Owasso Neighborhoods...thoughts, tips suggestions?

[SXSW]

I'm looking into making the move back to Tulsa in a couple years and have been researching different areas.  I've been looking exclusively in midtown and east of downtown.  I have a feeling the area north of Cherry Street (the 'Pearl District') will be valuable in the next 5 years or so and that is a neighborhood I like.  I wouldn't want to live outside Tulsa but that's just me.  I also plan on commuting to work on bike so the suburbs wouldn't really work.

[OUGrad05]

quote:Originally posted by azbadpuppy

quote:Originally posted by OUGrad05

quote:Originally posted by naenae42day

You may consider Country Estates off of Garnett & 116th St N.  The neighborhood has exploded in recent years, and the property values have increased tremendously.  
Let us know what you decide.

I'll look into it, thank you!

Also, I think you guys should know we're not 100% against living in Tulsa proper, just in our looking it seems you overpay for higher crime and crumbling infrastructure.  But if anyone has suggestions for our budget and a minimum of 1800 sq feet I'd be happy to look into it.

Just keep in mind that if you work and do most of your going out in Tulsa you won't really be saving money moving to the burbs with the high price of energy which will only keep getting more expensive.

Plus, the hardest hit areas in the current housing slump appear to be the suburbs. Numerous articles have been written recently showing house prices falling, number of  foreclosures/abandoned properties rising, and gangs & crime proliferating the suburban neighborhoods around the country, as 'hoods closer to the central city core are faring much better. Eventually it will be the suburbs with the crumbling infrastructure as more and more people flee.

Finally, consider what your time is worth. Is it worth it to you to spend (at least) twice as much time in your car getting places, or would you rather be close to everything in the first place?

I'm sure at first glance a newer home in the burbs sounds great, but there's many factors to consider.

Yeah I agree we have considered all of those.  I talked to the wife this afternoon she's not totally opposed to Tulsa, Jenks or Broken Arrow.  But she grew up in Bville, her best friend and her family is still there.  So effectively doubling the drive by moving to the south metro isn't overly appealing to her.  She works in BA I work in downtown Tulsa so living anywhere in the metro would be ok from a drive perspective.  If I were a single guy I'd make a different decision, but I"m not and we plan to start having kids in the next few years as well.  

Do you know of any place in Tulsa that meets our criteria?

[OUGrad05]

We like this house but we dont know where that is...south hampton II housing edition???

http://www.laurieannkirkland.com/listing/66844026

[Composer]

I can tell you that Broken Arrow is a nice community and one that you would be proud to live in.  There are several options for places in your price range around Broken Arrow.  Plus, there are some retail developments going up that would further prevent you from having to drive all over tulsa to shop.

[bluelake]

I can sympathize with your wanting to be closer.  I live in Bartlesville right now and the commute and gas prices are keeping me from getting a job in Tulsa atm.  I'll be moving down there soon and thinking about Owasso, too.   One of my friends lived in Baily Ranch and liked it.

[azbadpuppy]

quote:Originally posted by OUGrad05

quote:Originally posted by azbadpuppy

quote:Originally posted by OUGrad05

quote:Originally posted by naenae42day

You may consider Country Estates off of Garnett & 116th St N.  The neighborhood has exploded in recent years, and the property values have increased tremendously.  
Let us know what you decide.

I'll look into it, thank you!

Also, I think you guys should know we're not 100% against living in Tulsa proper, just in our looking it seems you overpay for higher crime and crumbling infrastructure.  But if anyone has suggestions for our budget and a minimum of 1800 sq feet I'd be happy to look into it.

Just keep in mind that if you work and do most of your going out in Tulsa you won't really be saving money moving to the burbs with the high price of energy which will only keep getting more expensive.

Plus, the hardest hit areas in the current housing slump appear to be the suburbs. Numerous articles have been written recently showing house prices falling, number of  foreclosures/abandoned properties rising, and gangs & crime proliferating the suburban neighborhoods around the country, as 'hoods closer to the central city core are faring much better. Eventually it will be the suburbs with the crumbling infrastructure as more and more people flee.

Finally, consider what your time is worth. Is it worth it to you to spend (at least) twice as much time in your car getting places, or would you rather be close to everything in the first place?

I'm sure at first glance a newer home in the burbs sounds great, but there's many factors to consider.

Yeah I agree we have considered all of those.  I talked to the wife this afternoon she's not totally opposed to Tulsa, Jenks or Broken Arrow.  But she grew up in Bville, her best friend and her family is still there.  So effectively doubling the drive by moving to the south metro isn't overly appealing to her.  She works in BA I work in downtown Tulsa so living anywhere in the metro would be ok from a drive perspective.  If I were a single guy I'd make a different decision, but I"m not and we plan to start having kids in the next few years as well.  

Do you know of any place in Tulsa that meets our criteria?

Not new construction, but you might want to check out the Park Plaza neighborhood around 51st/Sheridan. Nice & established hood, houses around 2000-2400 ft, some in your price range.  

Also, Darlington Hills (south of 21st btwn Yale/Sheridan)is nice, as is the Patrick Henry neighborhood (41st-51st, btwn Harvard/Yale) all in your sq. foot/price requirements.

[OUGrad05]

quote:Originally posted by Composer

I can tell you that Broken Arrow is a nice community and one that you would be proud to live in.  There are several options for places in your price range around Broken Arrow.  Plus, there are some retail developments going up that would further prevent you from having to drive all over tulsa to shop.

Yeah two of the editions we're looking at in Owasso are close to food/shopping etc.  

I like Broken Arrow a lot and there's plenty of selection in our price range and home prices in BA have actually been falling in recent months wehre in Owasso they're up or at best, flat.  The wife said she prefers Owasso but again isn't totally opposed to something else, but we'd have to save enough on the house to justify it.  Which actually seems likely in BA.

[OUGrad05]

quote:Originally posted by azbadpuppy

quote:Originally posted by OUGrad05

quote:Originally posted by azbadpuppy

quote:Originally posted by OUGrad05

quote:Originally posted by naenae42day

You may consider Country Estates off of Garnett & 116th St N.  The neighborhood has exploded in recent years, and the property values have increased tremendously.  
Let us know what you decide.

I'll look into it, thank you!

Also, I think you guys should know we're not 100% against living in Tulsa proper, just in our looking it seems you overpay for higher crime and crumbling infrastructure.  But if anyone has suggestions for our budget and a minimum of 1800 sq feet I'd be happy to look into it.

Just keep in mind that if you work and do most of your going out in Tulsa you won't really be saving money moving to the burbs with the high price of energy which will only keep getting more expensive.

Plus, the hardest hit areas in the current housing slump appear to be the suburbs. Numerous articles have been written recently showing house prices falling, number of  foreclosures/abandoned properties rising, and gangs & crime proliferating the suburban neighborhoods around the country, as 'hoods closer to the central city core are faring much better. Eventually it will be the suburbs with the crumbling infrastructure as more and more people flee.

Finally, consider what your time is worth. Is it worth it to you to spend (at least) twice as much time in your car getting places, or would you rather be close to everything in the first place?

I'm sure at first glance a newer home in the burbs sounds great, but there's many factors to consider.

Yeah I agree we have considered all of those.  I talked to the wife this afternoon she's not totally opposed to Tulsa, Jenks or Broken Arrow.  But she grew up in Bville, her best friend and her family is still there.  So effectively doubling the drive by moving to the south metro isn't overly appealing to her.  She works in BA I work in downtown Tulsa so living anywhere in the metro would be ok from a drive perspective.  If I were a single guy I'd make a different decision, but I"m not and we plan to start having kids in the next few years as well.  

Do you know of any place in Tulsa that meets our criteria?

Not new construction, but you might want to check out the Park Plaza neighborhood around 51st/Sheridan. Nice & established hood, houses around 2000-2400 ft, some in your price range.  

Also, Darlington Hills (south of 21st btwn Yale/Sheridan)is nice, as is the Patrick Henry neighborhood (41st-51st, btwn Harvard/Yale) all in your sq. foot/price requirements.

THanks for the tip.

[azbadpuppy]

quote:Originally posted by OUGrad05

We like this house but we dont know where that is...south hampton II housing edition???

http://www.laurieannkirkland.com/listing/66844026

That's out at E 71st & Garnett. Union schools, a bit south and east, but not a bad location for you guys since the freeway is right there.

[OUGrad05]

quote:Originally posted by azbadpuppy

quote:Originally posted by OUGrad05

We like this house but we dont know where that is...south hampton II housing edition???

http://www.laurieannkirkland.com/listing/66844026

That's out at E 71st & Garnett. Union schools, a bit south and east, but not a bad location for you guys since the freeway is right there.

How is the rest of the area?  71st is a traffic nightmare on weekends but other than that?  Is it pretty nice?  Do I have to worry about a bunch of lowlifes taking over the neighborhood?

Also someone mentioned new construction...new construction is NOT a priorty just a nice bonus.  If the house is well maintained in a good area surrounded by good homes I dont care if its 1 day old or 2 decades old or even more.

[azbadpuppy]

quote:Originally posted by OUGrad05

quote:Originally posted by azbadpuppy

quote:Originally posted by OUGrad05

We like this house but we dont know where that is...south hampton II housing edition???

http://www.laurieannkirkland.com/listing/66844026

That's out at E 71st & Garnett. Union schools, a bit south and east, but not a bad location for you guys since the freeway is right there.

How is the rest of the area?  71st is a traffic nightmare on weekends but other than that?  Is it pretty nice?  Do I have to worry about a bunch of lowlifes taking over the neighborhood?

Also someone mentioned new construction...new construction is NOT a priorty just a nice bonus.  If the house is well maintained in a good area surrounded by good homes I dont care if its 1 day old or 2 decades old or even more.

Well, its convenient for shopping obviously, and the freeway will get you around easily. Its Union schools which is considered to be good. I don't know that specific subdivision personally but it looks nice.

[godboko71]

quote:Originally posted by OUGrad05

We like this house but we dont know where that is...south hampton II housing edition???

http://www.laurieannkirkland.com/listing/66844026

http://www.hamptonsouth.com/

The Hampton South Homeowners Association for Hampton South & II

[OUGrad05]

quote:Originally posted by godboko71

quote:Originally posted by OUGrad05

We like this house but we dont know where that is...south hampton II housing edition???

http://www.laurieannkirkland.com/listing/66844026

http://www.hamptonsouth.com/

The Hampton South Homeowners Association for Hampton South & II

Thanks for the link.

Is a HOA something to worry about?  Seems like they either do a really good job or simply take your money with no real benefit.  There's been homes we've looked with and without an HOA...should that be even a minor consideration?  or a major consideration?

[azbadpuppy]

quote:Originally posted by OUGrad05

quote:Originally posted by godboko71

quote:Originally posted by OUGrad05

We like this house but we dont know where that is...south hampton II housing edition???

http://www.laurieannkirkland.com/listing/66844026

http://www.hamptonsouth.com/

The Hampton South Homeowners Association for Hampton South & II

Thanks for the link.

Is a HOA something to worry about?  Seems like they either do a really good job or simply take your money with no real benefit.  There's been homes we've looked with and without an HOA...should that be even a minor consideration?  or a major consideration?

It depends on what you want. Do you want to be told what color to paint your shutters- your neighbor's shutters? What kind of control freak are you?

Honestly it only matters on how much your neighbor's properties matter to you. How cookie cutter do you want it? How much control? Will it bother you if your neighbor's house is slightly off from your own idea of perfection? That is what these neighborhoods are all about.

[cannon_fodder]

K, clearly your idea of living is different from mine.  Not that I have anything against Owasso, but my time is far more valuable to me to consider your current commute.  Even the Owasso commute you are contemplating has significant costs.

Consider, from Owasso it is about a 30 minute drive to Downtown Tulsa covering 40 some miles each day.  In a month that is 20 hours and nearly 1200 miles of driving.  Lets pretend your free/work time is worth $35 an hour and your drive costs are in line with the IRS (50.5 cents per mile cost guideline, generally considered low at the moment) - that's over $1000 a month in commuting expense.

If you lived in the Brookeside area, which you indicated you liked but thought was too expensive, your commute would be 3 miles and 10 minutes.  Saving you over 1000 miles of driving and 14 hours of time per month.  Certainly the extra $1000 a month could displace any added cost associated with living in the area.

Have you ever considered how much it is costing you in both finances and TIME to commute that far?
- - -

Per crime, the only crime I have experienced in my 5 years in Tulsa has been on my commute home.  So you wouldn't be exempt from that anyway.  Nothing against Owasso, but take into consideration the rising expense of living far apart from where you work - even if relative to your current situation it is an improvement.

/not a hippy either.