Need Help. Looking to buy a home In Ozaukee County.(belgium,cedar grove, etc.) (Milwaukee: crime rate)

[BlackHawksfan102]

Hi. I need Help. I Live in the chicago area and really want your advice on buying a home in the Milwaukee area. My range is 50,000 to 150,000$ and i was looking at areas that could develop into upscale suburbs within the next ten to fifteen years. I am currently looking in the following small towns. I dont know much about them since i live in chicago, but i was thinking that maybe you guys would be able to help since you live in milwaukee. The only town that i have been to is grafton and thats way out of my range. I Have also eliminated sheboygan from my list because i heard its crime rate is going up and its way to big. If none of these areas are worth it in the long run, could you guys please tell me of some other towns that are eventually going to sprawl into upscale suburbs of milwaukee that would be in my range. Thanks.

1.) cedar grove
2.) Belgium
3.) Oostburg
4.) saukville

[#Littledog]

I know a couple of families who live in Belgium and they love it. It's a nice small town community close to the Lake. I'm sorry I don't know too much about the other areas.

[labmom1]

I live in Fredonia and know these places pretty well. I think they will still be too far out from Milwaukee to be part of suburban sprawl even in 10 - 15 years. (With the possible exception of Saukville). ANd I would not consider any of them "upscale". They are good small town places with small town appeal. Saukeville is the most populated of your choices being neighbors with Port Washington. With a YMCA, Walmart, movie theatre, fast food chains and other things suburbanites can't seem to live without. AT one time the downtown square was pretty quaint but a lot of the shops have moved out.

We like Belgium and Cedar Grove - close to the lake, right on the interurban bike trail, a few decent restaurants, no commerce so to speak, pretty sleepy little towns, some newer development on the out skirts, but I honestly don't see these areas growing much. Don't know much about Oostburg - but that is even farther out.

[BlackHawksfan102]

What I mean is in chicago we have a north shore area thats made up of a bunch of wealthy towns situated along lake michigan and the area stretches out as far out as an hour away from chicago, i was just wondering if milwaukee would have anything similar like a north shore type area. I already know about bayside, fox point, and all those towns close to milwaukee but they are too expensive, but i see that grafton, cedarburg, port washington have all grown rapidly in the last 10-15 years. I mean the last time i came to visit some friends in grafton was in '95 and it was like gods country back then, it wasnt much there at the time.

By the way, I recently looked up some nice houses in port washington that i could definetly afford, but i keep having second thoughts about it, i dont know what kind of a town its gonna be in the next 10-15 years. so if you guys could give me some advice on port washington that would be cool.

[Milwaukee City]

What I mean is in Chicago we have a north shore area that's made up of a bunch of wealthy towns situated along lake Michigan and the area stretches out as far out as an hour away from Chicago, i was just wondering if Milwaukee would have anything similar like a north shore type area.

Our North shore area is just like Chicago's in the fact that some of the most expensive houses are in this area, Shorewood-Whitefish Bay-Fox Point-Bayside-Mequon. But for your price range Grafton/Cedarburg area would also work however finding homes for your price range is going to be tuff to find. Our "Lake Country" area in Waukesha county is like what your looking for, in terms of very nice upscale suburbs that stretch for many miles. Brookfield-Pewaukee-Wales-Oconomowoc-Delafield-Hartford-Waukesha-Hartland-Town of Summit-Dousman. All of Waukesha County would probably be the best bet for you. It would be tough to find a home for under 270 in our North Shore but in today's market who knows. Caledonia is up and coming and has a suburbian upscale feel to it however it is not encompassed by other upscale suburbs, althought Franklin/Oak Creek Could be seen as upscale depending on who who ask. They are very nice, very safe and very clean. Saukville is another good choice, Port Washington is too far out for me but still not bad only 45 from downtown. Ozaukee County has the Ozaukee County Express that runs from Port down to Grafton-Cedarburgh-Mequon and straight to downtown Milwaukee, very convieint. Even in Wisconsin it is tough to find cheap housing prices, 150 and below.

[labmom1]

I agree with Milwaukee City - if you are looking for a "bunch of wealthy towns" stretched out you should look in lake country west of Milwaukee or immediatley north of downtown through Mequon. Northern Ozaukee will remain rural for a long time - even with the growth of Grafton & Cedarburg most of the new development is cookie cutter box homes IMHO.

[wigirl920]

Originally Posted by BlackHawksfan102

By the way, I recently looked up some nice houses in port washington that i could definetly afford, but i keep having second thoughts about it, i dont know what kind of a town its gonna be in the next 10-15 years. so if you guys could give me some advice on port washington that would be cool.

I personally would not recommend Port Washington; you'd probably spend more time in the other communities. Growth does not seem to be as much of a priority there as in other places. I found it to be drab and boring and just can't find it in myself to recommend it. However, some people like the fact that it's right on Lake Michigan so if that trips your trigger, it might be the place for you.

And realistically, there's no way to tell how any place will be in 10-15 years. Places could be on their way up or down right now but all it takes is getting the right (or wrong) people in place and it could just as easily go the opposite way.

PS: I don't have first-hand experience, but I've heard a lot of good things about the communities in Waukesha County. If moving north of Milwaukee is not set in stone you might consider that instead.

Best of luck with your decision!

[code10t]

I would probably look at Grafton or the north part of Mequon if I were you. Mequon has been upscale for some time, and there are a lot of new luxury homes (as well as more typical homes, which you won't find in Mequon) being constructed in Grafton not far from Mequon. Mequon and Grafton have been growing really quickly, and I suspect that Grafton-Cedarburg-Port Washington-Saukville is set to grow some more over the next few years. There's now a lot of stuff out there so you don't need to come into the closer towns for shopping and entertainment any more as long as you don't want to.

I personally like Port Washington, but I don't think it will become as upscale in the next few years. Given the choice though, I would probably look there for a property since I like the small-town feel as well as its proximity to the other communities in Ozaukee County.