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Thanks, Dan. Of course buying a house would make more sense financially in the long run. But we would be coming on a fixed-time contract and wouldn't want to buy something and then be stuck trying to sell it a year later. We have zero ties to the area and do not know a soul for states around, so it's sort of an all or nothing situation--either we stay a year and never come back, or we fall in love and live there for the rest of our lives. Not a situation where buying a house makes any sense at all.
So...am I reading it right that the schools have an orchestra program?
Yes correct...both high schools Central and Red River have orchestras and a new performing arts addition.
I dont know specifics about it....not having any kids at the school....but I do know both schools have great music/fine arts programs. I would assume middle schools as well..... I know over the summer there is SPA (Students Performing Arts) program for the community sponosored by the school district and it does great things.
Gotcha on the housing.... might want to also check Times Square townhomes....it is an all rental place....but quite nice and in a very good location. It is managed by Hampton Corp.
Not much info on this site but it gives any availability or contact info. Hampton manages several other apartment complexes in the south end....but Times square is unique with 2-3 BR and garages ---with I think 4 units per entire building. Picture is on website when you first go to it. Rentals 1400-1600 I think.
Thanks, Dan. Of course buying a house would make more sense financially in the long run. But we would be coming on a fixed-time contract and wouldn't want to buy something and then be stuck trying to sell it a year later. We have zero ties to the area and do not know a soul for states around, so it's sort of an all or nothing situation--either we stay a year and never come back, or we fall in love and live there for the rest of our lives. Not a situation where buying a house makes any sense at all.
So...am I reading it right that the schools have an orchestra program?
May I ask where you are moving from? you said a northern climate so it will make transitioning easier weatherwise. That is usually someone's first issue. We dont get tons of snow....but what we get is often dry and blows around a lot....Some snows early and late season are wet...but most of the winter is spent below freezing (sometimes well below) so melting mid Dec-early March can be minimal.
We're currently close to Yellowstone and get 69" of snow per year. It gets as low as -20, but only for a couple days--usually winter is more in the single digits. The wind is ALWAYS blowing where we are. Looks like ND is a bit colder, but it wouldn't be like moving from Texas or anything. A couple years ago there were still spots at higher elevations within city limits where the snow didn't melt until mid-June (not this year, thank goodness!).
If we get to the point of buying a house sometime in the future, here's a question: is GF an area where houses have basements? We've lived in many parts of the country, and notice that some places do and some don't (and it doesn't always have to do with things like water tables).
We're currently close to Yellowstone and get 69" of snow per year. It gets as low as -20, but only for a couple days--usually winter is more in the single digits. The wind is ALWAYS blowing where we are. Looks like ND is a bit colder, but it wouldn't be like moving from Texas or anything. A couple years ago there were still spots at higher elevations within city limits where the snow didn't melt until mid-June (not this year, thank goodness!).
If we get to the point of buying a house sometime in the future, here's a question: is GF an area where houses have basements? We've lived in many parts of the country, and notice that some places do and some don't (and it doesn't always have to do with things like water tables).
Most homes in GF area are split levels....bottom half about 4 feet into the ground....with windows on the ground level...then the upper level. There are many ranches as well.....and here a ranch almost always means with a basement. We have a ranch with a basement. Most homes have sump pumps....with basement homes is is code to have them in any newer homes. The clay soil holds lots of moisture.
One more question (although there's not much choice in rental housing, it seems, because there's so little of it)--are there any parts of town where you would be uncomfortable having your young children or grandchildren living? Areas that just aren't safe for kids, whether it's too much traffic or prone to more crime?
One more question (although there's not much choice in rental housing, it seems, because there's so little of it)--are there any parts of town where you would be uncomfortable having your young children or grandchildren living? Areas that just aren't safe for kids, whether it's too much traffic or prone to more crime?
The only area I can really think of is within about 2 blocks of Washington St from about 17th Ave S north to Gateway. Sidewalks along this part of Washington are the old style and right along the road and the traffic can be very busy. Areas about a block either side of Washington do tend to be a bit more rundown (though not as compared to major cities) and housing stock and apartment stock quite a bit older and geared toward the cheaper end.
But as far as unsafe....I really dont know. Something can happen anywhere....but that area due to apartments, older housing stock has more people per block than more modern homes/apartments areas and thus may be more prone to issues. Generally the north end has always had a black eye sort of (though in many areas such as Riverside very undeserved) as housing stock in generally from University Park east toward Washington and then east toward Downtown is older and thus keep up of houses/apartments varies from rough to quite nice.
Dan
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