Where to look: Affordable Housing + Great Public Schools (mortgages, cheap, cost)

[riaelise]

Originally Posted by SouthernBelleInUtah

Texas

Not really, not anymore.

At least in the bigger cities.

Here in the Austin TX MSA, any SFH that's $200k or less likely tracks to poor schools, is old, and/or in not a desirable neighborhood.

[JONOV]

Minnesota, Iowa or Wisconsin. I'd look around Madison WI maybe.

[BoBromhal]

Originally Posted by Schmooky

Bingo. That’s our zone and I couldn’t be happier. Really good balance with slightly higher than average property taxes as the downside. But in these suburbs the value of the homes stable enough that it’s manageable even for retirees (our street is full of them). And the parks and schools are the reason for those taxes, and a huge draw that keeps these real estate markets hotter than the surrounding area even when the economy isn’t as strong.

Values flattened a bit during the recession in this area, but they didn’t dip in any substantial way. It’s just a really nice spot for the price and salaries go a long way.

It appears that in Centerville/Dayton, the property taxes are almost 2.5% of the value. Is that accurate? Seems high, but I guess if for an extra $1,500 - 2,000 per year you get an extraordinary school, it's worth it.

[TimtheGuy]

Originally Posted by JONOV

Minnesota, Iowa or Wisconsin. I'd look around Madison WI maybe.

^^^^this. You could add in the Dakotas.

[River City Rocky]

Originally Posted by riaelise

Not really, not anymore.

At least in the bigger cities.

Here in the Austin TX MSA, any SFH that's $200k or less likely tracks to poor schools, is old, and/or in not a desirable neighborhood.

That's Austin; San Antonio,the valley and El Paso are still pretty cheap.

[riaelise]

Originally Posted by River City Rocky

That's Austin; San Antonio,the valley and El Paso are still pretty cheap.

In San Antonio, the areas that track to good schools cost more than $200k. I'd only imagine it'd be the same for the other cities.

[River City Rocky]

Originally Posted by riaelise

In San Antonio, the areas that track to good schools cost more than $200k. I'd only imagine it'd be the same for the other cities.

No, that's misinformation.

[turf3]

There's this town called Unobtainia, in the state of Erewhon. Low housing costs and great schools.

[399083453]

Originally Posted by safak

I find this post odd, since most of the major cities in this thread have higher crime rates than Pittsburgh.

96% higher than the PA average in PA?
What a ridiculous comment. Any urban city is going to have that stat usually worse.

Want more proof its terrible? I've lived there. Its terrible.

[riaelise]

Originally Posted by River City Rocky

No, that's misinformation.

Actually it's not. A simple search on Realtor.com shows that there are few, if any, homes 200k or below that track to "good schools" (let alone "great") in San Antonio. I'm sure Valley wouldn't be that far off. And even if these places are cheap now, they won't be in ten years. Texas, unless we're talking about small towns here, isn't "land o' the cheap" when you also factor in property taxes.