Living in southwest suburbs? (Minneapolis, Bloomington: real estate, new house, neighborhoods)

[paiste13]

Hey all, I have an opportunity in the golden triangle area in Hopkins/Minnetonka and am looking for houses within a 15 minute commute. Our budget can get up to about $500,000 and it seems like everything in that area is a split level or post war small house in South Minneapolis/Edina area or else way more expensive.

Is Shakopee/Prior Lake/Chaska possible with that 15 minute commute? What about highland park in Saint Paul? I have zero preference on neighborhoods, but would like to be in a newer or remodeled house, obviously between my job and downtown.

Family of four with kids in school.

[wamer27]

How do you even find a house that’s not already pending? On realtor every single home in that area is pending or is new, which means it’ll be pending later today...

[paiste13]

Originally Posted by wamer27

How do you even find a house that’s not already pending? On realtor every single home in that area is pending or is new, which means it’ll be pending later today...

Where are all of these people coming from?

I'm open to building a new house but I'm sure that'll take months and months to complete and I don't know where we'd stay in the meantime.

[Glenfield]

Originally Posted by wamer27

How do you even find a house that’s not already pending? On realtor every single home in that area is pending or is new, which means it’ll be pending later today...

You have to hire a buyer’s agent who has access to upcoming listings and can schedule a showing for the first day it comes on the market. Many of the MLS listing sites have a “coming soon” category but it doesn’t capture everything. Some properties are selling before they are ever listed, others are selling sight unseen. We have been looking for almost six months and have missed on several offers, though we are being picky and looking for a perfect fit rather then something that just checks some of our boxes.

[Glenfield]

Originally Posted by paiste13

Hey all, I have an opportunity in the golden triangle area in Hopkins/Minnetonka and am looking for houses within a 15 minute commute. Our budget can get up to about $500,000 and it seems like everything in that area is a split level or post war small house in South Minneapolis/Edina area or else way more expensive.

Is Shakopee/Prior Lake/Chaska possible with that 15 minute commute? What about highland park in Saint Paul? I have zero preference on neighborhoods, but would like to be in a newer or remodeled house, obviously between my job and downtown.

Family of four with kids in school.

First, I have to say that a 15 minute commute will draw a fairly tight circle around your workplace, so you might want to reconsider that. Forget St Paul, that’s way too far. You should be able to find something in Bloomington or the east side of Minnetonka. And if I were you, I would hire a real estate agent to act as your buyer’s agent. You greatly increase your odds of finding something suitable. Good luck!

[paiste13]

Originally Posted by Glenfield

Some properties are selling before they are ever listed, others are selling sight unseen. We have been looking for almost six months and have missed on several offers, though we are being picky and looking for a perfect fit and more something that checks some of our boxes.

What's your budget? Ours is $500kish

We have two kids so we need something fast but not something we'd buy sight unseen or without an inspection.

[Glenfield]

Originally Posted by paiste13

What's your budget? Ours is $500kish

We have two kids so we need something fast but not something we'd buy sight unseen or without an inspection.

We’re not looking in the same area, although I lived in the Glen Lake area of Minnetonka for about 20 years and really liked it. I’m sorry I wasn’t clear about that. I didn’t mean to discourage you.

[Philly Flash]

Highland Park is out of the question. Way too far. I'm in Eden Prairie. $500K will get you a 2,500 sq ft newer home or a dated 3,500 sq ft larger place.

[Camden Northsider]

Originally Posted by paiste13

Hey all, I have an opportunity in the golden triangle area in Hopkins/Minnetonka and am looking for houses within a 15 minute commute. Our budget can get up to about $500,000 and it seems like everything in that area is a split level or post war small house in South Minneapolis/Edina area or else way more expensive.

Is Shakopee/Prior Lake/Chaska possible with that 15 minute commute? What about highland park in Saint Paul? I have zero preference on neighborhoods, but would like to be in a newer or remodeled house, obviously between my job and downtown.

Family of four with kids in school.

If you are looking to be close to work and between it and downtown, have you looked in St. Louis Park or even Plymouth yet? You may have a harder time finding something 'new' on your budget, but most homes are 1950s or newer in those areas. I've got very little knowledge of SW suburban housing market, but you could likely find something nice in SLP or Plymouth on that budget even with the hot housing market. Golden Valley would be taking you further from work but could be another possibility.

I wouldn't want to deal with traffic getting to Shakopee/Prior Lake/Chaska every day, and that's going the wrong direction from DT.

[RedtheCat]

Originally Posted by Camden Northsider

If you are looking to be close to work and between it and downtown, have you looked in St. Louis Park or even Plymouth yet? You may have a harder time finding something 'new' on your budget, but most homes are 1950s or newer in those areas. I've got very little knowledge of SW suburban housing market, but you could likely find something nice in SLP or Plymouth on that budget even with the hot housing market. Golden Valley would be taking you further from work but could be another possibility.

I wouldn't want to deal with traffic getting to Shakopee/Prior Lake/Chaska every day, and that's going the wrong direction from DT.

This. We live in Chaska-and LOVE it, but yes, that commute would be more than 15 minutes-unless you start at 5 am or so