Affordable (Nice) Homes in Metro MKE Area? (Milwaukee, West Allis: real estate, property taxes)

[EnjoyEP]

Greetings, Milwaukeans (or those familiar with the area) -

My wife, daughter and I live in Albuquerque, NM currently (moved here 3 years ago from...Milwaukee!); we are currently heavily considering moving back to the Milwaukee area in March or so of next year.

I lived in Milwaukee for 27 of my 30 years, so I am very familiar with the area (my wife lived there for 9 years).

But in a recent (very enjoyable) August return visit to the area, the one aspect that I am very disenchanted about is the cost of housing. I am looking for a fairly nice-sized home in good condition (that isn't in West Allis), and pretty much anywhere I looked - from Tosa to the East Side to Oconomowoc to Pewaukee to Jackson - you cannot find anything worthwhile for less than $225,000...at a minimum. Add the huge, huge property taxes on top of that, and in my first glance opinion, it looks like housing for middle class, young professional families where the wife works only part-time is simply no longer affordable in respectable areas in Metro Milwaukee.

That is disappointing for sure. We'd really like to move back there if it made sense, but due to the weather, realize you spend lots of time indoors, and as such, would really like a nice home. Not a mansion by any means, but something in decent shape with some decent size.

Is there ANYWHERE in the Metro Milwaukee area where this is even possible? Or is this just an impossibility?

I am guessing, in looking through many a real estate mag, the later is the case, and our desire to move back there may be impossible due to simple economics. I am just amazed that housing is so expensive in the area now!

Can anyone provide a shred of possible good news?