If you had $150,000 to spend on a house, where would you live in MS? (Gulfport: best schools, place to live)

[bls5555]

anyone else have any thoughts on nice areas?

[Tama]

bls5555 It would help to know if you are raising a family or retired. If you want to be in an outlying area near a town or within the city limits. How close to medical, shopping, dining?
I will mention a few and their key points. Petal is very near the larger variety of shops, restaurants, and medical in Hattiesburg but would give you a bit more of a small town feel with the basics still available nearby. Pharmacies, groceries, and basic goods are there. It has a school district that many people like. It is "on the move" with upgrades in infrastructure and quality of living issues. You could find a fixer-upper for your price-range I am pretty certain.
Hattiesburg itself is a bit more spread out and has some issues within some of its neighborhoods in your price range with apartment encroachment and student housing. It is still doable but you would have to look harder I think.
Areas around H'burg like Sumrall or Purvis are another possibility but further out and much more rural.

[bls5555]

Originally Posted by Tama

bls5555 It would help to know if you are raising a family or retired. If you want to be in an outlying area near a town or within the city limits. How close to medical, shopping, dining?
I will mention a few and their key points. Petal is very near the larger variety of shops, restaurants, and medical in Hattiesburg but would give you a bit more of a small town feel with the basics still available nearby. Pharmacies, groceries, and basic goods are there. It has a school district that many people like. It is "on the move" with upgrades in infrastructure and quality of living issues. You could find a fixer-upper for your price-range I am pretty certain.
Hattiesburg itself is a bit more spread out and has some issues within some of its neighborhoods in your price range with apartment encroachment and student housing. It is still doable but you would have to look harder I think.
Areas around H'burg like Sumrall or Purvis are another possibility but further out and much more rural.

Sorry. Raising a family. 2 young kids, 1 with an autism spectrum disorder so schools are somewhat important but we have learned not to depend on them for the necessary help that is needed. I currently have an acre where I live and it is nice to have. It is an acre in close to a big city though so if that could be found then that would be ideal. At the bare minimum a decent sized lot would be prefered. If the choice came down to city or rural I would choose Rural, but wouldn't want to be much more than a 30 - 40 minute drive to a city like Jackson or the coastal cities.

Local economy isn't of any issue as employment isn't an issue. I would prefer to be down by the coast or somewhere by a lake as swimming seems to really help my song with the ASD. On the other hand, a house with a pool somewhere in that price range is also an option.

I went on a baseball visit to the University of Miss. in the late 90's for College and ended up not going there. I have always regreted that and really loved the area in the short time i was there. I don't think Oxford would be much of an option but I would love to move my family down somewhere nice in the state. Im going to be making a trip down sometime in February so Im trying to gather up some info on places to visit and check out.

Thanks for the help.

[Tama]

Perhaps the Vancleave area near Ocean Springs would be worth looking at. Another possibility might be the McGee area. It would be about 45 minutes from Jackson, have the basics with a rural feel and perhaps a home in the price range you mentioned. Jackson has other areas in its surrounds that might work. Remember the coast is still pretty much trying to come back from Katrina. Good luck!

[khakibecca]

Saltillo Mississippi (near Tupelo) or Hernando, Mississippi (Desoto Co.--although it's a little bit flat here and I like hills)

[khakibecca]

Oxford's nice, but a little pricey.

[Muhnay]

Originally Posted by bls5555

How much would this increase Home Owners Insurance as compared to the Jackson area or Oxford area?

As long as you live above the railroad tracks and away from the waters edge, not much at all I would guess. Orange Grove is above I-10 and they dont have any issues with higher HOI rates. I dont expect anyone living on the beach anymore.. for one the price of the land is in the millions, and no one will insure you there now.

[At1WithNature]

Originally Posted by khakibecca

Oxford's nice, but a little pricey.

but is Oxford the real Mississippi or does it lose its' appeal due to a worldy university??? can one move to Oxford and still get the Mississippi feal or is it a town dominated by out of towners? im thinking about moving to Oxford and was just wondering how it is there.

[Muhnay]

Oxford is still real Mississippi, and is very pretty. The University does offer some changes, and I think makes the place even better.. keeps the city young, and helps the city be a bit more open minded.

[tsimmu]

Corinth.