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AutoYes_Clown 
Alabama Fan
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Oct 2012
652 posts
| Where to buy first home in BR area? (Posted on 2/7/13 at 8:42 pm)
Background: Wife + I, no kids yet. Both of us are 30 and well established with professional work experience. I know anything can happen, but I don't see either of our job possibilities slacking off anytime soon. My area is in engineering and petro chem. No, I'm not a used car salesman.  Hers is retail management (area/district level). We do plan on her taking off for kid(s) eventually. We plan on being in Baton Rouge at least 10 years.
Our "issues": Both of us have been in Louisiana less than 3 years. We don't really have any friends here with our same situation on age/income/kid situation/etc. We don't know the neighborhoods here let alone suburbs and outer cities (Zachary, Prairieville, etc). We are not catholic and have no clue what the different school systems are.
Current stats: Earliest we would buy is end of summer '13. Cash flow is relatively good, even counting our $1000/mo current rent and monthly expenses we take in $2500 /mo. One true debt is recent new car, owe $15k. We plan on being able to put down $40k, but still unsure if we really want to.
What we are looking for: An area that will be great in ~10 years. We are both very handy fixer uppers so we are not afraid of work needed. We both agree that our first home should be just that, that with our first home and we want to not only afford it on one salary, but be able to live, travel, have fun with two salaries. However, I don't want to surpass something in a higher range if its worth the investment over 10 years. We know we can say it now, and will be more difficult later, but we don't want to fall in love with the house where we live in it for 30 years. One last thing, we both work in South Baton Rouge, so I'm note sure about living north of Baton Rouge.
So MB, I'm asking advice on where to start researching different "neighborhoods" of BR and the value histories.
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rmc 
LSU Fan
Zachary, LA
Member since Sep 2004
21149 posts
 Online
| re: Where to buy first home in BR area? (Posted on 2/7/13 at 9:02 pm to AutoYes_Clown)
quote:
One last thing, we both work in South Baton Rouge, so I'm note sure about living north of Baton Rouge.
I'm biased to Zachary, but this makes me think you may be looking to Ascension.
Zachary property values have only went up for the past few decades with the exception of some high end housing in Copper Mill having trouble holding its value. But that is due to more of a localized issue inside the subdivision that occurred within the last few years.
Zachary has fixer uppers from 100k up in older areas, which are still good subdivisions. Schools are second to none except the best private schools. I could see Zachary declining 3-4 decades from now, but right now its a good place to be.
Also, if you are the real auto yes clown, I would like to get you to perform at some crawfish boils this year.
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dewster 
Maryland Fan
TN
Member since Aug 2006
4430 posts
Online
| re: Where to buy first home in BR area? (Posted on 2/7/13 at 9:24 pm to AutoYes_Clown)
Southdowns, Shenandoah, Tara, Broadmoor, Spring Lake....all in your price range.
I'd go with Zeeland Gardens or Southdowns. Depends on where you work.
Definately stay south of Florida blvd.
This post was edited on 2/7 at 9:28 pm
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lsufan112001 
Southeastern LA Fan
sportsmans paradise
Member since Oct 2006
5071 posts
Online
| re: Where to buy first home in BR area? (Posted on 2/7/13 at 9:34 pm to dewster)
Zachary could be the next Baker, beware.
I'm in Central, moved here years back, and it's great. no offense, but there are absolutely no hoods in our area.
don't cross the Amite River or traffic will kill you, that's why i avoided the South BTR area or Prarieville.
resale will always be excellent in a good school district.
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ColdDuck
LSU Fan
BR via da Parish
Member since Sep 2006
1234 posts
| re: Where to buy first home in BR area? (Posted on 2/7/13 at 9:51 pm to lsufan112001)
quote:
Zachary could be the next Baker, beware.
Zachary - best schools in the state
Baker - worst schools in the state
Yeah, just because it is close does not mean it is anything like Baker. You can say that about any area in BR that has a low income area 5 miles down the road.
I don't see an Americana subdivision being developed in Baker, 2 brand new schools, new golf courses (2 in the last 5 years), remodeling of all the other schools, 2 brand new Medical centers. Looks like Baker to me! I think the only new thing in Baker is a Walgreens and a remodeled Popeyes. Yeah, we have a few low income streets, but I don't feel I have to lock my car door when I drive through.
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Paul Allen
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Nov 2007
19276 posts
| re: Where to buy first home in BR area? (Posted on 2/7/13 at 10:17 pm to AutoYes_Clown)
Cedarcrest
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rmc
LSU Fan
Zachary, LA
Member since Sep 2004
21149 posts
Online
| re: Where to buy first home in BR area? (Posted on 2/7/13 at 10:21 pm to ColdDuck)
quote:
Zachary - best schools in the state
Baker - worst schools in the state
Yeah, just because it is close does not mean it is anything like Baker. You can say that about any area in BR that has a low income area 5 miles down the road.
I don't see an Americana subdivision being developed in Baker, 2 brand new schools, new golf courses (2 in the last 5 years), remodeling of all the other schools, 2 brand new Medical centers. Looks like Baker to me! I think the only new thing in Baker is a Walgreens and a remodeled Popeyes. Yeah, we have a few low income streets, but I don't feel I have to lock my car door when I drive through.
If he is referring to the race ratios, Zachary has always had a large black population. The schools are something like 60/40.
Baker has truly idiotic people running the city. The mayor is one of the few decent people in Baker and he gets regularly chastised for things like, *gasp*, cutting off water when people don't pay their bill.
Zachary will be ok for a long time.
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lsubandmom
LSU Fan
Lafayette
Member since Oct 2007
784 posts
| re: Where to buy first home in BR area? (Posted on 2/7/13 at 10:22 pm to AutoYes_Clown)
Zachary is a nice community to raise a family and prices have been fairly steady. You also have choice - you may want a larger lot with an acre or two, or something in a subdivision. We lived there for a little over 10 years before moving to Lafayette. We bought and sold a couple of houses in addition to having rental property. It was very good to us. I've sold real estate for over 20 years and if you have any questions, I would be happy to help. Its nice to think we will find our forever home, but our needs change over the years - you just need to figure out whats important to you - schools, community, land, commute time. Best of luck!
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WhoDats10
LSU Fan
Member since Dec 2012
652 posts
| re: Where to buy first home in BR area? (Posted on 2/7/13 at 11:40 pm to AutoYes_Clown)
oak hills
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Layabout 
UNO Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Jul 2011
4470 posts
| re: Where to buy first home in BR area? (Posted on 2/8/13 at 4:35 am to AutoYes_Clown)
Since you don't have to worry about kids and schools for a while, consider Garden District, Old Goodwood, even downtown in Spanish Town. All easy commutes to South Baton Rouge because you're going against the traffic. Southdowns IMO is way overpriced. You'll experience living in a real neighborhood instead of a suburban bubble.
There are a lot of young people in Broadmoor and you'll find some real bargains on the market right now but there have been some crime problems in recent years.
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Motorboat
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Oct 2007
4925 posts
| re: Where to buy first home in BR area? (Posted on 2/8/13 at 8:26 am to WhoDats10)
quote:
oak hills
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Captain Ron 
Hawaii Fan
Location: Ted's
Member since Dec 2012
1681 posts
| re: Where to buy first home in BR area? (Posted on 2/8/13 at 8:40 am to AutoYes_Clown)
Saw a nice house near St Alysious, but it was going for $600K.
About 5 years old, 4300 square feet.
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dewster
Maryland Fan
TN
Member since Aug 2006
4430 posts
Online
| re: Where to buy first home in BR area? (Posted on 2/8/13 at 8:42 am to lsufan112001)
quote:
Zachary could be the next Baker, beware.
I don't see that happening, given how well the area seems to attract middle class home buyers. The new bridge and the improved highway 61 will probably bring some pretty large retail developments in the future.
Plenty of room to grow, very good schools, and low crime makes it a pretty compelling choice. I'd probably live in Zachary or Central before I'd ever consider Livingston.
I'd choose a decent neighborhood in Baton Rouge before any of them if I could though. Capitol Heights or the Goodwood/Claycut area especially.
This post was edited on 2/8 at 8:49 am
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Golfer
LSU Fan
Coral Bay, St. John, USVI
Member since Nov 2005
47511 posts
| re: Where to buy first home in BR area? (Posted on 2/8/13 at 8:53 am to Layabout)
quote:
Since you don't have to worry about kids and schools for a while, consider Garden District, Old Goodwood, even downtown in Spanish Town. All easy commutes to South Baton Rouge because you're going against the traffic. Southdowns IMO is way overpriced. You'll experience living in a real neighborhood instead of a suburban bubble.
Mid-City, Garden District, Old Goodwood, and Westdale would be my choices.
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Lloyd Christmas
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2005
3397 posts
| re: Where to buy first home in BR area? (Posted on 2/8/13 at 8:56 am to Golfer)
quote:
Mid-City, Garden District, Old Goodwood, and Westdale would be my choices.
This, buy a renovated home that is basically brand new
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GFunk
LSU Fan
Denham Springs
Member since Feb 2011
7643 posts
| re: Where to buy first home in BR area? (Posted on 2/8/13 at 9:24 am to Lloyd Christmas)
quote:
Where to buy first home in BR area?
Love that the majority of responses say the same basic thing: Not in Baton Rouge.
For my money, with quality schools, infrastructure improvements galore, and a stereotype that's more bark than bite regarding the general intelligence levels of our citizenry, you can't beat the LP.
Denham Springs, Live Oak & Walker are awesome. I've been going through the permitting and zoning regs in Walker, and they are a breeze to deal with and very well thought of when it comes to their building codes & requirements.
Disclaimer: I have lived in Livingston Parish my entire adult life, and have worked in East Baton Rouge Parish my entire adult life.
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Golfer
LSU Fan
Coral Bay, St. John, USVI
Member since Nov 2005
47511 posts
| re: Where to buy first home in BR area? (Posted on 2/8/13 at 9:31 am to GFunk)
quote:
Love that the majority of responses say the same basic thing: Not in Baton Rouge.
8 people in this thread listed Baton Rouge neighborhoods.
4 people (including yourself) listed Zachary or LP
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Layabout
UNO Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Jul 2011
4470 posts
| re: Where to buy first home in BR area? (Posted on 2/8/13 at 10:04 am to Golfer)
quote:
8 people in this thread listed Baton Rouge neighborhoods.
4 people (including yourself) listed Zachary or LP
People only hear what they want to hear.
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rmc
LSU Fan
Zachary, LA
Member since Sep 2004
21149 posts
Online
| re: Where to buy first home in BR area? (Posted on 2/8/13 at 10:55 am to Golfer)
quote:
8 people in this thread listed Baton Rouge neighborhoods.
Right. I wouldn't have a huge problem living in BR if it wasn't for schools and the fact that I work in Zachary. The crime is limited to a few specific areas where I'm pretty sure the OP would never consider living anyway.
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Giantkiller
LSU Fan
the big Bee Reezy
Member since Sep 2007
2053 posts
| re: Where to buy first home in BR area? (Posted on 2/8/13 at 11:44 am to AutoYes_Clown)
quote:
Where to buy first home in BR area?
My wife is a real estate agent if you'd like to check out some of these. She's pretty up to date on homes with growing values in neighborhoods vs. slumping neighborhoods.
Email me if interested... cpt2117@aol.com. She can have you some of the better BR home listings within minutes.
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