Relocating to LR area...Time for a new thread!

[JenniferH]

I did a search and didn't find much, so I'm asking for info about relocating to LR.

*I will probably have to rent for a while until I can find something to buy, so I need to know where to look for a house to rent, not an apartment. I have pets....Need a fenced yard.

*Schools are important! My DD will be in 4th grade this year, but probably in 5th by the time we move. I'm trying not to move in the middle of the school year, but if I find a job, I won't be able to turn it down.

*Any other advice/caveats would be helpful.

Thanks!

[SimplyRochelle]

I don't have any advice but bumping it up may get you something. Welcome to the area! I live in Searcy which is about 45 miles north of LR.

[liberal_chick]

I'd have offered up my house if you'd asked 2 months ago! LOL

It really depends on where you work and how far you are willing to commute. After college, we rented a house in Cabot, which is about 20-30 miles north of LR. The schools there are fabulous, and the town is definately growing, but the commute can take over an hour between wrecks and the construction.

Sherwood is a nice area, about 15 miles closer (right outside North Little Rock), good schools.

I taught in the North Little Rock School District for 2.5 years and had no complaints about it. I thought the schools were good there, but they don't get as much federal funding b/c their test scores aren't top notch (don't get me started on how screwed up that was, and believe me when I say the test scores don't correlate to how good a job the teachers are doing).

If you are looking in LR or NLR to rent, it will depend on how much you are wanting to spend as to what area you end up in. In Little Rock, Chenal and the Heights are good areas (I loooove the Heights), but the rent is steep. In NLR, Lakewood is good. Maumelle is also good (their kids go to high school in NLR, but I think there is an elementary school there).

[TanyaS]

If you can't find something in LR, try Saline county. Benton and Bryant schools are fantastic, and the traffic is not as bad as Cabot and Maumelle.

[HappyHelpmate]

I don't know very much about the other areas surrounding LR, but I agree with TanyaS-- the Benton/Bryant area is close and traffic is manageable; schools are good. My husband and I are about to move there close to the beginning of the year.

[JenniferH]

I'm probably going to buy if the market keeps doing what it's doing now. I'm looking at the area around Maumelle.

I have a year (I hope) to plan and save and get my house rented out. If I find a sweet ass job and have to move sooner, I will have to rent a house or find a co-housing arrangement that allows pets and has a fenced yard.

Find a job from a distance is a pain, but I have no choice. I can go over for visits to the BF, and set up interviews if needed. It's a shame employers don't like to take long distance candidates more seriously. I'm a kick ass employee!

Although I doubt I will land a job with relocation, that would be a HUGE deal and help me out tremendously. I have so much on my plate right now, and the next year is going to be so stressful and busy.

If you are in LR and have any IRL friends who are looking for a co-housing arrangement, PLEASE spread the word.

[antibelle]

Little Rock neighborhoods

I have different tastes from some of the posters here, so I'll post my thoughts just for another perspective. I prefer a central "neighborhood-y" environment, and though I'm sure I could find cheaper rent in Benton, Bryant, Cabot, etc. I would be very adverse to living there. I grew up in Hot Springs (an artsy tourist enclave of Arkansas), and have lived on the west coast, in larger southern cities like Memphis. I've lived in the Little Rock neighborhoods of Stift Station (central city, south of Hillcrest, south of Markham, east of UAMS, and can be a little "rough" depending on the street - can also be super cute and familly friendlly), and downtown for 5 years (love it - walking and riding bikes everywhere, cons - very few backyards, and noisy city sounds), and most recently moved to a house in Hillcrest to set up a nursery! yay! Hillcrest and the Heights are very desireable neighborhoods real-estate wise. Hillcrest is more "hippy" but not really - less expensive and fewer brand new monstrosity mansions being built. Lots of nice older architecture, back yards, walking friendly, and beautiful woodsy Allsop park in the center. Pulaski Heights elementary and Jr. High has one of the best reputations in town as well. I got really lucky and rented a 4br 2ba house for $950 - north of Kavanaugh, therefore more status, not for any good reason - but because the real estate value around here seems to be the higher on the hill the better. The "Heights" being obviously the top dog. My brother lives in a rent house in the older part of the Heights - tiny 1940's houses around "Camack Village" - his rent is ok, but buying one of those teeny houses will put you back, but it's still probably worth it for the demand the area is in, and the school district's reputation.

So there's a detailed breakdown of central LR's most desireable neighborhoods. I also would look in the Quapaw Quarter - south of downtown, the restored victorian neighborhood - some higher crime rates, but reasonably safe, and new "green architecture" neighborhoods being built in a blasted out tornado zone. The Central High neighborhood, west of Q.Q. is being worked on, but is very rough in spots. However, the school is very high in demand. I also like the Fair Park neighborhood near UALR - again, some rough spots, but affordable and has a fantastic community garden. People are moving to west Little Rock like crazy - newer houses are cheaper at least, but commuter traffic is my worst nightmare, and white flight is my personal hell. If I was looking for some acreage I would consider Saline County and the west-and-south areas. North Little Rock has some nice areas too, but all I know about it is my friend got an awesome 1960's house on "Lake #2" that I would love to live in. Lakefront property 5 minutes from downtown? oh yeah.

hope that helps - oh, yeah, I'm co-housing with my best friend and her son. I know one mom that might be interested, but she's also a smoker. Feel free to contact me -

Erin

[JenniferH]

Thanks! I am looking at a house on Summit St., but I think the schools that service that neighborhood are questionable. I know there is a lot of rejuvination in that area, but I have to have a good school, or it's a no-go.

Hillcrest is just a TINY bit out of my price range. Renting an apartment in Maumelle (where my bf currently lives) may be our best option until she gets to middle school. I don't know. I'm still exploring all the options.

I would love to live in a funkly older neighborhood with great schools, but anything over $150K is out of the question. I don't make enough to support that kind of mortgage, nor would I get financed for it!

It might be something to shoot for in the future, but not right now.

Thanks again for your input.

[antibelle]

150 K in LR is doable

Yes, I would agree about Summit. I've had friends live on that street, but eh, not so much. Some friends also have a house on Wolfe street, just south of 12th nearby, and have buyer's regrets. We tried to tell them about the Wolfe Street Cryps in the 90's, but the baby was on the way and a sturdy brick house looked so good.

Another friend had a house on Izard, east of Chester, and I would reccommend looking more that direction, as there are still cheaper houses, but better street life. But for $150, you should be able to find something - Stift Station, Capitol View, east of the Blind + Deaf school - I'm not sure what school district you get into, if it's Woodruff, I've not heard great things about it. In downtown / quawpa quarter, if you can get into Rockefeller, I hear great things. I'm actually on the waiting list for child care there.

But none-the-less, if you have to drive from Maumelle, at least it's quiet and cozy out there. Quiet, ah, after living downtown, that's what I'm enjoying.

Good luck!

[2goingon2]

Just saw this and don't have a lot of time. Welcome to town! I've lived in LR for 18 years - 16 of those years downtown. I guess technically I don't live in LR proper anymore since I remarried 2 years ago and we live in the Salem/Avilla area (way out in the country on Lake Norrell in Saline County). I still work in LR. Downtown is a lovely, wonderful area and you should be able to find a doable place for 150K. As with all areas and especially a downtown area, there will be undesireable pockets and that's life. I've found that downtown is not as bad as it was when we first moved to LR. There's an eccletic blend of people - white, black, and for the most part, educated and family-friendly. Nothing against the previous poster but the Heights/Hillcrest is a lovely area to visit and drive through but way too crowded and I get a "I'm so cool I'm bored" kind of vibe from the folks that live there and yes - we know several that do. Very cliquish.
If you do move downtown, I would definitely check out Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary. It has always scored high marks in education and it is a magnet school. Rockefeller Elementary was our neighborhood school for our two oldest children and there was no way we would have let them attend that school. The neighborhood was dangerous and my first husband is a elementary school teacher and he knew other teachers that work there. They would not even put their own children there. The curriculum at the time was not that good but it was mainly a safety issue at the time. Now granted, this was 10 years ago when our daughter was 5 and I don't know if it's the same. We were/are happy with MLK as it consistently is graded among the highest for inner-city magnet schools. Our 9 year old still attends. Feel free to pm if you have any more questions. Best of luck to you and I hope you enjoy living in LR.

[TanyaS]

Janet, we are practically neighbors! I'm in Salem and we take the kids to swim at Lake Norrell in the summer. They love it. My son is best friends with a boy who's parents own Avilla Hardware.

I love it out here!

[2goingon2]

Hey Tanya - small world isn't it! How old is your son? I've got a 15 year old daughter, 9 year old son, 11 month old son and one on the way! We love it too. Do you work outside the home? I work in Little Rock. Maybe we can meet up one day!

[fullhandsfullheart]

Just wanted to say hi to you central AR mamas! We are just south of LR and both work in LR. Is anyone here involved in LLL? I used to go to meetings a couple years ago and enjoyed being around the other crunchy mamas there.

[TanyaS]

Originally Posted by 2goingon2

Hey Tanya - small world isn't it! How old is your son? I've got a 15 year old daughter, 9 year old son, 11 month old son and one on the way! We love it too. Do you work outside the home? I work in Little Rock. Maybe we can meet up one day!

My son is 7 and my girls are 4 and 2. I don't work outside the home for now.

Originally Posted by fullhandsfullheart

Is anyone here involved in LLL?

First Friday of every month in Little Rock.

[JenniferH]

The move is still on, and it's only 8 more months! My BF is looking into buying a house, and we are moving in together when I get there. Look out, Little Rock....here we come!

I'll be glad when he and I are within arm's reach of each other daily instead of twice a month.

Is anyone here a member of the Little Rock Area Knitters?

[Myboysmom]

Hey another LR mama!

My youngest is at Booker Arts Magnet and I cannot say enough good things about it!!! High teacher satisfaction. LOW teacher turnover. Lots of male teachers -- good ones! I couldn't be happier!

[2goingon2]

Hey mama! I've heard wonderful things about Booker. Glad you guys are happy there. It's good to know because we are starting to hear questionable things about Dunbar. My oldest son will go there in 2 years. We may be looking into Booker.

[Myboysmom]

If you start looking at Booker, send me a PM. My middle son was at Mann for middle school and it was GREAT

[JenniferH]

The move is still on.....6 months to go! I'm probably getting my own place, so I'm saving some money and looking for a job. That's going to be the tricky part....

I'm really scared I won't be able to find a job, but BF has told me I can use his address on my resume' if needed. I need a new resume' too.

I have plenty of money going into savings, and I'm seriously thinking about selling my house before I move, I just don't know if I'll be able to. I think renting it out is the way to go. People just aren't buying right now.

[JenniferH]

IF I ever get to move it will be a miracle! I apparently have either a cracked head or blown head gasket on my car. Keep your fingers crossed that it's just the gasket.....

On to more LR talk. We will probably be crashing with my BF until I find a job, sell my house here, and get on my feet. We may or may not decide to move in together on a more permanent basis, but he wants to help me get off to a good start.

He currently lives in Maumelle, so I don't think the schools there will be an issue. They have a middle school now, which is where my DD will be next year.

I appreciate all the advice!