A southerner moves north (Cedar Rapids, Iowa City: real estate market, to rent, crime)

[southrngrl]

My fiancee accepted a job in Cedar Rapids; therefore, we will be moving up there from Texas after the wedding. My question is this: Which areas are the best to live in? I know that as far as what I am used to, crime is going to be virtually non-existant, but there has to be "good" areas and "bad" areas to live in, relatively speaking. I just don't want to wind up in a shady part of town without realizing it. Does anyone have any help to give?

[mthawki]

SE side of CR is probably the best and there are lots of little towns around CR within a short commute worth considering like Mt. Vernon for instance.

Try out this link to look at the housing market and get in touch with an area realtor to help you find exactly what you're looking for. Since you're new to the area, it might be an even better idea to rent for your first few months there to get a feel for neighborhoods and figure out what you like on your own.

http://gazetteonline.com/
http://www.realtor.com/cedarrapids/n...ia&poe=realtor

[southrngrl]

Thanks, mthawki. We are already working with a realtor, but I just wanted to hear from some people that live there. Ethically there is only so much the realtor can tell us. We have been looking at Marion, but not Mt. Vernon. I will extend our search to include that. Also, we have not seen much from the SE area, I will check it out too. Most of the things that we have seen were in the NE area and Marion. Any thoughts on those areas? About the renting...we will probably be doing that for a little while for we have to sell the house down here before we buy, but we are trying to go ahead and get a feel of things up there.

[mthawki]

I actually grew up in Iowa City, so I'm just going off of what I remember about CR along with some of my own research. You're going to find decent neighborhoods all over town and it's really going to come down to finding out what you like best (IE: older homes, newer homes, proximity to shopping, etc).
The winter is also a very slow time in the real estate market as far as inventory goes. Once things start to warm up in March/April, then a lot more homes come on the market and give you more of a choice.
Moderator cut: link removed is a good site to give you some more info about the area too.

[southrngrl]

Thanks, again for your help.

[mthawki]

You're welcome! If you have any other questions, this is a good place to get 'em answered.

[CertifiaBully]

LOL Well, if boredom doesn't drive you stir crazy, I hope you enjoy Iowa. You can have it! When they say in the summer that you can sit and hear the corn grow, listen to them...IT'S TRUE!!! Nothin else goin on in that place to keep you from hearin it!! Good luck and Texas will still be here when you come to your senses!

[summer grace]

Well, Iowa is quiet, but some people like quiet, so there's nothing wrong with it for them. I enjoy parts of living in Iowa, just as I don't like parts of it. I don't want to turn anyone off Iowa, I just think there are people who would be happier somewhere else. Iowa is a rural state, and those tend to be quiet.

[TheresaGo]

Originally Posted by southrngrl

My fiancee accepted a job in Cedar Rapids; therefore, we will be moving up there from Texas after the wedding. My question is this: Which areas are the best to live in? I know that as far as what I am used to, crime is going to be virtually non-existant, but there has to be "good" areas and "bad" areas to live in, relatively speaking. I just don't want to wind up in a shady part of town without realizing it. Does anyone have any help to give?

Avoid anything under 19th St. in any quadrant of town (SE, NE, SW, NW) and you should be fine. I lived in CR for eight years.

[TheresaGo]

Originally Posted by CertifiaBully

LOL Well, if boredom doesn't drive you stir crazy, I hope you enjoy Iowa. You can have it! When they say in the summer that you can sit and hear the corn grow, listen to them...IT'S TRUE!!! Nothin else goin on in that place to keep you from hearin it!! Good luck and Texas will still be here when you come to your senses!

Ugh. I'd take an Iowa summer over a Texas summer any day. In TX in the summer, you can't even go outside. They go from AC house to AC car to AC store. No way to enjoy the summer, if you ask me. I'd rather be OUTSIDE listening to the corn grow.