Relocating from Northern California to Twin Cities Area (Minneapolis, Rosemount: gated, live in)

[MikeyToo]

Golfgal has the best info. I lived in the minneapolis area for 31 years. Find a job close to where you live. If not, you will do a lot of complaining. I lived in Isanti/Anoka areas and worked south-side of minneapolis. What a JOB! just to drive to work especially during the winter months with icy road conditions. Do yourself a favor if you move to the twin-city area. Find something close to home! You will not like driving 4 hours from home to work on a bad winter day. Trust me on this one! I left Minnysoda 11 years ago for the wonderful California weather, but now moving back to the midwest. I miss the 4 seasons.
Good luck on your move!

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by chani29f

Compared to California, even in the smallish town I live in, $1200 for a 3 br 2 ba apt in a nice area with over 1000 sq ft is a great deal. (That's what I found going to rent.com). I'd much rather live in the 'burbs so to speak, at least for the first year. I've never lived in a big city and the thought kind of freaks me out a bit. I could tell you my issues driving in San Francisco but that is another forum of it's own. Anyway, I am looking at a medium-smallish (15-80k) area that has plenty of local outdoor areas (like kid & dog friendly parks) and where you can walk or take public transit for local grocery shopping, & recreation.

Rosemount would be great. It is a town of 22,000. There are several nice townhome complexes near the retail areas that would allow you to walk just a couple blocks to get groceries. There are walking trails or sidewalks on every street in town and there are many, many parks. We have an off leash dog park as well. We are in the top rated school district in the state and one of the top in the nation. We are 15 miles from the Mall of America and 2-10 miles from pretty much any kind of shopping you would need-with easy driving to get there. We LOVE it here.

There are a couple houses not far from us that have for rent signs up. I don't know what they are asking for rent but they are nicer houses in nice neighborhoods. One is a split-level that is 2 houses from a large park, the other is about 3 blocks from that same park and about 3 blocks from the grocery store so finding a house to rent probably won't be an issue either.

[music7lover]

Edina is a nice area. A realtor told me that it is the best deal in the Twin Cities. (This was for buying, however since there are alot of condos available there, there probably are rentals too)

Lots of amenities in Edina around the Southdale area. Good area and you can walk around after dark.

[music7lover]

Yes, I also agree that Hopkins is a good choice. Quite affordable, however the feel of the town is blue collar, while Edina is white collar. Since you work in office work, stay in the western part of the Twin Cities. Alot of companies are located towards Minnetonka etc., with Hopkins being an easy drive.

Rosemount was mentioned here. Yes, it is an excellent area but the jobs might not be that plentiful over there.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by music7lover

Yes, I also agree that Hopkins is a good choice. Quite affordable, however the feel of the town is blue collar, while Edina is white collar. Since you work in office work, stay in the western part of the Twin Cities. Alot of companies are located towards Minnetonka etc., with Hopkins being an easy drive.

Rosemount was mentioned here. Yes, it is an excellent area but the jobs might not be that plentiful over there.

She isn't looking for a job--she is going to be at home.

[chani29f]

Thank you again everyone. I don't care what a lot of the posters say about MN people being standoffish. From what I've found when we were back there & what I've found in here, I think it's a matter of using your personality to get out & meet people. We met some of the nicest people in the oddest areas (Jiffy Lube in Bloomington: we met a wonderful lady who gave us gardening advice for cold weather & met a woman named Niki who wished that we weren't leaving so she could show us around "her city".) and I think that we will enjoy making a home there.

[Minnehahapolitan]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Rosemount would be great. It is a town of 22,000. There are several nice townhome complexes near the retail areas that would allow you to walk just a couple blocks to get groceries. There are walking trails or sidewalks on every street in town and there are many, many parks. We have an off leash dog park as well. We are in the top rated school district in the state and one of the top in the nation. We are 15 miles from the Mall of America and 2-10 miles from pretty much any kind of shopping you would need-with easy driving to get there. We LOVE it here.

There are a couple houses not far from us that have for rent signs up. I don't know what they are asking for rent but they are nicer houses in nice neighborhoods. One is a split-level that is 2 houses from a large park, the other is about 3 blocks from that same park and about 3 blocks from the grocery store so finding a house to rent probably won't be an issue either.

Rosemount fits this criteria except for viable public transportation. Rentals may be slightly harder to find in Rosemount.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by Minnehahapolitan

Rosemount fits this criteria except for viable public transportation. Rentals may be slightly harder to find in Rosemount.

We have discussed public transportation in Rosemount before--there is door to door service here for those that want to use it through the bus line--NOT just for seniors and handicapped people. There are plenty of rentals around here, especially townhomes.

[Minnehahapolitan]

....and again, I don't think a door-to-door shuttle is what the OP said when she stated that she wanted public transportation available. Most people do not consider a city bus to be a 15 seat van. Tell me if I am wrong chani29f.
I didn't know the rental situation in Rosemount.

[chani29f]

Originally Posted by Minnehahapolitan

....and again, I don't think a door-to-door shuttle is what the OP said when she stated that she wanted public transportation available. Most people do not consider a city bus to be a 15 seat van. Tell me if I am wrong chani29f.
I didn't know the rental situation in Rosemount.

Well, I just meant easy access to buses/trains when heading into the cities in case you didn't want to drive. This would probably NOT be an absolute requirement if I found a place that my daughter & I liked and the drive was not that bad.

I am checking on rent.com & apartments.com. They are pulling a LOT of places for Eden Prairie & Edina but not so much with the smaller 'burbs. I'll probably have to look through local papers online & talk with apartment management companies to get more specific as I get closer to the move.