Hartland, Germantown, Slinger (Milwaukee, Waukesha, Brookfield: real estate, new home, job market)

[tj7run]

Can anyone tell me about these towns? We know that they are a little drive from my husbands job, but are willing to make the commute. His company is transferring him to New Berlin, but we are not seeing new housing in that area.

What are the property taxes like?

I heard that there is a mosquito problem in Wisconsin, can anyone reply to that? Do the area's I've mentioned have pest problems?

The time is getting close, and I am trying so hard to gather as much information because we will be given only two chances to find housing.

Thanks to all for your help,
Tami

[code10t]

Germantown is a nice suburban semi-rural area at the northwest edge of the metro area. It's a safe area with lots of families. Property taxes in the Milwaukee area are generally a bit higher than other comparable cities, but for the Milwaukee area, I believe Germantown has fairly competitive property tax rates, as well as fairly reasonably priced housing for what you get.

Slinger is a bit farther up the road. It's a more rural/small-town kind of place, and is fairly isolated from the main Milwaukee area. I know someone who commutes from Slinger to New Berlin, and I'm told the traffic isn't too bad, but it is a long drive and can be costly at today's gasoline prices. It's also a longer drive to other parts of the Milwaukee area, whereas Germantown puts you a bit closer to the main metro area so the drive to other parts of town is a bit better. I'm not sure it's worth it if you're both commuting to the main metro area unless you have some strong reason to be up there.

You may also want to look in Muskego if you want to be close to New Berlin (just south/west of New Berlin). That's a nice area with a fair amount of new construction going up, and is not yet too crowded (although neither are Germantown and Slinger, yet)

I know there are also several new developments in the southern section of Menomonee Falls. That area would put you closer to New Berlin than Germantown or Slinger. It is also located more centrally in the area than the other towns I mentioned, so it would be a much shorter drive to other parts of the Milwaukee area than someplace like Slinger.

[tj7run]

Originally Posted by code10t

Germantown is a nice suburban semi-rural area at the northwest edge of the metro area. It's a safe area with lots of families. Property taxes in the Milwaukee area are generally a bit higher than other comparable cities, but for the Milwaukee area, I believe Germantown has fairly competitive property tax rates, as well as fairly reasonably priced housing for what you get.

Slinger is a bit farther up the road. It's a more rural/small-town kind of place, and is fairly isolated from the main Milwaukee area. I know someone who commutes from Slinger to New Berlin, and I'm told the traffic isn't too bad, but it is a long drive and can be costly at today's gasoline prices. It's also a longer drive to other parts of the Milwaukee area, whereas Germantown puts you a bit closer to the main metro area so the drive to other parts of town is a bit better. I'm not sure it's worth it if you're both commuting to the main metro area unless you have some strong reason to be up there.

You may also want to look in Muskego if you want to be close to New Berlin (just south/west of New Berlin). That's a nice area with a fair amount of new construction going up, and is not yet too crowded (although neither are Germantown and Slinger, yet)

I know there are also several new developments in the southern section of Menomonee Falls. That area would put you closer to New Berlin than Germantown or Slinger. It is also located more centrally in the area than the other towns I mentioned, so it would be a much shorter drive to other parts of the Milwaukee area than someplace like Slinger.

Thank you, do you know anything about Hartland? There seems to be a lot of new construction going on there.

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by tj7run

Thank you, do you know anything about Hartland? There seems to be a lot of new construction going on there.

Hartland is very nice. It is part of the booming / growing Lake Country area (including Pewaukee, Oconomowoc, Delafield, etc.). A smaller-but-growing fairly upscale outter ring suburb of Milwaukee. Very pretty with all of the lakes (as evidenced by "Lake Country" term).

Since your husband is working in New Berlin, this location might be fairly ideal for you, as New Berlin is west of Milwaukee, just like Hartland. So the commute times to-from New Berlin wouldn't be nearly as lengthy as they'd be to-from Germantown / Slinger, etc.

In fact, I would be so bold as to echo what the previous poster indicated to you (he/she gave some very good info), but in your position, would EASILY rank these communities in order of preference:

1. Hartland - by far
2. Germantown
3. [blank]
4. Slinger

Germantown is a very, very nice community - one of my emerging favorite suburbs of Milwaukee. It is just more of a hike to New Berlin than Delafield would be, and to me, Delafield is prettier with all of the surrounding lakes, etc.

Slinger I am just not too big on (no offense to any good-hearted Slingereans out there). It is very isolated still, quite rural, etc. Of course, many would love that about Slinger. But it just seems still too "rural", "out there", "small town" for my tastes. Let me put it another way: Germantown and Delafield, while farther out, but seem like suburbs and part of Milwaukee metro. Slinger is so far out towards the still-fairly-unpopulated northwestern regions that it seems still its own little town, not really even part of the metro (even though it technically is).

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by tj7run

What are the property taxes like?

They are too high. However, they are lesser in the communities you are looking at (Washington and Waukesha Counties) than the community I live in - Greendale - which is part of Milwaukee County.

For many of the houses it sounds like you are looking at - 2000sq ft. - I would say you'd be looking at a general range of $2500 to $3500 or $4000 in annual property taxes. That is just a general ballpark figure though, and surely ever community is going to vary, differ, etc.USUALLY online MLS / real estate listings should give your the property taxes.

Originally Posted by tj7run

I heard that there is a mosquito problem in Wisconsin, can anyone reply to that? Do the area's I've mentioned have pest problems?

I wouldn't say that any of the communities in the metro Milwaukee area - that you mentioned and those you haven't - have any significant pest problems that would be of major concern and actually prevent one from moving into the area.

Having said that, you asked about mosquitoes. Yes, they are a big pain in the butt here in the summer, although some years more than others (I am *guessing* this will be one of those "more" years, unfortunately, although I surely could - and hope I am - wrong).

They are especially a pain at dawn or once the sun sets in the evenings.

They aren't anything really to be concerned or afraid of, but they do make life uncomfortable with their buzzing and biting.

I live in Greendale which is a very beautiful, lush, green, plant/tree-laden suburb of Milwaukee, and due to the "green" stuff and the nearby river/creek, it attracts even more mosquitoes. Same for the suburbs you are looking at. In the city itself, they aren't *as bad* of a nuisance, due to more pavement, concrete, etc. - they like being in / near water, trees, etc.

The kind of annoying thing about mosquitoes here is that the downsides of our temperatures year-round is the long, long winters - they are so long, so cold. Heck, April and May often (as has been the case) are chilly / cold, so there is a long *cold* period. Yet, summers are quite the opposite and lovely - typically not the oppressive heat / humidity experienced in so much else of the nation. Yet, when you so desperately want to be outside in the nice temps / weather, it gets tough because of those darned mosquitoes.

The good thing is that some years, mosquitoes aren't as bad (typically drier years). Also, technology is there to where if you buy a big fogger or some other related gizmo (good ones - $300 or so - can be effective up to an acre or more) that drastically - DRASTICALLY - reduces the amount of mosquitoes buzzing around.

Otherwise, buy yourself a nice gazebo with good thorough netting so you can sit outside in summer nights without those darn things ruining your evening!!

[tj7run]

EnjoyEP,

Thank you so much, you have always been so helpful. I have spent countless hours looking for houses in different areas. We were thinking that we would go with new construction having gone with used homes in the past. Hartland had an abundance of new homes but not being from that area I needed advice. We have mosquito's in Oregon, and they can be bad in some areas around lakes, but we do not have the humidity problem that the mid-west has. There is one other town, I believe it is West Glenn? Close the Hartland. I am feeling much better about the housing, and will continue to do my research.

I will be seeking work once we arrive, what is the job market like for administrative assistants. Actually if all goes to plan, I'd like to become a flight attendant and/or a personal trainer. Both require schooling, but nothing comes easy. At least as a flight attendant I can fly for free!

We figured that we will purchase our snow shovels and riding lawn mower in Oregon before moving. At least then we wouldn't have to pay taxes on them, lol... We will probably see the quads here also, and get a snow mobile instead. Some changes, but an adventure all the same.

[tj7run]

EnjoyEP,

OK, I checked it is West Bend, and what about Hartford? It is further out but with lots of new development.

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by tj7run

EnjoyEP,

OK, I checked it is West Bend, and what about Hartford? It is further out but with lots of new development.

Eh...before I respond to West Bend / Hartford, with full disclosure, I guess it is still somewhat hard for me to see things as you would being a brand newcomer, as I have lived in the metro Milwaukee area for many years of my life (I am in my young 30s) with only a long foray into the Southwest to break things up. Thus, I still see things here with my own "historical" perspective.

So, I don't know if that kind of clouds my view.

To me, I am just not that big or thrilled with the whole West Bend / Hartford / Slinger area. That is that area about 35 to 60 minutes northwest of Milwaukee.

My parents reside actually in Jackson, which is a community in this vicinity as well.

I don't know, West Bend and Hartford are both rapidly growing communities for sure - lots of population growth. As you say and have seen, lots of new construction going on out there (which is still fairly reasonably priced too). They are quite safe, very quiet, have nice schools, etc.

Yet, they still just have - for my tastes only - like as I was describing about Slinger - just too much of that rural/farm-laden-influenced/far-out-there kind of a feel to them.

Mileage-wise, I don't know if say, Hartford, is much farther "out" than say, Oconomowoc, so it is hard for me to necessarily put my finger exactly on how to describe this. I guess I just am a bit more of a person that enjoys being as close to some semblance of urban-ness or even suburban-ness, rather than being closer to rural / farmland.

I think it is somewhat cultural too. For some reason, the folks overall (and I am speaking in generalities I realize) in places like Oconomowoc, Delafield, Pewaukee, etc., just seem a bit more "seasoned", urbanized, etc. Places like West Bend / Hartford, etc., still just seem to have a very small town, more isolated farm-influenced culture to them.

I am speaking ONLY now of course by personal opinion / preference. All of these communities are safe, pleasant, and have good schools, etc. I would definitely choose West Bend over Hartford, and I would certainly choose Hartford over Slinger. However, I would clearly choose Delafield over any of these. Plus, again, in a Delafield, etc., you'd be so much closer to New Berlin which would help on commute time/prices. You'd also be much closer to places like Brookfield where *you* might have a much easier time protracting jobs as an AA, etc.

Have you looked into Franklin at all? Very nice community. I live close to it in Greendale. Lots of new construction going on there. I would heartily endorse Franklin as well.

[tj7run]

EnjoyEP,

Thanks, I will check into Franklin and other areas. We will not have too long to find a place once the contract is signed, so all of the advice helps. I grew up in a small town of 10,500 and Jason grew up on a farm outside of a town of 10,000. Although larger than some of the villages of Wisconsin, we are used to that type of community. We now live in a suburb of Portland Oregon, about 20 minutes from downtown Portland. I guess we will try and check out the different towns to determine what will fit us. Trying to be somewhat centralized would be nice, especially if we both have to commute to work.

[mattyluv]

Slinger is white trash, Germantown you're looking at pretty long commute and a pretty PO'd husband at the end of the day, I am a product of the Germantown school district, so don't put your kids through what I've been through trust me. Hartland is fairly rural compared to nearby G-town and Lannon/Meno. falls. If I had to pick based on info provided I would say Hartland. but where you're looking everything is the same anyway, sterile suburban living. Why not New Berlin, or greendale, or oak creek? I suppose if prop. tax is they key to your decision making process then they must be way out of your league. just stay the hell out of Cudahy.