Rank the Communities and MLS Website (Fayetteville, Springdale: transplants, for sale, real estate)

[GBer]

Hi All,

My wife and I may be moving to the Bentonville, Rogers, Centerton, Lowell, Tontitown, Fayetteville, Springdale area. I know just a little bit about the area, but not near enough. Can anyone rank the towns in the area from most desirable to least desirable.

We will be first year empty nesters, our kids will all be in college at that point. Since we will be empty nesters, my wife is worried about making friends with people.

Wife likes to run, bike, swim, shop. I work and can make anything work, she requires certain amenities.

We live in an upper class community in the Western US now. We have about 6500 square feet on an acre. Where would I find things comparable?

Also - whats the best MLS site to search for homes in the area?

Thanks in advance,

GBer

[Luvvarkansas]

I've found realtor.com and trulia.com to be the best sites. Trulia sometimes has things that realtor.com doesn't....FSBO properties, for example....also sometimes has more pictures than realtor.

[GBer]

Thanks for the reply, I'll check those out. I wasn't sure if either of those have all of the listings or just sponsored listings.

thanks again

[Luvvarkansas]

They seem to be pretty thorough. You might want to ask this question on the Real Estate forum.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Luvvarkansas

I've found realtor.com and trulia.com to be the best sites. Trulia sometimes has things that realtor.com doesn't....FSBO properties, for example....also sometimes has more pictures than realtor.

I totally agree: another one to check for sale prices is ZILLOW, but you have to have a particular place or location in mind. OP, if it were me, and I was your age, probably I would lean toward some of the upscale neighborhoods in Bentonville, Rogers and Fayetteville. Any of them will be friendly and your wife will be able to make friends. Our granddaughter lives in Hanover sub division which is No Bentonville. The homes are very upscale, the neighborhoods mostly middle age and it is a beautiful area. BTW, she is not one of the middle agers, her hubby is though.

[GBer]

Thanks so much for the reply. What "real estate forum" are you referring to? I have no idea... is there a real estate forum within this citydata board?

thanks again.

[Luvvarkansas]

Originally Posted by GBer

Thanks so much for the reply. What "real estate forum" are you referring to? I have no idea... is there a real estate forum within this citydata board?

thanks again.

//www.city-data.com/forum/real-estate/

[gunslinger256]

you might be interested in shadow valley and pinnacle. they are both gated communities. There are 2 new gated communities coming up in the rogers cave springs areas but they may not offer the same sense of community.

[VaVerve]

I was an interior designer in the area for 10 years from Fa'ville to Bella Vista. Here's what you have to choose from: Most northern area to south:

Bella Vista is quiet, you get the most square footage for your buck, lots of green space and lake front property, but low on amenities. Good shopping could be between 10 minutes to 30 minutes away.

Bentonville is small with a lot of $$ poured into it from the Walton Foundation...museums, awarded restaurants, film festivals, farmers markets. Very friendly. Low crime. Your housing might come from the new downtown modern developments which offer more walkability or remodeled bugalows and victorians. Lots of trees. Pretty. A well run town though not gated.

Rogers offers the most shopping at Pinnacle Promenade, an outdoor relatively new mall, a Whole Foods--upper middle class with secured neighborhoods. Rogers is divided, the older area with less gentrification and the newer wealthier area across the bypass. You'll find a mix of local restaurants with mid-priced places like Bonefish Grill. Not many parks or green space. Affluent neighborhoods are well maintained and gated.

Fayetteville is a college town, more liberal and has been considered the cultural center of NWA, though Bentonville is taking that over. It's a larger town, and still very townish. Offers lovely gardens and parks. Very friendly. Shopping is more boutique oriented. You'll find more antique shops than elsewhere. The square is a very vital area with a popular farmer's market. I can't think of any gated communities, though downtown and the Mount Sequoyah area in east F'ville is considered the upper middle class location and far enough away from the university that it feels more grown up than collegiate. Nicely maintained houses, with larger homes throughout. The population is very community oriented and friendly.

I would use most of the common MLS sites, Coldwell Banker, Zillow, Trulia, etc....

[WestForkGrant]

Originally Posted by VaVerve

I was an interior designer in the area for 10 years from Fa'ville to Bella Vista. Here's what you have to choose from: Most northern area to south:

Bella Vista is quiet, you get the most square footage for your buck, lots of green space and lake front property, but low on amenities. Good shopping could be between 10 minutes to 30 minutes away.

Bentonville is small with a lot of $$ poured into it from the Walton Foundation...museums, awarded restaurants, film festivals, farmers markets. Very friendly. Low crime. Your housing might come from the new downtown modern developments which offer more walkability or remodeled bugalows and victorians. Lots of trees. Pretty. A well run town though not gated.

Rogers offers the most shopping at Pinnacle Promenade, an outdoor relatively new mall, a Whole Foods--upper middle class with secured neighborhoods. Rogers is divided, the older area with less gentrification and the newer wealthier area across the bypass. You'll find a mix of local restaurants with mid-priced places like Bonefish Grill. Not many parks or green space. Affluent neighborhoods are well maintained and gated.

Fayetteville is a college town, more liberal and has been considered the cultural center of NWA, though Bentonville is taking that over. It's a larger town, and still very townish. Offers lovely gardens and parks. Very friendly. Shopping is more boutique oriented. You'll find more antique shops than elsewhere. The square is a very vital area with a popular farmer's market. I can't think of any gated communities, though downtown and the Mount Sequoyah area in east F'ville is considered the upper middle class location and far enough away from the university that it feels more grown up than collegiate. Nicely maintained houses, with larger homes throughout. The population is very community oriented and friendly.

I would use most of the common MLS sites, Coldwell Banker, Zillow, Trulia, etc....

Good summary. Rogers and Bentonville are both newer and have a more suburban feel. More shopping and most of the new development and transplants are moving into Benton County. Fayetteville is traditionally the anchor of the area and the university dominates the south part of town. Fayetteville is a little more liberal like college towns tend to be. You probably won't get as much home if you do decide on Fayetteville but I think it is more unique and has bigger variety of things to do. Northeast Fayetteville does have a couple gated communities (where some of the Razorback coaches tend to live) and some larger properties out toward Goshen on AR 45. It is a close drive to Joyce and College that you feel like you are kind of in the country but you are only about a 10 minute drive to most everything.