Southaven/olive branch (Memphis, Bartlett, Collierville: sales, rentals, crime)

[usmcmotort]

As I stated in an earlier post, I'll be relocating to the Memphis area (more specifically Millington). My wife and I have been looking for houses in the suburbs of Memphis; however, we noticed that Southaven and Olive branch are about the same distance away from some of the houses we were lookin at in TN.

I'm not just lookin for a nice house but I'm also wondering about the educational system, friendliness of people, diversity, medical facilities (hospitals), crime, etc [in Southaven/Olive Branch].

We're a young couple (25) with a 2y/o daughter with another one on the way. So I'd like to see if this area of MS is family friendly with good doctors and family friendly things to do (Malls, parks, etc).

It's a toss up between Memphis Suburbs and southaven/olive branch area, I'm just trying to weigh out my options, Thanks!

[jnr4411]

Check greatschools.net to compare Southaven and Olive Branch. From what I've heard Olive Branch is better. I'm confused about your Millington statement...You may want to check out Arlington, TN. Good schools and closer to Millington...???

[UofMGrad92]

There is a Baptist Hospital in Southaven and the associated doctor's offices that come with that are in the area. There is a new outdoor shopping center with most of the big name stores and restaurants in Southaven as well. Olive Branch is a little less developed in those areas, but you are close to both Collierville and Southaven if you live there. I've heard crime is increasing, especially in areas of Southaven that border on Memphis (the part of Memphis that borders Southaven is not so great), but I don't think it is anything too bad. I've also heard the schools are good, but I have no first hand experience with them nor do I know anyone who has children in the schools so someone else will have to chime in on that. I'd guess diversity in the area is mainly limited to Black and White (I'd guess around 80 to 85 % White) with smaller numbers of Asian and Hispanics mixed in.

I do have to wonder why you would pick Southaven or Olive Branch over Tipton County if you are to be working in Millington and don't want to live in Shelby County. In fact, I can't imagine that anywhere in Olive Branch or Desoto County is equally close to Millington and would imagine it would add 15 minutes to the commute even if you compared it to Collierville (the most distant Shelby County suburb from Millington).

If you stay in Shelby County, Bartlett, Arlington, and Lakeland are the closest suburbs to Millington and all are basically safe and have good schools. Any of these choices would meet your qualifications listed above, and while they might be a bit higher in housing costs than Southaven or Olive Branch, your commute would be cut in half if not more. Bartlett is more established as a suburb, has more shopping/restaurants, has a hospital, and has a wider range of housing options. It also has a bit more crime and is probably more diverse than Arlington or Lakeland. Lots of military folks live in Bartlett, Arlington, and Lakeland.

[usmcmotort]

Well according to googlemaps when I put in directions, some places in southaven/olive branch are same driving distance (as far as time) as some of the places in collierville/cordova area.

My wife do like houses in Arlington, bartlett, and the tipton county areas. I am not so sure, i'm just so confused about where to live. I guess it wouldnt make sense to move to MS if I can find a decent place to live near Millington with good schools and the like.

I guess I was trying to see if living on the other side (MS) would be different than actually living in Shelby County. Guess not.

[UofMGrad92]

Yes, I can see where the drive from far South East Cordova and Collierville would be a long commute as well. If you are considering Collierville or South East Cordova, then the leap to Olive Branch isn't that big of a deal (although the commute would be longer just based on distance).

I would advise if you look in that area you try to get somewhere around the 285 corridor (runs from Millington to Highway 64 near the Fayette County line and will eventually link up and connect with 385 in Collierville near the Fayette County and MS border). You would have better access to this road from eastern part of Olive Branch than you would from Southaven and would make your commute much easier even though it would still be long.

I don't know if how different it is living in MS versus Shelby County other than lessening the impact of the screwed up Memphis government on your local/county government, but you would get the same benefit lifing in Tipton County as you would Desoto County. The suburbs in the area all to some degree are impacted by Memphis, both good and bad. Desoto County, MS (Southaven/Olive Branch) is definitely more populated and has more stuff (hospitals, doctors, shopping, etc) than Tipton County, and if you can make the commute work and those things are important to you it might be the way to go.

I don't know if it would apply to Military personnel, but if you live in Mississippi there is a state income tax (even if you work in Tennessee). Some folks say it works out about the same as the higher sales tax in Tennessee, but if you shop at the PX and the Exchange on the base the sales tax wouldn't affect you.

[UofMGrad92]

Can you move here and live in temporary quarters for a while before you buy a house? I would recommend that you do so if you can, even if it means renting for a little while.

I don't know if Memphis is a tougher place than others, but the suburbs offer different things that seem to satisfy different people and I would recommend looking around for at least a few weeks before you buy. I live in Bartlett and like it very much, but some folks prefer to be further out and like the newer, hotter areas like Arlington. The good news is there are good deals to be found in all the suburbs right now and I think most of the price declines have already happened (although that is just a gut feeling based on nothing else).

[kingchef]

Originally Posted by UofMGrad92

Can you move here and live in temporary quarters for a while before you buy a house? I would recommend that you do so if you can, even if it means renting for a little while.

I don't know if Memphis is a tougher place than others, but the suburbs offer different things that seem to satisfy different people and I would recommend looking around for at least a few weeks before you buy. I live in Bartlett and like it very much, but some folks prefer to be further out and like the newer, hotter areas like Arlington. The good news is there are good deals to be found in all the suburbs right now and I think most of the price declines have already happened (although that is just a gut feeling based on nothing else).

given the information, i would have no reservations recommending bartlett. it is an established community, it has the amenities, the schools, the convenience of being somewhat centrally located to the metro area, and an acceptable inventory of availabe houses and rentals. houses in this area are more reasonable than in most of these other areas. other than bartlett, i would have to say millington. again, better housing prices and certainly convenient to employment. this area, according to some, will become a high growth area, as the road system improvements come to fruition in the not-to-distant future. a smart buy, by a young sensible couple, on a decent house in this area, could result in future big dividens---dividens which could be used to purchase a larger and better house for the family. good luck in your search, and, welcome to tennessee.

[bjh]

Commuting ACROSS Memphis will take more time, effort and money.

[usmcmotort]

Thanks everyone for your input. Seems that Bartlett and Arlington are the two areas we're looking at. I know Bartlett is a well established area, but I also read in a book that Arlington is "up and coming" and that it'll be the next Cordova/collierville, any truth in this?

I figure if that's true I could possibly buy a house here and hopefully when it hits its growth spurt we'll be in a good position for resale in the future.

[Pearlbob]

Cordova and Collierville are totally different. You'd want to buy in Collierville...it would be similar to Bartlett. Cordova has almost all been annexed by the city of Memphis and isn't technically a suburb anymore (at least, not all of it, like it used to be considered just a few years ago). A lot of "Cordova" was unincorporated land, therefore it could be bought up by any city (which Memphis did). Where ever you buy, make sure the house is in an incorporated zone of a certain city/suburb. Arlington is it's own city, however I imagine there is land in the Arlington area that could possibly be annexed by Memphis at some point in the future.