Fishers prices, Carmel schools, Meridian-Kessler charm...HELP! (Lawrence, Plainfield: for sale, house)

[oscney]

I have been researching Indy homes for 9 months now and still have barely even narrowed down the search. Can someone please creep into my brain and help me figure this out? I have lots of reasons why I don't like particular places... Here are the cons I've generated by locale:

Avon/Brownsburg/Plainfield - just too rural for me, personally
Fishers - traffic is a nightmare; I don't mind commute time, but I do not want to be stopped in traffic
Meridian-Kessler - LOVE it! but the schools are a downside, and I would like my kids to be in public schools; plus, bathrooms, closets, and kitchens are too small in older homes
Washington Twnshp (between Meridian and Binford) - homes are mostly older, the nice ones are either not for sale or way out of our price range
Carmel - that one humongous high school means less opportunity for one individual to participate in sports, performing arts, etc.; hard to pay that much for a house when there are cheaper, bigger ones in Fishers
Zionsville - might be too rural, definitely too far from shopping, dining, etc., but easy access to 65 is nice
Not interested most Indy school systems, other than Washington

I have similar dilemmas with building vs buying. I want a newer house, community amenities (e.g., playground, pool), large closets, updated kitchens, spacious master bath...but I also want mature trees, established neighborhoods, and for the neighbors not to be materialistic and snobby.

I want it all! Does the perfect home/neighborhood for me exist? Can I get it for 350K or under????

[Michelle Morris]

The perfect place does exist for you! It just takes time to find it.
Now, where are you coming from? Have you been to the Indy 'burbs to see it all in person?
I really love Avon, and I'm not sure how it would be considered too rural, yes, there are still some fields, but still a lot of shopping, dining and great schools. Plus, easy access to downtown, and wonderful home prices.

[domergurl]

I never thought Fishers traffic was a nightmare ... I liked the school choices better there, than Carmel (your reason was the exact reason we chose Fishers instead when we moved there in 2003, we're not there anymore). I guess what you are going to have to do is weigh what you will NOT compromise on and what has some wiggle room.

Lawrence twp doesn't hold any interest for you?

Right now, there are so many resale homes on the market, not sure about the spec home market, you may not need to build!