Chi-Town Wrote:

SMUTiger Wrote:I live in the unincorporated county east of Houston Levee. It is a nice quiet area. Traffic isn't bad, but then I am used to DC traffic and it is all relative. What you should really consider is schools. Local schools aren't great. If you will be sending your kids to private school, no worries. If not, then know your school districts. Germantown, Houston, Collierville, and White Station (in no particular order) are the best public high schools. If you can afford it, I would stay in those areas.

If you need help finding a realtor or closing attorney, let me know (as I work in those fields and can make recommendations).[/b]

What if you make bad recommendations?

I typically try not to. Suffice to say I know the "lay of the land" in Shelby County to tell you who not to go to. There is an awful lot of shoddy legal work being done in this county.

tigerengineer Wrote:

JTiger Wrote:

tigerengineer Wrote:If you have Lakeland questions let me know, I am the interim City Engineer so I know a fair amount of what is going on.

When will you guys get a city property tax?

The City leaders are publicly and privately adamant that it won't happen. The tipping point is if they ever had to supply their own municipal services (police and fire). If Shelby County ever made them do that, then there would be a property tax.

As more people move into town, they are wanting more services. There may come a time where the residents are willing to accept some level of a tax for services such as improved rec leagues.

But if additional services are never demanded, they won't have a property tax.

That was one of my concerns if I moved there, just too many unknowns right now so I went with and established community like Germantown.

We love our buyer's agent, Terry Roach http://homebuyersconsultants.com/contact/

He will find what you want, where you want it, at a price you can afford. He has helped us on 3 purchases. We didn't think we could afford C'ville, but we found an older home with the room we needed. We compared taxes, travel, utilities, etc. with staying in shelby vs miss. and fayette. It was wash, so we are in C'ville.
PM me if you want more info.
Welcome home!

SMUTiger Wrote:

Chi-Town Wrote:

SMUTiger Wrote:I live in the unincorporated county east of Houston Levee. It is a nice quiet area. Traffic isn't bad, but then I am used to DC traffic and it is all relative. What you should really consider is schools. Local schools aren't great. If you will be sending your kids to private school, no worries. If not, then know your school districts. Germantown, Houston, Collierville, and White Station (in no particular order) are the best public high schools. If you can afford it, I would stay in those areas.

If you need help finding a realtor or closing attorney, let me know (as I work in those fields and can make recommendations).[/b]

What if you make bad recommendations?

I typically try not to. Suffice to say I know the "lay of the land" in Shelby County to tell you who not to go to. There is an awful lot of shoddy legal work being done in this county.

I know....I was just yankin' yer chain....... ;-)

Thanks for the comments, we will be looking there this weekend/Monday-Tuesday.

There are smaller, older homes in G-town & C'Ville available in the mid-100m range...they get snapped up pretty quickly, though, but at least you get stable services and excellent police and fire protection.

Good Luck!

TTTGal Wrote:We love our buyer's agent, Terry Roach http://homebuyersconsultants.com/contact/

He will find what you want, where you want it, at a price you can afford. He has helped us on 3 purchases. We didn't think we could afford C'ville, but we found an older home with the room we needed. We compared taxes, travel, utilities, etc. with staying in shelby vs miss. and fayette. It was wash, so we are in C'ville.
PM me if you want more info.
Welcome home!

A few years ago twice laid all the taxes (income, porperty, tags) against each other and it was all a wash.

Just decide on what type of lifestyle you want and look at the things you are interested in. I personally would NOT take a house given to me out east...okay I would put it up for sale ;-). I do NOTHING out that way ever, except visit my parents. I live very close to where I work and play and buy gas on aveage ever 4 weeks.

Note: I get it why people live out East and the above was not targeted or directed toward surburbanites...I am simply not one of them

TigerChick Wrote:Note: I get it why people live out East and the above was not targeted or directed toward surburbanites...I am simply not one of them

That makes two of us, Chick!

tigergreen Wrote:

TigerChick Wrote:Note: I get it why people live out East and the above was not targeted or directed toward surburbanites...I am simply not one of them

That makes two of us, Chick!

That makes 3 of us! I drive around the city all day/everyday and no I am not a taxi cab driver but am in real estate. Basically it boils down to your budget and what kind of schools you want your kids to go to. If you want public and they are elementary age then probably Germantown or Collierville(there is a new school in Lakeland also) are your best bets although there are a few good elementary schools in the Memphis City Limits(but check the zones b/c I think they will be changing slightly soon-not 100% on that though). If they are older say middle to high school age then you basically have White Station in the city limits as almost your only alternative(throw in Ridgeway maybe) and then Collierville and Gemantown(think Houston high school and not Germantown High school though). Most private schools are pretty good and run from $5000/yr to $15,000/yr(i.e. St. Mary's, St. Agnes, Hutchison, MUS, St. Georges, Woodland, Christian Brothers). Another good possibility is some of the Catholic run elementary schools(Holy Rosary, St. Louis, St. Dominic) they provide a good value and a pretty good education. As far as where to live I am pretty biased as you can tell by my name-if not for my job I would never leave the loop-there is absolutely nothing east of I-40 of any interest to me. My personal opinion: other than Hernando and way out in the county I wouldn't bother going to DeSoto County unless property taxes just rub you the wrong way. But all of that being said welcome to town(or at least the area) and wherever you end make it your home and you will be happy.

EastMemphisTiger Wrote:

tigergreen Wrote:

TigerChick Wrote:Note: I get it why people live out East and the above was not targeted or directed toward surburbanites...I am simply not one of them

That makes two of us, Chick!

That makes 3 of us! I drive around the city all day/everyday and no I am not a taxi cab driver but am in real estate. Basically it boils down to your budget and what kind of schools you want your kids to go to. If you want public and they are elementary age then probably Germantown or Collierville(there is a new school in Lakeland also) are your best bets although there are a few good elementary schools in the Memphis City Limits(but check the zones b/c I think they will be changing slightly soon-not 100% on that though). If they are older say middle to high school age then you basically have White Station in the city limits as almost your only alternative(throw in Ridgeway maybe) and then Collierville and Gemantown(think Houston high school and not Germantown High school though). Most private schools are pretty good and run from $5000/yr to $15,000/yr(i.e. St. Mary's, St. Agnes, Hutchison, MUS, St. Georges, Woodland, Christian Brothers). Another good possibility is some of the Catholic run elementary schools(Holy Rosary, St. Louis, St. Dominic) they provide a good value and a pretty good education. As far as where to live I am pretty biased as you can tell by my name-if not for my job I would never leave the loop-there is absolutely nothing east of I-40 of any interest to me. My personal opinion: other than Hernando and way out in the county I wouldn't bother going to DeSoto County unless property taxes just rub you the wrong way. But all of that being said welcome to town(or at least the area) and wherever you end make it your home and you will be happy.

Good stuff, although the Germantown High School knock is a little dated with the new Southwind High School opening up next year, along with the International Baccalaureate Degree program kicking into gear this coming school year. ;-)

SMUTiger Wrote:There is an awful lot of shoddy legal work being done in this county.

Hot damn ! !! How can that be ??? :shhh:

You know...no you don't know! ;-) There's a reason that folks attempt to move "out east" as some of you have put it. I'd say, be clear, and let the ones moving here know. They will find out, sooner or later.

I don't live in Arlington...just "around" it. They have a great feeling of community, good school(s) (the biggest sr. high school in alllllll of 10-O-C). The kids here have a great feeling of belonging. Won many contests ,athletically, musically, scholastically. AND that's without a Senior class ! ! ! The first one comes up this coming school year. The teachers WANT to come here to "teach". It is a growing area. Values are good and increasing. It is just beyond Lakeland and has great access to freeway travel. I have come from around the area to U of M in 30-40 min. doing the speedlimit. Driving has never been a problem for me. Traffic and congestion has. We don't have either. (Sorry you midtowners) ;-) It's the only place remaining in Shelby County for good growth potential and good schools. Far removed from the argument of "Where's Johnny/Jane" going to school "This Year" ??? We've just concluded a bitter argument over that in GT/Coll./Southeast metro area.

Several on this forum have moved here. Give umbluegray a PM and ask him. Great place to be. Away from the city and room to roam/play/have fun. AND if you want to move "UP" there's lots of opportunity for that! !

Memphis ... take a look. The rest of the area ... take a look as well.

Be informed ! ! ;-)

Thanks for the great advice.

Right now, we are still looking at the same areas as I mentioned earlier. I still want to look at some of the homes around the UM area, especially White Station schools.