Another 'where should we live?' thread! (St. Paul, Eagan: short sale, real estate market)

[biloxisweetpea]

Hello everyone! My family (myself, husband and child) live in Mobile, AL and technically we are both from the south. We were born in the same hospital but lived in separate areas growing up. I lived in Apple Valley as a kid (90's) for 6 years (moved away my last year of high school) and I miss it terribly. I'm trying to figure out a way to transfer us up there. Husband is uh, mostly on board... but I think I could talk him into it, if the right situation came up. We both have good professional jobs, so it would be hard to walk away from the stability of that, but I am keeping an eye on a direct job transfer situation. For me, it would be working most likely in downtown St. Paul. But I would be open to other equal opportunities. Husband would have to look for something completely new as his current job is in the shipbuilding industry (no he's not actually building ships, its just related), but he could re-open his home reno business. The man is a whiz with a hammer.

Like I said, we have good jobs, but we really don't care for where we live. For several reasons: 1. Our son is 12 months now, but school will be a factor in the future and we all know how education ranks in the south. 2. The political climate: we are in a very 'red' area and we are very much 'blue'. 3. Religion: we are in a very much church-oriented area, however we ourselves lean more towards agnostic/atheist. It's a problem socially, in that, if you don't go to church here or weren't raised here, getting to know anyone or have friends is a real challenge. Most social activities center around church. 4. The weather: I miss the snow and can't stand the long, hot endless humid summers. Bleh. GIve me -5 over 95 degrees anyday. 5. Community activities/public facilities/etc: are pretty much non-existent here, there are maybe 2 parks in a 50 sq mile area, places to go camping are 6+ hr drive away, no trails or sidewalks anywhere, etc. I miss the parks we had where I lived, I participated in the community classes (making dream catchers! country line dancing! swimming! ice skating!), concerts at the parks. CC skiing at the parks. Could throw a rock in any direction and hit somewhere to go camping. There are probably other reasons, but that's basically the gist.

So, since I'm an insatiable planner, while I wait for a job to open up, I'm looking into areas (suburbs) where we could re-locate. And keeping an eye on the real estate market, seeing if a move would even be feasible IF a job offer came up. Since my memory of living in MN is through the rose-colored glasses of a child, I don't know much about the reality of having to shovel the driveway (dad always did that), the higher taxes, driving in snow, etc; so the reality of moving back to MN if it actually happens, may come crashing down on us quickly (meaning: minnesota is not utopia.... but it's pretty close ). But anywhere you could live does have pros/cons.

Anyway, so I am aware of Apple Valley (and have visited a couple times in the past few years for business/pleasure, boy has AV grown & expanded!), but am curious about other areas. Here's what is important:
-Good public/private schools, Montessori daycares
-Vicinity to parks/trails/public facilities also big box stores, chain and small eateries, coffee shops
-Near a lake (is anywhere NOT near a lake
-Similar political climate- I've assumed most areas in the Twin Cities are 'blue', but then I've read some are not?
-Leafy neighborhoods with decent sized lots, attached garages- not sure on a price point yet, as we will probably rent first for awhile (right now we have 3 bd (that we've turned into 4) 2 bath, 1800 sq feet on 1/4 acre in a neighborhood with an HOA (good and bad) outside the city limits ($192K), for perspective
-Public transportation connection to St. Paul
-I would think religion/church culture would be less of an issue, as I remember MN'ans being far less 'in your face' about it, as far as religion. And not all social activities being tied to church.

Anyway, any thoughts/tips would be appreciated. Help a former Minnesotan come home!

[biloxisweetpea]

Oh and our area as far as family activities = does not have them. Clearly the Twin Cities knocks that one out of the park. Important to our family!

And ethnic restaurants (sushi, greek, mexican, indian, thai, etc), Mobile has... some. But being close to somewhere that serves out of this world hummus would be great as well.

[golfgal]

The Apple Valley/Rosemount/Eagan area sounds like a good fit. It's fairly conservative but like religion, unless you really get into a debate with someone, chances are slim you even know their political leanings. You have all the shopping you need right in AV or Eagan with the bonus of an easy drive to the MOA. Downtown St. Paul is a breeze of a commute up 35, 13, 52, 3 Pilot Knob, Lexington, Dodd so traffic is easily avoided.

Not sure about shipbuilding or home renovations here though. The market is coming back. Depending on what he does exactly though, there might be opportunities with all the barge/shipping traffic on the Mississippi though so I wouldn't count that out totally. It would be worth researching.

You really need to sign up for ECFE (Early Childhood Family Education) when you get here.

Budget will really be the final determination though. 195K isn't going to touch a house like you have now anywhere in the metro, at least not in an area where you would want to live.

If there are other opportunities for you for work, some of the smaller towns, outside of the metro might be good options, St. Peter, Northfield, Red Wing, Marshall, Mankato, areas around St. Cloud, etc. Then that price point would be very reasonable.

[Kayekaye]

Per political climate, the state is closely split down the middle tipping towards Dems, but that's not to say we are all liberals here by any means.
Minnesota Presidential Election Results - Presidential Race | NBC News
has some info about blue counties vs red counties so that might help you find a community closer to your likings. Dakota county was pretty well split down the middle, Dems winning with 51% vs 48%. That leaves only 1% 3rd party or other voting.

I have lived all over the metro area and I'm such a driver that I/we participate in outings and doings all over. Pretty much will drive from Stillwater to Chaska and up to Andover in a day –blizzard withstanding. So can't recommend just one area, but southern metro is almost a better gardening zone than the north if that matters.

[biloxisweetpea]

Thanks Golfgal about the heads up about ECFE. I don't know anything about it and will have to look into it. I've kept in touch with a friend from high school that is a teacher now, so she should be able to fill me in.

What would the going rate for decent housing (with the specs I mentioned) be in the Metro? Like 3-4 bedroom, 2000+ sq feet, attached garage, etc. Housing here is typically $100/sq ft in any neighborhood that you would want to live in.

I wouldn't mind living in a smaller town, as long as we aren't in the boonies and things are reasonably accessible. We don't live in the boonies now, but we aren't really close to anything either. We have to drive everywhere; walking/biking isn't an option at all, due to distance and lack of sidewalks. I remember biking to the library, community pool, nearby park and lake as a kid.... and that's not possible at all here. Urban planning is nada! But I realize the conundrum, I want a decent-sized house (with lot) that is within walking distance of the community (library, cafe, etc), but not next to the freeway either.

[golfgal]

Apple Valley/Rosemount area you are looking at $250,000, minimum and that will get you a multi-level track home. If you don't mind that, you will be thrilled with the choices. $300,000 for a typical 2 story 3-4 br with an unfinished basement. Depending on time frame, a short sale or foreclosure is possible at less than that but they have their own set of problems as well.

ECFE are basically parenting classes but it's a great way to meet people when you move back. General set up, which varies from program to program, but you spend the first part of class playing with the kids doing some kind of age appropriate activity, the second half the kids stay with child life specialists/pre-school teachers and do age appropriate activities and the parents meet in a separate room to discuss parenting issues. We are still friends with people we met 15+ years ago in ECFE, even after all of our moves, etc.

All of the smaller towns I mentioned will have your basic, day to day stuff there at least. You wouldn't really have to drive to get anywhere in most of those towns. The only town around the metro-not really metro even but still sort of metro that wouldn't be a good fit for shopping is New Prague. It's a great place to live though, TONS of young families but the town council put the breaks on for any new development so no Walmart, Target, etc.