[treeluvr]

I'm shopping for a new home. My favorite scenario is a small home built between 1940 and 1960. And, there are lots of them on the market. However, if I look on Trullia--which shows a crime map for the area, most of these beautiful and affordable homes are in east Omaha. I know that Trullia's crime maps are not absolutely accurate. But, the maps show burglaries, car thefts, assaults etc. Who wants to buy a new home and worry about crime? Some of these beautiful old houses--often nicely updated--stay on the market for months. And yet property taxes are relatively high.

Thoughts? Proposed solutions?

[Aredhel]

If you don't know Omaha neighborhoods well, one solution would be to look for older homes in Ralston, Papillion, La Vista, Elkhorn, and maybe Gretna. Those twins are not high-crime areas.

Most of the worst crime in Omaha, though, is concentrated in the northeast part of the city. Aksarben, the immediate area around UNO, Dundee, and Benson have some affordable older homes and are OK from a crime standpoint. If you limit your search to those areas, you'll be all right.

[McBain II]

Unless you a) live in a couple very small select pockets of the city and/or b) partake in some kind of drug or gang activity, there is very little reason to be worried about any sort of crime, in the northeast part of the city. I lived on 41st and Ames Avenue in the early and mid 1990s. While not part of the true North Omaha, it was close enough and the worst thing that ever happened to me was a bicycle getting stolen.

[treeluvr]

Thanks for the replies. I've found a home in Valley. But, I really would have preferred one of the older homes in east Omaha. But, when I look at the Trullia real estate website, which shows crimes around the the listed house, there seems like a lot of it
until you get west of about 75th street. I know that the crime reports will vary with population density and that may be part of it. But, as an older woman, I do not want to be thinking about burglaries or car theft. Still I imagine that those of you who have lived in Omaha for years have a better idea of the actual dangers than I do.

Also, I'm aware of the towns in Sarpy county. (I live in Bellevue.) And I did look at La Vista and Papillion--not so many older (and inexpensive) homes come up for sell there. A ton of cookie-cutter tract homes in the area.

[krug]

Valley was a great choice, you can't go wrong. Omaha is too crowded, mean, and crime ridden, not to mention the state of their public schools.

[Garthur]

Valley has flooded in the past. Just a word of warning. I would not live there!

[treeluvr]

The house I'm buying is on an elevated lot and does not have a basement. In fact, although flood insurance is required, due to the findings of an elevation survey, it won't be particularly expensive.
I know there was a big flood in 1912--two years after this house was built. It's easy to find pictures on the web of this flood in Valley. The flood was due to ice jams in the Platte and Elkorn rivers. From what I've read they know how to deal with these ice jams now--breaking them up before the river floods.
Still there are parts of the town that have signs saying that the road can become unusable due to flooding Personally, I'm retired and could stay in my home for quite a while before having to go anywhere.

Does anyone know when the last serious flood in Valley was? Web link?

[Garthur]

As long as you know the risks.

I'm 63 and in my life I remember one big flood of Valley and I will have to guess it was the late 70's or maybe early 80's. All floods are called 100 year or 500 year floods but they all seem to happen every 20-50 years.

[ColoGuy]

Why do people build in the 100 year flood plain anyway? 20% chance of a flood within 20 years...

Plus what you say....seems that way.

Originally Posted by Garthur

As long as you know the risks.

I'm 63 and in my life I remember one big flood of Valley and I will have to guess it was the late 70's or maybe early 80's. All floods are called 100 year or 500 year floods but they all seem to happen every 20-50 years.

[Volvo Driver]

Sorry I'm late to the discussion.

I've lived here in North O (close to Dodge St, but oh well) for many years. I could tell you specifically where to - and where not to - buy a house.

Believe it or not, unless you're in a gang and/or involved with drugs, you won't have ANY problems in virtually any neighborhood or area. Contrary to what the media tells you, this is not a war zone.