[mikec64]

Hi,

My family will be moving to LV later this year due to a job relocation. We made a trip to LV to look for houses earlier this month and checked our some houses in the 89143 area. Our budget is under $150k and this will be our first home purchase. We liked the schools in this area (Bilbray and Scherkenbach) since we have a school age child. However, while driving around the neighbordhood, we saw a high percentage of minorities living in the area. I have read that the area has been hit hard by foreclosures and many properties in the area have been bought by investors. I wonder if the foreclosures have caused a shift in the resident demography and many lower income families are now moving into the area attracted by the low rents.

I do not want to leave people an impression that I am racist. I have no problem with having minority neighbours and where we live today has a large minority presence. However, I will be leery about buying a house in a neighbourhood with a high percentage of renters from lower income families, especially the Section 8 types.

Can someone tell me more about the neighbourhood?

[olecapt]

Originally Posted by mikec64

Hi,

My family will be moving to LV later this year due to a job relocation. We made a trip to LV to look for houses earlier this month and checked our some houses in the 89143 area. Our budget is under $150k and this will be our first home purchase. We liked the schools in this area (Bilbray and Scherkenbach) since we have a school age child. However, while driving around the neighbordhood, we saw a high percentage of minorities living in the area. I have read that the area has been hit hard by foreclosures and many properties in the area have been bought by investors. I wonder if the foreclosures have caused a shift in the resident demography and many lower income families are now moving into the area attracted by the low rents.

I do not want to leave people an impression that I am racist. I have no problem with having minority neighbours and where we live today has a large minority presence. However, I will be leery about buying a house in a neighbourhood with a high percentage of renters from lower income families, especially the Section 8 types.

Can someone tell me more about the neighbourhood?

There are a small number of neighborhoods in 89143 that should be worried about. Most however are fine. Just have your RE Agent check the percent owner occupied. As it gets under 60% or so worry. Stay in the upper end of your price range and sections 8 will be practically nonexistent. Pretty rare anywhere in that area.

Another good tactic is buy the less expensive home in a more expensive neighborhood.

[mikec64]

olecapt, thank you for replying.

We also looked at some houses in the 89129 area because we liked the schools (Garehime, Deskin, Tarr) there. However the houses in this area are definitely more expensive than the ones in 89143. The only things within our budget are houses with very small yards (~2000 sf). I read in some earlier posts that the high density tracts in this area have an above average crime rate. Can someone confirm this? Should I avoid the high density tracks in this area?

[ndb3]

I don't think you will find you'll have much of a problem in the 89143 area. It's the Centennial Hills area and a very nice area with a lot of conveniences. It's a safe area where you'll see people out walking all the time and seems to be a nice family oriented area with a lot of parks. I live in this area and it is personally my favorite in the valley. You can also check out parts of 89131 which is right on the other side of Durango next to 89143. They will also be zoned for the schools you want as well.

[olecapt]

Originally Posted by mikec64

olecapt, thank you for replying.

We also looked at some houses in the 89129 area because we liked the schools (Garehime, Deskin, Tarr) there. However the houses in this area are definitely more expensive than the ones in 89143. The only things within our budget are houses with very small yards (~2000 sf). I read in some earlier posts that the high density tracts in this area have an above average crime rate. Can someone confirm this? Should I avoid the high density tracks in this area?

General rule of thumb owner occupied homes are your friend. There are no guarantees in any neighborhood...hell they stole a large built in safe from the second floor of Jan Jones multi-million home in Summerlin.

Large concentration of renters often lead to nusance problems. Any high density neighborhood can have such problems but renters enhance it.

I would not worry a whole lot about crime in any of these neighborhoods. Crime occur on the arterials and commercial areas mostly. The high density neighborhoods are a little higher in crime but it is nothing significant.

Get a barky dog. That takes care of 95% of it.

[armyjimb]

Originally Posted by olecapt

Get a barky dog. That takes care of 95% of it.

Your right. In my neighborhood, almost 35 homes have barking dogs. Its great. No one can walk the street at night time without have a dog bark. Granted it may be noisy, but I rather have noise than someone breaking into my home.

[mikec64]

Originally Posted by olecapt

I would not worry a whole lot about crime in any of these neighborhoods. Crime occur on the arterials and commercial areas mostly. The high density neighborhoods are a little higher in crime but it is nothing significant.

This is good to know. Now on a different subject, my realtor has been recommending the 89129 area due to the good schools in that area. But we are a little hesitated about buying a house on a very small lot (~2000 sf). We are concerned that it will be difficult to sell it down the road when we are ready to move on to a bigger place. In general, is house on a small lot different to sell?

[ndb3]

I think it would be harder to sell with a small yard. Most people that buy houses with yards that small (I'm assuming) are younger singles with no kids that don't need the yard space and don't want to maintain a larger yard. The fact that you are questioning it yourself should tell you that other people with kids would be asking the same thing and ultimately would probably decide against such a small yard. It seems to me that you might regret getting a house with such a small yard. I would say take another look at the house and go in the yard and see if you can really imagine yourself living there and entertaining in the back yard, barbecuing and having friends hanging out there and see if you think the yard is adequate.

I have lived in 89129 before, it is where my wife bought her first house before we had kids and we lived right near the 215 off cheyenne. I think the lot was 2600 sqft. and I could never have a yard that small again, especially with kids and dogs.

I know I always look for a house with the biggest yard in my price range. Of course people will always sacrifice or make exceptions when you take the house itself and the community/ location into account. When I was looking for a house I found a house that was only 1800 sqft and had a huge yard in a non-gated community. I ended up picking a 2400 sqft house that was in a gated community with playground/park area and basketball court in a better location, but it had a much smaller yard. I decided the smaller yard was acceptable since we could just walk to the park inside the community for the kids to play and the house had more usable space.

I also believe the schools are just as good in the 89143 area as 89129, but of course that is only based on what I've read. My oldest child is only two and not in school yet. I'm sure there are more people that can chime in and give some more opinions on the schools.

[olecapt]

Originally Posted by mikec64

This is good to know. Now on a different subject, my realtor has been recommending the 89129 area due to the good schools in that area. But we are a little hesitated about buying a house on a very small lot (~2000 sf). We are concerned that it will be difficult to sell it down the road when we are ready to move on to a bigger place. In general, is house on a small lot different to sell?

Clients run hot and cold on yards. You get people who have to have 5,000SF...and you get people who could not care less.

I would see little difference between the 89129 schools and 89143. Garehine is a particular gem...but that has little to do with location. Gifted Principal syndrome.