Requesting Information on Housing in Grand Forks (Bottineau, Hope: relocation, real estate)

[SarahAK]

Hello,

Our family is looking to relocate to Grand Forks to attend graduate school at UND. We have a two year old daughter and my husband is looking to work part time (He is a nurse) and attend school as well. We live in Alaska and have not yet flown to visit Grand Forks and look around. I have done quite a bit of reserach on the internet, where I found this forum. I was especially interested in housing. Specifically, mobile homes. We had not considered that option b/c here they are not a safe, nice option. However, the parks and mobile homes for sale seemed tasteful. Could anyone offer me information on the parks (only rent lots or buy as well?) What parks are nice, what the some of the covenants- or where could I get that information. I was curious if mobile homes could be rented out for a future option for us. Anyone who has any information relevant, I would apperciate it so much. Any tidbits pertaining to Grand Forks hidden treasures would be apperciated. Thank you for your time!

[roundball]

Originally Posted by SarahAK

Hello,

Our family is looking to relocate to Grand Forks to attend graduate school at UND. We have a two year old daughter and my husband is looking to work part time (He is a nurse) and attend school as well. We live in Alaska and have not yet flown to visit Grand Forks and look around. I have done quite a bit of reserach on the internet, where I found this forum. I was especially interested in housing. Specifically, mobile homes. We had not considered that option b/c here they are not a safe, nice option. However, the parks and mobile homes for sale seemed tasteful. Could anyone offer me information on the parks (only rent lots or buy as well?) What parks are nice, what the some of the covenants- or where could I get that information. I was curious if mobile homes could be rented out for a future option for us. Anyone who has any information relevant, I would apperciate it so much. Any tidbits pertaining to Grand Forks hidden treasures would be apperciated. Thank you for your time!

It has been a few years since we lived in GF....

To the best of my memory there are only 3 in town. (maybe a few in EGF)

#1 is in a nice area but your kids will be bused to school on the far east end of UND. I think all the kids out there go to West Elementary.

#2 is small and just North of the race track. Yuck!

#3 is a nice location.

They all are close to UND. (the red highlighted area)

UND also has family housing. (the blue highlighted area) I lived there for 6 years while my parents went to grad. school.

#4 is the hospital. Its also the location of the clinic, a nursing home, and various medical complexes.

Sorry that I can't remember the name of any of the mobile home parks. If your set on a mobile home I would look at #3 on the corner of Columbia and 24th ave. (Columbia Heights?) Both my wife and I graduated from there. While she was getting her graduate degree we live with our 2 kids in an apartment just down the road from #3. Plenty of apartments for rent. Some nice and some crappy. You get what you pay for. If you're looking at apartments or houses you may want to look South of the hospital. Its a nice convenient location.

[DaninEGF]

Hi Sarah

I sent you a PM with some good info including contact info for ARC (American Residential Communities) which manages/operates Columbia Heights and Presidents Park manufactured communities. Both of these would be the best two in the city in terms of MH parks. Presidents Park is off of 32nd Ave S just east of Washington St and as already stated Columbia Heights is at S Columbia and 24th Ave S. Both do offer some lots and leasing of MH.

Dan

[SarahAK]

Wow- thank you all for your responses. They were very helpful. My husband and I were surprised at the effort you put in. Thank you very much!!!! Sarah

[DaninEGF]

Originally Posted by SarahAK

Wow- thank you all for your responses. They were very helpful. My husband and I were surprised at the effort you put in. Thank you very much!!!! Sarah

I hope the info I gave you in the PM is helpful...and if you need any other info I would be glad to help out. I work in the weather forecasting businesses so any weather questions I can for sure answer. Where are you moving from in Alaska? At least our winter will not scare you away

Dan

[Sioux06Alum]

Why not look at buying or renting a condo for about the same price as a mobile home and lot rental? There are townhomes/condos by the hospital that are big and fairly cheap. I have visited all of the Courts in GF and they are not great at all IMO. Another option to look at I guess.

[SarahAK]

We are moving from Mat-Su Valley, about 40 miles outside of Anchorage. We have pretty mild weather for Alaska. I was leaning towards no more winters but the south is too hot for me. Actually, I was hoping for nice summers, falls and shorter winter. When does the snow fall, temperature drop for the winter to begin? I am guessing b/c it is flat, the wind may get rather nasty. When does spring begin and what sort of temperatures do you have? It has been beautiful here... about 65 the last few days.. Spring has finally arrived! The information in the PM was very helpful. I have contacted the differnent Parks and they are relaying information. I have also been in inquiring with differnent real estate companies. Does anyone have a real estate agent (prefer buyers agent) they recommend or warn me against?

We are also looking at purchasing a condo... thank you for that advice. So you have any condo's that are nicer than others. Ones you prefer? At this point we are exploring all options and apperciate the information and advice.

Thank you!

[DaninEGF]

Originally Posted by SarahAK

We are moving from Mat-Su Valley, about 40 miles outside of Anchorage. We have pretty mild weather for Alaska. I was leaning towards no more winters but the south is too hot for me. Actually, I was hoping for nice summers, falls and shorter winter. When does the snow fall, temperature drop for the winter to begin? I am guessing b/c it is flat, the wind may get rather nasty. When does spring begin and what sort of temperatures do you have? It has been beautiful here... about 65 the last few days.. Spring has finally arrived! The information in the PM was very helpful. I have contacted the differnent Parks and they are relaying information. I have also been in inquiring with differnent real estate companies. Does anyone have a real estate agent (prefer buyers agent) they recommend or warn me against?

We are also looking at purchasing a condo... thank you for that advice. So you have any condo's that are nicer than others. Ones you prefer? At this point we are exploring all options and apperciate the information and advice.

Thank you!

I searched the Alaska climate office and picked Palmer cooperative weather station and got the "normals" and then got the "normals" for Grand Forks. See links below.

PALMER AAES, ALASKA - Climate Summary

GRAND FORKS UNIV, ND - Climate Summary

Overall, it looks like we are colder in the winter and warmer in the summer. Snowfall on average a bit less....but we do stay colder in the winter so our snowcover here stays on the ground most of the time from Thanksgiving to mid March. I have lived here 9 years and that is what I have seen. Our area has very variable weather conditions and thus "normals" here are made of up of extremes. We typically have one or two very cold stretches where it will stay below zero for 2-4 days....with each winter seeing a few nights down to 25 to 30 below zero in town. Most apartments in town have plug ins for cars...my work place does too. But only a few days a year does it really get that cold to use it. I would say a typical winter day here can vary from sunny north wind 10 to 20 mph and high of 5 degrees and low of -15F.

We do get a lot of wind...as yes it is flat here...the new sledding hill is the recently completely levee system. We see rural out of town blizzards several times a year due to blowing snow. It is rare for the snow to fall straight down...usually it is sideways. The Red River valley is prone to spring snowmelt flooding...but the new flood control system now in place after the 97 flood protects GF and EGF now much better so the threat for river flooding is greatly reduced. The soil here is great for growing anything...with most farmers growing potatoes...sugar beets....wheat and some corn.

Our spring is usually the ugliest time of year...as that is when the snow melts and we have the leftover sand, litter from the winter. Snowmelt season is mid March to mid April (varies year to year) with greenup time early to mid April thru early May with most trees leafed out by Mother's Day. Our summers are nice...some humidity and hot weather...but not lasting very long. Most days see highs upper 70s to lower 80s with lows 55 to 60. Mosquitoes can be a problem at times depending on recent rainfall. We do occasionally get severe thunderstorms...but not often.

As for living wise....I am not familiar with condos much. There are some older ones you probably seen on the web... I guess I would much rather have a townhouse or duplex than a condo....many different varieties in town too many to pick one or two. Newest places are in the far south end of town generally south of 32nd Ave and east of Columbia Road...with also some newer areas closer to UND and the Alerus/Canad Inn off 42nd St S.

I will PM you with a name or two for realtors. One thing here the real estate crisis that has hit a lot of the country has really slowed down selling here. Prices did go up in the past 5-7 years and we have definitely hit a buyers market with many places taking close to 1 year to sell. So if you bid bid blo asking is my tip.

Dan

[Sparco]

hi, this isnt exactly on topic, but its something Id really like to know... because I am already paying alot on A/C here in Florida and the real heat hasnt even set in yet, but Im the kind who has to stay cool like all year long, I get itchy all over and scratchy if the humidity gets real bad or in the house, so Ive already gotten my first spring electric bill and it was over 360.... will I need alot of heat if I move up your way?...I dont normally ever get cold, but these A/C bills are driving me insane.... I could live in a very cold climate I think with NO PROBLEM... even tho I know A/C is different from real cold and snow, are your heating bills real high like my A/C Bills?.....Please say no, I cant bear to think Im going to run in to this mess again when I come to ND....thanks a lot for any help.

[MikeyToo]

Originally Posted by Sparco

hi, this isnt exactly on topic, but its something Id really like to know... because I am already paying alot on A/C here in Florida and the real heat hasnt even set in yet, but Im the kind who has to stay cool like all year long, I get itchy all over and scratchy if the humidity gets real bad or in the house, so Ive already gotten my first spring electric bill and it was over 360.... will I need alot of heat if I move up your way?...I dont normally ever get cold, but these A/C bills are driving me insane.... I could live in a very cold climate I think with NO PROBLEM... even tho I know A/C is different from real cold and snow, are your heating bills real high like my A/C Bills?.....Please say no, I cant bear to think Im going to run in to this mess again when I come to ND....thanks a lot for any help.

There would be a lot of factors as to heating costs in ND. First, I would look for a more recently constructed place, that may be more energy efficient. You would want well insulated home, probably with 6" walls and at minimum double glazed windows. Another factor would be location. My wife and I will be moving to Lake Metigoshe area this summer (Near Bottineau, ND) and there if you have electric heat with a secondary heating system for backup, the cost for electricity is only .025 cents per kilowatt hour. I did get notice this spring though, that rate will be going up slightly. It had been that rate since 1986 according to central electric website. Some areas of North Dakota are also a little warmer than others. Typically south-western part a little more warmer (another factor in heating costs). Also, some people like it really hot in their house in winter(more costly), others cooler. I prefer cooler myself and sit around with a sweat shirt on, or under a blanket when watching TV. You may want to have a wood stove to aid in your heating costs. Alls kinds of ways you can to there too. Pellet stoves, wood burners (Some will attach directly to your existing furnace). I've always had would stoves in all the places I lived when I lived in Minnesota. They are especially nice when the temps drop to the sub-zero's for those short cold spells that DanEGF mentioned.
Good luck on you relocation. Hopefully your bills in ND will not equal what your paying in FL.
One last note, I would stay away from fuel oil heating if you can. Those prices are all over the map. Look for areas with natural gas or like an area where we will be living where the electric rates are low. ND has low electric rates because of the coal fired plants that are around. Much of the electricity is sold out of state.