Relocating to Shreveport/Bossier City...some heads-up? (Natchitoches, Many: mineral rights, rentals)

[SBCmetroguy]

Originally Posted by ATL2SBC

OK...so my wife and I took a trip to S'port from Atlanta last week. We spent 7 days in town and tried to take in as much of the City and neighborhoods as possible. I think we have narrowed it down to the S. Highlands area, SE Shreveport and the Springlake area. We are looking at a townhome in Springlake and were wondering what people thought of that particular area. It seems nice and safe...and the only downside I could find were the apartments (Springlake Point?). They looked older and a bit run down. Let me know what you all think of this area - especially you SBCMetroGuy

Thanks!

SpringLake Point are quite a bit older but I did live there for 2 years when I first got married. They're very quiet and not bad to live in at all (despite their appearance.) They are still very well maintained and I never had any complaints while living there. They absolutely will not tolerate any problems there, and the average rent is about $750/month. Most of your problems in society can't afford that kind of rent, and those who can will not slip through the cracks. The ONLY problems you might have would come from Cedar Grove which is the bad neighborhood down Line Avenue from SpringLake.

You'll be fine living in a house or townhome in SpringLake, or any of those neighborhoods you mentioned for that matter. Just be mindful of bad neighborhoods nearby and make sure you have an alarm on your home, no matter where you live. Even out in the area where I live, which has virtually no crime to speak of, I have an alarm... you can't afford not to have one.

I work about 1 mile from those apartments and that neighborhood, and can guarantee you that as long as you stay out of Cedar Grove you will be just fine in this part of the city.

By the way I hope you enjoyed your visit. As I said it's much smaller than Atlanta, but I still find that it has its own charm... and I hope you saw that as well.

[ATL2SBC]

Just wanted to post an update on what we decided on. We found a very nice older woman who owns 7acres south of S'port. The home is located near the intersection of Linwood and Mayo Rd. and (from the look of it) convenient to downtown and all areas that we may frequent. It is a bit rural, but will give us some wide open spaces for our 2 year old to run around and there is even a lake close by. Thanks for all of your help (SBCMetroguy and others). We are really looking forward to the move and getting to know our new home.

Thanks!
Chad

P.S. If any of you know the area we are moving to, let us know what you think.

[SBCmetroguy]

Originally Posted by ATL2SBC

Just wanted to post an update on what we decided on. We found a very nice older woman who owns 7acres south of S'port. The home is located near the intersection of Linwood and Mayo Rd. and (from the look of it) convenient to downtown and all areas that we may frequent. It is a bit rural, but will give us some wide open spaces for our 2 year old to run around and there is even a lake close by. Thanks for all of your help (SBCMetroguy and others). We are really looking forward to the move and getting to know our new home.

Thanks!
Chad

P.S. If any of you know the area we are moving to, let us know what you think.

Hey, great to hear. I know the area ... we actually have friends who live just a few miles further south from there. There is a large construction company based in that area called Blount Brothers. They're good people.

It's definitely rural as you mentioned, but if the wide-open spaces are what you will be happiest and most comfortable with, then you should love it. Good for you! Hopefully you guys will love living in this area and enjoy your stay, however short or long it might be.

If I can ever do anything more to help you guys, let me know.

[geauxtigers9]

I noticed some homes along North shreveport (headed toward blanchard after the 71 split) that are abandoned and one had I-49 posters in the windows. There is a straight clearing crossing N. Market (Hwy 1) with signs saying "Future corridor I-49". Is I-49 actually going to be built north? (in the near future) thanks.

[SBCmetroguy]

Originally Posted by geauxtigers9

I noticed some homes along North shreveport (headed toward blanchard after the 71 split) that are abandoned and one had I-49 posters in the windows. There is a straight clearing crossing N. Market (Hwy 1) with signs saying "Future corridor I-49". Is I-49 actually going to be built north? (in the near future) thanks.

Parts of I-49 are already well underway in far north Caddo Parish, and yes those homes are being cleared out to make way for the north Shreveport leg of the freeway. Governor Jindal is trying to secure funding for the project, but as usual our lovely state lawmakers are fighting him.

[cloudsnightmare]

Well, I currently live in bossier with my parents. I'm only 17, but thats besides the point. I haven't had much time to really get to looking around, but I plan on being ready to move out by June. And I was wondering if anyone could clue me in on the average rent of a 2br apartment at a variety of the apartment complexes in bossier. I'm really interested in Stockwell Landing, but I haven't had time to look into it. So if anyone could help me out, thanks. =)

[hindsight2020]

Stockwell Landing is one of the nicer complexes...their 2bed 2 bath runs right under 900/mo. One bedrooms overall are cost prohibitive since they are only 100 bucks less on average but you don't have the ability to subrogate your housing cost.

The apt complex I live in runs me about 700/mo for a 2bed, and the apts are dated and is off shed road and airline. The area is a little rough, but it's the only thing we could find that wasn't any cheaper and straight up ghetto, or nicer and wicked expensive. The location works well for my fiance's commute (my commute is a joke as I work on base)

If I were you I'd stay at home lol. Tough to beat rent = $0 particularly if you plan on going to college in the same town you grew up. My friend lives in Boston and makes about 70K and lives at home because housing is so prohibitive that if he were to rent and try to save for a house up there i'd take him more than a decade to get enough cash to comfortably put down on a home and not be house poor from the get go...believe me the stigma of living at home is quickly getting phased out by the reality of how disconnected median salaries are compared to median home prices in this country.

So to summarize, expect to pay between $800-1000/mo for a nice decent 2bd apartment in bossier or east shreveport by clyde fant parkway. Anything above that you're better off considering home ownership, as you could live on the cheap somewhere and have a surplus of 400-500 dollars you could put away for down payment every month and eventually get a mortgage that would match that high of a rent in the first place. Anything below you'll have to accept older apartments or questionable location.
Good luck

[KingJ]

Originally Posted by SBCmetroguy

You'll be fine living in a house or townhome in SpringLake, or any of those neighborhoods you mentioned for that matter. Just be mindful of bad neighborhoods nearby and make sure you have an alarm on your home, no matter where you live. Even out in the area where I live, which has virtually no crime to speak of, I have an alarm... you can't afford not to have one.

thats true becasue sumone broke into our house from my bedroom window and stole abunch of mys tuff. we have a alarm but we didnt ever use it but now we do and they came back when we were coming home and the alarm went off and scared em off.

[mynina]

I just read this entire thread as I just found out that we will be moving back to Shreveport within the month. I have to find a house to rent ASAP. Tried looking online all day with very little luck. We lived in S'port for over 20 years, left 4 1/2 years ago to pursue "The American Dream" which ended up being a nightmare, so we're coming home. We own a house in the Highland area-was a beautiful neighborhood 20 years ago-now you can hear gunshots, boom boom boom & windows rattling as cars go down the street. My daughter lives there now, but she is pregnant and I just can't ask her to move right now. So-I am looking for a house to rent, really can't afford more than about $700.00 or so. I saw were someone (SBCmetroguy?) knew a real estate agent who had decent rental property. Would you share that info? If anyone has any info I would appreciate it. I wish I could be as lucky as ATL2SBC and find a place off of the beaten path. We live in the country now and I love it, not gonna like being a city girl again I don't think. Thanks in advance for any assistance!

MODERATOR: Any recommendations on real estate agents must be done privately - there is no soliciting or advertising, either direct or indirect, allowed on City Data. Thanks, Sam

[hindsight2020]

Originally Posted by mynina

I just read this entire thread as I just found out that we will be moving back to Shreveport within the month. I have to find a house to rent ASAP. Tried looking online all day with very little luck. We lived in S'port for over 20 years, left 4 1/2 years ago to pursue "The American Dream" which ended up being a nightmare, so we're coming home. We own a house in the Highland area-was a beautiful neighborhood 20 years ago-now you can hear gunshots, boom boom boom & windows rattling as cars go down the street. My daughter lives there now, but she is pregnant and I just can't ask her to move right now. So-I am looking for a house to rent, really can't afford more than about $700.00 or so. I saw were someone (SBCmetroguy?) knew a real estate agent who had decent rental property. Would you share that info? If anyone has any info I would appreciate it. I wish I could be as lucky as ATL2SBC and find a place off of the beaten path. We live in the country now and I love it, not gonna like being a city girl again I don't think. Thanks in advance for any assistance!

MODERATOR: Any recommendations on real estate agents must be done privately - there is no soliciting or advertising, either direct or indirect, allowed on City Data. Thanks, Sam

Um, well I pay 700/mo for a "middle of the road" 80s-dated 2bed/1bath apartment complex in a so-so area in Bossier, where my only incentive is the convenient location and joke of a commute to work. I've had petty crime committed on my property and vehicle on said apt. That's 700/mo in Bossier apartments. I don't think you'll find anything even close to 700/mo for a single family home in bossier. That rental price will be in straight up shady areas of town. Sorry. You gotta look at least $1000-$1100/mo for the base of the "nice" in bossier. SBCmetro and other folks who are more experienced in the area can fill in the gaps or correct me if I overshot my assessment of the area. Good luck.