Help! Where to live with 3 little boys? Schools, Land, west or south St. Louis (O'Fallon: real estate)

[jlswalker]

We are going to be moving to the St. Louis area with 3 little boys. I don't know anything about the area. I'm at a total loss as to where to start. We don't want to be in the middle of the city, but need access to activities for the boys.

The eldest is starting Kindergarten this year, so we need good schools.

We have family in Farmington, so would like something south or west St. Louis, even into Arnold or wherever.

We also need some space - a large yard at minimum, 5 acres or so ideally.

We need to keep the price around $250k, maybe $300k.

Is this even possible? HELP!!!

[AJohnston_STL]

I highly doubt you can be within 30 miles of the city and get 5 acres for under $300k. But that's the best advice I can give, sorry I can't be more help!

[aragx6]

Where will you be commuting to? Downtown? How long of a commute would you like?

Also what are your housing requirements? Newer? How many beds/baths?

Arnold is probably a pretty good bet for you. You should be able to get a little bit of acreage in Arnold in your price range.

Like this place: 109 James Valley Ln, Arnold, MO, 63010 - MLS ID#90006467 - Single Family Home Real Estate - REALTOR.com®

[jlswalker]

[quote=aragx6;7388438]Where will you be commuting to? Downtown? How long of a commute would you like?

Also what are your housing requirements? Newer? How many beds/baths?


Thanks!

We probably need 4 bedrooms. Would prefer to have a basement rec room of some sort. Other than that, the land is the main priority. Need a place for boys to run around and kick a ball.
We don't know where we will be commuting at this point (probably downtown) but would prefer to keep it under 40 minutes.

Jennifer

[aragx6]

Look south (like Arnold) and east (the IL side) if you want land under 40 minutes from downtown. Getting land out west would give you well over an hour commute downtown.

I'm not sure what I-55 traffic is like at rush hour, but you may be able to go as far south as Herculaneum and keep within a 40-minute commute -- I haven't a clue what their schools are like down there though. greatschools.net is a useful site for that sort of thing.

[AJohnston_STL]

The reason being (for what arag said about getting land in Missouri) is because the suburbs basically sprawl out 40 miles west of STL in to Missouri, while the "east side" aka Metro East aka the Illinois side of the St Louis region only sprawls eastward about 16 miles (O'Fallon).

[stl105]

I'm actually in the process of purchasing a condo myself in the Saint Louis area. Not sure if they have one that would fit exactly what you are looking for but they have a great variety in the Central West End (great area near schools and Barnes Jewish hospital with low crime rate) but they have certainly been helpful in my Saint Louis condo search.

The company is called Metropolis. Hope this helps!

Mark

[suziq999]

Huh? She wants 5 acres!

[Chadro77]

The Fenton Jefferson county area, maybe. I think Jefferson county is an ok option seeing that you just take 30 in and out, cheaper too.