Moving to Minneapolis this Summer - Ugly houses? (St. Louis Park, Shakopee: rental, how much) - Twin Cities - City-Data Forum

jedil64931 · 03-18-2011, 08:51 AM

Hi Everyone,

I've been accepted to UMinns Evening MBA program starting in January, so i'm going to have to find a job and move there this summer. From Tallahassee, FL to your neck of the woods.

I see that the cost of living is a bit higher, and i'm going to have to make a LOT more if I want a nice place.

My wife has been looking at the houses, and complaining that they "all look so ugly". Is that squarish, older style of house common to the region? I'm looking to rent a nice-looking house, in a quiet area (I loathe bass thumping and loud truck having neighbors). Aiming for West or SW of Minneapolis. Would also like a basement.

Do you guys know of any areas that fit this critera, and are within a $1200 - $1500/month rental range? We have three kids, so i'm also looking at good school districts. My target salary is going to be around 55k. What do you guys/gals think? Is my perfect place attainable?

Happy to expand or clarify on anything. Thanks!

uptown_urbanist · 03-18-2011, 09:18 AM

There are lots of options if you don't like the foursquares. Those are pretty common around here because of the time period (late 19th into 1930s or so), but there are a lot of bungalows of various types, etc.

I think almost every house is going to have a basement. Some will be more finished than others.

Here in my part of SW Minneapolis (temporarily the Armatage neighborhood) the houses aren't beautiful, but they are in your price range. Lots of 2-3 BR post-war houses with mostly finished basements. Some are cuter than others. Tons of kids, quiet, no thumping trucks, fabulous local schools, and your rent range is on target. Kenny neighborhood is adjacent and offers the same benefits. Other SW neighborhoods could have some good deals, but prices tend to go up if you head towards somewhere like Linden Hills. (not necessarily, though, and you could find a good deal there). For more post-war houses in family-friendly neighborhoods with great schools and within (I believe) your rent range there's also nearby St. Louis Park.

If you're looking for a lot farther out I assume that there are newer houses (although they may be ugly) in some of the farther out 'burbs that are pretty affordable. The basement will probably be a given. I can't remember ever seeing a house around here that doesn't have a basement, although again, some won't be completely finished (ours wasn't, but it still made a great play space growing up).

golfgal · 03-18-2011, 09:42 AM

Funny about the houses-we pretty much say the same thing when we visit Florida-they are so ugly, all stucco with red roofs

. It is just what you are used to.

$55K in the Twin Cities is on the lower end of "affordable" living with a family your size. It is doable but you will have to be careful in your spending. Finding a 3 bedroom house in a nice neighborhood will be tough but not impossible in your price range.

How old are the kids and what are their interests?

audadvnc · 03-18-2011, 09:51 AM

My Jordan NoMi neighborhood has its share of thumping cruisers (and the nice schools are a bus stop away). But there are also a ton of nice turn-of-the-century houses, going for a song! Bring your own boom box... I can picture it now -

"Moon River, THUMP!! Tinka Tinka THUDDY THUMP!!,
Wider than a THUDDY THUMP!! mile..."

west336 · 03-18-2011, 10:10 AM

Ugly compared to what? Homes in this city are SO MUCH NICER than most Midwestern cities, mostly because people take care of their homes here. If you want to see an ugly house, go to Cleveland!

northstar22 · 03-18-2011, 12:35 PM

Hmmm. . . how long of a commute are you willing to take on? You could live somewhere like Chaska, Chanhassen or Shakopee and be in a decent area . . . you could probably rent a house in those areas. All are pretty nice suburbs on the SW side of the Cities . . . Shakopee is a little more "working class," but still a fine area.

uptown_urbanist · 03-18-2011, 12:57 PM

If possible, I'd try to find the job first, then the place to live; if you choose to live somewhere like Shakopee or one of the other exurbs, then you'll be limiting your job prospects due to commute. It would be a long enough commute to the U. If you could narrow down a job (or stick your stuff in storage and live in a temporary place for the summer while job-searching, and then find a rental in time for the school year -- a hassle, I know, but could be worth it) then at least you'll know what you're looking for in terms of both commute to school AND to work.

StilltheSame · 03-18-2011, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jedil64931

Hi Everyone,

My wife has been looking at the houses, and complaining that they "all look so ugly". Is that squarish, older style of house common to the region? I'm looking to rent a nice-looking house, in a quiet area (I loathe bass thumping and loud truck having neighbors). Aiming for West or SW of Minneapolis. Would also like a basement.

The homes that are closer to the downtown areas are those "ugly" houses. As you go outwards the home become more suburban. Its all what you want and how much you want to pay. There is a ton of information in previous posts on this site that should help narrow your search.

Bass thumping and loud truck? I dont know where youre coming from - but that's not my experience here at all - and it sounds like code for something else - just saying.

jedil64931 · 03-19-2011, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Bass thumping and loud truck? I dont know where youre coming from - but that's not my experience here at all - and it sounds like code for something else - just saying.

Tallahassee, FL (where we currently are) is 1/2 redneck and 1/2 thug. It gets noisy. That about explain the code you're looking for?

Quote:

Funny about the houses-we pretty much say the same thing when we visit Florida-they are so ugly, all stucco with red roofs . It is just what you are used to.

How old are the kids and what are their interests?

Haha the stucco and red roofs with the curved tiles is exactly what we find attractive... funny you bring that up.

The kids are 7, 3 and 1 year. They love the usual stuff (Parks, parades, etc.) and I think the snow will keep them occupied most of our first year there.

Quote:

Here in my part of SW Minneapolis (temporarily the Armatage neighborhood) the houses aren't beautiful, but they are in your price range. Lots of 2-3 BR post-war houses with mostly finished basements. Some are cuter than others. Tons of kids, quiet, no thumping trucks, fabulous local schools, and your rent range is on target. Kenny neighborhood is adjacent and offers the same benefits. Other SW neighborhoods could have some good deals, but prices tend to go up if you head towards somewhere like Linden Hills. (not necessarily, though, and you could find a good deal there). For more post-war houses in family-friendly neighborhoods with great schools and within (I believe) your rent range there's also nearby St. Louis Park.

Thanks, i'll check out those areas!