Young Family Relocating from Michigan (Southaven, Olive Branch: real estate, for rent, vehicle registration)

[jessicadezinski]

Hi everyone,

My husband has accepted a promotion in Memphis and we are looking for a safe neighborhood with good schools. We have a son going into Kindergarten, a preschool aged daughter and a baby due in the beginning of December. I've looked in Memphis and it's surrounding suburbs, but it has been suggested to us that we look into the Olive Branch area. I don't know much about it, but have heard that the cost of living is pretty low and the schools are very good. We want to rent a 3 bedroom home for the first year to be sure we're happy with where we live and would like to stick in the $850 (or less) price range. We're not fancy people and don't require a brand new home- just something in a safe, family friendly neighborhood that isn't ran down.

I've heard that registering vehcles are pretty expensive. We don't drive new cars and don't want to pay a ton of money for vehicle registration. I've also heard that if you work in TN and live in MS, your wages are taxed higher (I do know that there is no income tax in TN).

I would be very grateful if someone could give me some advice, tips, suggested areas to look in and churches to check out (we attend a "come as you are" type of church that has lots of young families like us and would love to find the same).

Thanks so much!

[poptones]

Olive Branch is a pretty cool place. There's plenty of shopping, nice new homes and it's growing. It's just a few miles from Memphis, though Memphis itself is pretty big and if your job is in North Memphis it could be a pretty good commute.

Mississippi has state income tax, so obviously any income tax is greater than none. And car tags are pretty ridiculous in this state and when I lived in TN I paid like 17 bucks a year for tags so that could mean something too. Ultimately it's a decision whether it's worth it to pay a few hundred dollars more every year to live in a nice safe feeling suburb vs knowing you live in Memphis. Of course, that presumes you can find equivalent housing in Memphis for the same money as Olive Branch... and somehow, I doubt that.

[peppermint]

I lived in Arlington, Tn for a year and a half. That was 10 years ago. I really, really liked, but it wasn't cheap. I don't know anything about Olive Branch though.

[brickpatio]

Almost anywhere in DeSoto County is going to be safe and affordable. That includes Olive Branch, Southaven, and Hernando. A good, safe, and very affordable location would be pretty much anywhere just north of Goodman Road, between highway 78 and I-55. This area is at least 10 miles east to west. Pleasant Hill elementary is one of the best-rated schools in the state and is surrounded by very affordable subdivisions.

If you want a charming, small town atmosphere with a town square etc, you might want to consider Hernando. It's a few minutes further but has a nice mix of older and newer homes with a wondeful quality of life.

For a true small-town, country atmosphere with very good schools and a community college, the town of Senatobia in Tate County is about 30 miles south of Memphis.

[NorthMS Homes]

If you would like to look in Desoto County, primarily in the Olive Branch and Southaven area, just let me know. My real estate brokerage currently has about 200 homes for rent and I'd be glad to hook you up with a top notch associate to help guide you through the process of relocating to MS.