Advice Needed: Eden Prairie vs Bloom vs TC (Minneapolis, St. Paul: transplants, to rent)

[denzlite]

So we moved here a couple years ago from Chicago and have been renting in Eden Prairie after wife got job in Bloomington.We wanted to rent until the housing market came down. Our landlord either wants us to buy our current house or move by the end of this year and all the sudden now I'm a lot more confused about where to go. And the housing market is still stupid. We really want a 3br/2k sq ft for under 400k.


We're city people and at first I didn't like EP we were plotting our move to something like Tangletown or Mac Groveland. That was also when our kids were young and we didn't know anything about the area and the schools. Now that the kids are starting school - I'm wondering if it'd be easier to stay in the suburbs since our lives are about to revolve around extracurricular activities.



I thought for sure there's no way I'd stay in EP when we first moved, but now I've fallen for Hyland and Bush Lake. My fam is way into biking and I love the nearby cul de sacs and empty paths in Hyland. I thought for sure SW Minne/St Paul is where I wanted to be - but we're all tall people and none of the houses in St P or SW Minne that we can afford have any room.


Wondering where to look - where to move - what schools have good ratings now and all that.

[Glenfield]

Why not stay in Eden Prairie?

[Mason3000]

Originally Posted by denzlite

So we moved here a couple years ago from Chicago and have been renting in Eden Prairie after wife got job in Bloomington.We wanted to rent until the housing market came down. Our landlord either wants us to buy our current house or move by the end of this year and all the sudden now I'm a lot more confused about where to go. And the housing market is still stupid. We really want a 3br/2k sq ft for under 400k.


We're city people and at first I didn't like EP we were plotting our move to something like Tangletown or Mac Groveland. That was also when our kids were young and we didn't know anything about the area and the schools. Now that the kids are starting school - I'm wondering if it'd be easier to stay in the suburbs since our lives are about to revolve around extracurricular activities.



I thought for sure there's no way I'd stay in EP when we first moved, but now I've fallen for Hyland and Bush Lake. My fam is way into biking and I love the nearby cul de sacs and empty paths in Hyland. I thought for sure SW Minne/St Paul is where I wanted to be - but we're all tall people and none of the houses in St P or SW Minne that we can afford have any room.


Wondering where to look - where to move - what schools have good ratings now and all that.

Some thoughts....

1) I feel your pain. I've got a wife & 3 kids. I'm a city guy, but seriously considered the suburbs just because...it's easier. There's just less to think about & maneuver.

2) West Bloomington may be the best value in the TC. So many transplants & young urban dwellers buying these days & they almost always skip right past West Bloomington, leaving great value for the more tuned in home shopper. It's East Edina. But on a budget.

3) If you really have your heart set on living in the city, you can absolutely make it happen, but it requires a bit more effort. Forget SW Mpls. Houses are small. Demand is ridiculous. No value there, at all.

4) St Paul is where it's at if you want to live in the city & need a good sized house. Don't want to violate any rules, but check out 1794 Dayton, 1929 Grand, 1795 Sargent, 889 Hague & 873 Ashland for starters. Some need a bit of work, but all have elbow room for a good sized family, will be in good schools, will have plenty of extracurricular activities (Sports are big, Como Park, skiing, golfing, trails, etc) & I love that my kids & their friends can safely walk to Grand Ave & hang out now that they're teenagers.

[Cruz Azul Guy]

You pay more in SW Minneapolis than other parts of the city, but with kids it’s worth the premium in my opinion. I just ran a search and found a bunch of 3 bedroom 2 bath homes there in the 350-450k range, especially south of 54th St/Diamond Lake Rd.

I agree that there is more value in St. Paul. I was surprised to find so many decent 3br, 2 ba homes in the Mac-Groveland and Highland Park areas for sub-400k.

Both of those would be the go-to family-friendly areas in each respective city from my perspective.

However, if you are happy staying in Eden Prairie or Bloomington they are fine choices as well.