Sheridan Jobs/Homes (Gillette, Buffalo: low income, rent, loan)

[GEORGIAINMT]

Hello all~!
I'm a native Wyo girl who wants to move back from Billings. There is a job I may apply for in Sheridan, but I wondered if anyone out there could give me some info first. I'm wondering about jobs for my hubby. His background is in law enforcement (although he thinks he's too old at 45 to get back into being a "real cop") and warehouse/delivery type work. He has a class B CDL license so can do some driving but doesn't desire to get a class A to drive the BIG trucks! He is a super employee, very dedicated and a hard worker. We are thinking that if he could get something that paid around $12/hr. we would be fine (although more would be better!).

Our next question is on housing. We've looked on realtor websites and don't see a lot in Sheridan. Brand new houses we could get here in Billings for about $200K look like they'd be $300K for the same size, etc. in the Sheridan area! Any info you could give me on housing would be appreciated. We've considered modular homes. Does anyone know anything about lots or land...whether there is anything available for a decent price that allows modulars? Would it be better to live in Buffalo or in one of the tiny towns close to Sheridan as far as home prices go?

Any help would be wonderful! Thanks to you all!
Georgia

[dictionary]

You are right on about housing being much, much more than Billings, let's put it this way, 200K plus will get you around 1,400 sq. feet that needs to be gutted. And I mean GUTTED. Just do a search on a realty site and you'll see what I mean.

Land is also extremely expensive. .5-1 acres 125K plus, many of them do not allow modulars. Many of them, which we like, have very strict convenants, no RVs snowmobiles, you have to have a certain house style etc.

You might be able to get a lot in town for 52K and put a modular on it. Maybe.. it gets cheaper per acre if you buy in bulk. For example there are 30 acre lots going for 300K; however, you have to buy the entire 30 acres. Building is even more expensive. Try 155-175 a sq ft for low, low grade and small.

Buffalo might be a bit better. Not to scare you, but housing here is probably twice what it is in Billings, we have several employees that moved here from billings and as engineers do very, very well and are in total shock at the cost of living.. rent isn't much better. But wait a year or two... it WILL drop, it WILL soften. Prices are already getting slashed quite a bit. So just be patient... sellers are still delusional about the value of their homes

[dictionary]

oh and your "brand new" houses? you are looking at a MINIMUM of 350K - 480K.. a MINIMUM. Unless you are looking at one of the new "affordable" housing neighborhoods which are mostly low income or modular communities, most of the 180-190 new ones are townhomes.

[ElkHunter]

come on home.

[GEORGIAINMT]

Hi Elkhunter,
We've chatted on here before but I didn't realize you were from Wyo. It's funny how you run into the same people in different situations! We are really wanting to move to a place where we can make more money. If I got a teaching job in Sheridan it would pay at least $16K more than I get in Laurel! If hubby can get a job that pays about what he gets now we'd be fine, even with housing being more expensive down there. I look at it this way....a home loan is spread out over 30 years....that's 360 payments that would average out to be somewhat more a month, but I'd be taking home at least $1000 more a month, so we'd be doing better there I think. Also, taxes are much less there and so are utilities. It's just the home prices that are higher. What do you think of the Buffalo area? Seems quite a bit less to get a home there than in Sheridan. Do you have any suggestions for work for hubby around there? Thanks for your help and it's nice talking to you again!
Georgia

[ElkHunter]

Hey, we be having a good time. I really love living in Wyoming I get tickled. Don't go there. hahahahaha

[GEORGIAINMT]

Heading to Sheridan in the morning to check things out! Look out, Elkhunter, we're on our way I'm anxious to explore and see what we think. Will be touching base after the road trip!

[GEORGIAINMT]

I think we've crossed the possibility of Sheridan off our list. Housing there is just too hard to come by and what is there is way too expensive for what you get. We'd be better off staying here in Laurel, even with me at the lower salary. Sorry, Elkhunter! We did enjoy a beautiful day in Sheridan, though! Lunch at Sanford's was good, as usual. I wanted to comment on two housing options there....1( the modulars at Quail Ridge aren't bad, they're cute little houses with basements, but the bummer is NO ROOM to breathe! They are very close together and the lot are so small you can't even have a garage. For $199K I guess they're okay if people don't mind the close neighbors and not garage, but that's just not for us. As for the Schuster homes....we went into them and they are very nice. For in the
$240K's range, actually a pretty good deal compared to other places in Sheridan. Although not in a subdivision of new neighborhood, it really wasn't that bad there, but there was only room for the 3 houses they built. 2 of them are already sold. We're curious as to whether they will build more on other lots. The lots were pretty small, but at least they had 2 car attached garages.

Now, the next question....any thoughts on Gillette? Housing seems to be lower priced there and hubby could transfer with his job to the warehouse there.

Maybe we'll just stay in Laurel & follow my plans to get my Master's this year, then decide what's best for us. After visiting Sheridan our cozy little $125K home seems not so bad! Take care!
Georgia

[ElkHunter]

There is a new subdivision going in South of Sheridan. Supposed to be priced in the $150k-$170k range. 250 units and they're supposed to start this spring. Haven't seen any plans so they may be like Quail Ridge.

When you were at Quail Ridge, you were about 2 blocks from my house.

Also, I'm not sure the name of it, but there's new houses going in South of Quail Ridge about 1/2 mile. No clue as to price or layout. But it's right across the street from the new elementary school.