement or some type of bonus room.

With regards to diversity and schools, I simply don't want my children to be the only minority children in the classroom. My experience is that children tend to do better when they can be around some other kids that look like them...less issues with getting picked on, etc. Just for the record my daughter is Asian and my son looks Latino, although he is from Russia (he is Gypsy--Romani).

Thanks again, would appreciate more feedback if anyone has it.

[metro223]

Originally Posted by my_tula_son

Thanks for the information...

You brought up a good point regarding what my expectations are in housing...

I would say we are not looking for the perfect home. We love older homes that may need some fixing up (but hopefully nothing extensive). We also enjoy newer homes (we are in one now) but it would be considered a "low-end" new home if that makes sense. Space, well, we need 3 BR and hopefully 1.5 or greater baths...would be perfect if we either had a basement or some type of bonus room.

With regards to diversity and schools, I simply don't want my children to be the only minority children in the classroom. My experience is that children tend to do better when they can be around some other kids that look like them...less issues with getting picked on, etc. Just for the record my daughter is Asian and my son looks Latino, although he is from Russia (he is Gypsy--Romani).

Thanks again, would appreciate more feedback if anyone has it.

Well if this is the case, Bettendorf will be fine. It's not an extremely diverse place but people don't have a problem with those who aren't white, there are actually quite a few muslim students there, as well as asian and indian, so I really don't think they will get picked on.

[mfrerkes]

Originally Posted by my_tula_son

3. Basic pros and cons of the various areas (IA vs. Illinois side, vs small surrounding towns) are appreciated...but I would most love to hear what people like or love about a particular area. I am having a hard time with the idea of moving but this is a good opportunity for my husband so am trying to stay positive!

There is quite alot positive about the Quad City area, and its unique make-up of four smaller cities instead of one big town gives it a character that IMO appeals to a broader ranger of people.

The Illinois side has an overall cheaper cost of living than Iowa. There also a little more historical value on that side of the river with the Rock Island Arsenal, Black Hawk State Park (on the grounds of what used to be one of North America's largest native American settlements), and a couple John Deere museums. Economically speaking, the Illinois QC is not quite as vibrant as the Iowa side.

The Iowa side has better schools and access to shopping. Most of the retail has moved out to the 53rd/Elmore corridor, which is still seeing a fair amount of new construction. As mentioned, the economy is better in Davenport/Bettendorf when compared to Moline/Rock Island. You might find housing prices in Bettendorf to be a little pricey compared to the rest of the region.

Amenities are a shared thing in the Quad Cities. Moline has the i wireless Center, which is a 12,000-seat arena built in 1993. It continues to be a prime stop for many North American concert tours and is home to both an AHL hockey franchise and af2 arena football. It is a very busy place year round, and adds immensely to the cultural offerings found in the Quad Cities.

Davenport is home to the Figge Art Museum, which opened a few years ago. It is a tremendous facility and has garnered attention from art communities in much larger cities as a "must see" museum. The River Center/Adler Theatre, just a few blocks away in downtown Davenport, also attracts some nationally reknown acts. Comedians, concert tours, and off-Broadway shows make frequent appearances at the Adler, while the River Center hosts numerous large trade/hobby shows every year.

Other highlights include The District in Rock Island, John Deere Commons in Moline, Putnam Museum/IMAX in Davenport, and the Family Museum in Bettendorf. There are three different casinos in the QC, along with a minor league baseball team, the Quad City River Bandits who play at MWA Park right on the Mississippi riverfront. Large cultural events such as the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival (one of the best in the country) and the PGA's John Deere Classic add even more depth to the area's calendar of events. I've never had any problem finding things to do here. On top of it all, everything is affordable and easy to get to.

The Quad Cities is not perfect, and there are some flaws...but the good outweighs the bad by a significant margin. I moved here from central Iowa about two years ago, and I've not regretted it for a second. I don't think you will either.

[Kimmyfromtheblock]

I grew up in IL near Geneseo, IL. I now live in Eldridge, IA. Eldridge is alot like Geneseo area. Small town atmosphere, low crime rate. Schools are excellent. I would not send my child to Davenport schools ever. That is just my opinion. A good source on homes for you would be Quad Cities Real Estate For Sale By Owner - FSBO Properties - QCFSBO.COM. Any question email. NO I dont run that website but used it to sell a home once. Also you can use Mel Foster or Ruhl Ruhl.

[QuadCityImages]

There's nothing wrong with Davenport schools, despite what you hear. They're a lot closer to the real world than the all-white, homogeneous suburb schools. At Central you may have the occasional gang activity, but at North Scott you have the angst-filled kids making bomb threats and bringing guns to school. It all evens out.

I was quite pleased with the Davenport School system when I went through it. I even came out with 11 hours of college credit, although I've heard that program may have been cut since I graduated in 2000.

[Julspete]

If you like small town living, Wilton, IA is a nice, clean, friendly town with a very good school system. My children are adopted also, 2 bi-racial and 1 asian. For a small town our school is diverse. Several african-american and asian children. My children are very outgoing and happy, never picked on for their ethnicity, many friends. Wilton is dead center between the Quad Cities and Iowa City, both which have many activies and things in which to do or see. Just FYI, in case you're considering a small town.