Military family needs help in relocating to the Bossier/Shrevport area! (Bossier City: renting, crime)

[Rhodes+3]

I am currently out of the country and will be moving to the area the first of May. I am looking at buying a house or renting somewhere out of the city. Originally from a small town and MS and would like to find the same atmosphere to raise my daughter. I am looking at finishing out my career and possibly staying. If anyone could lend me some help on where I might find a nice quite place. I have been looking in the Haughton area, I have noticed that it might be a little bigger that I want, but I am willing to make the sacrifice if the community is safe. I am just wanting to get out of the base area and get involved in a local church and community. Thanks in advance for any help!!

[SBCmetroguy]

I'm not sure what you're looking for, but Haughton is a very small town of about 3,000 people. It's grown a lot in recent years, adding about 1,000-1,500 people to such a small town but it's still very small. It's also kind of poor as I've discovered from living there, but as long as you live in a decent subdivision you shouldn't have any problems. I think the biggest crime issue out there is the meth trade ... and that seems mostly confined to the very poor areas.

The street I live on is mostly military, so I can say there are a LOT of military people living out there. As a matter of fact I'm the only household on the part of the street where I live that isn't military.

The only down side to Haughton is the commute. To the base it's not so bad, but I work 24 miles from my home so it's 30-45 minutes for me to commute. And for the next year the interstate is being totally redone between Haughton and Bossier City, so expect commuting delays for quite a while during both the morning and evening rush hours.

[Rhodes+3]

Could you give some of the good subdivisions or areas that I would look for a house. Just so I am not looking in the bad areas that you spoke about. Thanks!!!

[SBCmetroguy]

Well it's really obvious when you drive into Haughton ... trust me! You can tell the bad areas because they're all very run down.

What kind of price range are you looking at? Here are some subdivision names IN Haughton: Tuscany Crossing/Tuscany Villas, Cornerstone, Creekside, and a couple others whose names I don't know. Along Highway 80 is an area that people consider to be Haughton, even though it's not really. That area consists of the towns/communities of Princeton, Red Chute, Fillmore, etc. The subdivisions in that area are: Forest Hills, Country Place, Tall Timbers, South Merrywoods, etc. Try looking up info on these areas and see what fits your price range. I know the military doesn't pay nearly enough and it will depend on your duties as to how much you make, but my house was only $130,000 when I purchased it and it's quite nice (small, but nice) and on a VERY nice dead-end street with LOTS of military families.