Help this Okie with Amarillo! (for sale, rentals, crime)

[n8tiv_okie]

Just checking to see if anyone has any knowledge of Amarillo. I posted over on the Texas side in hopes of getting answers about where to live, etc.
I am going after a position in Amarillo and it's not a permanent position, 2 years maximum so I've yet to decide if I get the position, whether to rent or purchase and WHERE!
Seems prices in Amarillo are pretty low right now, so I'm leaning towards purchasing something, that way I can eventually rent it or lease it when I leave town.
Any ideas? Suggestions?

[_redbird_]

Amarillo is great. I lived in Canyon for a short period. It has a lot of nice neighborhoods and it will be pretty much obvious when you visit where to not rent.

My opinion is you will simply have to visit. And since it is only 2-3 hours west of OKC, you can go exploring pretty easy. Get used to really flat country. It makes our western OK look hilly by comparison. I had a lot of fun there.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff275/redbird4848/100_9580.jpg (broken link)

[n8tiv_okie]

Originally Posted by _redbird_

Amarillo is great. I lived in Canyon for a short period. It has a lot of nice neighborhoods and it will be pretty much obvious when you visit where to not rent.

My opinion is you will simply have to visit. And since it is only 2-3 hours west of OKC, you can go exploring pretty easy. Get used to really flat country. It makes our western OK look hilly by comparison. I had a lot of fun there.

Well I probably won't explore it much unless they offer the position to me. But it's a good suggestion, thank you.
I've been looking online at rentals, homes for sale, etc I guess I'd just prefer something rural and I can not worry about the neighbors. hahahah

[nomad57]

Hello N8tiv, - I grew up in Amarillo, haven't been there for about 8 years but likely it's much the same. Post here what kind of neighborhood/housing you like and I can tell ya what I know. West side is more suburbia, near college is older houses with character, outside of town are places near water(big plus during summer). There's much I liked about the place, but isolation was an issue for me, - one has to drive near 8 hours in any direction to hit a town of equal or greater size. Current population = around 173,627. Upside is the place produces some genuine characters, like Amarillo Slim, Stanley Marsh(his Toad Hall Gang and Ant Farm crew that erected the Cadillac Ranch).

[_redbird_]

Originally Posted by n8tiv_okie

Well I probably won't explore it much unless they offer the position to me. But it's a good suggestion, thank you.
I've been looking online at rentals, homes for sale, etc I guess I'd just prefer something rural and I can not worry about the neighbors. hahahah

Actually, you will still have to worry about the neighbors. Except in rural Amarillo, your neighbor might be a feed lot.

<<smelly>>

[GayleTX]

There is very little rural housing or property for sale or rent in the Panhandle...mostly ranch land and those owners (3rd, 4th generation) don't give it up easily.


You might like to live in one of the small towns near Amarillo, though.....we lived in Panhandle for 5 years and loved it....it's the most progressive, modern little town in the Panhandle, some money and nice homes and good schools there because it's near the Pantex facility and many of the workers from there live in Panhandle (and they make good money). Canyon is almost part of Amarillo and is a nice little college town.

Amarillo itself is a nice place to live on the west, southwest and northwest part of town....don't even think of living on the east or northeast sections - that's where 90% of the crime takes place....the rest of the town is virtually crime-free. It is on flat ground but just south of town is Palo Duro Canyon which is second in size only to the Grand Canyon and up toward Borger there are many hills....all cattle and oil country....much of it is the 6666 Ranch which you may have studied about in history (well, maybe not in Oklahoma) or have seen in the Old West movies...lots of antelope bouncing around.

It can be cold and windy in the winter, usually a couple of really good snows, but the sun shines most of the time. In the summer it's pretty hot and windy but the evenings get cool because of the elevation and you see lots of people out walking, biking. They know how to keep the roads cleared in the winters and it's not a bad place to live at all.

[cobolt]

I lived in Amarillo for 13 years and moved away 4 years ago for a job opportunity. Let's just say I'm trying to get back to the Texas Panhandle, either Amarillo or Lubbock. I loved it there. PM me if you have specific questions.

[Synopsis]

I could be very happy in Amarillo. Low humidity and Palo Duro Canyon is a hop, skip, and jump away.

[Merlander]

I've heard some of the neighborhoods betw. Soncy and Coulter, south of I-40 are pretty nice. But like nomad said, it depends what you're looking for.

I 3rd the plug for PaloDuro, couldn't believe it was actually there the first time I saw it. Great pic Synopsis.