Relocation to Iowa.....testing the waters (Cedar Rapids, Davenport: real estate, showing, apartment)

[g-man-shadow]

Hi all

My wife and I are Rhode Islanders, strongly considering a move to Iowa.
I found this forum and have been browsing for the past 2 days. It looks like a great place with lots of people willing to help point you in the right direction. You can get only so much from newspapers, and googling.
I'm an IT person (network administrator/IT specialist) with 12 years experience and I've been out of work since February, and the new photography hobby is no longer keeping me sane.
I've checked several job info banks for Iowa and are pleased to see there are quite a few IT jobs.
I am driving out the end of next week 8/15 and will probably put myself up at an inexpensive motel with kitchenette while I hunt for work, probably in the Cedar Rapids or Dubuque area. If anyone has suggestions it would be appreciated.
My wife will follow 3 weeks later if all goes well for me.
We will be looking for a 1 or 2 bedroom furnished apartment (kitty friendly) in a relatively quiet neighborhood for a few months while we save up to bring out our furniture and household goods.
I have done some investigative work and are considering Dubuque and Cedar Rapids as a possible homestead though I would prefer Dubuque because of it's dynamic landscape.
Looking forward to lots of great input.

Thanks

[Roy G. Biv]

Dubuque is a much prettier town although the hills can be hazardous in winter and the insects along the Mississippi river in late summer can sometimes be massive droves like some sort of biblical plague. Eastern Iowa along the Mississippi in fall can be very pretty when the leaves turn. There are some nice attractions down by the river and some great parks up in the bluffs. CR is bigger, more stuff like restaurants and stores, better job options--but not known for its scenery. Both are safe and family friendly towns.

[SharpHawkeye]

There's one big problem with your plan. It's going to be hard to find a hotel room like the one you describe in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area, especially with no notice.

Because of the flooding, so many out-of-area workers have come into town for clean up work (on top of those displaced still living in hotels) that most of the hotels in the area are at 90-100% capacity right now. The "live-in" type of hotel you're looking for, I imagine would be in the highest demand.

I think you'd really like the CR/IC area, but if you want to stay here for the next few weeks...you're going to have to do some advance work.

[Roy G. Biv]

Good point, my car died last month in Waterloo (1 hr north of CR) and I tried to find a hotel to stay in and they were all booked up with people from Cedar Rapids who had been flooded out or the contractors, FEMA inspectors, etc etc. I doubt it is that full any longer, and perhaps not as much in DBQ but any long-term type hotels I bet would be tough to find. If you can't find one, perhaps you could find an apartment and make an arrangement to only stay for a month, then bring along just the basics you would need to get by while you look...that is if you could find an apartment right now.

[todd00]

personally i dont like iowa, i live here now, born in this state, but find the housing over priced and not really many things to do. i will say the eastern part of the state is prettier than the west, but with all that flooding im happy to not be living on that side of the state. iowa city is a pretty nice town, but a college town. i guess it all depends what you are looking for. some of you may disagree, its just my opinion, dont take offense please.

if you can find work, you might be happier near the twin cities area, of minnesota. lots of things to do, major sports teams, and a more cosmopolitan feel than anyplace in iowa. naturally its a much bigger city. have you ever lived in the midwest before? i personally like missouri better than iowa. over all prettier scenery and larger cities too. just my 2 cents. best wishes to you.

[Roy G. Biv]

The housing in Iowa is overpriced? LOL

[g-man-shadow]

Todd, no offense taken. The wife does have kin in Jesup and Waverly, I''m going to stay there for a few days to get acclimated. That will give me a few days to find an extended stay with a kitchenette, I have diabetes so my diet kind of dictates me having to have fridge and stove.
Dubuque is my number one choice, the more I read and research. Marion looks like a good place but don't know till I get there.
The twin cities are not for me big cities have big problems, the wife and I had agreed on Iowa but thank you for the suggestion. If I want big city, Chi-town is 2.5 hours away but the reason for my eastern Iowa choice is that it is the same distance to the most prime lighthouse real estate in the nation. I'm a lighthouse hunter and like to photograph lighthouses.
Rents overpriced LOL If you only knew what I was paying in Rhode Island. Take what the average rent is in towns like Cedar Rapids or Dubuque and times by 2 or 3. Our electricity rates are 30% higher ($0.07 compared to $0.11 energy cost plus what they call delivery charges that they can tweak till the cows come home the utility commission can't do anything about) and natural gas is 15% higher. Our gasoline is also $0.20 higher.
I know there will be an adjustment based on the area as far as income goes but it's pretty close to what I was making here (- 5 to 10%).
Thanks for the input!

[Stretch D]

I too am hoping for a job in Iowa. I find the comment of pricey real estate interesting since I am in the Bar Harbor area and find anywhere else less expensive.....I hope to move to the Quad Cities area and would love some input for things to do when I come out for an interview.

[mfrerkes]

Originally Posted by Stretch D

I hope to move to the Quad Cities area and would love some input for things to do when I come out for an interview.

Well, it depends on when the interview is....but here is a schedule of upcoming QC events that you might wish to implement when scheduling an interview:

9/6 Quad City Symphony Orchestra River Front Pops Concert (MWA Park, Davenport)
9/6 Second City Touring Company (Centennial Hall, Rock Island)
9/16 Buckcherry (iWi Center, Moline)
9/20 George Jones (Adler Theatre, Davenport)
10/08 Michael Buble (iWi Center, Moline)
10/11 Quad City Flames AHL season opener (iWi Center, Moline)
10/17 Jerry Seinfeld (Adler Theatre, Davenport)
10/18 Quad City Ballet presents Dracula (Capitol Theatre, Davenport)
10/20 Brew Ha Ha 2008 Comedy, Microbrew, Live Music Festival (downtown Davenport)
10/23 Norm MacDonald of SNL Weekend Update fame (Penguins Comedy Club, Davenport)
10/25 Kelly Clarkson/Reba McEntire (iWi Center, Moline)
11/08 Metallica (iWi Center, Moline)

I would also recommend checking out the Figge art museum in downtown Davenport. In addition, there are some interesting exhibits and films showing at the Putnam Museum/IMAX also in Davenport. If you like casinos, there are three of them in the QC. Rock Island has a vibrant Arts & Entertainment District and a very nice botanical center. Arsenal Island has some interesting historical sights and the Mississippi River Visitors Center where you can watch barges move through Lock & Dam 15. As for Moline, I recommend a visit to John Deere Commons along River Drive.