Lawton or Grove? Which is better?

[peggydavis]

The law of supply and demand make prices high in NYC. You have more buyers than sellers so prices go up. Other places, like California or Florida, have prices driven up by speculation and that is not so good. Sooner or later, the bubble bursts. I don't see that happening in NYC.

If I lived in Manhatten I wouldn't have a car. You can just ride the subways everywhere. I liked the subways and it seemed very clean and safe. Or, cabs are everywhere and were easy to catch. Transportation costs are much higher in other parts of the country, where a car is a necessity not a luxury.

I was a little bothered by all the cops with big guns guarding everything, like the stock exchange and tunnel entrances.

I do feel for those who live in areas that have rapidly grown or have been over run with illegal immigrants. But people who move voluntarily should investigate the area before doing so. Too many think that everything will be the same as home except now they live in a giant house.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Jammie

You are both so right about moving TO an area instead of running FROM an area. Actually though, for me~I'd be running from the sub-zero temps and snowfalls. But I could go back if things didn't work out. BUT I don't believe I'd go back to the same area~maybe just go out to the Hills.

I have never lived in an area like you girls are describing so I wouldn't be "giving up" anything. We aren't shoppers and don't go to fancy restaurants or fancy plays so there would be nothing we would be losing out on.

Just curious~Jess and Nita, have either of you been to Tulsa yet?

Jammie, we were in Tulsa several years ago the first time we considered moving to OK (should have moved then) hindsite is always better huh? Anyway we had mixed feeling but there were parts we liked. I do know the crime rate is a little higher than many parts of OK. Our last trip we met with a realtor in Muskogee: I don't really dislike much, but Muskogee was one place that totally turned us off and we were so looking forward to liking it. I will admit the realtor didn't help the situation, but that is another story for another time.
Nita

[Jammie]

Funny, we weren't impressed with Muskogee either. There were a few of the towns we drove through that didn't really appeal to us, but I guess we can't all like the same place. Imagine how crowded that would be!!!

[Huntersmemaw]

Ok, Let me tell you Grove is totally awesome! I have been visiting since I was a child and I am no child now. We moved here because we planned to retire here 27 years ago when we got married. The lake is great! The hospital is awesome! I know because I work there:} There is a huge new hospital being built and there are top notch physcians here with more being recruited and choosing to come to Grove to practice. Casino fun is abundent. Water sports and fishing are abundent. You can go out eat at a German, Italian (on the water), Mexican (on the water) well actually several Mexican, Chinese, Several hometown style, Cat-fish cooking, steak and more right on up to the chains like Rib Crib, Sonic, Pizza Hut, Sub-Way well you get the picture. Jobs, yeah you may have to drive a little ways but there are many large companies not that far away. People are superior here. You can be standing in Wal-mart looking at makeup and someone will just start talking to you. The Grove PD and county Sheriff offices are awesome I know because I see them at work constantly and my father was a policeman so I know how to judge. Houses are varied prices depending on where you want to be but no higher then anywhere else and probably a lot cheaper then other places though prices are rising with the popularity of the town. Waterfront is the highest priced property but you own to the water where GRDA boundry begins yours ends. Shopping is what makes it a cute town! There are endless specialty shops such as antiques, unique decor, primitive to fancy, candle shop, consignment shops, thrift stores, furniture stores, western store, clothing stores (there could be more of those) and many others. Crime check out the Grove Chamber of Commerce they have all the statistics. Am I glad I moved here? Yes! I love living on the water my only thought is that we should have bought a 3 bedroom rather then the spacious 2 bedroom as my daughter is now living with us and grandbaby is on the way! Yea!

[Jammie]

Hunters, what a wonderful post!!! You probably already gathered that we were impressed with Grove. I always say if money or employment wasn't a problem, I'd have three homes~one in Keystone, So. Dak., one in Lake Placid, Fl, and one in Grove, Ok. (As you can tell, we are comfy in small towns) We also loved Tulsa and that's where the jobs are, but it is pretty big for us.

How far is the casino from Grove itself? Also, would you be kind enough to make a list of the companies that are within driving distance of Grove and post it here?

[briansgi]

Originally Posted by Manhattan-ite

PeggyDavis, please don't get me wrong and please apologize if you got offended. There was no snobbery intended in what I wrote, just my impression of the place.

Somebody said she thought Grove was the cutest town and I said that I don't find it cute at all but kind of old, rusty and filled with trailer parks. It's just my personal impression of what I saw.

Some people like it, some people don't. It's good that we all have different opinions, and it is great that we have a forum to discuss them. Wouldn't it be boring if we all agreed and thought the same?

I have nothing against the South. I think it is beautiful and I would like to visit the Deep South (Alabama, Mississippi).

Cheers!

What community in the fly over states doesn't have trailer parks? But you must be referring to all the trailers parked at the numerous parks around Grand Lake in Grove, such as Bears Den. People travel from all over and find themselves staying at many of these camping facilities around the lake. In case you did not hear, a few short years ago the Wall Street Journal named Grove and the Grand Lake area the top retirement area in the country! I guess they found it "cute"!

[datazmom]

Grove is better , more snow in winter though . Lawton has gang problems . I prefer living in small towns . Grove is a small town atmosphere . I live in a small town southeast of Lawton . We lived there for years until the gang problems got out of hand and we left . I reccommend small town life , Elgin , Fletcher , and Walters are the towns I personally reccommend . Small town quiet , peace of mind and community pride . Nice , friendly people and a near non existant crime rate . Can't beat the schools in Elgin and Walters .

[SinCity]

For such a small population, Grove actually has a whole lot more restuarants, cafes, pubs and antique stores than you'd expect when you consider Monkey Island and jay so nearby. It would be a great boost to have Shangri-La resort open again. The new owner/name appears to have some very impressive plans. I hope it all comes thru.

[Bobby H]

I call it like I see it, man. I used to live in the Lawton area and, like I said, it is a dirty, seedy town.

Jserman9901, when did you live in Lawton? 1973?

The town started cleaning up 20 years ago and has really made significant progress during the past 10. There are no topless bars within city limits, and only two are barely making it out in the county. Fort Sill often has any such places set as off limits for troops to visit. Lawton doesn't have as many bars or pawn shops as it did years ago. The town's night life has consolidated to only a handful of places. Scooters and Gertlestones are the only establishments with any real crowds. If anything, the main complaint from people in Lawton is that things are just kind of "dead" when it comes to night life.

Lately a lot of building activity has been taking place in Lawton. Lots of new housing and apartment developments are being built. New businesses Lawton never had before are coming into town. A new Rosa's Tortilla Factory restaurant just opened. Buffalo Wild Wings recently opened. Olive Garden is fixing to open. 2 Starbucks locations have opened during the last couple of years. A major downtown redevelopment project is being planned. Lawton just received a $3 million grant for work on 2nd street infrastructure for the large shopping center that will go in for Phase 1A of the project.

Over the next 2 years Lawton is going to gain 10,000 more residents directly related to major expansion aboard Fort Sill. Over the next 5 years that population growth may be over 20,000.

The law of supply and demand make prices high in NYC. You have more buyers than sellers so prices go up. Other places, like California or Florida, have prices driven up by speculation and that is not so good. Sooner or later, the bubble bursts. I don't see that happening in NYC.

The bubble can burst in NYC as well. First of all, the New York market has not escaped the downtown in the housing market. The situation in commercial real estate really isn't good.

Aside from housing prices reaching a point well-heeled people can no longer afford, such high cost cities can ruin themselves by pricing much of their labor supply out of town. No city can survive with having only rich people as residents. You need employees to serve food in restaurants, work as cashiers in stores, pick up your garbage and police your streets. If they can't afford to survive in that city they're not going to stay no matter how "cool" it is. I'd much rather make a comfortable living in a modest city or town rather than starve my butt off in a "cosmopolitan" world-class city.

This is one major reason why lots of business people want no controls on illegal immigrant labor. Such workers have lower expectations on living standards and are willing to live in squalor, crammed into a small apartment with 30 other people. Most American citizens are not willing to do that (and they shouldn't have to live down at those levels either).

Speculators in the housing market are doing more than playing in a pyramid scheme. Eventually the bottom of that pyramid is going to be reached. If the game got too extreme, then the foundation of that pyramid will rot and collapse. That's already been happening in lots of places. 2 million home foreclosures. Another 2 million forecast. Few know for sure when the bottom will finally be hit on this downtown. The real answer is prices on homes will settle at levels where a worker's paycheck can actually pay for the note. We haven't reached that yet.