Lakeville (Minneapolis, Burnsville, Apple Valley: credit, first time home buyer, transfer)

[grace1202]

OK, just when I thought we were set on Rosemount, DH asks me to check out Lakeville. So, here are a few questions:

1) How do housing prices compare between these 2 cities?
2) How do the schools compare?
3) What about convenience to the airport? shopping?
4) Does Lakeville have a swim club? tae kwon do?

Thanks in advance for any help or insights into these communities.

[golfgal]

Lakeville is SLIGHTLY less convenient to the airport, maybe 5-10 minutes depending on where in Lakeville you are. Rosemount has easier access to Cedar Ave vs going up I-35 to the airport, but again, you are talking minutes difference. Housing is more expensive, the schools are pretty equal educationally. My sister-in-law is assistant principal at one of the middle schools there and the stories she tells are QUITE interesting, however I don't know that it is any different then any other middle school in the suburbs-mostly the amount of drugs to be had at the middle school there, probably because Lakeville is one of the wealthier suburbs.

One thing you will find with the suburban schools is that they are all pretty much the same quality and what sets them apart is what activities they excel in and the reputation of the students attending those schools. My experience with a lot of the southern suburbs and their students comes from attending various events. I think you can tell a lot about a school based on how well behaved the kids are at football games, basketball games, etc. We played Lakeville South, the new high school in Lakeville, in football and I thought the kids were well behaved, showed a lot of school spirit, etc. Their cheerleaders were VERY good (and I am not a cheerleader fan). Burnsville kids were the rudest kids I have ever come across in all my years of attending high school athletic events.

New construction anywhere in the southern suburbs is going to be relatively the same price, give or take $25,000 or so but Rosemount still tends to be less expensive then other towns, taxes are less here too. We had some friends move from our old town to Lakeville the same time we moved here. They bought a home that was started by another couple and got transferred before it could be finished. They got a "good" deal on the house but still paid close to $600,000. That same house in Rosemount would probably go for about $500,000 from what I have seen with housing prices.

Honestly, you really can't go wrong with any of the suburbs. They are all going to have the things you are looking for or they are close enough to them that it doesn't matter. I don't know if Lakeville has a swim club, my guess is yes, but if they don't, you are still very close to the one in Apple Valley. Same with TKD, there will be something less then 10 minutes away no matter where you end up.

[Robert P Stewart]

What in the heck are you doing up before 6AM? Are you a farmer or something? My alarm clock (my 1 year old) started chirping at 6:30AM...

Lakeville or Rosemount. OK -obviously, I'm biased. My wife and I live in Lakeville. Both areas are very convenient to MSP airport. We live on the south end of Lakeville, sort of in the country - and the airport is about 25 minutes away. You'll spend longer in the security checkpoint...

I always got a sense that the Lakeville school system (194) was just a classy operation. The teachers I've met are intelligent (a good thing for a teacher), and patient (good, considering our kids). My clients that bought houses in Rosemount have told me that the school district (196) has struck a wonderful balance between sports, arts, and academics.

As far as home values, I don't think one area has a leg up on the other. I'm sure there are statistics that will argue with me, but I've sold a bunch of houses in both cities. The one advantage I've seen is the low $200K's price range. Clearly, Rosemount has better homes in that range. I credit that to the new construction in the area. Both Rottlund and Centex have very reasonably priced developments there. Above that price range, and the cities are really pretty equal.

Hope that helps!

Robert

[golfgal]

My DOG decided it was time to play at 4 AM, I am NOT a morning person .

[politikally]

I really like Lakeville. I currently live up in Burnsville, but my Fiance' and I are planning on buying a house in Lakeville after we get hitched

I agree with most of what was said, except the part about Burnsville kids being rude I think the Burnsville kids are just fine.

Also the commute to the airport is easy anywhere in the city. It really is. This isn't NY or DC where, if you have a traveling job a house near the airport is important. No matter where in the cities you are you really aren't more than 20 to 40 minutes from the airport. I usually take a cab from my house when flying out so I don't have to pay for parking.

As for shopping --- A+ Burnsville Center (HUGE mall is about 3 minutes north of lakeville, and you can cut up to the Mall of America pretty easily from Lakeville. Most people I know in Lakeville shop in Burnsville [If you can't find something on Highway 42, then you don't need it ]

[Robert P Stewart]

My wife live on the south end of Lakeville. In 30 minutes, we can be sitting at our table in downtown Minneapolis with drinks ordered. In 25 minutes, we can have our car parked at the airport or be at the Mall of America. There are more parks than you can shake a stick at.

Plus, I just helped a couple who were first time home buyers in Lakeville. They got a Dakota County grant that is available to first timers - and it completely covered closing costs. Completely!


Hope this helps,

Robert

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by politikally

I really like Lakeville. I currently live up in Burnsville, but my Fiance' and I are planning on buying a house in Lakeville after we get hitched

I agree with most of what was said, except the part about Burnsville kids being rude I think the Burnsville kids are just fine.

Also the commute to the airport is easy anywhere in the city. It really is. This isn't NY or DC where, if you have a traveling job a house near the airport is important. No matter where in the cities you are you really aren't more than 20 to 40 minutes from the airport. I usually take a cab from my house when flying out so I don't have to pay for parking.

As for shopping --- A+ Burnsville Center (HUGE mall is about 3 minutes north of lakeville, and you can cut up to the Mall of America pretty easily from Lakeville. Most people I know in Lakeville shop in Burnsville [If you can't find something on Highway 42, then you don't need it ]

Well, at the the football game with Burnsville this year the kids were yelling obnoxious "cheers" that were totally inappropriate in any setting and during the half time show they were booing and making so many loud, obnoxious noises that you couldn't hear the band play. It was completly rude and uncalled for and I have had similar experiences with Burnsville kids at basketball games. The kids are NOT ok when they can't behave at a game, sorry.

[Robert P Stewart]

Burnsville was settled by the Irish - what do you expect?

We Scandinavians are more cultured in Lakeville.

I don't know if this relates, but my wife and I quit going to the Burnsville mall in the late evening. There are bands of young punks roaming the place being noisy, obnoxious, and meddlesome.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by Robert P Stewart

Burnsville was settled by the Irish - what do you expect?

We Scandinavians are more cultured in Lakeville.

I don't know if this relates, but my wife and I quit going to the Burnsville mall in the late evening. There are bands of young punks roaming the place being noisy, obnoxious, and meddlesome.

Well, the Rosemount IRISH aren't called that because they play on green grass and OUR kids know how to behave at a game . I agree with the general teen population at Burnsville Center, wow, where are these kids' parents????

[Robert P Stewart]

Rosemount is about as Irish as Calcutta...

Ever been to the Irish Pub, McDivots? The only thing Irish about that place is the fact that alcoholics occupy BOTH sides of the bar.

Indeed, we are hijacking this thread - steering it back on course,

Burnsville and Lakeville are different demographically. People in Lakeville make more money per capita. And Burnville is old enough to start having bad sections of town.

Contrast this to the town of Coates, which never started out with a good section - and still doesn't.

Robert