Relocating from middle of nowhere to St. Paul (Minneapolis, Edina: for sale, real estate)

[Transplants]

Hello,

My wife and I will be relocating from the middle of nowhere (12 hrs north of Seattle) to the Twin Cities in August. Where to live - I’d like to bounce a few questions off you good people. The advice may help us interact a little more intelligently with a realtor when we obtain one.

1. Location. I will be working at UMN on the St. Paul campus. My wife will probably be working there as well vs. the other campus (90/10 chance). We’d like a short commute (<20 min by car, public transit options, bikeable in the summer). Easy access to MSP airport a bonus.

2. Ideal home: 4 bed, 2 bath, 2 car garage, post WWII construction, backyard for kids, suburbia is fine. Not worried about price, just seeking information/advice at this point.

3. Stellar school districts. We have two kids who are in their early elementary school years.

4. Best time to plan a house-hunting trip for relocation at beginning of August? (Yes, I will ask realtor this too…).

We heard a number of ‘burbs tossed out during the interview process: Roseville (have perused recent thread), New Brighton, Arden Hills, Shorewood to the north of campus, also Mendota Heights to the south.

Your thoughts on any/all of the above are most welcome.

Thanks in advance!
William

[Isaysos]

I would say Roseville or Arden Hills if you prefer the burbs. There are many great neighborhoods right in the campus area in St. Paul (which I would prefer over Roseville any day).
Check out the nighborhoods around St. Thomas, St. Kates, and Concordia. Although not post WWII I think you would be pleasently supprised.

I hope you are prepared for the Minnesota Winters, they can bite!

[Globe199]

Roseville is nice and close to the St Paul campus; finding a 4/2 is a little harder, and you'll typically pay more for it. Edina Realty lists 27 houses of 4+/2+:

http://www.edinarealty.com/Public/Li...Letter=&Sort=6

Shoreview probably has more houses of that type.

[chilaili]

Definitely nice areas to live in but are they bikeable? Highland is bikeable and definitely has post-WW2 construction (Listing Search Form - Search for Real Estate Properties).

[uptown_urbanist]

I think even some parts of St. Anthony Park (the neighborhood in St. Paul, right by the St. Paul campus) has some post-WWII homes mixed in, and it fits the bill for everything else. Falcon Heights, too (its own city), which is adjacent to campus. Its part of the Roseville District, although has its own Falcon Heights elementary school (no idea how good it is, but am assuming it's decent)

[MN55]

If you are gonna go suburbs, Roseville and Shoreview are your best bets. Also be sure to look at the St. Paul neighborhoods too. I'd avoid the southern suburbs though as the commute to the U would be a pain.

[Cruz Azul Guy]

According to the MLS, nearby areas where you can find 4+ bdrm, 2+ bath, 2+ car garage post WWII homes are in Roseville, Arden Hills, Columbia Heights, NE Minneapolis, Shoreview, Highland Park - St. Paul, Fridley and New Brighton.

I found a few homes for sale that meet those requirements and are very close to St. Paul campus...so you should definitely check these homes out....

1998 Garden Ave - Falcon Heights - $414,900
5 bed, 3 bath, 2854 sq ft, built in 1983

2173 Folwell Ave - Falcon Heights - $519,900
4 bed, 4 bath, 3184 sq ft, built in 1968

2408 Carter Ave - St. Paul (St. Anthony/Midway) - $230,000
4 bed, 2 bath, 1850 sq ft, built in 1953

2105 S Rosewood Lane - Roseville - $279,900
4 bed, 3 bath, 2441 sq ft, built in 1955

2223 Marion Rd - Roseville, $339,900
4 bed, 4 bath, 2814 sq ft, built in 1953

[golfgal]

Mendota Heights would be a great option if you want houses from that era and excellent schools. The commute to the St. Paul Campus of the U from there is simple.

[Globe199]

I'd tend to disagree with the Mendota option in terms of commute. There are no freeways south thru St Paul. It can be very difficult and very slow driving thru this area. You'll end up taking I-35E to Ayd Mill Road (which itself is not free of stoplights), but once you get to Selby and then along Snelling crossing I-94, it's just stoplight city. I believe there are ten stoplights between Selby and the Fairgrounds. I once heard that the Snelling/University intersection is the busiest at-grade junction in Minnesota.

[Transplants]

Hey, thanks everybody! Great info. Isaysos, given our current location we are coming south to keep warm in MN winters. Ha.

I'd like to see a little more discussion on commute from Mendota Heights as it looks like a nice area (on my 2D computer screen) and the schools are rated very highly. Golfgal, did you have an alternate route in mind for 'simple commute' given comments from MN55 and Globe199? Looks to be about 10 miles... this would be quite bikeable if there are bike trails / bike lanes in the area. Thoughts?

Also, best time for house hunting trip for relocation beginning of August... end of April? Beginning of May?