Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Long story short, we are moving from the Midwest to SLC and we have been looking at homes under $400k, 4+ bed (with a large master and walk in closets), 2+ bath, 2+ car garage attached, medium-largish yard, GOOD elementary public schools and about 30 min commute to the University of Utah.
I have spend more hours than I can count online looking at all the homes that are for sale in the last couple of weeks. We started out by looking at areas closest to the University and quickly realized we cannot afford anything with our price range in the Avenues and directly west of the U. We then started going down South to Millcreek and the Holladay areas. We did find SOME homes that would meet the criteria but most of them are really old homes built in the 60s and 70s. What we found is that they look "very basic" from the outside, with little to no curb appeal and no renovations done on the outside but most of the homes in 300s and upper 300s range are updated on the inside. But just looking at the outside, they don't look that great - I am personally not a huge fan of the 60s,70s rambler/two story basic home look esp. when I am paying 400k for a house.
We then started going even further South into the Cottonwood Heights area and the homes started "looking" a tiny bit better but only if we went above our budget by at least 20-30 k. Again most of these homes (except of two homes I found built after 1995 and under $450k) were built in the 1960s, 1970s with insides mostly renovated and the outside looking a tiny bit better than the Holladay and Millcreek homes.
We were coming to terms with compromising on the "look" of the house on the outside, not as large bedrooms etc and most likely buying in the Cottonwood Heights area until I decided to look west of I-15 (which I had been avoiding because I had read somewhere that the schools and neigbhorhoods in that area are generally "bad). I quickly realized that South Jordan had a couple of good elementary schools and the homes in some neighborhoods (Daybreak) are pretty good. The homes are a lot newer and more "our style" in the look and feel. I realize that the commute to the University would be more closer to 35-40 min (or will it be more at rush hour?). But I also realized that even Bountiful and Centerville will probably be similar commute wise and some elementary schools in those areas seemed good too. Now my questions to all of you wise ones is:
1. Why are homes in Centerville, Bountiful cheaper? I thought the answer might be just because they are far away from the "city".
2. Why are homes in South Jordan (comparatively speaking) cheaper for newer homes? Is it because the neighborhoods themselves are "low income"?
3. If I was going to choose between the Centerville/Bountiful areas VS. South Jordan which one would you convince me to choose and why? We are non LDS, non-white, Indian family.
4. How would you compare Centerville, Bountiful, South Jordan areas to the Cottonwood Heights areas. Is South Jordan looked "down" upon by folks on the east side of I-15?
I haven't been here long enough to answer all of your questions and have actually never been out to Daybreak, but here are a few thoughts. Maybe one of the long-time Utahns on here will correct me if I get anything wrong.
1. Yes, I think it is less expensive because they are farther from the city.
2. Yes, again distance to the city. I don't think South Jordan, particularly Daybreak, is low income.
I looked at houses as far north as Layton and as far south as West Jordan and Murray. In Davis County, the farther north I looked the cheaper the housing became. I think the same trends holds true moving south and west from the city.
I had several people tell me while house hunting that Bountiful "is just different" and my LDS neighbors now (who lived in Bountiful a few years and left) have said the same and that it was wise of us not to move there. I was never given specifics about what "just different" meant, but I got the impression that is was in different in the same way as Provo/Utah County. However, I do have a lot of coworkers who live there and love it. And Davis County schools in general are rated very well.
3. Like I said, I haven't been to Daybreak or to far into South Jordan at all. One advantage it has is over Bountiful is that you could use Trax to commute to the universtiy, although it probably takes close to an hour. Hopefully someone else can provide you more info on this one and question 4.
Are you going to have a chance to visit before buying or is there a possibility of renting for a couple months to start? Before arriving I had the same mindset as you about wanting a newer house so I was looking to the north and southwest just as you are. After being here and looking at houses 2-3 times a week for over a month, I got a better feel for what areas I liked, focused my search there, and then found a house I liked. I did end up in one of those 70s era homes that has been remodeled inside and I love it despite it not being what I wanted when I started looking. You may not change your mind after being here, but if you can wait to see things a bit I definitely recommend it.
I'll just throw in my two-cents worth, as a lifelong (65-year) resident and a Mormon...
Ever since I was a child, there has always been a kind of an eastside versus westside mentality. Many on the east side sort of look down on those on the west side and many on the westside consider those on the east side to be snobs. There are certain westside neighbors where the bad reputation is warranted, but other westside neighbors are every bit as nice as those on the eastside. I don't personally think that distance from downtown has much to do with the difference in price. We're talking about a century-old stigma that is only slowly starting to change. You will simply get more house and land for your money on the west side than on the east. Personally, I'm an eastsider. I've lived on the eastside for all but about a year or so of my life. I like being close to the mountains. I like the feel of the eastside. But I have many, many friends on the westside.
Bountiful. My dad was raised in Bountiful and I have relatives there. One of my best friends also lives there. She wouldn't live anywhere else. I wouldn't live there myself for anything. There are some absolutely beautiful homes in Bountiful, but I've always been of the impression that it's essentially a mini-Provo/Orem. I just don't think it's the best choice for non-LDS people.
There are certain westside neighbors where the bad reputation is warranted, but other westside neighbors are every bit as nice as those on the eastside.
Not what I meant to say. I meant to say "neighborhoods" but said "neighbors" instead. I actually have one neighbor here in my eastside neighborhood that I would like nothing better than to ship her off to anywhere else in the world.
Thanks all. I decided that I would stay off the Home search today since I was really feeling un-productive doing that...
ksman - thanks for your detailed response. I think it will be an adjustment if I have to give up certain benefits of a "newer" home. It still bothers me slightly that most of those homes that are updated inside, look awful outside. Why are the owners not taking a bit more time to create a bit of curb appeal? I have no idea.......idk...and yes we are visiting next week and will stay the whole week of July 4th to look at homes. We are hoping to buy and only move once but we are going to keep our options open since I don't want to rush into a decision fast....
Katspur - Thanks for your insight on the east vs. west. I am familiar with what you are talking about because even the town we live in currently has that division...may be every town has that.....!
Thanks all. I decided that I would stay off the Home search today since I was really feeling un-productive doing that...
ksman - thanks for your detailed response. I think it will be an adjustment if I have to give up certain benefits of a "newer" home. It still bothers me slightly that most of those homes that are updated inside, look awful outside. Why are the owners not taking a bit more time to create a bit of curb appeal? I have no idea.......idk...and yes we are visiting next week and will stay the whole week of July 4th to look at homes. We are hoping to buy and only move once but we are going to keep our options open since I don't want to rush into a decision fast....
Katspur - Thanks for your insight on the east vs. west. I am familiar with what you are talking about because even the town we live in currently has that division...may be every town has that.....!
We've noticed the same. it's pretty clear that exterior aesthetics are pretty much nowhere on anybody's priority list. It's fair to say that, with very exceptions, the whole Wasatch front is sorely lacking in any kind of architectural charm or appeal. You're not moving here:
Even the interior updates tend to be extremely formulaic, I think, until you start getting into the +$600k range. It's always the exact same granite counters, GE flat top range, travertine, engineered "hardwood" floors, silly basin sinks etc. It usually looks like it came straight from Home Depot (which it probably did), not the eye of a designer. But at least it's fresh if not inspiring.
But so it is. You just need to get over it and be happy about the good stuff, of which there is plenty!
Last edited by kletter1mann; 06-23-2014 at 06:18 AM..
Reason: clarification
Agree with you a 100% kletter1mann. Here in the town we are in right now, if an "old home" is updated so much on the inside, you can bet that they spent the consideralbe amount of time and money on the yard, the structure of the house etc. I just need to find the extra cash somewhere so I can update it a bit on the outside if we end up buying one of these homes.
1. Why are homes in Centerville, Bountiful cheaper? I thought the answer might be just because they are far away from the "city".
The biggest reason I'd probably not want to move back to Bountiful is the smell. You're right next to Mordor .. err.. the uh.. oil refineries. And any time the wind blows from the west the whole town smells like an industrial park and if you have a house with a view, it's a view of Mordor.. I mean.. the oil refineries. The city itself though is really nice. Centerville is a bit removed from this, but Centerville is not as visually appealing as Bountiful, at least not to me. And there's a Wal-Mart right in the downtown heart of Centerville. Ugh, Wal-Mart.
2. Why are homes in South Jordan (comparatively speaking) cheaper for newer homes? Is it because the neighborhoods themselves are "low income"?
Because South Jordan is far away, comparatively speaking. When I lived near Parleys (two miles south of U) I dated a girl in Daybreak and it was about a 35 minute drive, at 11 pm. If you're making that commute and you hit traffic, you're not going to be a happy person. Also, Daybreak does have a lot of less expensive townhomes and a lot of people who work middle-wage service jobs buy those. Overall though South Jordan is definitely not what most would consider low-income. The median household income for South Jordan is over 90k.
3. If I was going to choose between the Centerville/Bountiful areas VS. South Jordan which one would you convince me to choose and why? We are non LDS, non-white, Indian family.
If it were me and I was going to spend 400k on a house, I'd suck it up and buy an older home in Sugar House, I'd be happier there, but if you must choose between the two, Bountiful - because I grew up there ;-D, no, because it's a lot closer. The drive from South Jordan to the U really does suck. Also if you tend to wear more ethnic-traditional dress you're going to get stared at, a lot, in Bountiful, Centerville or South Jordan. You'll probably not get a second look in Salt Lake. It's considerably more accepting there.
4. How would you compare Centerville, Bountiful, South Jordan areas to the Cottonwood Heights areas. Is South Jordan looked "down" upon by folks on the east side of I-15?
I'd say they're very similar demographically. All will be predominantly middle-class white neighborhoods with a heavy religious influence and a lot of kids... As for what the people on the east side think, does it really matter if other people look "down" on the city that you live in? I mean really. Does it matter at all? I live in the "ghetto" according to the people east of I-15, but the reality is that I live in a nice neighborhood with an average household income of 70k, with people who are just being more modest with their money and living situation, but that's not for everyone. Everyone's different, eh?
I lived in Centerville for 7 years, just moved to North Davis at the beginning of the year.
First off, Centerville/Bountiful is NOT cheaper; they consistently have higher home values than nearly all Davis County (though Farmington/Kaysville/Fruit Heights) is at the top. Centerville especially is "Mayberry" with very low crime and is very family-oriented.
I agree that Bountiful is a prettier town; their downtown Main Street is just lovely and has recently had a lot of new investment put into it.
We pretty much never smelled the refineries in Centerville, and I don't remember smelling them in Bountiful either (East of I-15). You've really got to be closer to the refineries to get the stench.
Both are great communities that are actually really close to downtown SLC, which is convenient too.
Really the only places I'd tell people to stay away from are Foxboro and the other developments which butt up next to the industrial zones. Once upon a time all that area was planned as a great-big industrial zone but industry didn't grow like residential zones did and the good residential areas in South Davis have already been pretty much built-out so developers (with $$ in their eyes, of course) started building in the industrial areas.
IMHO, Foxboro is a future slum, as it's in a less desirable area right next to heavy industry and has lots of high density rental apartments/condos and government assistance units + cheaply constructed single family homes on postage stamp sized lots going in. Crime is already higher there than most of South Davis too, (though it's still much lower than most folks in the country are accustomed to.)
As for South Jordan, my wife and I both have lots of family living in that area (mostly Riverton/Herriman) and lived there as teenagers so we know it pretty well too. It's not a bad area to live in either... though I miss the open spaces and country vibe that used to be there when I was a kid. As for being cheaper... South Jordan is experiencing lots of growth so there is some competition to keep prices down. Again, the best lands have already been built up, so new construction is mostly further west on former "wasteland" that includes the county dump and large areas polluted by the Bingham mine over the last 100+ years. I guess you have to sign a disclaimer about potential mine pollution when you buy a house in Daybreak... not a good sign!
When it comes to race/mormons, both South Davis and Southwest Salt Lake County are pasty white "Mormon Taliban" territory. There isn't so much outright racism here but there is still a passive undercurrent and an unfortunate tendency to shun those who don't belong to the prevailing group.
All and all, I'd say South Jordan would likely be the best fit as it's getting more development and therefore changing more. That should hopefully lead to a bit more diversity than South Davis.
You may want to look further North in Davis county too; Layton/Clearfield/Syracuse/Clinton is just as far from Downtown SLC as Riverton/Herriman/South Jordan is and is quite a bit more diversified but still has low crime rates. There is also no heavy industry and less pollution (other than noise pollution from Hill AFB in some areas!)
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
!
