Wondering about Williston.... (Mandan: home, prices, to move)

[oilfieldtrucker]

Okay, there is so much activity going on here, that people with the rentals have increased rents way more than what people can afford. Yeah, a thousand bucks a month for an apartment is ridiculous.

There is money to be made here, but not all oil field positions pay that well. There is a boom in housing construction also, and everything related: plumbers, electricians, etc. are all busy. But purchase prices have gone up drastically also and there is nothing in the $150,00-$200,000 prices range (except our house we will put on the market in June). All of the new house prices are well over $200,000 and if you've just moved here and started working you probably can't afford it. Another housing option is living in a camper, we have several campgrounds and quite a few people actually live in them. Not through the winter but most of the year.

Also, the city council is very discriminating in allowing new businesses to move in. They have turned down a lot of growth because too many exsisting businesses don't want the competition. When Walmart wanted to convert to Super-Walmart 2 years ago, the city turned it down. So Walmart bought property just outside the city limits and opened there. There have been several restaurants that have been turned down also. If they would allow all of these businesses to move in, we would build other areas of the local economy and not depend so heavily on the oilfield activity.

Other than that, Williston is a good and relatively safe place to live and raise a family. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the nation right now.

[ComputerUser000]

Originally Posted by oilfieldtrucker

Okay, there is so much activity going on here, that people with the rentals have increased rents way more than what people can afford. Yeah, a thousand bucks a month for an apartment is ridiculous.

There is money to be made here, but not all oil field positions pay that well. There is a boom in housing construction also, and everything related: plumbers, electricians, etc. are all busy. But purchase prices have gone up drastically also and there is nothing in the $150,00-$200,000 prices range (except our house we will put on the market in June). All of the new house prices are well over $200,000 and if you've just moved here and started working you probably can't afford it. Another housing option is living in a camper, we have several campgrounds and quite a few people actually live in them. Not through the winter but most of the year.

Also, the city council is very discriminating in allowing new businesses to move in. They have turned down a lot of growth because too many exsisting businesses don't want the competition. When Walmart wanted to convert to Super-Walmart 2 years ago, the city turned it down. So Walmart bought property just outside the city limits and opened there. There have been several restaurants that have been turned down also. If they would allow all of these businesses to move in, we would build other areas of the local economy and not depend so heavily on the oilfield activity.

Other than that, Williston is a good and relatively safe place to live and raise a family. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the nation right now.

Very well said oilfieldtrucker.

I say it time and time again, and I mean it.. one of these days.. I want to return to the Williston area. It is beautiful and I enjoyed my short time there.

[Roloff1976]

I am anxious to read the outcome of the "build Williston" summit taking place in Williston on Wednesday the 21st. I've heard they have nearly 25 developers attending who are interested in developing in the city. Marcil out of Fargo is one of them, and in the on-line Williston Herald...they are talking more apartments, housing, and commercial. It almost sounds like their 2 new apartment buildings are rented out already to oil companies (prices starting at around 800.00 for 1 bdrms) and are planning on 2 more this summer. The more housing that gets built, hopefully prices will come down also...if availability and demand plays out the way it should...but you never know during an oil boom.

[KyleJRM]

Can anyone give me an update on the housing situation in Williston?

I've recently accepted a job in the area (not oil, something far lower paying) and am starting to get nervous that I won't find a place. I'm moving at the end of the week, and I couldn't even get a hotel with vacancy for more than my first week in town. Is it really that bad?

[Roloff1976]

Kyle, I would contact one of the local realtors, or even the chamber of commerce and maybe they can point you in the right direction. I hear they still have waiting lists at all the apartments complexes in town. People move out of them as they get into new homes being built. I'm guessing some people will leave this fall before winter sets in(wimps..LOL) I do know that in the local paper, they advertise Sand Creek Estates mobile homes has homes available starting at 700.00 (including lot rent) I cannot post the phone number, as they do not allow that on this site. But check them out when you are up there. Yes, housing is very tight up there. Marcil group just opened up 72 units, and only 5 units remain open...but you are looking at close to 800.00 for a single bdrm unfurnished. They are getting ready to build more. But a little spendy IMO. I would check out Sand Creek...if you get a room mate, it wouldn't be too bad. Might get you into something until more things open up.

[KyleJRM]

$800 for an unfurnished, one-bedroom apartment? Seriously?

Holy heck, if it's that bad I should probably just renege on the job and turn around now. I won't be able to afford to live there.

[ComputerUser000]

I remember when I lived in Williston about 2 1/2 blocks from the KUMV 8 studios and 2 1/2 blocks from KEYZ 660/KYYZ 96.1 I paid $350 for a 2 bedroom!

[KyleJRM]

Well, I've contacted about a dozen apartment buildings and realty managers. Of the few who bothered to call me back, all pretty much laughed at the idea of an open apartment. One not only pointed out that they have none available, they also have none on 30-day notice, so they don't expect any anytime soon.

My stay in the area may be disappointingly short, determined by how long I can afford to stay in overpriced hotels and measured in weeks

[Roloff1976]

Sorry KyleJRM...this boom is taking its toll on many potentials who need to move to Williston for reasons other than the oil industry. The 800.00 single unfurnished are the new Bakken Heights...there are probably a thousand or more apartment units in Williston that are less (built in the 70's and 80's)...but those are the ones that go the quickest. Something else to do is to look for basement units (people who rent out their basements or upstairs...converted into apartments)Those would not be listed with the realtors, these you would find in the classifieds in the Williston Herald. Another source is the local Shopper...The Shopper you might find some of the private listing in here.

[cats58554]

I need an apt in Mandan North Dakota that will accept pets and am having a hard time finding anything. If anyone out there knows of a decent place with a decent rent let me know. The last place got condemmed so this is why I had to move. But my pets need a home with me.
Deb