Possible move to Menomonee Falls (Milwaukee, Wauwatosa: best suburbs, how much, houses)

[firefighter079]

My wife may get a job in Menonmonee Falls and we were wondering about the area. I am in my late 40's, she is in her early 30's, my kids are grown 19 and 18. We would like an area that is suburban, with a good size yard for our two dogs and not too expensive. I have been reading threads about the property tax in WI that is high. I pay over 4K a year in property tax on a 4 bedroom home. Is this comparable to taxes in this area? Now how about housing prices in the Falls area, my 4 bdr home with a large yard in my area will bring 300 to 400K. Comparable prices? Anybody have any thoughts to areas outside the Falls and how much of a drive it would be and prices. Thanks everybody

[EnjoyEP]

Overall, I personally really enjoy Menomonee Falls and find MF to be one of the best suburbs in metro Milwaukee...it is in the top 5 personally to me for sure. It is middle-to-middle upper class with some affluent areas as well, it is a bigger, established suburb that still - while having some definite elements of urbanism - feels largely like Mayberry with white picket fences, friendly neighborhoods, nice shops, restaurants, bars, open park spaces and wooded areas, water, etc. Really a nice suburb which is quiet and safe but with very good access to the freeway / Milwaukee.

Originally Posted by firefighter079

We would like an area that is suburban, with a good size yard for our two dogs and not too expensive.

Menomonee Falls would probably fit this bill quite yard. You can get nice sized yards here. Not sure what "too expensive" is, but Menomonee Falls - if your criteria is that 300 - 400K range, definitely would be very affordable for you. MF in this area isn't one of the more expensive / affluent suburbs, although prices have gone up there and it is definitely more pricey than some burbs here too...probably middle-of-the-pack in terms of pricy-ness for suburbs.

Originally Posted by firefighter079

I have been reading threads about the property tax in WI that is high. I pay over 4K a year in property tax on a 4 bedroom home. Is this comparable to taxes in this area?

Depending upon the community you would settle in, property taxes here will probably be comparable to what you are spending, or, a bit higher.

In my community (Greendale, which is a southern suburb), a 1600 square foot 3 bedroom house will net you $4400 in property taxes, which would be more expensive than what you are paying (you are paying comparable taxes for more space).

However, Menomonee Falls has a lower tax rate - slightly - than my community or other Milwaukee County suburbs like Wauwatosa. Taxes aren't overwhelmingly lower in MF though.

I would guess that you'll end up paying about the same as you would in your current area, or slightly more, but the difference won't be earth-shattering like it would be if you were coming from Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, etc.

Originally Posted by firefighter079

Now how about housing prices in the Falls area, my 4 bdr home with a large yard in my area will bring 300 to 400K. Comparable prices?

Probably fairly comparable...in Menomonee Falls itself, probably houses will be a bit cheaper than you are used to. It is hard to say, because you are saying 4 br home, but that could be a 1600 square foot home and that could be a 3500 square foot home.

But overall, just kind of trying to arrive at a happy medium, I think you likely could find something in MF that suits your tastes in the $250,000K to $350,000K range. Around $275K or $300K, you can buy something quite big and nice in MF.

Originally Posted by firefighter079

Anybody have any thoughts to areas outside the Falls and how much of a drive it would be and prices. Thanks everybody

There are just so many areas / suburbs in reasonable distance to the Falls that it is hard to narrow it down without some more specifics, however, ones you may wish to consider in the vicinity that fits your criteria:

-West Bend: 15 - 20 minutes north of MF / 30 - 45 minutes away from much of Milwaukee / could buy a mansion of sorts for 300-400K / growing yet still semi more rural feel (35,000 population)

-Jackson: 10 minutes north of MF / 30 minutes away from much of Milwaukee / slightly more affluent community than MF / growing yet still very rural feel (7,000 population)

-Hartford: [SEE West Bend description]

-Sussex: close to MF / 15 minutes away from much of Milwaukee / slightly more affluent community than MF / rolling hills and forests / growing yet still very small community...less rural than Jackson, WB, etc.

-Brookfield: close to MF / close to MKE / more affluent community than MF / more residential, established, retail-laden, urban than Jackson-WB-Hartford-Sussex

[heyheyheyhey]

there is also lannon which is right by mf, i don't know much about it but i know another mom that lives there and she seems to like it.
MF and perhaps the other towns the pp mentioned too, I am not too sure, have a downtown. last time i was in MF was over a year ago but i thought the downtown was cute and it wasn't rundown looking like some downtowns are. i love towns that actually have a downtown instead of just strip malls, but heyhey that is me