Are there any gated communities in Milwaukee? (Waukesha, Mequon: fit in, transplants)

[gigi1966]

Will be relocating within weeks....would like to know about the nicest residential areas...aesethically pleasing, safe, with best schools. We can afford to be in the most expensive areas, but doesn't mean I want to. I am a stay at home mom/artist and will be looking to work in an art gallery but not wanting to drive into city....what quaint artsy towns do you have? Any gated communities? I am a big worry wort and have a short leash on my 9 yr old girl. I would like to take that worry off and start to give a little more freedom...so top notch public schools and safe areas are the most important.

Thanks for you help! Respond soon...please

[43north87west]

Originally Posted by gigi1966

Will be relocating within weeks....would like to know about the nicest residential areas...aesethically pleasing, safe, with best schools. We can afford to be in the most expensive areas, but doesn't mean I want to. I am a stay at home mom/artist and will be looking to work in an art gallery but not wanting to drive into city....what quaint artsy towns do you have? Any gated communities? I am a big worry wort and have a short leash on my 9 yr old girl. I would like to take that worry off and start to give a little more freedom...so top notch public schools and safe areas are the most important.

Thanks for you help! Respond soon...please

What a busy couple of weeks you had, deciding not to move to:

East Cobb, GA

San Leandro, CA

and you won't be renting a house in Berzerkley, Alameda, or Oakland

and you've ruled out Los Angeles as well.

So, congratulations on making your decision.

Given those things, and your $700k limit, I'd check out Waukesha County. I would have recommended River Hills, WI for schools, and it's 5+ acre, country club-like atmosphere (and zero crime) but you'll be priced right out of that market. Likewise for the lakeside residences of Fox Point, Bayside, or Mequon, which would be my other suggestions, if you wanted private, no crime, excellent schools, and a great location. I was also going to recommend USM as private school, although it's entirely unnecssary if you live in those areas.

Here's my recommendation. Since you live within a 2 hour drive, call a realtor who specializes in relocations, ask these questions and give your price limit and requirements. Then get in your car, spend the day looking around the area, and be home by dinner. Do it a few times, after all, you're buying a home in a soft market, so you want to be sure that you're making the right choice. You're fortunate that you live so close. Since you do, just look around for yourself. That's the way you will get the best feel for the area.

[quijote]

Cedarburg, a small city north of Milwaukee that has been absorbed by the metro sprawl, is a very artsy, safe, etc. community. It sounds like just what you're looking for.

[gigi1966]

Yes, one job fell through, and we need to decide between the other two offers. However, the 700k was only for SF......not Milwaukee. GA is still a possibility... So, it is down to two and researching the area is key.
Thanks for your imput

[radraja]

At the moment, it seems like you honestly don't know what you want. The array of cities seems pretty random. I realize it's for job reasons, but still. Do you even know anything about Milwaukee?

I would say only move here if you genuinely love the city and feel like you would mesh well with the local culture. The local culture is very distinct and different from the rest of the country - you either like it or you don't. That would be a good thing to find out before you plan any sort of move. I'm going to be honest - if you don't fit the typical Milwaukee mold ("beer, Packers, and more beer!" ), you may not fit in quite as well as you'd want to.

Both cities are good places...it's really all a matter of personal fit. GA may have a more bearable climate if you're not used to extreme cold, though. Both cities will have hot(ish), humid summers.

[gigi1966]

Boy are you judgmental! Evidently you have no idea about the corporate world. Relocations can happen anywhere within a company. We are fortunate to choose where we want to go. That is why I am on this forum talking to people trying to get a feel for the area to make a sound decision. What do you KNOW about Milwaukee? I have been there and probably could make a better judgment call then you. You cannot generalize a whole population that way....beer, packers and more beer. I never heard such ignorance. Where you have big cities you have corporations....thus you have transplants from all over. By the way, Milwaukee is only 1 1/2 hours from where I live. I only asked about gated communities, and I didn't ask you. You seem to have all the answers for everyone. How many places have you really lived? Where do you get your info from?

[gigi1966]

quijote...Thank you, that is what I have been thinking too. THanks for confirming. We are leaning towards Milwaukee.

[quijote]

Originally Posted by radraja

.... I'm going to be honest - if you don't fit the typical Milwaukee mold ("beer, Packers, and more beer!" ), you may not fit in quite as well as you'd want to.

I strongly disagree with this. Of course, the Packers mentality is everywhere around here, and newcomers will inevitably come into contact with it, but there are plenty of people and neighborhoods that don't fit that mold. Milwaukee may not be as generally sophisticated as other cities, but compared to most places, it's pretty diverse--culturally and otherwise. In the condo building where I live (in Mequon, of all places) the people are generally apathetic to sports and Packermania.

[gigi1966]

I agree with quijote....you just can't assume the majority of people in Milwaukee only care about beer and the Packers...it's an insane statement to make. I have been checking out Mequon....seems really nice.

[43north87west]

In terms of gated communities, check out Greystones of Cedarburg Residential Lots, Wisconsin Real Estate Development, Ozaukee County Homes for Sale, Mequon WI Homesites.

It looks like this one (Greystone) and another one (Waterstone) are gated, but that's just my interpretation... I can't actually go out and look at them to find out if that's the case, for three weeks on my next trip... not much help there. Looks like lots are around $175 and you have to put a 3000sq ft house on it, so that would be what, maybe $600k or so, lot and improvements. But of course, the sky's the limit on improvements, you could run that up in a heartbeat. Cedarburg and Grafton are very very nice. You would have the option of public schools or private schools (again: USM) for the young one.

I have no idea if they're built up already or not...

The gated communities (I live in a gated community) are a lot more commonplace out west and in the sunbelt, than in the Midwest, for whatever reason. There is a menu on the site I found for Southeastern Wisconsin properties. This is all I came up with, but hopefully it'll get you started. IMO if you can get in touch with a realtor who handles properties in this area, they will find the right place. Then drive down and check out the area or a list of properties. I know how relocations can be quick sometimes, so you have to maximize your time.

I found a listing in Waterstone subdivision for a $599k home. It looked as if there wasn't anything built there yet except this home. Good luck with your search.