Eau Claire and vicinity (Milwaukee, Madison: real estate, housing, job)

[stellar9]

We are considering leaving California. We have 9 children and will never be able to buy a house here. I have family in the Twin Cities, but I like the homeschooling laws in WI better and the COL is lower. My husband should be able to get a job using his computer skills.
I am interested in opinions as to which areas in western WI, near Eau Claire anyone would recommend considering we are a large family with teens and babies and like to live rurally, but near a city. We'll need a big house, but inexpensive as well. Relatively, any house there is inexpensive compared to here.

Anyway, thanks,

Micki

[Birdie]

If your looking for cheap houses near a city, check out Wisconsin Rapids area.

[stellar9]

Thanks for the suggestion. I googled Wisconsin Rapids and it sounds nice, but its a bit farther from the Twin Cities than I'd like.

Micki

[rainbird]

LaCrosse is a pretty area with reasonably priced housing and big enough that it has most everything you need. It is a little further to the Twin cities, a couple of hours, but a pleasant drive along the Mississippi River.

[stellar9]

Thank you for the suggestion. We are certainly open to La Crosse, if my husband can find work in or near there.

Micki

[polarisman_98]

I lived in the Eau Claire / Chippewa Falls area for most of my life. You might try Chippewa Falls, WI. Population of about 13,000, and only about 15 minutes to Eau Claire and about 1hr 45mins to the Twin Cities. You'll find housing in Chippewa Falls is somewhat cheaper than in Eau Claire. I graduated from Chippewa Falls High School and it was a great school. Great sports and music programs. You'll also find beautiful Lake Wissota, a great recreation and fishing lake in Chippewa Falls. CF is a great place to rasie a family.

All in all, I think CF would be an excellent pick. If only my job would allow me to be in Chippewa Falls, that is where I would be.

Good Luck!

[eauclaireisGREAT]

We moved to Eau Claire in 1999 and love it! There are lots of very nice homes at very reasonable prices on the north side of Eau Claire. The northside is still relatively rural. And there appear to be tons of technology related employment opportunities - especially with the University and the Technical College. You may also want to consider Menominee - a very nice small city with a state university that is HUGE on technology and Menominee is even closer to the Twin Cities.

[wiemergal]

Not sure how far from a city you would like to live. EC and CF are not very rural towns by my standards. If you are looking for rural (small towns) there are many nice ones surrounding Eau Claire. Augusta (about half hour from EC) Ladysmith (hour fifteen from EC).

What type of work does your husband do on computers? He may be able to get a job in some of the small towns and not have to drive into EC.

[Schnidly]

Cant go wrong with any stretch of real estate between Milwaukee and Madison! GREAT SCHOOLs and wonderful people as well as a great place for cultural activities! Interstate is very close and it leads directly to the Twin Cities!

[stellar9]

it makes us feel a little more confident in our plans to relocate to the Chippewa Valley.
My husband has over 20 years experience with computer/telephone/telecommunications. He's great at field service and right now has a small base of small businesses that he helps with their computer systems. He's not technically an engineer but he can do some types of electrical engineering. We live near a university right now and many graduates want to work here after school and that makes for more competition for my husband because the grads don't have families to support on the pay offered. Does the same thing happen with the university there?

Micki