Need some advice - First time home buyer (Minneapolis, Hills: real estate, neighborhood)

[Chad1]

Hello Everyone,

I am first time home buyer lookn for an SFH in south minneapolis area. In the price range of $250K.Have few questions:

1)Please suggest me good neighborhood with good school zone in south minneapolis?
2)Public transport easily available for downtown?

Thanks in advance

[lalife]

You can get a nice starter house in Linden Hills for that price. Excellent neighborhood with Lake Harriet close by. A sure equity builder. Not sure about the bus schedule from that area tho. You could easily drive to the train station area on Hiawatha within about 10-15 minutes.

[Slig]

South and Southwest are the best high schools on the southside. I would say the southside has better access to downtown as you can take Cedar Ave, Hiawatha Ave as well as the freeways. The Uptown/SW area is more congested for downtown commutes. However, that area is nicer so if you can find a decent home for that range there then by all means.

[Clifford63]

Originally Posted by lalife

You can get a nice starter house in Linden Hills for that price. Excellent neighborhood with Lake Harriet close by. A sure equity builder. Not sure about the bus schedule from that area tho. You could easily drive to the train station area on Hiawatha within about 10-15 minutes.

250 in Linden Hills is perhaps optimistic, but I would say if you can find something, that is a great area. It is serviced by the #4 bus and there is 24 hour service. This would be in SouthWest High School district, which is good for Minneapolis, but average if you compare to suburban schools.

Other areas close by that should might have more choices are fulton, Armatage, kenny and Lynlakes.

[Minnehahapolitan]

Linden Hills is nice, but any house you could afford would be small. From there, you would have Southwest High and could take the No. 6 down France or Xerxes to downtown.
Armatage and Kenny are newer, mostly from the 1950s. The area is very safe, less expensive than Linden Hills and still districted to Southwest High. The No. 4 bus goes down Penn and Lyndale to get downtown (I believe). You could get more for your money because the area isn't as quaint as Linden Hills.
The Longfellow area is older, less expensive and districted to South High School. The actual neighborhood is quite safe, but adjoining areas can be rougher. South is the arts magnet and Prince's alma mater. You could get downtown in fifteen minutes on the Hiawatha rail line. South High is much more urban and diverse than Southwest.

[Sarah Maske]

If you take people's advice about Linden Hills, please keep in mind at that price point (if you don't want to do any work to the house), you are limited to a 1 bedroom, 1 bath most of the time. I know of only 5 SFH in that area for that price - perhaps the two that are most move in ready are 1br/1ba.

In determining schools, one of the best ways to do this to call districts and schools and ask them questions that have to do with with what, in your opinion, makes a good school district. While it requires some leg work on your end, you can get answers that relate directly to your primary concerns.

If one of your criteria for "good" neighborhood has to do with real estate investment, there are areas around Linden Hills (and other areas of SW Mpls) that are great for long term investment. In these areas you would have more choice in space and bed/bath numbers. Someone above listed Armatage, as an example.

Good luck in your search!

~Sarah

[lalife]

Originally Posted by Chad1

Hello Everyone,

I am first time home buyer lookn for an SFH in south minneapolis area. In the price range of $250K.Have few questions:

1)Please suggest me good neighborhood with good school zone in south minneapolis?
2)Public transport easily available for downtown?

Thanks in advance

DUDE, It is Southwest Mpls or the Linden Hills area for you!!. I just sent you a PM with a link to a great Realty site that has properties from all of the agencies.

There are lots of cute little houses with up to 3 bedrooms in your price range. With $250,000 to spend, you will find something in that highly desirable part of Mpls.

I will be buying a property by myself and always kick myself that I don't have at least $200,000 to spend. I can't afford more than $165,000. It takes at least $200,000 to get in the Southwest neighborhood for a little house. Damn I wish I hadn't partied so much in my 20's and saved more for a downpayment .

Finally, don't listen to the naysayers on here. I am obsessed with watching the market and am checking out properties constantly. Lots of great deals out there.

[Ben Around]

Originally Posted by Minnehahapolitan

Linden Hills is nice, but any house you could afford would be small. From there, you would have Southwest High and could take the No. 6 down France or Xerxes to downtown.
Armatage and Kenny are newer, mostly from the 1950s. The area is very safe, less expensive than Linden Hills and still districted to Southwest High. The No. 4 bus goes down Penn and Lyndale to get downtown (I believe). You could get more for your money because the area isn't as quaint as Linden Hills.
The Longfellow area is older, less expensive and districted to South High School. The actual neighborhood is quite safe, but adjoining areas can be rougher. South is the arts magnet and Prince's alma mater. You could get downtown in fifteen minutes on the Hiawatha rail line. South High is much more urban and diverse than Southwest.

Minne--Are you sure about Longfellow being in South High's catchement area? I would've thought it would be in Roosevelt's (28th Avenue about 1/2 mile south of Lake St). I don't know Mpls schools, just asking.

Yeah, I think the question is, do you want to get more for your $250k now, or are you looking at long term appreciation. If you want more house now, go with Armitage or Kenney, or Longfellow. If you are looking at long-term appreciation, I'd go with Linden Hills. (Personally, I think Longfellow will be the next up & coming Mpls neighborhood so would think it would have a great potential for appreciation as well as lots of house for the $ now.)

[Slig]

The Longfellow community is split between South and Roosevelt high schools depending on the street address. To find out what school your kids would be attending, check out this chart:

http://www.mpls.k12.mn.us/sites/f707...007_2008hs.pdf

(note that this was for the 2007-2008 school year so it could change a little for future academic years).

[Ben Around]

Originally Posted by Slig

The Longfellow community is split between South and Roosevelt high schools depending on the street address. To find out what school your kids would be attending, check out this chart:

http://www.mpls.k12.mn.us/sites/f707...007_2008hs.pdf

(note that this was for the 2007-2008 school year so it could change a little for future academic years).

Thanks, Slig!