Collierville or Olive Branch? Schools, shopping... (Southaven, Hernando: crime, new home, transfer)

[ColliervilleMom]

I posted this on the TN area, but thought I'd be fair and post here as well:

We're getting transferred to a new company, just south of the airport. Really don't want a long commute (been there), so considering Olive Branch or western Collierville. We've got 2 kids, 7 and 11, so quality of public schools are very important. Would love a community with a lot to offer families.

Any recommendations on where specifically to look?
Any comparisons between OB and Collierville?

Moving from Washington DC, so it seems like both areas have much cheaper housing and taxes than we do, so cost not going to be an issue.

Thanks for your help!

[gtk]

What are you looking for in a home? Do you want to live in the "country" or "city". Do you want a small lot, or perhaps 2 or 3 acres? There are so many options it would be impossible to list

Both Collierville and Olive Branch have good schools and a good community. Collierville is going to be more expensive by far, but it is very nice.

I don't know about Collierville, but you can pick up some good prices on homes in Olive Branch right now.

Working just south of the airport, there shouldn't be any problem getting to work from either Collierville or Olive Branch.

[ColliervilleMom]

hm, good questions...I don't want to have a big yard to maintain, I'd like less than an acre. As far as country or city....I'd like suburbia, with fairly good access to Memphis, which I think either city offers, right?

Good restaurants and decent places to shop are important too, like grocery stores that offer organic food, and good fresh produce.

[tennreb]

Originally Posted by considering-amovetomephis

hm, good questions...I don't want to have a big yard to maintain, I'd like less than an acre. As far as country or city....I'd like suburbia, with fairly good access to Memphis, which I think either city offers, right?

Good restaurants and decent places to shop are important too, like grocery stores that offer organic food, and good fresh produce.

The best grocery store Olive Branch offers is Kroger. Germantown has a Fresh Market and is close to the Wild Oats (soon to be Whole Foods) in East Memphis. DeSoto County is dominated by middle and lower tier chain restaurants like Chilis and Applebees, though ethnic places are just starting to appear there. Germantown and Collierville have much better restaurants overall and a lot more upscale places to eat.

[Bull777]

Agreed with tennreb 100%
Collierville offered every thing you needed, from high class restaurants, malls, good public schools. If you like Washington DC, you are going to like Collierville. Olive Branch is much quieter. From what I see here, local residents want to move out of Memphis city limits. Folks with bigger pockets moved to Germantown, Collierville. For under 250K, they will consider Desoto, MS (Olive Branch, Southaven).
Recently many Desoto subdivision accommodated very high scale homes, like Dawkin Farms, Spring Hills... with home range up to million dollars. Many folks moved in from out of state from as far as CA, NY...
Personally, I like OliveBranch & Southaven caused of an easy access to Memphis airport (N), Germantown, Collierville (E), Casino (W), Hernando (S)...Look like this area is in the middle of all the developments and amenities of Memphis Metro, less taxes, crimes....bigger bang for your bucks. LOL.
Be honest, I hate the driving around Washington Metro (stayed in Maryland for sometimes) may be I am too old for it.
Good luck to you, You are going to feel much more relax here.
Bull

[tennreb]

I think the homes in Germantown and Collierville are built at a higher level of quality. I think all new homes in DeSoto County are built with cheaper materials like metal frame windows, which aren't even allowed in Germantown and are rare in Collierville (most builders use wood frame double pane windows). Also, the newer homes have much more extensive molding/millwork. In DeSoto, you get a much larger house for the money. They used to be as cheap as $70 a square foot, though I'm not sure now. Collierville and Germantown houses are in the $100-150 per sq ft range and smaller lots. Nearly all new homes in Germantown are zero lot line. Most in Collierville are 1/3 to 1 acre. You can find estate lots in Collierville if you are willing to pay $1 million+. One perk of living in Germantown: you never have to take the garbage to the curb again. The garbage collectors come behind your house, get your garbage, and then put your cans back in place.

[ColliervilleMom]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the good info. Looks live Collierville is where we're going to focus on looking. I'm looking forward to getting out there. See y'all at Wild Oats!

[tennreb]

Focus on the Houston Levee area of Collierville. Homes start around $350k, and you get a lot for the money. It's convenient to both Germantown and Collierville shopping, crime is virtually non-existent, and the schools are excellent.

[ColliervilleMom]

thanks tenreb, can you tell me where that area is? Is it a subdivision, or several?

[tennreb]

It's a road that runs north-south. You will want to look at the portion inside the Collierville limits or reserve (the northern portion above Walnut Grove Rd. is crap). The area between Poplar Ave and Wolf River Blvd is the best. If you want an estate home, then the Raleigh-LaGrange/Collierville-Arlington area is good (as are several areas on the outskirts of Collierville). The drive from these country estate home areas can be tiring (20 minutes to get milk).