Rentals in LA... (New Orleans, Lafayette, Lake Charles: crime, houses, neighborhood)

[MarchMadness]

We are moving to Louisiana in the next few months. We're having a really hard time finding a house to rent. We're looking for a 3-4 bdrm in a decent neighborhood for under $1000 per month. We're looking anywhere within 3.5 hours of the Gulf. Fiance is a diver and we'd like to stay close. Anyone know where I should start looking? Thanks.

[MarchMadness]

Anyone?

[Doogie]

MM, can you give us a little more to go on? Are you looking for rural, suburban or urban? Any kids? 3.5 Hours from what part of the gulf? What kind of diving?

[MarchMadness]

Originally Posted by Doogie

MM, can you give us a little more to go on? Are you looking for rural, suburban or urban? Any kids? 3.5 Hours from what part of the gulf? What kind of diving?

We are pregnant with our 3rd child. Son is 3, daughter is 1, and this baby girl will be here next month. He is an oilfield diver. He has to be within 3.5 of Belle Chasse. That's where his shop is. It would be nice for him to be able to come home more often. Right now he's only able to come home maybe once per month. The 10 hour drive is not something he can do every weekend. Would be nice for him to get off the boat every other weekend atleast. We either want to live in a rural area or in suburbia. Definently not an urban area. Thanks.

[MarchMadness]

Originally Posted by cusomewhere

We have a completely renovated house for rent in Terrytown LA. See the the virtual tour at this link. It's in a great neighborhood with 3 bedrooms for $1500/month.
[SIZE=2]www.realestateshows.com/206559[/SIZE]

Thanks but we really are looking for under $1000 per month.

[Laura707]

Check your PM's...

[Doogie]

3.5 hour radius from Belle Chasse is a huge area. Anywhere from Pensacola to Jackson, MS to Alexandria to Lake Charles. Depending on your tolerance for tropical systems, Belle Chasse itself isn't a bad area. Lafayette and Houma would be decent choices as well. Further from the Gulf you have areas like Gonzales, Hammond/Ponchatoula and LaPlace all as reasonable choices. Even some areas in Southern MS like Picayune would be OK.

Since you have children you will need to look carefully at the local schools around each of these areas. Many of the schools are not good but there are some pearls to be found. The schools are generally better around Mandeville / Covington but because of that, they are beginning to get crowded. You can still find "rural" in that area but it's growing so it may not be rural for long.

[MarchMadness]

Originally Posted by Doogie

3.5 hour radius from Belle Chasse is a huge area. Anywhere from Pensacola to Jackson, MS to Alexandria to Lake Charles. Depending on your tolerance for tropical systems, Belle Chasse itself isn't a bad area. Lafayette and Houma would be decent choices as well. Further from the Gulf you have areas like Gonzales, Hammond/Ponchatoula and LaPlace all as reasonable choices. Even some areas in Southern MS like Picayune would be OK.

Since you have children you will need to look carefully at the local schools around each of these areas. Many of the schools are not good but there are some pearls to be found. The schools are generally better around Mandeville / Covington but because of that, they are beginning to get crowded. You can still find "rural" in that area but it's growing so it may not be rural for long.

I've been looking in the Mandeville/Covington area. Right now we are just going to rent for a year and my kids are all under school age so the school system really doesn't matter. It will be a huge factor when we buy next year, though. We are just trying to stay away from New Orleans. I like the country. Cannot stand crime or traffic.

[Doogie]

Crime in Covington and Mandeville is significantly lower than New Orleans and the schools are much better so that is a pretty good area. Unfortunately, some areas of the northshore are getting corwded so traffic is becoming more of an issue. Many people relocated to the norhtshore after Katrina and a number of businesses did as well, most notably Chevron (in the NorthPark business park area). The most congested area is Hwy 190 going north from the lake.

The best place to avoid potential hurricane flooding would be north of I-12 but that doesn't necessarily rule out south of I-12 (especially if you're renting). Abita Springs is a nice area and still has some land and large lots for the houses. Folsom is very nice but it gets into horse farming up there so it gets to be rather expensive.

[MarchMadness]

Originally Posted by Doogie

Crime in Covington and Mandeville is significantly lower than New Orleans and the schools are much better so that is a pretty good area. Unfortunately, some areas of the northshore are getting corwded so traffic is becoming more of an issue. Many people relocated to the norhtshore after Katrina and a number of businesses did as well, most notably Chevron (in the NorthPark business park area). The most congested area is Hwy 190 going north from the lake.

The best place to avoid potential hurricane flooding would be north of I-12 but that doesn't necessarily rule out south of I-12 (especially if you're renting). Abita Springs is a nice area and still has some land and large lots for the houses. Folsom is very nice but it gets into horse farming up there so it gets to be rather expensive.

What's the deal with Slidell? I talked to a very eager realtor there and she emails me every day with a ton of listings.