Looking to buy a home (Woodbury, Maplewood: homes, neighborhood, square footage)

[Swidge]

I recently moved to St Paul and I don't know the area very well. As my job is located close to downtown St Paul, I'm looking to buy a home that is at a commutable distance. It should be both in a good neighborhood and at least 2500 square feet. I have three large dogs so I need somewhere with a sizable yard, preferably an acre or more. My price range would be $200,000 to $400,000. Any suggestions on where I should look?

[MN55]

White Bear Lake and Mahtomedi fit your price range and are nice cities about 20 miles from downtown, but you would have to look just north of the actual towns to find an acre lot.

I would recommend Lake Elmo. It is a pretty rural town but it has a few nice lakes and you have a good chance of getting some acreage. I am not sure about prices there though- best check it out.

[Clifford63]

Originally Posted by MN55

White Bear Lake and Mahtomedi fit your price range and are nice cities about 20 miles from downtown, but you would have to look just north of the actual towns to find an acre lot.

I would recommend Lake Elmo. It is a pretty rural town but it has a few nice lakes and you have a good chance of getting some acreage. I am not sure about prices there though- best check it out.

There are some great options in Mahtomedi with larger lots. You will see a lot of listing way over 400K, but there is some nice homes under 400K as well with good sized lots. Right now there are two listings on Warner Ave near 62nd street with big lots. I think one is just over 200K and the other is around 400K but it is like 3 acres and a very nice home.

White Bear township has some larger lots. Lake Elmo is bit further, but you could find something there in all likelky hood too, but the tendancy lately is fairly upper bracket. The very east part of Oakdale (east of 694 and south of 36O is pretty nice too. Grant township is in the general area and you will see some stuff that might work there and some that is out of range.

Parts of Maplewood have big lots like the area near edgerton and south of 36. Not sure what the range is there, but thinking it would probably fit for you.

[golfgal]

Where exactly is your job? Close to downtown is pretty vague and can make a big difference with the commute. Also, how far are you willing to commute?

[Slig]

There are currently 8 properties on the MLS in Lake Elmo between 200-400k with at least an acre of land and at least 2500 sq ft.

[Swidge]

Thank you for the suggestions. The job is actually in downtown St Paul, but I would be willing to commute up to an hour each way.

[Clifford63]

Originally Posted by Swidge

Thank you for the suggestions. The job is actually in downtown St Paul, but I would be willing to commute up to an hour each way.

You have some pretty good options. Thinking you can do 30 minutes or less from most of these. Woodbury, Mahtomedi, White Bear Lake, Oakdale, Maplewood. A little longer for these: Afton, Lake Elmo Oak Park Heights and Stillwater and cottage grove.

If you like wooded areas more than open areas, eastern burbs are going to appeal to you. You could also look at places in Dakota County as 35E is not so congested comming across the river. The closer you are to the river the more wooded and hilly it tends to be. As you go futher south it is more of the corn field converted to a suburb feel.

If you are searching MLS, you can put in lot size of .5 or greater. Many lots are going to be 1/3 acre which is still pretty large. Some are just under a 1/2 as well. My lot is .48 acres so you probably want to pad your range a little to get some extra results that might work.

Parade of homes is happening soon, so that is a great way to look at stuff and get a general feel of the various areas. Lot of expensive homes on that, but it is still good to see what builders are out there and what they are doing. They are the same guys who built the other homes 10 and 20 years ago too.

Good luck with your search.

[Ben Around]

I'd even consider Hastings and Prescott, WI. Nice small towns, not yet suburbs, and within an hour's drive.

[ZaraZoteBuccaneer]

Originally Posted by Swidge

Thank you for the suggestions. The job is actually in downtown St Paul, but I would be willing to commute up to an hour each way.

Check out Carver County, only about an hour like you say and very very nice. Beautiful contryside. The new 212 freeway leads to a great area with upscale communities welcoming you into the eastern border of the county; two of them were recently selected 2 years in a row by Money Magazine as in the top ten of some of the best small towns to live in the USA. And if you keep going west, you'll find smaller unknown towns with much larger opportunities for peace & quiet, square footage and even acerage. Low taxes, conservative values and lots of young families

[TimtheGuy]

Originally Posted by ZaraZoteBuccaneer

Check out Carver County, only about an hour like you say and very very nice. Beautiful contryside. The new 212 freeway leads to a great area with upscale communities welcoming you into the eastern border of the county; two of them were recently selected 2 years in a row by Money Magazine as in the top ten of some of the best small towns to live in the USA. And if you keep going west, you'll find smaller unknown towns with much larger opportunities for peace & quiet, square footage and even acerage. Low taxes, conservative values and lots of young families

To the OP: You definitely do not want to commute from Carver Co!. You will want to stay on the East side of I-35