Buying a house and where to live

[ram_man]

Hey everyone I wanted to spark a discussion. My wife and I are looking at buying a house we currently live in a small town near family the town has about 4500 people in it. The crime and drugs has gotten worse so we are moving. My ex wife and my name are on the house I am currently in and she wants to sell as well so to make life easier we are selling. I have saved some money and am paying cash for a house. We are trying to keep it around 50-60,000 which around here can by an average house . My question is where to live in a town or. Out of town? I know the pros of in town are closer to things , better internet and public sewer, water ect. Cons are people crime and drugs. Pros to outside City limits are more freedoms sometimes more room. Which do you prefer and why? Also if you were going to say re sell in ten years just a what if which would be a better investment in General.
We also found a really cute house in Leasburg Mo which has a population of 338 I guess that’s a technically a village it’s tiny and not much to do. I’m on the fence and would like input either way. Thank you all!

 

[JHZR2]

Crime and drugs in a town of 4500? Time to find a better town.

I'd say your price range may be the cause. I'm sure MO is cheaper than the coasts, but that's still not a lot of money. Good on you to want to pay cash for a house, but if there's one place to borrow money to get where/what you want, it's on a home. If your timeline is sell in 10 years, get a 10 year loan. Interest rates will be favorable...

There will be crime and drugs in any zip code or place you may ever try to live. The more affluent areas may do better at hiding it, but the more available money, the greater chance, and the greater target.

The difference is, outright dealing, gangs, guns, druggies, etc. I'd go walk outside right now in my town of 20000ish, and have such a negligible chance of anything ever happening that it's laughable. Yet I could go to another town (generally cities, smaller towns must be really lousy suburbs of a metro area that has lots of crime, or something else way wrong), and in an unknown neighborhood would never do the same.

My recommendation is to rent, learn where you want to be, then determine what it will take to live there. The better places will always be more expensive. You pay more for (arguably) better people, better police, better services.

There will always be better and worse places to be. Autonomy far out of town gives freedom but also has some downsides. Ditto for being in town. No place is without faults. But you can't just dive into such a decision without being well informed. That means knowing the nuances of neighborhoods, towns, areas, etc., and living accordingly.

Ive personally found the middle-higher affluence inner suburbs of a city to be a great place to grow up and to live. Stuff is close, you can walk, yet you can get away. Living close to work is another factor, and may be more critical in your decision than what is someone else's ideal.

 

[clinebarger]

Maybe change the state you live in? Complaining about crime & drugs with a population of 4500 tells me your unemployment rate is high. I live in a city of 850,000 right north of downtown & have few complaints.

 

[dishdude]

Use the $50k-$60k as a down payment on a house in a more economically vibrant area. Don't buy in an economically depressed area.

 

[Tony10s]

Money and affluence do not equate to better people, unless one thinks that materialism makes someone a better person. I've lost many friends and family in my life, and I would give every penny I have and everything I own to get even one of them back.

 

[Eosyn]

Originally Posted By: ram_man

We also found a really cute house in Leasburg Mo which has a population of 338 I guess that’s a technically a village it’s tiny and not much to do.


^^ That, right there, is what I prefer.

When I was young, I really enjoyed city life. Hanging at bars, clubs, etc. But as I got older & settled down (basically matured), I found country living, with less and further away neighbors, makes me happy. I enjoy a lot of empty land for my dogs and child to play and to work on my cars without neighbors complaining.

Yes, it's a further drive to markets and such, having well water stinks (literally) and not much to do, but it's a small price to pay for peace and quiet where the soul can rest and rejuvenate.


Originally Posted By: Tony10s
Money and affluence do not equate to better people, unless one thinks that materialism makes someone a better person. I've lost many friends and family in my life, and I would give every penny I have and everything I own to get even one of them back.


Tony, you're making me sad, here.

 

[DuckRyder]

One of the real estate websites will do a crime map, I think it is realtor.com.

I think the city/country thing is mostly personal preference, but my next house will be in the country and lack an HOA. Leasburg and a population of 338 sounds about perfect to me.

Only thing to consider from a resell point is, are there employers in the area, no jobs, it is hard to sell a house.

 

[MONKEYMAN]

I loved growing up in a town of 410 people south of St Louis. There were a lot of those small towns surrounding a larger town of 4,500. I did have to sell my Mom's house in one town in that area. Selling was more about timing. My concern would be jobs and driving. It was common for people to drive 60 to 70 miles to St Louis for a job when I grew up. Still happens today. I would hate that. I always hated driving, but did love being close to nature.



.

 

[Andrew1972]

If kids are in or coming into picture. Pick the best possible school system. The value, appreciation etc will follow school system and tend to be more pricey. My wife/I could be living in a brand new home in lesser school district but live in a 100 year old smaller home in top 5 school district for our kids. The value in town just keeps getter better and inventory low.

 

[Rolla07]

Originally Posted By: Tony10s
Money and affluence do not equate to better people, unless one thinks that materialism makes someone a better person. I've lost many friends and family in my life, and I would give every penny I have and everything I own to get even one of them back.


The reality is, is that people who can afford nicer homes and have more money typically have decent jobs and dont need to deal drugs to afford living. I notice significant differences when staying at an econo lodge vs a Mariott property. One attracts druggies and dealers and the other doesnt. Its not about materialism and saying wealth equates to better people but one sure does attract a more troubled crowd than the other. Its about deciding which group you would rather associate with. Personally, i wouldnt put a price on my sense of safety.

OP,

Sounds like a good idea to figure out what you want/need in life first. Starting with your age, if you are 20 or 30 or 40 or 50, this will make a difference in location. I live in a suburb with about 30,000 people, middle class area. 30 minutes to downtown Montreal. If you are of the age of considering children consider being within 30-45 mins from a good hospital, also if you are older. I have everything I need in my city and rarely the need to go downtown besides better hospitals and care for my kid if/when its needed. Find an area you love then do the research on the area to see if it meets your needs.

 

[SeaJay]

By me $50,000 will pay for one year's rent for a nice 2 or 3 bedroom apartment.

 

[Virtus_Probi]

I think it is well worth investigating exactly what your police and fire protection would be in Leasburg...are you relying on a country sheriff in such a small place? How far do the fire engines have to come in case the worst happens? I would imagine there are places remote enough that there is no practical fire protection.
I have always lived in a city or a suburb, so I have some romantic notions of what it would be like to be to live way out in the sticks, but know little about practical issues. A good friend of mine grew up on a farm outside a small town and loved the peace and quiet, but told me when we were younger that he was bored out of his mind most of the time. When we hung around at his place, we spent time wandering around his farm shooting at various things and driving around to various dirt lots off rural highways to meet his friends to drink. It was actually pretty fun for me, but I could see it getting old. But, he recently returned to his hometown from the suburbs of a major city because he was worried about crime and his kids growing up with drugs around.
I like the mix I have now, live in a suburb of a small city but we are at the edge of the developed part of town. I'm sure things will get more built up around us over time, but we have water and a big natural area that cannot be developed as buffers. We feel somewhat isolated and still have shopping and police/fire about ten minutes away, one downside is that we do hear traffic noise from a nearby major road at times.
My take is that a truly rural property is unlikely to be a great investment, but that's an uneducated opinion.

 

[Andrew1972]

Originally Posted By: SeaJay
By me $50,000 will pay for one year's rent for a nice 2 or 3 bedroom apartment.


However economic opportunity is likely X 100.

I could do my job anywhere in US with decent internet and wife has high demand job (Physical Therapist). The issue for us is our kids having a good life/education.

 

[IndyIan]

I like living in the country, but we also have almost no crime as well. If I needed gates, dogs, and cameras to keep people off my property I might think differently. In any case, I would keep your commute short, and try to buy in a nice area that's got something positive going for it. Smallest house in a nice area is a good way to stretch you dollars too.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Rolla07
Originally Posted By: Tony10s
Money and affluence do not equate to better people, unless one thinks that materialism makes someone a better person. I've lost many friends and family in my life, and I would give every penny I have and everything I own to get even one of them back.


The reality is, is that people who can afford nicer homes and have more money typically have decent jobs and dont need to deal drugs to afford living.
But you might still be affected by crime - thieves will find nicer areas attractive targets. I suppose you could live in a gated / secured community.

 

[ZZman]

Buying a house and location is such a personal thing. There are so many variables.
Do you like neighbors?
Do you like convience?
Do you like city utilities?
Like maintaining yard or not?
Etc.....
Best option is to buy the most house you can afford in the best area.

 

[Schmoe]

You want to know what kind of people are going to be in a new town you're thinking about. Go to the nearest, largest store in that area....Walmart or whatever....and then just hang out and look, watch and listen. That will give you pretty good mean of that town.

 

[Andrew1972]

Originally Posted By: Tony10s
Money and affluence do not equate to better people, unless one thinks that materialism makes someone a better person. I've lost many friends and family in my life, and I would give every penny I have and everything I own to get even one of them back.


At the micro level for sure you are dead on.

However macro level of an entire town/area affluent people tend to work, not commit violent crimes, or put up with crime. They move to a better town and leave the stress of the people bringing the town down. Typically criminal elements bringing down a place can't afford to live elsewhere or can thrive as well in non-crime area.

I lived next to a nut job in country who found shooting behind my property at 10pm at night a fun thing to do along with blowing up stuff. Thankfully his night time stuff did not happen during hours perspective buyers would show up.

 

[dlundblad]

Originally Posted By: Schmoe
You want to know what kind of people are going to be in a new town you're thinking about. Go to the nearest, largest store in that area....Walmart or whatever....and then just hang out and look, watch and listen. That will give you pretty good mean of that town.


Is this a joke?

 

[Donald]

You to figure out your requirements then decide area. Jobs, schools, kids, relatives, culture, taxes.