Best burb (<60 min) for the best price.. (Minneapolis, St. Paul: best city, townhome)

[bc008]

We have a budget of 125,000 - 165,000 and would like the best city within an hour or so of the twin cities. We Have family in Duluth so a northern suburb would be best but from the little that I have read I understand the south is a bit nicer.

We have lots of dogs, so nice parks are a must. Nice schools and a small walkable downtown/town center would be the be best.!

Thanks everyone

[Ghengis]

Originally Posted by bc008

We have a budget of 125,000 - 165,000 and would like the best city within an hour or so of the twin cities. We Have family in Duluth so a northern suburb would be best but from the little that I have read I understand the south is a bit nicer.

We have lots of dogs, so nice parks are a must. Nice schools and a small walkable downtown/town center would be the be best.!

Thanks everyone

While the West, East and South suburbs may be a little more developed (I wouldn't say nicer), you likely will find more house-for-the-money by looking North. Especially if you are willing to be 60 minutes from Downtown Mpls or St Paul. You will also find that the commute is much, much easier heading North up the I35W corridor than any other commute available. Plenty of opportunities for park-n-rides in that direction as well. Once you get North 15 or 20 miles, the environment quickly changes from suburbia to small towns that have recently built small to large housing developments nearby. That same transition may not start for 20 to 25 miles heading South and because you have to cross the Minnesota River, the commute can be a bit of a nightmare. They are in the middle of a major reconstruction of a main interchange 5 miles south of Minneapolis which has a couple more years to go. While this may make the commute easier than it was, the traffic now is typically stop-n-go for many miles.

For your price range, you may find some nice options at this time in the Chisago-Center City-Lindstrom-Scandia area. Probably 45 to 50 minutes from downtown, small-town atmosphere, city parks, lakes and very close to the beautiful St Croix River (Nat'l Scenic Waterway) and all that goes along with it. Otherwise, you will find even more buying power heading further North up I35 and may even be able to find a little hobby farm that needs just a bit of TLC.

[golfgal]

Even with family in Duluth living in a northern suburb isn't going to save you or them all that much time getting there and back. You really want an eastern suburb because of the way the roads go up to Duluth. You could try Stillwater but you are going to have a hard time finding something there in your price range unless you are ok with a townhome. Hastings is a bit farther away from Duluth but more affordable then Stillwater. Montecello is nice too but that actually probably makes your commute to Duluth longer then it would be from Stillwater or Hastings.

Where will you be working exactly because if you are driving to work everyday it makes more sense to be closer to work then closer to family you might visit once/month or so.

[Slig]

If you're planning on going up to Duluth frequently your best bet is to have good access to 35 on the north end of the cities so you can hop on the freeway and shoot back and forth between the two. If you want to be in an exurb/small town there are a decent number of SFH's in your range in Forest Lake and North Branch. Otherwise in your specified range you'd have the most housing options in the more modest neighborhoods in Minneapolis and St. Paul proper, that is if you enjoy the benefits of urban life.

[Clifford63]

Prices are down, so you might just pull some ino on what you can find in your range in various areas and then see what areas you think will make you the most satisfied.

I don' think you would have to go out to a full hour commute.

I would look into N St. Paul, Oakdale, White Bear Lake, White Bear Township and see what comes up in your range. You might be surprised.

How many dogs do you have? Many cities will cap you at three.

[bc008]

We would just like to be close to the University of Minnesota.

We wouldnt mind Duluth either, but we like the bigger city atmosphere, and love that mall haha

We have 4 dogs and 2 cats

This is by no means a "serious" thread.. my parents just want to know what they can get for their money. We are looking all over the country, but we go to Minnesota every year and my parents really like it.

[Camden Northsider]

Best suburb for the best price IMO: Robbinsdale. Inner suburb; nice homes/ neighborhoods; walkable downtown with some nice shops; picturesque lakes/ parks; affordable; convenient to everything. Next to Minneapolis and at the juncture of Northern and Western suburbs.