Family moving to Minneapolis...Need relocation help please!! (St. Paul, Plymouth: fit in, to rent)

[kkwilson5]

Hello! My husband, two kids and I are going to be moving to the Minneapolis area in August and were wondering some good/nice areas to live. My husband is going to be working in Brooklyn Center and I am in the process of looking for a job in the IT field. We are coming up the beginning of July to look for a place to live. We are only looking to rent (like a town-home, duplex, or house) because we will only be here 3-4 years and then will be moving out of state. We currently live in Missouri. We don’t want to go through the hassle of buying/selling a house again so buying is not an option. I have been looking online and have found numerous town-homes in Anoka, New Hope, Spring Lake Park, Maple Grove, St. Louis Park, Champlin, Rogers, Ramsey and Shorewood. Since my husband is working in Brooklyn Center we would like to live someplace that is probably no more than around 20 miles/30 minutes to work, that is a nice area to live in (low crime rate), good education system, nice daycares, place to raise a family and that fits into our budget. I know....I'm asking alot. These were the only areas that I found that fit into our budget as far as rent goes and commute times. Are any of these places that I should not even bother looking at? Also, is the commute during rush hour traffic really bad in these areas? Any help that anyone could lend would be much appreciated. THANKS!!!

[mspryce]

I'm new to the area as well, I just moved here in February, I was looking for a lot of the same things that you are looking for, as for nice areas, Anoka County is where we live now, the city is actually Coon Rapids. I like the area, I've not heard about any excess in crime or anything like that...as for schools...I am partial to Maryland (where we are originally from) So I might not be much help in that department, as I am told that my expectations are skewed based upon where I come from...(Montgomery County Maryland is one of the best rated public school systems in the nation). But on a brighter note, my kids made friends fast, everyone seems friendly, and we are about 30 minutes from everywhere...(except where I work....LOLOL) oh and just down the road from us, is a newer townhouse development with townhomes that have garages.......One of my daughter's friends lives there...she said that her friends house had a theater room! wow....Anyway...I will find out the name of the complex for you as soon as my daughter comes from swimming....hopes this helps....

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by kkwilson5

Hello! My husband, two kids and I are going to be moving to the Minneapolis area in August and were wondering some good/nice areas to live. My husband is going to be working in Brooklyn Center and I am in the process of looking for a job in the IT field. We are coming up the beginning of July to look for a place to live. We are only looking to rent (like a town-home, duplex, or house) because we will only be here 3-4 years and then will be moving out of state. We currently live in Missouri. We don’t want to go through the hassle of buying/selling a house again so buying is not an option. I have been looking online and have found numerous town-homes in Anoka, New Hope, Spring Lake Park, Maple Grove, St. Louis Park, Champlin, Rogers, Ramsey and Shorewood. Since my husband is working in Brooklyn Center we would like to live someplace that is probably no more than around 20 miles/30 minutes to work, that is a nice area to live in (low crime rate), good education system, nice daycares, place to raise a family and that fits into our budget. I know....I'm asking alot. These were the only areas that I found that fit into our budget as far as rent goes and commute times. Are any of these places that I should not even bother looking at? Also, is the commute during rush hour traffic really bad in these areas? Any help that anyone could lend would be much appreciated. THANKS!!!

Maple Grove would probably be your best bet. It is very comparable to O'Fallon, Missouri if you are familiar with that area as far as housing styles, size, ammenities, etc. go. The schools in MN are tops in the nation, especially in most of the suburbs so you probably won't have to worry too much about that.

[JenLee]

I'd check east of the Mississippi also: Coon Rapids, New Brighton, even Moundsview or Blaine might be good.

[DB2]

We live in Anoka and wife has worked in Golden Valley and Plymouth. Hwy 169 is the main north/south thoroughfare and it is a PAIN morning and evening and just about unbearable in the Winter time!!!

There are probably suburbs east or west of Brooklyn Center and traffic may be better traveling east or west during rush hours. If you can find a house, townhouse or whatever in Brooklyn Center...that would probably be the best. I would suggest traveling to the area and checking the traffic both morning and evening.

The problem with the Mpls/St. Paul area is that roadways and planning have not kept pace with expansion and critically so. Good luck.

[kkwilson5]

Thanks for everyone's input. We're coming up there in a couple weeks so hopefully we'll find a place that we like. We're going to try and find a place a little west of Brooklyn Center.

We're also looking to open our checking/savings accounts up there and need online bill pay. What banks up there are worth looking into?

Thanks for everyone's help.

[Robert P Stewart]

I do my personal banking at Wells Fargo. For business, I use Associated Bank and Anchor Bank. I've been pleased with all of them.

I second Golfgal's recommendation for Maple Grove. That's a nice area!

Robert

[kkwilson5]

Originally Posted by DB2

We live in Anoka and wife has worked in Golden Valley and Plymouth. Hwy 169 is the main north/south thoroughfare and it is a PAIN morning and evening and just about unbearable in the Winter time!!!

There are probably suburbs east or west of Brooklyn Center and traffic may be better traveling east or west during rush hours. If you can find a house, townhouse or whatever in Brooklyn Center...that would probably be the best. I would suggest traveling to the area and checking the traffic both morning and evening.

The problem with the Mpls/St. Paul area is that roadways and planning have not kept pace with expansion and critically so. Good luck.

How far of a drive (time wise) would you say it is from Anoka during rush hour? What about during the winter? I'm dreading the drive during the winter and I don't know exactly where I'm going to be working. We've found three places in the Maple Grove area that we like, but most of the places we have found are up in Ramsey and Anoka.

Thanks!

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by kkwilson5

Thanks for everyone's input. We're coming up there in a couple weeks so hopefully we'll find a place that we like. We're going to try and find a place a little west of Brooklyn Center.

We're also looking to open our checking/savings accounts up there and need online bill pay. What banks up there are worth looking into?

Thanks for everyone's help.

We use Wells Fargo and have for years. They have great programs and many no fee options (like NO FEE ATM's for qualified account holders).

[Jaxx99]

Wells Fargo is the big one in Mpls. USBank is a good 2nd option. Everything else is more regional.

I agree w/ Maple Grove. You're picking a great time to buy - nice market for a buyer right now.