North Suburbs? (New Orleans, Metairie, Slidell: real estate, renting, insurance)

[EricStacey]

The husband and I are considering moving out of the upper midwest and taking two great jobs in New Orleans. So many people on these fora just recommend renting due to homeowners' insurance costs, hurricane risks, etc., but we're just not the renting type. We love doing home stuff, we are proud homeowners, we have two dogs -- renting is just hard.

Online it seems like there are some lovely, all brick, new-construction homes in Mandeville, Slidell, Abita Springs, etc., that we would just love (we're the suburban types) -- but are we just incredibly stupid to even consider moving to New Orleans and buying a home? Are any of these suburbs safe from the next hurricane? It seems from our Internet research that Slidell was hit really hard, so basically is the rule don't buy there? Is anywhere recommended?

~We want to leave the upper midwest so badly and return to that part of the country (from Galveston & Houston originally), but we don't want to be stupid, either. On the other hand, one more winter of frozen weather and even more frozen/personality-less people and we might just lose it.

Thanks in advance.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Those are very nice areas but you would be facing a long commute - depends on how long you can tolerate. Nowhere is south LA. is safe from hurricanes but the areas you mentioned didn't have the widespread flooding that N.O. and parts of Slidell did. Remember the winds can casue a lot of damage, too. Trees get blown into houses, windows get broken by flying debris and rain gets into the ouse, etc. Still, if I were moving back, I'd look there or in Old Metairie. Good lcuk!

[MetroBTR]

In Mandeville, the only thing north of Florida Street that would flood in a hurricane would be things located right near bayous or streams that connect to the lake. Most things North of I-12 are almost unfloodable from storm surge unless they are located on waterways that connect to the lake. In Slidell, many things flooded and many things didn't, which is why you have to be careful, but generally, the farther from the lake, the less the likelyhood of flooding is.

There are alot of pine trees, which causes problems from hurricane wind because they snap so easily. But since they are pine trees, one on your roof typically would not cause the amount of structural damage that larger, more robust trees would (like Pecan or Oak). I have a friend who lives in Beau Chene and they got one through their living room during Katrina, but the damage was very fixable. Not that that makes it any better, you still don't want a tree in the house period, right. lol

And since you guys are living in the Midwest, your at risk from Tornado winds anyway, so the risk is more or less the same depending on what trees you permit to grow on your property.

People on the North shore have really moved on for the most part. Within a few weeks after the storm it was generally life as usual (with the exception of Slidell, which did recieve significant flooding in several areas.) In fact, the population grew from people migrating there from more vulnerable parts of the metro area.

Best of luck! Hope to be able to call you my fellow Louisianians in the near future!

[EricStacey]

Originally Posted by MetroBTR

Best of luck! Hope to be able to call you my fellow Louisianians in the near future!

Your last line is an example of why we want to move back -- the friendly, warm people. Thanks so much.

~Stacey & Eric

[bustaduke]

Originally Posted by EricStacey

The husband and I are considering moving out of the upper midwest and taking two great jobs in New Orleans. So many people on these fora just recommend renting due to homeowners' insurance costs, hurricane risks, etc., but we're just not the renting type. We love doing home stuff, we are proud homeowners, we have two dogs -- renting is just hard.

Online it seems like there are some lovely, all brick, new-construction homes in Mandeville, Slidell, Abita Springs, etc., that we would just love (we're the suburban types) -- but are we just incredibly stupid to even consider moving to New Orleans and buying a home? Are any of these suburbs safe from the next hurricane? It seems from our Internet research that Slidell was hit really hard, so basically is the rule don't buy there? Is anywhere recommended?

~We want to leave the upper midwest so badly and return to that part of the country (from Galveston & Houston originally), but we don't want to be stupid, either. On the other hand, one more winter of frozen weather and even more frozen/personality-less people and we might just lose it.

Thanks in advance.

If you stay north of Interstate 12 your insurance will be a lot lower.


busta

[darylwi]

Just keep in mind the commute times... and what you're able to stand. Because they can get long pretty quick, especially the further north or further away from I-55 or the Causeway you move. There is nice property up there though.

[LSU Tiger Z71]

I thought about these suburbs when I thought I was going to work in NOLA full-time. The Causeway is not a fun commute. It would be nice if there was no speed limit and I could make it super fast.. but sadly, they give speeding tickets out on the little median crossings. Every day, back and forth, on the Causeway. It is sooooo...not desirable.

Try Uptown, River Ridge, Metairie, etc. with more manageable commutes, NOLA flavor, and pretty safe neighborhoods.

[HarlowPartyofsix]

Hello,
Everywhere in the southern coast is giong to have hurricane problems. When you live here you just try to minimize the damage to your finances by insuring yourself against the risk. That being said... You should choose an area based on its safety and cost to live there. Other criteria that is important to me would be good schools and cost of living. Slidell is not the greatest when talking about schooling. I would consider it to be the worst school district on the north shore. Mandeville east or west of 190 is the best place to live. We lived there for 2 years before the storm. The ONLY reason we moved was due to that storm. We lived 1 mile from the lake and we had NO water only fallen tree's. Beautiful friendly place to live!!

Abita, although there will be many that will tell you that Abita is great, take it from me, you will hate the traffic getting there. Hwy 59 is the worst! they are planning to widen it but the Hurricane put a huge hold on that. Abita is not worth the drive. A little hint, stay close to the causeway bridge. there is pleanty of affordable real estate near the bridge and I promise that you will thank me for it!

Areas on the south shore to maybe explore...I would look into Destrehan. It has the second best school system in the state. (mandeville-St.Tammany is the first).

Hope that helps. Email me direct if you have any other questions about New Orleans and its suburbs!

[EricStacey]

Thanks again for all the responses. They are all so helpful. We've lived in Houston, NYC, DC and the Twin Cities. The first three have horrible traffic and required 50 minute commutes and we are just used to it. The fourth doesn't have bad traffic at all, but we're absolutely miserable here due to the midwestern reserve, the frozen weather, and the lack of diversity, southern hospitality and, more generally, joie de vivre. Life's always a balance. We'll take the traffic and the commute in exchange for non -30F winters and a different outlook on life.

We don't have to be at our jobs during rush hour (we're university professors), so we can drive in to the uptown area at 10:30 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. and leave at 3:00 p.m. or 8:00 p.m. or whatever. Given this, hope everyone here doesn't think we're crazy to consider Mandeville, etc.

Best and thanks again,
S&E

[MetroBTR]

Keep in mind that the causeway is a boring drive, but it is also one of the safest bridges in existence, thanks to that strict speed limit and active patrolling. Go St. Tammany or St. Charles parish.