Good areas with new construction homes? (Provo, Orem: new home, neighborhoods, buy)

[Jay1981]

Hello again, all.

I made a thread about 2 weeks ago, mentioning a possible move to the area. Well, I was offered (and took) the job. I've relocated with my company in the past, and we have a great relo package, so none of that is a concern.

In my previous thread, Sugar House was the main reccommendstion, which seems like a good spot, but the homes seem older than I prefer. We're coming out of an early 1900's house, and would love something NEW. Also, the sugar house homes seem to have small, or no garages - which is big for me, as I have motorcycles to keep warm in the winter.

Friends of ours also recommended Murray, they lived I'm the area in the past.

Reading this forum, the areas to the west of the 15 seem to be less desirable than others, but thats where the newer, larger homes seem to be. Am I missing something?

Here is my first post for reference.

Thanks again, you guys rock!

Originally Posted by Jay1981

Hello All - Good morning.

It looks like my company will be relocating me to the SLC area in the next few months - from Northern NJ. I manage territories for a telecommunications company, so I would be traveling throughout the Provo/Orem/SLC/Ogden corridor on a weekly basis. I work primarily from home and retail and sometimes job sites, so "commute times" are something I'm used to. I would also need relatively easy access to SLC airport for travel.

Anywhere we should start looking? Freeway and airport access is a must, but we're younger professionals, no kids, so schools aren't a huge concern, but a more upbeat, but not crazy/loud area would be nice. Our current house was a "project", and I don't think we want to start another - so newer construction would be nice.... a kick in the right direction would be great, guys .... I've been to the area on business but know very little about residential areas. Thanks in advance!!

edit - budget wise, we're coming out of a (likely) 400-450k home currently, but looking at prices in the area, we'd like to bank some of our equity. 250-300k seems like it'll buy a nice setup in the area, but we're open to more if it makes sense.

[skibarbie]

There are lots of pocket's of new construction all over the Salt Lake Valley.
I am in East Millcreek, my house is 1959 construction, totally Mid Century modern and I could not love it anymore than I do.
Up the road are 2 brand new homes, they stick out like a stubbed toe but they are new.
I am guessing your company has already lined you up with a realtor?
Tell them what you want and which neighborhood you desire and they will find you "new".
I would not live in the Murray area W of I15 nor would I want to live in Murray period.
Gonna get some haters on that comment but the farther East you are, the nicer it is...

[Jay1981]

Thanks for the reply! We have a whole agency that does our relocations, and definitely will set us up with a realtor. I normally like to research before I'm on the ground tho.

Why not murray? Just curious - don't want to start a fight, someone mentioned it was a nice neighborhood.

Also - don't get me wrong, I love older homes, I've loved renovation ours (was built in 1907) - I just thought it would be nice to live in something new - newer homes have bigger rooms, more open, etc. the lack of garages in the older neighborhoods (or one car garages) are also a concern.

[eggalegga]

I like Murray....but I haven't lived there since 1991.

Most suburbs are full of families, and you stated you are young professionals. So you want new construction, that usually means, West Jordan, South Jordan, Herriman, Draper (all southwest of SLC). Sure there might be some areas of new construction throughout the valley that aren't the above mentioned towns, but the bulk is in the SW.

Being on the west side might be a benefit since you need access to the airport. Living near access to I-15, I-215, or Bangerter might be good so that you can get from Provo-Ogden for your job.

I would agree with skibarbie and have your realtor guide you. Once you narrow down your choices, post here and we might offer more specific feedback about livability of the area you chose. Maybe the realtor might suggest southern Davis County.

[CCSLC]

Just a note: many of the homes in Sugar House (and other "older" SLC areas) may have been built before 1920, but they've been gutted and completely remodeled---sometimes with interior walls removed to create the "open" feel and larger rooms you desire, as well as more modern electrical/plumbing/HVAC. (I put the walls back in my 1895 Victorian so it was authentic, but when I bought it the first floor was one big, arched living/dining/kitchen space... I kept the new a/c and electrical/plumbing ) So don't discount every option in Sugar House if you otherwise like the area.

The garage problem is a legitimate concern, but larger garages do exist. My neighbor has a three-car garage behind his 1910 bungalow.

[Jay1981]

Originally Posted by Zionide

Just a note: many of the homes in Sugar House (and other "older" SLC areas) may have been built before 1920, but they've been gutted and completely remodeled---sometimes with interior walls removed to create the "open" feel and larger rooms you desire, as well as more modern electrical/plumbing/HVAC. (I put the walls back in my 1895 Victorian so it was authentic, but when I bought it the first floor was one big, arched living/dining/kitchen space... I kept the new a/c and electrical/plumbing ) So don't discount every option in Sugar House if you otherwise like the area.

The garage problem is a legitimate concern, but larger garages do exist. My neighbor has a three-car garage behind his 1910 bungalow.

Thanks! Yeah, I don't mind older homes, as I've said, but the garage thing is concerning.

[lucy1965]

It's a pity we're not ready to go: we've got a garage, a covered RV pad and two parking spaces behind the house. But we aren't the only ones in our neighborhood with that, so don't give up hope!

[PossTXTransplant]

Murray is nice on the far eastern edges. Sugarhouse is nice for young professionals, somewhat artsy and hipsterish, but yeah definitely older, smaller homes and smaller lots. The problem is that young professionals and newer, larger homes is somewhat of a paradox. I think you will have to pick one or the other. West of I-15 is fine once you are out of SLC, so for example, West Jordan and Herriman are nice. I think it is very unlikely you will find a newer, larger home anywhere near Sugarhouse for the price range you mentioned.

[Jay1981]

Originally Posted by PossTXTransplant

Murray is nice on the far eastern edges. Sugarhouse is nice for young professionals, somewhat artsy and hipsterish, but yeah definitely older, smaller homes and smaller lots. The problem is that young professionals and newer, larger homes is somewhat of a paradox. I think you will have to pick one or the other. West of I-15 is fine once you are out of SLC, so for example, West Jordan and Herriman are nice. I think it is very unlikely you will find a newer, larger home anywhere near Sugarhouse for the price range you mentioned.

Thanks for the reply.

"somewhat artsy and hipsterish" doesn't describe us in the least - while we're young professionals, we're conservative, clean cut, etc. We do enjoy socializing, but we're on the preppier (? - maybe not the best word) side of things.

We're can afford more than mentioned, there just seems to be a good mix of things in the range i mentioned, so I may not see the need to spend more unless I find something spectacular.

[PossTXTransplant]

Not a lot of new construction and a bit pricey, but Cottonwoods, Holladay, and East Millcreek are all spectacular. For new construction, you might be interested in Davis County.