I'm moving to Memphis in October (Bartlett, Germantown: for sale, homeowners association, crime)

[magnoliagrl]

So, after 8 years in Denver I'm finally moving back to the South. (I'm originally from Pine Bluff AR) I'm 31, single looking for a good area to live in after I sell my house in Denver. I'm looking to stay in the 120-140 range. I'd like to be close to shops, restaurants, etc. I work at home, so commuting is not an issue, but I don't want to live in West Memphis. That's out of the question. I'm leaning towards Cordova. Any suggestions??

[JoeCartpath]

I think you'd like my subdivision...Valmont Place in Cordova. It's close to everything on Germantown Parkway, but not TOO close. Within just 2 or maybe 3 miles you've got Wolfchase Galleria (large regional shopping mall), every national chain restaurant known to man, a few good local ones (Bolla Pasta...or you can just walk the 2 blocks to Fresh Slices), and probably anything else you need (Target, WalMart....Kroger & Schnucks for groceries).

Houses in this subdivision are priced from the $120s to about $160. Unlike some of the lower priced subdivisions nearby, this one is 100% complete...with the housing slump and lack of sub-prime financing I expect to see some of those other areas remain unfinished for quite a while. Being a small subdivision, this one avoids the almost "housing project" look of some of the other subdivisions with hundreds of small, tightly packed houses. We have the advantage of being surrounded by much higher priced subdivisions (Cordova the Town, Riverwood), so that should keep this area more desirable. The houses are between 5 and maybe 7 years old, on small lots with many having the garage (every house has a 2 car garage) entry off a service road in the rear.

A single lady bought the house next to me and she loves the area...one of her friends bought another house in the subdivision.

If this sounds like something you might like, PM me and I'll be glad to send you the info on any houses here for sale, email you some photos, etc. Just let me know what you want...

There are a couple of photos on the Homeowners Association website - www.valmontplace.org (I'm the webmaster).

[Mom2My3]

I think you would enjoy Collierville. If you don't have to commute somewhere into Memphis for work, then you would like it here. Collierville is very safe and family oriented. They have upscales housing and neighborhoods. Collierville has a great newer mall with nice upscale shopping and restaurants. There are also many fitness facilities and churches which are ideal for single people. You would also love Powell Park with its walking trail and Johnson Park with its nature trail for walking.
The town square is wonderful and unique. Right now they have bluegrass bands playing in the square. It has quaint shops and neat little festivals there. They have an annual tree lighting where there is singing, Santa and the mayor handing out hot chocolate. Kids walk to school daily and lots of outdoor activities. It is a unique, safe community so close to the most dangerous city in America.
I would not recommend Cordova or Bartlett anywhere north. I just heard of another home invasion up there. Collierville has a high police presence to keep that stuff from creeping in here!!! If you have to live in this crime ridden, slummy city....then stay out and away in the burbs.....look seriously at Collierville...you won't regret it!!!!

[JoeCartpath]

Collierville would be great, but finding a decent house in a decent neighborhood there for $120-$140 there is going to be a challenge.

[UofMGrad92]

Originally Posted by Mom2My3

I would not recommend Cordova or Bartlett anywhere north. I just heard of another home invasion up there. Collierville has a high police presence to keep that stuff from creeping in here!!! If you have to live in this crime ridden, slummy city....then stay out and away in the burbs.....look seriously at Collierville...you won't regret it!!!!

You are quite big with the alarmist, fear filled, negative posts (both here and on the Houston board).

FWIW, Bartlett and Cordova (although sharing a border) and not the same place. Cordova is by and large part of the City of Memphis, and Bartlett, like Collieville, is it's own city. To continually compare Bartlett with Cordova (or better yet, to repeat over and over in posts to stay away from anywhere north) is silly. It would be the same as someone coming on here and saying stay away from Southwind and Collierville (which share a border), Hickory Hill and Germantown (which share a border) or "anywhere south", as if those areas are one and the same just because they share a geographic portion of Shelby County. It is a short drive to Bartlett from some rougher parts of Memphis, but it is an equally short drive to Collierville from some rough parts of Memphis (particularly Hickory Hill). Crime from Memphis does come to Bartlett, but it also comes to Collierville. No area is immune, but Bartlett, like Collieville, Germantown, and Millington, has it's own police department that aggresively moves to prevent crime.

To the OP, Cordova is okay, but property values are in decline due to overdevelopment. Historically, after annexation by Memphis previously suburban, nice areas tend to deteriorate. Taxes are higher, crime increases, quality of schools decreases, and property values also decrease (at least in the short term). If you move to Cordova, I would advise picking an area that has already been annexed by Memphis. That way, property values will have reset accordingly. There are some really nice neighborhoods in Cordova with really nice people and you can certainly get more house in Cordova than you can in the outlying suburbs at lower price points. And it is convenient to all the shopping and restaurants you can stand.

You can find housing in Bartlett for $120,000 to $140,000, although it will be older housing stock in older neighborhoods. Bartlett is convenient to shopping and restaurants. Collierville and Germantown would offer the same level of conveinence to shopping and restaurants, but $120,000 to $140,000 isn't happening in either of those places.

[Kabluey]

Welcome back to the mid-south!! I hope to be not too far behind!!

[TN-rox]

Cordova, after being annexed, is going to go downhill fast. I would consider Millington or south Tipton County, north of Memphis. MUCH cheaper than out east (Collierville, Cordova, Germantown). Crime is indeed a little higher, but not organized crime. Growing fast as well. However it is a little out of the way, with not too much to do in the towns of Millington/ Munford/ Atoka, from Millington- its only a fifteen to twenty minute commute to downtown and wolfchase! Consider it, and good luck with your move.

[JoeCartpath]

Originally Posted by TN-rox

Cordova, after being annexed, is going to go downhill fast.

Cordova was annexed anywhere from 7 to 13 years ago, depending on the area. You'd think if it was going to go "downhill fast" that would already be well underway, but it's not.

[ComputerMan]

Don't rule out Tipton county or Millington. Might be a bit rural for your tastes though.

[2nomadic4me]

What is your price range...

I would say not to go to Cordova. I went to Cordova in may of 08 to a friends and it is getting bad (near the Wolfchase Galleria). If you really like shopping, dining, and whatevering: You need to check out Hickory Hill. It is not the best of areas but, it is only going down in crime not up like Cordova is. It's close to the Hickory Ridge Mall. Fox Meadows which is in-between Poplar and Winchester (near Nonconnah Pkwy which I think is called 385 or Bill Morris) and they have some GREAT houses that are modern and very cheap. It is also getting better. But don't even think about going near to MidTown or Raleigh. Germantown, Collierville, maybe Eads/Lakeland, East Memphis, Hickory Hill, and Fox Meadows are your best bet.