Moving from rochester to U o M...rent advice please (Minneapolis: apartment, rentals)

[user#1]

Hey,

I am a medical resident in training. I had one year at Mayo and now I transferred to U o M. I will be working at different hospitals (Fairview, Regions, and Lakeview).

I will be moving with my wife and currently looking for townhome or apartment rental in a nice, SAFE suburban area with not-so-long-drive to those hospitals. I have looked around areas like (maplewood, roseville) but did not come across something nice so far, and I dont have a clue as to how good these areas are.

Any other suggestions, advice is greatly appreciated.

Thank you

[golfgal]

Woodbury would be central to all of those hospitals (guessing Lakeview is the one in Stillwater, right?)

None of them are all that far from each other so if you are going to be 5 days at Lakeview, 1 and Regions, 1 at Fairview you might want to live in Stillwater (for example). You can find a place near the hospital there easily and then only have to drive a couple days/week. Do you know how your schedule will break down for each hospital.

[user#1]

I will be spending like 6 weeks in Lakeview (yes, the one in Stillwater) then like 3 months in Fairview, 3 months in the VA medical center which is just a few miles south of Fairview and another 6 weeks in Regions hospital.

How good of an area is Woodbury? How far would be the commute to those hospitals, considering I will be going to work on or before 6 am and be back home 7-8pm

Thanx for your help

[golfgal]

I should ask too, which Fairview campus--that could make a difference to my first answer.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by user#1

I will be spending like 6 weeks in Lakeview (yes, the one in Stillwater) then like 3 months in Fairview, 3 months in the VA medical center which is just a few miles south of Fairview and another 6 weeks in Regions hospital.

How good of an area is Woodbury? How far would be the commute to those hospitals, considering I will be going to work on or before 6 am and be back home 7-8pm

Thanx for your help

Long hours but the plus side, no traffic worries at those times.

I am going to guess Fairview Riverside if it is a few miles north of the VA. Since you are in Stillwater for the shortest time I would say look in the Highland Park area of St. Paul. That will put you about 5 minutes from the VA, 10 minutes to Riverside and about 20 minutes to Stillwater.

[user#1]

I was told by some people to avoid places around the airport, or is that just on the west bank of the river?

Another question that comes to my mind, we are a young couple and my wife was very concerned about safety given that I would be away most of the day plus nights on call. Would it make a difference to rent a detached townhome vs something within a complex. Thanks golfgal for the input, and I would really appreciate it if you would provide a little description of the suggested area demographics.

Just to provide more information, I am looking for a rent up to 1100 with utilities. Looking for a decent, quiet home/apt. and for now I know I am staying for a year (may be more) so I am not into buying yet.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by user#1

I was told by some people to avoid places around the airport, or is that just on the west bank of the river?

Another question that comes to my mind, we are a young couple and my wife was very concerned about safety given that I would be away most of the day plus nights on call. Would it make a difference to rent a detached townhome vs something within a complex. Thanks golfgal for the input, and I would really appreciate it if you would provide a little description of the suggested area demographics.

Just to provide more information, I am looking for a rent up to 1100 with utilities. Looking for a decent, quiet home/apt. and for now I know I am staying for a year (may be more) so I am not into buying yet.

Highland Park is a nice area, no issues living there at all as far as safety goes. There are some areas around the airport and in various spots around the metro that you don't want but Highland is fine.

If you want to be out in the suburbs, Eagan would be a good choice. It is a bit of a drive to Stillwater but close to the other locations. Woodbury would work still as well, just not as close as Highland Park area. There are more rentals in Woodbury and Eagan so that is a plus. Mendota Heights and Inver Grove Heights are also nice areas--Inver Grove would put you closer to Stillwater then Eagan by about 5 minutes.

[user#1]

Thanks Golfgal, I have narrowed down my choices and spent all day yesterday reading threads on this forum...yeah u can see my puffy eyes now..

I will be looking at the following areas with the impressions that i got from researching
1. Woodbury (area with bad planning but OK)
2. Mendota heights, Inver grove heights (quiet suburbs)
3. Highland park (there has been some recent crime activity but some say it is OK)
4. Maple grove -- now this area I only included because I have quite a few friends living there. Would it be livable there considering my situation. I see the area has got quite a hype of good reviews.

@golfgal: I know you hate that area traffic altogether

Still looking for more input...thank you guys.

[Haver]

Mendota Heights would be spendy but worth it if you find the right place, not sure about Inver Grove Heights but I think its the same way. Maple Grove would be a long commute but wth your hours the only concern I think would be gas. The crime in Highland park I've heard is localized to the rental strip (on West 7th?), and generally that's a very nice, quiet, prestigious neighborhood. Even the "bad" areas around the airport are not that bad and is 80% perception - housing stock is well maintained, just old and affordable. Also, take a good look at the crime statistics map for Minneapolis - southeast Minneapolis east of Hiawatha has practically no crime, I think because if you're not in the neghborhood that area is just off of everyone's radar (including criminals).

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by user#1

Thanks Golfgal, I have narrowed down my choices and spent all day yesterday reading threads on this forum...yeah u can see my puffy eyes now..

I will be looking at the following areas with the impressions that i got from researching
1. Woodbury (area with bad planning but OK)
2. Mendota heights, Inver grove heights (quiet suburbs)
3. Highland park (there has been some recent crime activity but some say it is OK)
4. Maple grove -- now this area I only included because I have quite a few friends living there. Would it be livable there considering my situation. I see the area has got quite a hype of good reviews.

@golfgal: I know you hate that area traffic altogether

Still looking for more input...thank you guys.

Maple Grove to the VA and Stillwater would be an hour commute in any kind of traffic, about 35-40+ minutes without traffic. It isn't worth the gas when you can live in an area that is just as nice and be 5 minutes away. You will visit your friends maybe once/week vs driving to/from work every day--just isn't worth the $4+/gas. If you were at hospitals in that area, yes, it would be a perfect place for you.

Woodbury does have bad planning and it isn't my favorite place but in your situation it would be good. There are a lot of nice townhome rentals there, your wife will be perfectly safe and easy commutes to your hospitals.

I agree with Haver, as long as you aren't living on West 7th, Highland Park is just fine. My Dh's brother and sister and their families live there, no problems at all--except for schools but that isn't an issue for you. There just aren't AS many rental places there as you will find in Woodbury or Inver Grove Heights would be the only real issue.

IGH you will easily be able to find a rental in your price range in a NICE townhome rental place that is both convienent and safe. This gives you the shortest commute to 2 of your 3 sites. Woodbury would give you an equal distance to all 3 of your sites but IGH would be shorter for the two sites you will be at the most.