Moving to Green Bay - pros/cons on home purchase.... (for sale, rentals)

[easybay]

I'm hesitant on buying due to the economy and the number of homes on the market. I'm not sure I want to buy a home and if things don't work out then we will be stuck with a house..... My husband is selling the move by pointing out the great deals on so many homes. I have to say that the lakefront properties I've seen are a bit convincing.

What are the pros and cons lake living or acreage living?

[MediaDoggie]

Keep in mind Green Bay and the Fox Valley is still an industrial based economy. If either you or your husband have secured jobs, especially professional you should go ahead and purchase a bay view home. Those homes should always hold value and even go up in value if the economy falters.
If you are not professional this will be riskier since this area has started to see a waning of skilled and semi-skilled labor in the last twenty years. There are no high paying job trends moving to the area to replace the manufacturing sector, say like technology. There are a fair number of medical jobs but it's not growing. About the only major expansion has been call center positions which are generally low paying.
If the paper industry starts down sizing this area will be devastated, so follow business news carefully.
As an aside do some searching on this board. There have been many threads about the lack of culture and beer drinking society of the Fox Valley area.

[easybay]

Media....THANKS for the reply!!! I've been checking my post for the last week and finally someone posted!

Yes, my husband is a professional and will have a big job - if we decide to go. I don't plan on working. My point in not buying a home is due to risk....meaning, if we really don't like the area, or if he doesn't like the position or they don't like him at the new job....I really don't want to be stuck with a home in Green Bay. I am hoping I can convince him to rent for the first year.

We are young empty nesters - early 40's, and I have to say after living in BIG metropolitian areas for the last 10 years I'm not jacked about moving. But, it is a career move, and I'm pretty good at putting a positive spin on life.

[dlk33]

Why not rent for the first 6 months to a year? It would be much easier for you to move & quicker as well if you find you are not happy there. Besides that, renting will give you time to better figure out which neighborhoods you'd prefer to live in, should you decide you want to stay for the long haul. My biggest issue would be moving more then once, since I hate moving. You sound very unsure about the whole situation, while it seems maybe your husband just figures everything will be just fine. If you can, take a trip or two to the area to get a feel for it. I've always found that has helped me get a better idea about my feeling for a place.

[easybay]

Can any one give me zip codes of nice "bay view" areas to look for rentals or homes for sale....or for the Fox Valley areas?

[MidwestHiker]

I'd go with Bay view over any in the Fox Valley on Lake Winnebago. There is something special about sitting and looking out at the bay. I don't know any zip codes, but the east side of Green Bay towards Door County is very nice.

[easybay]

Hiker - thanks - I actually saw a place for rent on the east side of the bay, that was actually on the shore. It was amazing. It's encouraging to read the posts! Thanks for your advice!

[MovingInfo]

Bay Settlement road has many nice houses with views. The zip code is 54311

[strawflower]

Originally Posted by MovingInfo

Bay Settlement road has many nice houses with views. The zip code is 54311

I was just about to post that. If you have kids, there is also is a great public school near there (Red Smith) that's k-8th grades.

[easybay]

Empty nesters actually - but if we end up buying, a good school district is a great plus.