Moving to Memphis (Jackson, Bartlett, Germantown: for sale, townhomes, find a job)

[jmw1975]

My wife and I are considering moving to the Memphis metro area. We would like information on how to find a job, Baptist Churches, which suburbs are the best, etc. We have 2 daughters under the age of 4. We have been in Oklahoma City our entire lives and both feel like making a change. Any information would help us out. Thank you.

[Pearlbob]

Please search this forum, there have been plenty of Q's just like this that have been answered. It really depends on what you are looking for in a home/suburb. Any specifications?

Tons of baptists churches here!!! I don't know what makes one better than another, but there are probably thousands, small and huge (Bellevue!!!)

How to find a job...what kind of job? I'd check the classifieds, monster.com, the usual things. are you in any specific field?

[jmw1975]

Relating to a home-we are looking for something in about the 90-105k range. My wife prefers something outside the "big city", so we are looking for something in a suburb of Memphis. I work for a Parker distributor. They manufacture industrial hoses of all types as well as hose fittings, pneumatic cylinders, etc. The majority of our customers are in the oil/natural gas/energy industries. If at all possible, I would like to find a federal job.

[Pearlbob]

I have no clue about jobs like that, but for a house, you'd be able to get something pretty small out in the suburbs. Probably Cordova would be the cheapest, but remember that Cordova has been annexed by Memphis and is part of the Memphis city and Memphis City Schools now. Bartlett may have some older homes in that price range. Collierville and Germantown would be out; those are very expensive suburbs. Maybe even the MS suburbs, although I have no clue about housing down there.

[pomartini]

You are going to have a hard time finding a home in that price range anywhere here unless it is a less than savory area. I would seriously consider making a weekend trip here, meet up with a realtor and see your options before deciding to come here. You probably won't find anything in Cordova - and definitely not Gtown or Collierville. I doubt you will in Bartlett.

As far as federal jobs, the USPS has a big office here as well as Naval Support Activity at Millington. There is always the airport as well (for Homeland Security jobs).

[Pearlbob]

You definitely can't find anything safe for that price in the city. I'm sure pomartini and others will have a better idea of the burbs. $100k is very low for a home anywhere, let alone Memphis. Something that cheap would either be in a bad area, falling apart, or so far from Memphis it would take you an hour to get to town. There may be some cheaper older homes in Millington, that might be a place to look. It's an older, sort of poorer (for lack of a better word) suburb.

I guess I'm thinking that Cordova would be more likely to have some small duplexes/townhomes for around $100k. Maybe not anymore.

I know nothing of Oklahoma City, but even though Memphis has a very low cost of living, our housing market is very pricey. It always shows up as one of the cheapest housing markets, but that doesn't take into account that 95% of those "cheap" houses are in areas that you don't want to drive through, let alone live. If you want an even mildly nice home in a safe area, you have to be willing to shell out some money. Or, live very far outside of the city in a country area.

[Streetchie]

You might be able to find something for $100k in the Vollentine-Evergreen neighborhood of Midtown. I have friends who live there and it's really nice, safe and convenient to a lot. However, this would be in the "city".

[Pearlbob]

Hmmm I don't know about that. Even the tiny little houses in Evergreen are a couple hundred thousand. You'd be surprised (believe me, I look all the time!) You could maybe find a house that hasn't been renovated and needs some work, a 2 bedroom 1 bath home. I would think the cheaper homes would be north of North Parkway, which is more towards some unsaavory areas than the main Evergreen section. Doesn't hurt to look though, check out crye-leike.com. They are the major realtor here in the area and they list all homes for sale. You can search by town, zip, price, etc.

[Streetchie]

The area of Vollintine-Evergreen North of North Parkway, South of Jackson and near McLean is pretty choice. I know several people who own up there and they love it. Most 2br, 2 ba homes run from $100k-$150 up there.

[Pearlbob]

It's a cute area...right near Dino's, which would be wonderful for me! I think they are putting in a coffee shop next door to Dino's now?