Moving back to Memphis (real estate, renting, house)

[five nines]

If you are looking to rent a nice condo you might want to contact one of the many rental brokers in town (FYI-I am not a broker). Top recomendations are Revid Realty and Renshaw Realtors and after that Garland & Company.

If you don't like dealing with a broker (fyi there are no costs for the renter to use a broker) use craigslist or the memphis flyer. You will bump into the same brokers on Craigslis and the Flyer.

I have used all my recomendations and find the best approach is to cover all your bases and use all sources available.

As for the safety of neighborhoods you will find that no matter where you are in Memphis there is crime and probably more crime than wherever you are moving from.

That said, I highly recomend the South Main District (quite but walkable to everywhere). I also recomend Midtown if you plan on going downtown and to east memphis often.

[tamirod]

My husband and I live in Los Angeles and are considering a move to Memphis. My husband has visited there, and loved it. CA is just too expensive! We have 2 kids, one of whom has special needs, so good schools are a top priority. We like an urban feel, but not if it means sacrificing safety. Any suggestions on the best neighborhoods within the city?

[Pearlbob]

Not if you have a special needs child. The city schools are some of the worst in the country. I cannot imagine a special needs child trying to get any sort of help in the system. You'd have to pay for private (in which case, many don't accept special needs children) or live in the suburbs in a county district.

Originally Posted by tamirod

My husband and I live in Los Angeles and are considering a move to Memphis. My husband has visited there, and loved it. CA is just too expensive! We have 2 kids, one of whom has special needs, so good schools are a top priority. We like an urban feel, but not if it means sacrificing safety. Any suggestions on the best neighborhoods within the city?

[tamirod]

Wow Pearlbob, that's pretty scary! I have never been to Memphis myself, but when my husband visited he thought it was great. Of course being the mom, the first question I asked is "what about the schools?". I've found that this site is so helpful in finding people like you who know these things first-hand!

I also am curious about the ethnic diversity in Memphis. My husband is Hispanic and I am white, so of course our children are bi-racial. Living in LA, it's pretty much a non-issue. I know some Southern cities and towns are much more progressive than others. Would we stick out like a sore thumb or would it not be a big deal?

[Pearlbob]

The public city schools are the worst in the state. Although there are one or two okay ones, I would only recommend them to people who have lived here a while, know the ropes, and know what to expect (ie, standing in line for days trying to get your kids name on a waiting list for an optional school). Genearlly speaking, I would never recommend any public school to a newcomer.

Where did your husband visit when he was here? Certain areas of town that he liked, any one place in mind?

Memphis is of course primarily black, and then the suburbs are more white. There seems to be a growing population of hispanics here, but probably not in the same sense you are used to. I don't think you'd stick out at all, there are way more important problems to worry about here in town other than your white neighbor being married to a hispanic man

Originally Posted by tamirod

Wow Pearlbob, that's pretty scary! I have never been to Memphis myself, but when my husband visited he thought it was great. Of course being the mom, the first question I asked is "what about the schools?". I've found that this site is so helpful in finding people like you who know these things first-hand!

I also am curious about the ethnic diversity in Memphis. My husband is Hispanic and I am white, so of course our children are bi-racial. Living in LA, it's pretty much a non-issue. I know some Southern cities and towns are much more progressive than others. Would we stick out like a sore thumb or would it not be a big deal?

[tamirod]

Where did your husband visit when he was here? Certain areas of town that he liked, any one place in mind?

The area he mentioned to me was Midtown, and I think he spent some time downtown as well.

[Pearlbob]

Those are both good areas, although more urban (and thus more crime). But ecclectic and a good mix of people. City schools though.

[tamirod]

We don't mind urban, but we also don't want to be afraid to take a walk with the kids in the evening. More than that though, I worry about my special needs son. I was looking at some of the Memphis area schools on greatschools.net, and they've got some positive reviews from parents. But when you're talking about a school having a good Special Education program, it's a whole other ball game.

[tamirod]

Are there any Memphis residents, past or current, that had experience with the city schools? Especially if you had a child in Special Education... I'd like to hear whatever stories you might have, good or bad...

[2nomadic4me]

What is your price range? The White Station district is THE BEST! In my opinion, better than Germantown.