Living in the city of Lexington less than 200K? (Richmond: houses, rent)

[Micah Girl]

I have checked out lbarmls.com and realtor.com to look at houses in and around Lexington. I see that there are indeed 4 bedroom houses well under 200K available, but it's hard for me to know what the neighborhoods are like.

In general, can you get a decent house with 4 BR and a yard for the kids in a safe, nice neighborhood (not fancy, just nice) in Lexington city limits?

I am visiting next month and will be looking at houses but am still trying to figure out exactly how far our money can go in advance.

Thanks!

[ic-epi]

Originally Posted by Micah Girl

I have checked out lbarmls.com and realtor.com to look at houses in and around Lexington. I see that there are indeed 4 bedroom houses well under 200K available, but it's hard for me to know what the neighborhoods are like.

In general, can you get a decent house with 4 BR and a yard for the kids in a safe, nice neighborhood (not fancy, just nice) in Lexington city limits?

I am visiting next month and will be looking at houses but am still trying to figure out exactly how far our money can go in advance.

Thanks!

Micah Girl,

I'm right there with ya! We're actually visiting for a three day weekend next weekend so I'm really excited to see some of the subdivisions I've read and heard about on this forum. I'm going to try to hit a few open houses. This is in preparation for our four day frenzied house buying trip in mid-May so I'm thankful we'll have this opportunity to look around prior to buying.

Others will obviously know more than me but it seems there are many houses in newer, presumably safe neighborhoods with 4 bedrooms, less than $200k. School district really drives the prices. The square footage might be on the small size for a 4 bedroom house (around 2000 sq feet) and I doubt you'll find one with a basement in that price range, but they seem to be there. In particular, of the newer neighborhoods on the south side of Lexington (better school area) I've seen some houses in Pinnacle subdivision in that price range. Also in Masterson Station but that is north and the schools aren't as great.

[lexingtongal]

Generally for $200k you will find a house on a slab with vinyl siding and they may not be built by the best builders in town.
Another area is in the 40509 area out Richmond Rd. I know that Andover and all those off of Todds Rd are in poor school districts but the Chilesburg area has similar homes and in a better district.

[Micah Girl]

Originally Posted by ic-epi

Micah Girl,

I'm right there with ya! We're actually visiting for a three day weekend next weekend so I'm really excited to see some of the subdivisions I've read and heard about on this forum. I'm going to try to hit a few open houses. This is in preparation for our four day frenzied house buying trip in mid-May so I'm thankful we'll have this opportunity to look around prior to buying.

Others will obviously know more than me but it seems there are many houses in newer, presumably safe neighborhoods with 4 bedrooms, less than $200k. School district really drives the prices. The square footage might be on the small size for a 4 bedroom house (around 2000 sq feet) and I doubt you'll find one with a basement in that price range, but they seem to be there. In particular, of the newer neighborhoods on the south side of Lexington (better school area) I've seen some houses in Pinnacle subdivision in that price range. Also in Masterson Station but that is north and the schools aren't as great.

Do post after your 3 day weekend or PM me because I would love to hear what you see.

[Micah Girl]

Originally Posted by lexingtongal

Generally for $200k you will find a house on a slab with vinyl siding and they may not be built by the best builders in town.
Another area is in the 40509 area out Richmond Rd. I know that Andover and all those off of Todds Rd are in poor school districts but the Chilesburg area has similar homes and in a better district.

Right now we are homeschooling, but I would like to have a good public school option open to us if we decide to go that route in the future. I know it also helps with resale down the road...

Do magnet schools start at junior high or high school? My kids are all elementary age currently, but I could see sending them to a magnet as they get older if it will suit their interests and abilities.

Is there a link I could go to that would give me all the neighborhood names and zip codes?

Thanks.

[lexingtongal]

fcps.net
There are several magnet programs that start in elementary school.
Maxwell's Spanish Immersion program starts in Kindergarten.
Quest Accelerated Cluster starts in 3rd grade. Prior to that there are pull out programs in each elementary school called Primary Talent Pool. These are generally only an hour or so a week.
SCAPA (school for creative and performing arts) starts in 4th grade.
Each of these programs have a link from fcps.net.
QAC and SCAPA have admission criteria. Maxwell is by lottery.
I don't think there is a place to search for school district by subdivision but the above site does have that option by street name.

[gimme it]

What schools have Quest Accelerated Cluster?

[ic-epi]

Originally Posted by gimme it

What schools have Quest Accelerated Cluster?

Elementary -- Ashland and Meadowthorpe
Middle -- Windburn
High -- Henry Clay

You don't have to live in the district. Kids are bussed in. Right now my big issue is that Windburn is far on the north side and we are probably going to buy on the south side -- a very long bus ride.

It sounds like the QAC program is great, although the schools they're located in don't necessarily have the best reputations (except Henry Clay). Lexingtongal has said that she really likes Ashland, though, and that the cluster program is great.

It's also fairly rigorous to qualify for the gifted cluster magnet programs (high test score requirements).

[ic-epi]

Originally Posted by Micah Girl

Do post after your 3 day weekend or PM me because I would love to hear what you see.

I will, Micah Girl! My perspective as a newbie in the city might be helpful to you since you are in the same boat as me. Let me know if there is a particular area/subdivision you want me to check out and/or take pics of and I'll try to do that.

[Micah Girl]

Originally Posted by lexingtongal

fcps.net
There are several magnet programs that start in elementary school.
Maxwell's Spanish Immersion program starts in Kindergarten.
Quest Accelerated Cluster starts in 3rd grade. Prior to that there are pull out programs in each elementary school called Primary Talent Pool. These are generally only an hour or so a week.
SCAPA (school for creative and performing arts) starts in 4th grade.
Each of these programs have a link from fcps.net.
QAC and SCAPA have admission criteria. Maxwell is by lottery.
I don't think there is a place to search for school district by subdivision but the above site does have that option by street name.

Thanks! I will be spending some time there.