Moving Advice??? Minneapolis Burbs? (St. Paul, Brooklyn Park: cul-de-sac, rental, house)

[richardsdur]

Hi,
We are a family of 4 native Floridians. My husband and I and 2 small children. We moved to the harsh North East for 4 years for my husbands job, and now being transplanted again to Minnesota. He will have a home office and we can live anywhere outside of Minneapolis (that is where most of his clients will be). We will have 2 trips to find housing and I'm a bit overwhelmed. I'd like to go out there with a general idea of where to start looking. Could someone tell me a few great suburbs that are nice places to live and raise a family? Good schools, clean and nice family atmosphere, good quality of life? Thanks so much!!!

[golfgal]

Since you don't have to worry about a commute you can really live anywhere in the metro. There are a handful of communities I would avoid but other then those, you have dozens to chose from. We can help you narrow it down-first, budget, what do you like in a town/community, what activities are your kids in and are they ok, great, superior in those. How old are the kids?

[uptown_urbanist]

Also, what kind of house do you want? New, newer, historic, open? Do you want to be able to walk to things? The suburbs here come in all varieties from the older, established (and expensive) inner-ring options to modern cul-de-sac subdivisions and all points between. Will you be renting or buying? The more specific, the better, as you have the benefit of being able to live pretty much anywhere. If you have favorite locations in Florida or the NE you might want to throw those out here, too, as some of the posters on here may be familiar with them and can give you some local equivalents.

[knke0204]

Well tell us about yourself...

What things are important? I'm guessing schools since you have kids. Which type of suburb? Older? Newer? Closer to the city or further away? Yard? Intersate access? Amentities? Convenience?

[BillWallace]

What do you like about your current neighborhood and what do you wish was different? Golfgal mentioned budget but that is a key consideration in making recommendations.

[audadvnc]

Considering they're moving from Florida, just about anyplace in the metro area would be an improvement...

[richardsdur]

My kids are 3 and 4. Since they are so young, they will find their hobbies once we move. I would like somewhere family friendly and safe. I love walking and letting the kids ride their bikes. Maybe a place with a yard. BillWallace, a few of the mistakes we made here in NJ, was buying a place with a tiny yard and not checking out the neighborhood very well. We have known drug dealers across the street and at the end of the block. That is tough when you have little ones. We even had our alley spray painted and cars broken into by a group of kids who think they are gangsters. There is just too much diversity (not racial I just mean SES). I like that there is a park in walking distance and a cute downtown.

We would like to buy or build eventually, but start off in a rental house. Our budget for renting would be in the $1,900-2,200 range. My husband will need to be within 45 minutes max of at airport and Minneapolis. I would like newer our house now is 125 year old Victorian, pretty but expensive to heat, upkeep... Thanks again

[richardsdur]

Golf Gal,
Which neighborhoods should I avoid? Someone just told me to check out Plymouth and Maple Grove... what do you think of those? Hard to tell from the internet

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by richardsdur

Golf Gal,
Which neighborhoods should I avoid? Someone just told me to check out Plymouth and Maple Grove... what do you think of those? Hard to tell from the internet

Both are nice areas, farther from the airport then most. Personally I would start in the south Suburbs if your only real criteria is to be near the airport. Bill and I are both in Rosemount and I know we love it here, I think Bill does too . It is a great, family friendly area with lots of great parks, bike/walking paths, sidewalks, etc. Schools are excellent as well. Apple Valley and Eagan are also nice areas to look into.

Really, the only places to avoid would be Brooklyn Center/Brooklyn Park, most of St. Paul and parts of Minneapolis. Cottage Grove and Woodbury are not my favorite places in the metro and I would also avoid the parts of Maplewood close to St. Paul and the North St. Paul area. South St. Paul has ok parts but the schools are not all that great. Pretty much every where else you will be just fine with.

When you get here, check out the ECFE (Early Childhood Family Education) program. It will be a great way to meet people with kids the same age. Every school district has one so you will find it everywhere you look.

Sent Bill Wallace a personal message through these boards-he is a realtor in the South Suburbs and can probably help you with a rental. Your budget should put you into a nice home with a nice yard, etc.

[richardsdur]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! I look forward to meeting many more nice people like you and Bill!