Moving from Columbus, OH to St. Louis, MO (Chesterfield, Clayton: house, neighborhoods)

[exigent]

This thread is funny. In San Diego ALL highways are gridlocked during rush hour. My commute is a breeze compared to what I used to deal with...and the drivers here are way more polite.

[ms mac]

I live in Richmond Heights and my neighbors kids go to Clayton schools. It's a very safe area, and I don't think the prices are out of sight.

[jasontoon]

Originally Posted by chicagoerin

Just so everyone knows what $180k can buy you in Hilliard, OH:

Single Family Home - 2467 PUNDERSON DRIVE, HILLIARD, OH, 43026 - Realtor.com

That post war house is cute..it is just so hard to go from a newer spacious home to an older one.

Ugh. That plastic McMansion looks awful. Give me an older house any day.

[aragx6]

That's way too small to be a McMansion, but it is ugly as sin!

[exigent]

Thats kinda what I have and paid about the same price. They might not be much to look at, but great starter house.

[STLCardsBlues1989]

^^ I think the people here tend to be more city people.

But Manchester is a beautiful area as well. Some people are city people and some prefer more of a suburban landscape.

I live in a town of 400 people 3 hours from St. Louis. Being single, I think I would choose the city if I lived in St. Louis. I love the city. It's somewhat gritty, but it's got tremendous character and history. I like that "if walls could talk" kind of feeling. I get bored out here in the middle of nowhere. I probably would in a suburb as well. But if you have a family a suburb may be better. Schools may be better also, unless you can afford a private school in the city. But there are many fine neighborhoods in the city as well. Really it's just a personal choice.

And that house linked to looks better on the inside than the outside.

I'll take this 4 bed, 2 bath in St. Louis Hills for $169,900 any day.
Coldwell Banker Gundaker -- Your site for St. Louis Real Estate

Just from my own browsing, it seems sometimes the city is cheaper as well, but private schools cost more, but if you live in the city it would cut down on fuel costs. Really I guess it's just a matter of preference.

Here's another cute 4 bed, 1.5 bath for the same price near Lindenwood Park, South City. Judging by the prices on another nearby homes, this one seems to be priced about right.

Coldwell Banker Gundaker -- Your site for St. Louis Real Estate

This place looks beautiful as well, and a pretty big yard.
http://cbgundaker.com/search/advance...33171&type=res
But it's on Cabanne, and north of Delmar, which could scare some people away. But it's not far from Forest Park and looking at Live Maps the street it's on appears to be pretty full.
Here's a Live Maps Birds Eye view of it. It's the house in the middle with the double-decker porch.
http://tinyurl.com/6qch2f
It's 4 beds, 1 full bath, 2 halves. 99-years-old. 2360 sq. ft.
$174,900

[Mr. Answers]

Originally Posted by exigent

Thats kinda what I have and paid about the same price. They might not be much to look at, but great starter house.

I'm with you, dude. And it's not really that ugly, either. Besides, you're in a nice area--even when you are able to afford the more expensive brick designs you find in the city, you'll prolly end up staying in West County.

[STLCardsBlues1989]

Actually, the city isn't necessarily more expensive than the suburbs.

It depends on what area of the city and which suburb.

[exigent]

Originally Posted by Mr. Answers

I'm with you, dude. And it's not really that ugly, either. Besides, you're in a nice area--even when you are able to afford the more expensive brick designs you find in the city, you'll prolly end up staying in West County.

My company is moving from clayton to chesterfield next year and I've always lived in the county, so yeah.

[CoffeeAndBeer]

I'd recommend Dogtown if you want a safe/affordable neighborhood near the West End w/ a blazing fast commute. The Central West End is definitely pricier, closer, but is a great and interesting very urban neighborhood as well. I-64 is under reconstruction, and will continue to be for a while longer so I would avoid West County along I-64 (and theres nothing available to rent for a sane price in Central County along I-64 anyway). Other areas of South City and Southwest City like St. Louis hills are great, but a little further. Near Southwest County along I-44 is very nice, historic, and leafy, w/ small suburban downtowns, like Webster Groves, but is a little further. Commuting from the west/north/northwest side of the Metro and from St. Charles County is out of the question if you want a short commute (it also feels isolating if you are not from St. Charles, and the people are a bit more paranoid/excitable and less laid back on the entire north/northwest side of the metro...i'd forget about it). The Central/South/Southwest side of the metro along I-44 and I-55 also have much easier access to the wonderful forests and streams south of the city on a Friday afternoon, without having to mess with I-270 S...which...you don't want to live anywhere near I-270, or be in a position where you have to use it on a regular basis (I unfortunately work in west county and use it a lot coming from south city...). The regions highways were designed as local freeways to access downtown-not feed into Creve Couer.