Tulsa- give me the real deal (Bixby, Jenks: fit in, sales, to rent)

[crazikate]

My family (spouse and 3 kids 8y,6y,and 3y) may be moving to Tulsa very soon related to a new job offer. I have searched endlessly and have read as much as I can about a city that everyone seems like very much. However,I still have some unanswered questions. 1) are most houses built on slabs? What about daylight or walk out basements that are converted to family rooms, home theaters, ect. It seems the listings I look at in our price range are short on storage. I currently have a two story with walk out basement and am interested in the same.
Regarding school districts- Jenks is highly recommended but very large. I would be interested in a near by small town with a great small, friendly, parent involved school. A little country is okay, as long as it is nice country not hick country. (not all rural areas are the same, as least where I live.)
And also- please define "cost of living is so much less in Tulsa" Is this in reference to home prices only, or other consumer goods as well. ( gas, food, clothing) Thanks for the help! Its a big decision to move 12 hours aways with your family.

[Okiegirlfriend]

Basements are few and far between. Slab floors seem to be favored (not by me). Our house was built in the 50's and has a crawl space. When you look to buy, tell the realtor what you want. My suggestion is to rent for a year while you check out all areas of the city. That way, you can eliminate areas that don't fit in with what you like. Jenks and Union schools are rated high as well as most Catholic or Private Christian schools.

[BigOkie]

Originally Posted by crazikate

My family (spouse and 3 kids 8y,6y,and 3y) may be moving to Tulsa very soon related to a new job offer. I have searched endlessly and have read as much as I can about a city that everyone seems like very much. However,I still have some unanswered questions. 1) are most houses built on slabs? What about daylight or walk out basements that are converted to family rooms, home theaters, ect. It seems the listings I look at in our price range are short on storage. I currently have a two story with walk out basement and am interested in the same.
Regarding school districts- Jenks is highly recommended but very large. I would be interested in a near by small town with a great small, friendly, parent involved school. A little country is okay, as long as it is nice country not hick country. (not all rural areas are the same, as least where I live.)
And also- please define "cost of living is so much less in Tulsa" Is this in reference to home prices only, or other consumer goods as well. ( gas, food, clothing) Thanks for the help! Its a big decision to move 12 hours aways with your family.

Most newer homes in Tulsa are not built with basements (i.e. built on slabs). That's not to say you couldn't find a home with a basement in town, but it will most likely be pre-1950s construction. It's possible that some of the nicer homes in midtown may have a walkout basement, but I cannot attest to that.

While Jenks may be very large, Tulsa Public Schools is the largest district in the state, for perspective. As far as small parent involved schools, since I'm not a parent, I couldn't speak to that either. But there are several small towns within a half-hour drive of the center of Tulsa that aren't really considered suburbs per-se (Haskell, Bristow, etc) that might fit the bill.

I will say that Oklahoma taxes on groceries at the standard sales tax rate, but food can be had for a reasonable price. Also, Tulsa has some of the cheapest gasoline costs right now (currently averaging about $3.84 a gallon, but most places right now are selling for $3.79).

[Goodpasture]

Originally Posted by crazikate

My family (spouse and 3 kids 8y,6y,and 3y) may be moving to Tulsa very soon related to a new job offer.

Can we assume you will be moving too?

Originally Posted by crazikate

I have searched endlessly and have read as much as I can about a city that everyone seems like very much. However,I still have some unanswered questions. 1) are most houses built on slabs?

Yes. Houses are built on slabs. There are a lot of reasons for this. 1) the high clay content of soil in most areas would demolish basement walls in short order, 2) the frost level is less than 2', so excavating is expensive and unnecessary. 3) the water level is pretty high and can be a problem in any underground area. Some storm shelters require a 24 hour 7 day a week sump pump running. 4) Much of eastern Oklahoma has a bedrock of limestone. To go below two or three feet will often require demolition, although dynamite cannot be used in such instances as the vibrations, transmitted through the rock itself, can damage structures several miles away. Therefore the rock has to be removed by hand. Far too expensive for the average house. 5) there is a substantial amount of land available. It is cheaper to buy the adjacent lot and build a storage building than it is to deal with basement problems.

Originally Posted by crazikate

What about daylight or walk out basements that are converted to family rooms, home theaters, ect.

On occasion you will find a house in a subdivision that is built on hills that have these options, but they are the exception, not the rule.

Originally Posted by crazikate

It seems the listings I look at in our price range are short on storage. I currently have a two story with walk out basement and am interested in the same.

Have one built, then

Originally Posted by crazikate

Regarding school districts- Jenks is highly recommended but very large. I would be interested in a near by small town with a great small, friendly, parent involved school. A little country is okay, as long as it is nice country not hick country. (not all rural areas are the same, as least where I live.)

Any school district within easy commute of Tulsa will meet your criteria.

Originally Posted by crazikate

And also- please define "cost of living is so much less in Tulsa" Is this in reference to home prices only, or other consumer goods as well. ( gas, food, clothing) Thanks for the help! Its a big decision to move 12 hours aways with your family.

Cost of most items are lower, in general, than you will find in more densely populated areas. gas is one of the lowest in the country, natural gas is available for most homes and is far cheaper per BTU than electricity. Food costs are about the same as most other areas, I suppose, but can be reduced through prudent buying and locating local producers.....but that is pretty much the same anywhere as well.clothing is like everywhere else....made in China and distributed nationwide. Property taxes are generally lower, income taxes are average, and sales taxes are a bit higher than most places.

The biggest difference in costs is going to be housing. a nice 2000+ sf ranch style house can be found for under $200,000. That same house in many markets would sell for $750,000. The difference between a $1500 a month payment and a $4,500 a month payment is significant.

[crazikate]

Thanks for all the input. I am also wondering why so many houses on line seem to be empty. Is there need for concern? ( forclosures, saturated market, ect.) And yes, I do plan to accompany my family. As for building, did that 3 years ago and do not wish to repeat that painful processs. I suppose if you where from California the cost of living would be more significant. I am from michigan, and unfortunately houses here keep getting cheaper by the day. Our goal would be to be employed in a stable economy. My husband is in sales, and I am a registered Nurse. So, I figure I can get a job anywhere. However, the sales market in Michigan is pretty slow.

Is Tulsa's economy as sunny as the postings indicate. We'd be leaving extended family (grandparents) which will be hard, and a it is a decision that is not easily reversed.

[Synopsis]

I wouldn't leap before I looked at the local job market. There are a lot of jobs posted, but they don't appear to want qualified people for those positions, just cheap labor.. Just my opinion as of late about the Tulsa job scene.

[Goodpasture]

Originally Posted by crazikate

Thanks for all the input. I am also wondering why so many houses on line seem to be empty. Is there need for concern? ( forclosures, saturated market, ect.) And yes, I do plan to accompany my family. As for building, did that 3 years ago and do not wish to repeat that painful processs. I suppose if you where from California the cost of living would be more significant. I am from michigan, and unfortunately houses here keep getting cheaper by the day. Our goal would be to be employed in a stable economy. My husband is in sales, and I am a registered Nurse. So, I figure I can get a job anywhere. However, the sales market in Michigan is pretty slow.

Is Tulsa's economy as sunny as the postings indicate. We'd be leaving extended family (grandparents) which will be hard, and a it is a decision that is not easily reversed.

So much depends on you and your husband that it makes it difficult to answer. Are there lots of jobs? Absolutely. Are they going to hire you tomorrow? probably not. There are jobs in all sectors, but they are looking for specific skill sets and at a price that many people moving into the area don't want to accept.

Housing in the Tulsa area is increasing about 5% a year. There is a lot of housing available, but the chances of you getting what you want is pretty slim...the question becomes "Can you enjoy what you can get?"

Nursing jobs are readily available. They pay less here than they do in many areas. Do you take a cut in pay? Again, it is up to you.

The economy is pretty stable today. who knows what the future is going to be. I think it will be good for the next 20 years. But I am not a psychic. If I were, Bill Gates would still owe me money.

As far as knowing what response you can or will have, it all depends on the attitude you bring with you. All I can do is say we have a nice area to live in, the economy is strong, crime is low, cost of living is low, and I like it. But then I did not like the cities of Michigan and I did enjoy the UP......

[BigOkie]

Originally Posted by crazikate

Thanks for all the input. I am also wondering why so many houses on line seem to be empty. Is there need for concern? ( forclosures, saturated market, ect.) And yes, I do plan to accompany my family. As for building, did that 3 years ago and do not wish to repeat that painful processs. I suppose if you where from California the cost of living would be more significant. I am from michigan, and unfortunately houses here keep getting cheaper by the day. Our goal would be to be employed in a stable economy. My husband is in sales, and I am a registered Nurse. So, I figure I can get a job anywhere. However, the sales market in Michigan is pretty slow.

Is Tulsa's economy as sunny as the postings indicate. We'd be leaving extended family (grandparents) which will be hard, and a it is a decision that is not easily reversed.

Start here: Tulsa World: Jobs

[crazikate]

Thanks again. For clarity, we would not move until the job my husband is interviewing for was offered.

Michigan may have the highest unemployment rate, and the fastest falling value of homes, but it's "up north" is lovely. We'll be spending a week in Traverse Bay area and a week in the UP at Curtis. I highly recommend these areas next time you are in the area. It is Michigan at its best.

[nevergoingback]

Bixby School District sounds like what you are looking for. I found a house with a walkout basement, we love it, 3/4 acre, 2000 sf, 1978. The basement is also 2000 sf. I think we got lucky, like GP said walkouts are the definitely the exception.
I come from Ca., so everything here is much cheaper except groceries, Beef to be exact, they also tax it here (sales)which I am very against taxing food stuff.
I love it here and think it is a GREAT place to raise a family, I dont lock my doors, neighbors are awesome!!! I could go on for days.
I would take a close look at Bixby or south BA (Bixby schools) 74008 and 74011. You can rent a 1500 sf house for $995 maybe cheaper.