OT - Anyone from MN out there?

[katied]

My job is asking me to consider a transfer to Minneapolis!!! I've never lived anywhere outside of Chicago before, but was wondering if there is anything people can tell me about housing and day care?

My two main questions are what would it cost to buy a house in a decent neighborhood (and what are decent neighborhoods - DH would prefer larger lot size 1/2 acre min and wooded areas are a plus) and second, any good daycares in the area someone would recommend?

I need to figure out if it makes financial sense, but also, in the poor economy, am happy to have a job and reluctant to say no.

Anyone who lives in the area and has info, it would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks.

 

[CapnJacksGirl]

Are you looking to live IN the city or just in the Minneapolis area? We live in one of the Northwest suburbs and love the area and our day care. There are a lot of great places to live here. Can you give me anymore info about where you want to be?

 

[katied]

I'm not a city person, so I'd prefer to live outside the city. My job would be downtown (by the Target Center, I think) so I'd be commuting in. My commute now is about 1 hr, so I'd like to keep it at 1 hr or less of a commute.

Otherwise, we'd like to live in an area with families, shopping near by, and decent resturants (not super fancy, but something other than just the chains) in the area. Schools are not a big deal for us now (DS is only 18 months, which is why we'd need daycare). If we're still there when he's school age, we would plan for private school anyway.

 

[CapnJacksGirl]

Wow, if you're used to an hour commute, you're going to be fine here! We live in Coon Rapids (horrible name, but nice area) and we really like it. Everything we might need is within a very short drive and our day care is awesome. If you end up in the North metro, let me know and I'll send you her info! I can't really think of any "larger" lots close to where we live. I would recommend looking in Ramsey (a lot of new growth so you might find a larger lot there), maybe Blaine, or the Plymouth/Maple Grove area. The P/MG area is going to be spendier than where we live, but it is very very nice. We looked there when we bought our house four years ago, but we got more house in Coon Rapids for less money. $250K would get you a nice house in Coon Rapids or probably Ramsey, where you'll be in the $300-400K minimum range in Plymouth/Maple Grove unless you want to get an older house. I have friends that live in the South metro and that is a nice area as well but I don't know a whole lot about it. Prior Lake is really building up and while I haven't checked prices lately, I expect it's on the higher $ end. If you really want to shell out the $$, head to the West suburbs - Minnetonka, Mound, Orono.

If I think of anything else, I'll let you know!

 

[katied]

Thanks so much!! This give me some basic community info, which is what I need. We'd probably do not want to spend huge amounts ($350 or less would be ideal), and if we can't get a larger lot, we'll live. Our dog might be sad, but we hope it will only be for 5 yrs or less, and then we could get back to Chicago.

Thanks!!

 

[TwinsinCA]

My dad and BIL and his family live in Plymouth. Another BIL lives in Maple Grove. The farther west you go though, the better.

Like someone else said, Minnetonka is great. I spent my early childhood years there. Any city near Lake Minnetonka will be nice (Wayzata, Minnetonka, Excelsior, etc)

I also lived a little farther out in Victoria. My dad commuted to a hospital in downtown Minneapolis so it is a doable commute (or at least it used to be). Chanhassen isn't quite as far out, is just as nice, and has more shopping. That area has grown tremendously since I lived out there. Eden Prairie is also nice.

A good friend of mine lives in Savage. The Savage/Lakeville/Burnsville area is another area to consider. Anything outside the 494/694 loop will be a reasonable commute and you don't have to get that far beyond that to be in some really nice areas.

I have another friend who lives up in Lindstrom. THAT is out of the city a ways, but she commuted all the way into St. Louis Park for a while. Now she works in St. Paul.

As far as daycare, I never had kids when we lived there but I did work in daycare. New Horizon was a big chain. Kindercare and Especially for Children also both have several locations in the metro.

 

[Familycircus]

Welcome to Minnesota. You will find you will get more “bang for your buck” in the northern suburbs, especially if you are looking for a larger lot.
You can commute across the Twin Cities in an hour.

We live in Champlin and have ¼ acre lot. We are close to the Elm Creek Park Reserve and the county park trail system.

Some suburbs to consider would be Dayton, Ramsey, Andover, Elk River, Otsego, Monticello, & Rogers. As someone previously mentioned, Plymouth & Maple Grove are a bit more spendy as far as housing. With the Northstar Commuter Rail being finished end on 2009, you could probably look as far as Big Lake. The Northstar will run between Big Lake and Downtown Mpls ending right behind the Target Center.

As far as daycares, my wife worked for Especially for Children and is now returning as a sub. They have a number of locations around the Twin Cities. We have used a Christian daycare in a church and my wife also subs there. When we were looking for daycares ourselves, I discovered Tutor Time. I was very impressed with their facility, security, curriculum, and computer lab.

Feel free to PM me.

 

[crisi]

Or Eastern 'burbs for bang for your buck - plus there are still larger peices of property in areas like Mendota Heights or Stillwater (often with older homes on them).