Confused with Questions.....Please Help! (Louisville, Prospect: real estate, homeowners insurance, homes)

[LuckyJoe]

We will be relocating to Louisville in the near future. Since my job will be on the northeast side of the city, we are looking for the average 3 bedroom/2 bath home, nothing fancy, but comfortable. We don't know the different sides of the city, but have been advised to stay away from the west side. We are looking in a $125K-$150 range (is that realistic on the northeastside?)

1. What is the average property tax for a 3 BD/2 BA home? I went into shock today when I found out the car insurance! We currently pay $800/yr. for 2 vehicles (coming from the Midwest) -- is $2000/yr. really true????????
2. And what is the "bug situation" I have read in the other posts -- large cockroaches and other pests?
3. What makes Kentucky so expensive in car insurance and homeowners insurance?
4. Any other financial surprises we might be in for?

Please help . . . we are committed to this relocation and want to make intelligent choices, so I need some local input. Many thanks!

[tomocox]

Originally Posted by LuckyJoe

We will be relocating to Louisville in the near future. Since my job will be on the northeast side of the city, we are looking for the average 3 bedroom/2 bath home, nothing fancy, but comfortable. We don't know the different sides of the city, but have been advised to stay away from the west side. We are looking in a $125K-$150 range (is that realistic on the northeastside?)

Go to Real Estate Including Residential and Commercial Real Estate | RE/MAX International, Inc. it will tell you far more than any other website. A super upgrade in progress as I type.

1. What is the average property tax for a 3 BD/2 BA home? I went into shock today when I found out the car insurance! We currently pay $800/yr. for 2 vehicles (coming from the Midwest) -- is $2000/yr. really true???????? Joe, don't let anyone tell you what your auto insurance costs will be but a local agent. Call Kentucky Farm Bureau, State Farm, etc to get a direct quote for your new address.
   
2. And what is the "bug situation" I have read in the other posts -- large cockroaches and other pests? Naw, the only pests are the politicians.
   
3. What makes Kentucky so expensive in car insurance and homeowners insurance? Well, three catastrophic storms each of which caused more damage to Kentucky than the 4 hurricanes which hit Florida in 2005 would be a starter.
   
4. Any other financial surprises we might be in for? Can't really say. Except, our overall cost of living here is below national average.
   

Please help . . . we are committed to this relocation and want to make intelligent choices, so I need some local input. Many thanks!

I hope this helps you.

[censusdata]

Louisville has very affordable homes compared to the national average so you should no problem finding something in that range even in the best side of Louisville (which is the north east). The fanciest areas in Prospect, Anchorage, etc will be out of your price range but there are lots of middle class areas between them that would be right up your alley. I'd center your search along Westport Road and LaGrange Road extending into southern Oldham County

Generally all of the suburban service district in Jefferson County has low taxes, the exception being Anchorage which funds it's own independent school district. The old city limits (aka today's urban service district) has much higher taxes, but that's a good distance from the area you're looking at. I'd guess that the tax rates would similar in both NE Jefferson County and Oldham County, but some of the real estate people on this forum could give you exact figures

[LuckyJoe]

Thank you for all of your responses. Knowing that my job will be in the 40241 zip code on the northeast side, what zip codes do you feel I should look at that would allow me to be 5-15 minutes from my work -- and in my $125-150K price range?

Could you also tell me, to help my wife's employment situation when the time comes, are there any business parks within that same area (for office management/secretarial work)?

[mdawg]

anywhere in 40241,40245, 40243, and 40242 would probably be the best zip codes to look in. All offer affordable housing and safe neighborhoods. And you are very near shopping, grocery stores ect. If you do choose to look at neighborhoods in these zip codes I would probably stay away from the Murphy Ln. area and Berrytown. The property values here don't hold up as good as most other areas.