Hopefully moving to OKC (Edmond, Forest Park: apartments, lease, lofts)

[NavyBuc]

Hello everyone, I have a few questions concerning a possible relocation to OKC. I was wondering which areas in town are the best to commute from but are still to our liking. My wife will more than likely be working in the Regency Park area downtown and I will be working at Tinker since I am in the military. We want a nice 3 bedroom with a yard and still stay in our price range of up to $1200 a month. We don't want to be too far from town and would like to keep our commute times down to about 20 mins or so. We have a 6 month old so we definitely want to stay in a nice, safe neighborhood that is close to shopping, nightlife and restaraunts. Any suggestions that will help are greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[slackmeyer]

Downtown in general is very safe. If you want to lease an apartment, your price range will go far. Your options include the Sieber Hotel (a restored old hotel that is very, very nice), the Deep Deuce Apartments, Regency Tower and the Legacy at Arts Central.

If you're buying and you want to stay under $200,000, your best bets are the Lofts at Maywood Park or the Central Avenue Villas. I'm a reporter at The Oklahoman and my beat is downtown development. I also have a blog at www.okccentral.com.
- Steve Lackmeyer

[fromdust]

Originally Posted by slackmeyer

Downtown in general is very safe. If you want to lease an apartment, your price range will go far. Your options include the Sieber Hotel (a restored old hotel that is very, very nice), the Deep Deuce Apartments, Regency Tower and the Legacy at Arts Central.

If you're buying and you want to stay under $200,000, your best bets are the Lofts at Maywood Park or the Central Avenue Villas. I'm a reporter at The Oklahoman and my beat is downtown development. I also have a blog at www.okccentral.com.
- Steve Lackmeyer

hey steve! good to see you over on this site.

[NavyBuc]

My appologies, I meant to say Research Park not Regency Park. Any more suggestions anyone?



Thanks Steve.

[peterson96]

Since your wife will be north of I-40, I'd suggest looking in Forest Park, then north toward Edmond. Staying east of I-235 will help split your commutes. Since you're looking to keep rent/mortgage payments below $1200, you should make out well in the area south of Edmond. For the most part, the houses are older, but the neighborhoods are generally good.

[helpwantout]

I used to live in OKC and really loved it compared to FL. I've been gone for five years now, but from what I remember, downtown ISN'T safe. Edmond is a lovely area and more conducive to families. Be prepared for very windy weather, which is great during the hot summer months, but horrible in the winter. My first reaction was "I thought Chicago was the windy city?!".

[candeline]

If the wind doesn't bother you & frequent "tornados" --go for it. I have a daughter who lives there & did live there several years ago for couple years. People are very nice & friendly (in the whole state). It is NOT a beautiful, city physically speaking, in general, though & not a heck of a lot of things & places to go either, --so you need to think about all that before making your final move, I think.

[fromdust]

Originally Posted by helpwantout

I used to live in OKC and really loved it compared to FL. I've been gone for five years now, but from what I remember, downtown ISN'T safe. Edmond is a lovely area and more conducive to families. Be prepared for very windy weather, which is great during the hot summer months, but horrible in the winter. My first reaction was "I thought Chicago was the windy city?!".

downtowns a pretty safe place now.

[NavyBuc]

Originally Posted by helpwantout

I used to live in OKC and really loved it compared to FL. I've been gone for five years now, but from what I remember, downtown ISN'T safe. Edmond is a lovely area and more conducive to families. Be prepared for very windy weather, which is great during the hot summer months, but horrible in the winter. My first reaction was "I thought Chicago was the windy city?!".

I hear downtown is actually pretty safe. Of course that depends on where you are in town. I live in Jacksonville too, which is not a very safe place to be.

[lasomeday]

Downtown is very safe. The western edge of downtown is the least safe, so stick to the east side of downtown area if you can. Deep Deuce is a very safe area.