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We are in the process of researching if Lexington is the right place to relocate to with our three young children. Currently live in the San Francisco Bay Area and looking for a more peaceful place to really lay down roots. Through online searches, we keep coming across the following places that offer good schools: Ashland Park, Chevy Chase, Andover Hills, and Beaumont. I think our budget to purchase a home will be around $350K or lower.
Our big question is: Is it possible to live in an area that has large lots, maybe even .5-1 acres or more, but still has great schools? Potentially in the same districts as the ones I just mentioned? The neighborhoods we see online are beautiful, but we're wondering if we have the option to experience a bit more of a rural-type setting but still have awesome schools and community. Would also like to be within 30 minutes of downtown Lexington. Thanks for your input!
The lots in the neighborhoods which interest you are smaller than the size you'd prefer, but Chevy Chase and Ashland Park houses usually have larger lots than do the newer neighborhoods, and they also have larger back yards than front yards, generally.
There is additional open space nearby: Woodland Park, Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate, and the campuses of Christ the King and Cassidy and Morton Schools (the last two are public, and share a campus). All but Ashland have playgrounds.
Zoning in Lexington restricts newer lot size and development, in order to protect the greenbelt and horse farms which make the beautiful Bluegrass Region famous.
If you are willing to live outside of Lexington, in one of the smaller towns which surround Lexington like a wheelrim, you may find what you seek in Georgetown, Versailles (pro. "Ver-SALES", Nicholasville, or Paris. There are other similar towns, but these four are the closest to Lexington.
The lots in the neighborhoods which interest you are smaller than the size you'd prefer, but Chevy Chase and Ashland Park houses usually have larger lots than do the newer neighborhoods, and they also have larger back yards than front yards, generally.
There is additional open space nearby: Woodland Park, Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate, and the campuses of Christ the King and Cassidy and Morton Schools (the last two are public, and share a campus). All but Ashland have playgrounds.
Zoning in Lexington restricts newer lot size and development, in order to protect the greenbelt and horse farms which make the beautiful Bluegrass Region famous.
If you are willing to live outside of Lexington, in one of the smaller towns which surround Lexington like a wheelrim, you may find what you seek in Georgetown, Versailles (pro. "Ver-SALES", Nicholasville, or Paris. There are other similar towns, but these four are the closest to Lexington.
Good luck with your search.
Great advice...if you are looking for a lot that large you will need to look into the older neighborhoods I would imagine...like
Chevy Chase and Ashland.
And you can usually get to Lexington in a half hour or less from Georgetown, Versailles, Nicholasville or Paris (Maybe even Wilmore, Winchester or Danville.)
Welcome to the Lexington forum here at City-data!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqTCR9VvAQ0
Lexington is a vibrant city (but not as big or fancy as Frisco area), but it is kind of rural and urban feeling all at the same time.
Thanks so much for the input! We looked into a couple of the surrounding towns, like Georgetown that offer larger lots, but they don't seem to have quite as good of schools all the way through from K-12. For example, the elementary schools may be scored high, but the junior highs and/or high schools are poor, or visa versa. Does anyone know of a solid school district all the way through K-12 that's just outside of Lexington that might offer larger lots? With 3 littles, I don't think private school will be an option for us.
We moved from the Bay Area about 1.5 years ago. The pace here is definitely slower and prices for most things are much lower. That said, you will be hard pressed to meet all your needs for your price inside New Circle Road. Once you get outside New Circle there are many horse farms and smaller towns. Prices drop considerably. Consider Jessamine County (just south of Lexington), Versailles (West), Georgetown (North) or Paris (Northeast) for houses with larger lots in your price range.
Traffic is manageable except around large events (basketball, football, etc) and the spoke roads during rush hour. As others have said, a 30 minute commute is pretty typical into Lexington. Do you have jobs lined up or know where work will be?
For schools, there are a variety of websites that rate and post reports about the public schools. As with most places they vary based on district, administration and individual teachers.
Your best bet is to connect via email with a few Realtors with your criteria (several post on these boards) and schedule a visit to see the various areas and homes.
-Mar
Quote:
Originally Posted by NewFrontier
We are in the process of researching if Lexington is the right place to relocate to with our three young children. Currently live in the San Francisco Bay Area and looking for a more peaceful place to really lay down roots. Through online searches, we keep coming across the following places that offer good schools: Ashland Park, Chevy Chase, Andover Hills, and Beaumont. I think our budget to purchase a home will be around $350K or lower.
Our big question is: Is it possible to live in an area that has large lots, maybe even .5-1 acres or more, but still has great schools? Potentially in the same districts as the ones I just mentioned? The neighborhoods we see online are beautiful, but we're wondering if we have the option to experience a bit more of a rural-type setting but still have awesome schools and community. Would also like to be within 30 minutes of downtown Lexington. Thanks for your input!
Very helpful, mar_kelp, thank you. Yes, we were noticing that going outside the belt may be what we need to do. Can't seem to find an outer town with consistently good schools though, including the ones you mentioned. Will keep looking and hook up with a realtor soon!
While Chevy Chase and Ashland Park are two of the most desirable neighborhoods in town, I can't suggest either for you based on all of your criteria.
Almost ALL the lots in these neighborhoods are between .17 and .21 acres. It would be hard to get a suitable sized lot for you. Most lots in these two neighborhoods are 50 feet wide and about 150 feet deep. A newer neighborhood in your price range might have a 60 feet wide and 120 feet deep lot, so the total size is about the same as newer construction neighborhoods. Chevy Chase and Ashland Park are older neighborhoods, build before garages were attached. I only bring that up because if you are wanting a large backyard, you will find a detached 1 or 2 car garage behind the houses.
Then there is price.....it is common to expect to pay around $200 per square foot in Ashland Park and Chevy Chase. I haven't seen much on the market in a long time under $350k unless it was a fixer upper, a tiny house, or on one of the worst lots.
So, what do you do if you want good schools, a .5 to 1 acre lot and have a $350k budget? I would look in Stonewall. Almost all the lots are .5 acres. It is in south Lexington. You can't really go wrong in south Lex if schools are important because you can usually get a good combination of elementary/middle/high schools. Stonewall was built in the 50s and 60s. It is mainly ranches and most houses have basements. It is one of the few places you can get a larger lot.
If you could do .25 acres, you would have more choices all over town. Keep in mind though that it would be the exception to find a house on a larger lot that was newer than about 1980. That was when it seems the lots started shrinking around Lexington.
If you don't mind an outdated house and being on the very edge of town, Westmoreland is a cool neighborhood with huge lots. Turning left in or out of the neighborhood can be difficult in rush hour, you will hear airplanes from our small airport, but you get a big lot and cool mid century houses.
While Chevy Chase and Ashland Park are two of the most desirable neighborhoods in town, I can't suggest either for you based on all of your criteria.
Almost ALL the lots in these neighborhoods are between .17 and .21 acres. It would be hard to get a suitable sized lot for you. Most lots in these two neighborhoods are 50 feet wide and about 150 feet deep. A newer neighborhood in your price range might have a 60 feet wide and 120 feet deep lot, so the total size is about the same as newer construction neighborhoods. Chevy Chase and Ashland Park are older neighborhoods, build before garages were attached. I only bring that up because if you are wanting a large backyard, you will find a detached 1 or 2 car garage behind the houses.
Then there is price.....it is common to expect to pay around $200 per square foot in Ashland Park and Chevy Chase. I haven't seen much on the market in a long time under $350k unless it was a fixer upper, a tiny house, or on one of the worst lots.
So, what do you do if you want good schools, a .5 to 1 acre lot and have a $350k budget? I would look in Stonewall. Almost all the lots are .5 acres. It is in south Lexington. You can't really go wrong in south Lex if schools are important because you can usually get a good combination of elementary/middle/high schools. Stonewall was built in the 50s and 60s. It is mainly ranches and most houses have basements. It is one of the few places you can get a larger lot.
If you could do .25 acres, you would have more choices all over town. Keep in mind though that it would be the exception to find a house on a larger lot that was newer than about 1980. That was when it seems the lots started shrinking around Lexington.
If you don't mind an outdated house and being on the very edge of town, Westmoreland is a cool neighborhood with huge lots. Turning left in or out of the neighborhood can be difficult in rush hour, you will hear airplanes from our small airport, but you get a big lot and cool mid century houses.
Stonewall is an excellent suggestion.
Many Westmoreland houses have been renovated and updated, but I expect the prices would be beyond the OP's budget. Lovely area, but with three young children, be prepared to spend a LOT of time in the car if you move there - it is not really on the edge of town, but it is in the country, off Versailles Road, with nothing else within walking distance. No sidewalks, either, as best I recall, so not great for walking (though all traffic is local, due to its cul-de-sac nature). But it is very pretty, with large lots, nice older but not old houses, and mature trees.
I have lived in the stonewall area since 1988 and would highly recommend it.
Stonewall is right by Rabbit Run and Palomar (just up a bit from Beaumont, which you have already checked out) The homes are older - but they have much larger yards. Great schools.
Last edited by Crazee Cat Lady; 01-29-2016 at 10:56 PM..
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