Houses for $190 to $210K? (St. Louis, Chesterfield: rental, day care, how much)

[bella12]

We may be relocating to the St. Louis area from Richmond, VA. We are looking for a safe, family-friendly neighborhood convenient to downtown (but we don't mind commuting 20 to 30 minutes). We want a place near shopping, day care, a gym, etc. We're have a budget of about $190,000 to $210,000.

Any thoughts would be appreciated! I've browsed these forums and read other threads about where people should live, but everyone else seems to have a larger budget than us

[RickMG]

Your price range sure fits St. Louis...depending on what you're looking for. You can get a home 30 minutes from anywhere in that price range. What I mean, if you're working in downtown, you have a load of possibilities from Fairview Heights to Alton, Illinois, and then most anywhere out in the St. Louis county areas. If you were working in the county, there are many homes in the price range within a 30 minute radius from anywhere. This is taking in consideration that you might have to pass through a few very expensive areas on the way to or from, but that's to be expected. I say this for the next person who searches and might want to know about the county.

So, you mentioned that you want 30 minutes from downtown, so, as I said above, you have a lot of places you can look, and many types of homes that you can find in that price range, but the styles, age, and of course, neighborhoods will vary widely. If you can be a little more specific as to the kind of house you expect to get in that price range it would help narrow it down to a smaller area. ie: bedrooms, baths, garage or not, lot size, etc.

[bella12]

Thanks!

I guess the less of a commute, the better.

We would like at least 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Newer (or newly renovated) is a must, because we are not very handy. We want a single-family home in a planned development (sidewalks and community pool would be great!). We'd rather have a smaller house in a nicer neighborhood than a bigger house in an iffy area.

We're young professionals hoping to start a family soon, so access to good daycares would be great. I want a place to feel safe walking the dog around the block at night.

[lbined]

You may have read other posts about the towns east of the Mississippi. My husband works downtown St. Louis, and we live in Edwardsville. His commute time is 30 minutes or less. This is a nice community with a great blend of new development and lovely historical areas. It is a very friendly town, and I believe it has to do with the number of folks relocating to this area. The bike/walking trails can't be beat. We have a new (2nd) YMCA that is awesome. Wouldn't hurt to just look! City of Edwardsville, Illinois -- Welcome to the City of Edwardsville Web site!

[RickMG]

I too think that there are some great areas on the east side that more than meet your criteria. Edwardsville is a great town, home to Southern Illinois University.

I don't know if this link will work, but I did a quick search of homes like you described with the following search criteria:
$160,000-$215,000 (hopefully you won't have to pay list)
at least 3 BR, 2 BA, and searched just south county as they have the newest homes for the most reasonable prices. There were over 70 homes that came up, but here are a few I checked (I did not have time to read the descriptions on any, so they might not be great, or could be wonderful). I have to leave for a few hours. Good luck:

MLS MARIS Reports (224)

[DKVA]

Hey Bella 12
I'm looking for the same as you.My husband and I will be moving from richmond (wachovia)to st louis and we want to be under 30 minutes to the city for around the same price.Looking for help.

[bella12]

Hi DKVA...yeah, my husband is with Wachovia. We live in Chesterfield now, near Woodlake, and don't mind the commute, so anything comparable would be fine. I'm hearing Edwardsville and Ballwin (sp?) are good places. Kirkwood and Webster Groves look beautiful, but very expensive. Good luck to you all!

[anr_black]

My husband and I moved here three years ago. My suggestion: RENT a house for now in a cheaper market on the Illinois side, like Alton, Godfrey or Collinsville. Take a few months to drive around the metro area and get a feel for the different neighborhoods/suburbs. Then buy. The market is too crazy right now to buy a house without being 100% sure you want to be there for the next few years. If you decide that you really wanted to live in _____ after, you may not be able to sell.

That being said, for your price, you can absolutely find a house for a family of 4 or 5 in that price range (that's actually our price range too, and we're hoping to move next year). You'll need to decide what your priority is: a big house, a small commute, or good schools. It'll be hard to get all three. If you are looking for more space to spread out, then south St. Louis county is your best bet, or the Collinsville/Belleville area, and generally the IL side...
There are really so many options. That's why your best bet is to come here first, settle in, look around, then decide where you want to be.

BTW: My husband works in Clayton, and we've decided that when we do buy again, it will be in Webster Groves. Short commute, small town feel, great schools. That being said, that amount will buy us a 1,200-1,500 square foot older home in prime location, or a newer home on the outskirts of the school district. Obviously, we're sacrificing home size for schools and being closer to the city. Good luck!

**Ok, just read your other post!**
For the newer home in a planned subdivision, in that range, I would stick to South St. Louis county. St. Louis is an old city, and there aren't a whole lot of places like what you're describing, esp. at that price. I've heard the Rockwood school district is a good district.

[CellarBelle]

Originally Posted by lbined

You may have read other posts about the towns east of the Mississippi. My husband works downtown St. Louis, and we live in Edwardsville. His commute time is 30 minutes or less. This is a nice community with a great blend of new development and lovely historical areas. It is a very friendly town, and I believe it has to do with the number of folks relocating to this area. The bike/walking trails can't be beat. We have a new (2nd) YMCA that is awesome. Wouldn't hurt to just look! City of Edwardsville, Illinois -- Welcome to the City of Edwardsville Web site!

I absolutely concur with IBINED. I moved here almost 5 years ago, and love it. The school system is wonderful and there is plenty of housing available in your price range. Please see my other posts for all the great things about Edwardsville. I think you will find it to be a great alternative to "city living" should that be something you desire.

Good luck and post any questions you have about the area.

[Florida2Missouri]

I really liked some of those homes. How much would you say is avg. rent for one? Are there many rental options or is it mostly purchase only?