Where to build in Lake County? (Crown Point: for sale, real estate, to rent) - Northwest Indiana - Indiana (IN) - City-Data Forum

awesomeblossom · 12-17-2009, 07:05 PM

I grew up in the area and am moving back. My husband has a job where he must live in Lake County. We have decided we want our kids to attend Crown Point schools (Lake Central was too crowded when we graduated in the 90's) and we like the lack of traffic congestion in that area. Are there any desireable Crown Point subdivisions with no problems? We'd like to build. I like Whitehawk Estates and then found out the residents had to donate money to the golf course owner to keep him from building houses on the course. I like DoubleTree but am told that houses are sinking around the man made lake. Morningside is really expensive, but I was told not to even look there because it's too close to Stillwater and that's where the residents are sueing the developer for drainage problems. My childhood friend is in real estate, but I'm thinking her advice is coming straight from Oliver Stone. Everything is a conspiracy. She even said one subdivision is getting sued because the developer stole the whole subdivision layout from a subdivision in Florida? She tells me what's wrong with everything, but not a whole lot about what's right. We'd like to build and spend 400,000 to 500,000. We can go higher, but then we'd have to sell our house in Chicago. We'd like to rent it out until we can get a good return on it. I'd like to live in a neighborhood (Lake Hills is great, but it's in the wrong location), but I'm thinking we might have to buy a parcel of land somewhere and build. Any suggestions?

Chuckity · 12-17-2009, 10:17 PM

Honestly, there are so many great houses on the market (or will be after the 1st of the year) you're going to have the pick of the litter in your price range.

To be truthful, you'll get much more bang for your buck if you purchase pre-existing - even homes that were built in the last few years or so. The over $300K+ market is really slow in NWI ... you really shouldn't have any problem getting exactly what you want in your price range.

And I do believe the drainage issues over by Stillwater have been fixed - you should not have a problem at all with Morningside ... except when it comes to sticking to your budget. Homes in Morningside are well over $1,000,000+.

As for other subdivisions ...

You might try Feather Rock, Ellendale Farms and/or Schmidt Farms.

Good luck!

Capt. Dan · 12-18-2009, 08:53 AM

How far south of Crown Point is considered the Crown Point School district?

Chuckity · 12-18-2009, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt. Dan

How far south of Crown Point is considered the Crown Point School district?

If you give me an approximate area or subdivision, I'd probably be able to tell you the school district.

Capt. Dan · 12-18-2009, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuckity

If you give me an approximate area or subdivision, I'd probably be able to tell you the school district.

I was asking because the OP said she wanted to be in the CP schools. Maybe she can find something within the CP school district in the safer,southern part of the county instead of toward Merrilville.

awesomeblossom · 12-19-2009, 04:34 PM

To ask a stupid question, why will there be more houses for sale in the New Year? Does it have to do with taxes?

After living in old homes for most of our lives, we were REALLY wanting to build. After looking around, we're willing to give pre-existing homes a chance. It's hard though when you don't want to settle. I must say, I'm not that impressed by the subdivisions in Crown Point. Feather Rock is blah and I find the the businesses inside of it to be tacky, and Schmidt Farms seems cookie cutterish. I just saw Ellendale Farms for the first time and I do like parts of that, it's a good suggestion. I also just saw Buckhill Estates, which I liked. I'm just wondering why there are so many houses for sale in that little subdivision. Are people unhappy or is it just a sign of the times? Thanks so much for answering my questions!

Chuckity · 12-19-2009, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awesomeblossom

To ask a stupid question, why will there be more houses for sale in the New Year? Does it have to do with taxes?

After living in old homes for most of our lives, we were REALLY wanting to build. After looking around, we're willing to give pre-existing homes a chance. It's hard though when you don't want to settle. I must say, I'm not that impressed by the subdivisions in Crown Point. Feather Rock is blah and I find the the businesses inside of it to be tacky, and Schmidt Farms seems cookie cutterish. I just saw Ellendale Farms for the first time and I do like parts of that, it's a good suggestion. I also just saw Buckhill Estates, which I liked. I'm just wondering why there are so many houses for sale in that little subdivision. Are people unhappy or is it just a sign of the times? Thanks so much for answering my questions!

Because right now is typically a slow time of year for sales in general. Spring is typically our time for the market to start heating up but I'm predicting it will really start right after the 1st of the year so people can take advantage of the newly extended homebuyer's tax credit. To get the credit if you're eligible, you'd need to be under contract by 4.30. Personally, I have several listings that will have the sign in their yard on 1.4.10.

Building may not be the right choice right now for another reason - I'm truly doubtful of a new build appraising out.

I'm not familar with Buckhill ... but we have a lot of inventory overall in NWI - especially when it comes to homes over $300K.

aar2697 · 12-30-2009, 10:10 PM

Be careful who your kids hang around with in the Crown Point schools. And stay away from Lake Street, the kids there are huge snots. I never heard more "Yo Mama" or racist jokes in my life than from there. I haven't explored much of Crown Point other than the square and the subdivisions around it, but the houses around there are small but very nice.