North or South? (Salt Lake City, Sandy, West Jordan: HOA fees, new home, neighborhoods)

[Moon Waffle]

I am considering a job in downtown SLC.

I want a 30 minute commute (or less), door to door.

As far as houses are concerned, our price range tops out at about $350K. We want new construction in a new development (doesn't have to be a huge development). Thinking of a 4-br home, something around 2500 - 3000 total square feet.

We have been looking at areas both North and South of Salt Lake City. I don't know much about the area so I'm not sure how far I could be and still be within my 30 minute commute time, assuming there are even new neighborhoods within those parameters.

Can someone help? Does something exist to meet my needs? Does anyone know of good cities/neighborhoods/developments to look at? Thanks!

[coolcats]

I would say south. You should be able to find quite a bit in your price range in Murray, Sandy, West Jordan, South Jordan. You would have the option of taking Trax into downtown, and that would take about 30 minutes. The challenge will be finding a newer home near a trax line. Most of those lines are in more established areas. But they are building a new line through West Jordan and South Jordan. I think it will be done in 2010.

[kwm03160]

Originally Posted by Moon Waffle

I am considering a job in downtown SLC.

I want a 30 minute commute (or less), door to door.

As far as houses are concerned, our price range tops out at about $350K. We want new construction in a new development (doesn't have to be a huge development). Thinking of a 4-br home, something around 2500 - 3000 total square feet.

We have been looking at areas both North and South of Salt Lake City. I don't know much about the area so I'm not sure how far I could be and still be within my 30 minute commute time, assuming there are even new neighborhoods within those parameters.

Can someone help? Does something exist to meet my needs? Does anyone know of good cities/neighborhoods/developments to look at? Thanks!

I don't know how bad the commute from North Salt Lake or Bountiful into Salt Lake is.

Looking at the south end of the valley, are you planning to be commuting during the normal "rush hour" times? (7AM-8AM, 5PM-6PM)? I would suggest looking at West Jordan or South Jordan, but if you are traveling during rush hour, I don't think 30 minutes is doable. Most of the new homes in West Jordan are in the western portion of the valley. South Jordan does have the wonderful Daybreak development, if you don't mind not having a huge yard and HOA fees (currently $80 per month, includes fiber optic high-speed internet from Qwest). Personally, I would move there in a heartbeat if my finances were able. I think during rush hour, the commute from Daybreak is approximately 40-45 minutes (hopefully a Daybreak resident can chime in and tell you if my estimate is accurate).

As you probably know, the Salt Lake Valley is "landlocked" by the mountains. Most of the new home developments are in the southwestern part of the valley (such as West Jordan, South Jordan, Herriman, Riverton, Draper). Draper would be doable in 30 minutes if you lived close enough to the freeway, but I'm not sure if your price range would work (there are a lot of expensive homes in Draper).

Definitely don't look past Point of the Mountain (such as Lehi, Pleasant Grove, etc); you probably wouldn't make it to Salt Lake in 30 minutes and the "point" can get treaturous during the winter.

Good luck, and let me know if you have any other questions!

[ShouldIMoveOrStayPut...?]

The "Traverse Mountain" development south of the city near Lehi seems to be a very overbuilt and undervalued developnent, it is amazing what 350K will buy you. I understand it is a bit of a ghost town presently with some people living in a house surrounded by vacant ones. I think it's a sleeper that will catch on as the economy eventually turns tide....could prove a very wise long term investment.

Google maps states a drive time of approximately 30 minutes to downtown, but I wonder if they calculated that for rush hour....

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Not calculated for rush hour or snow/ice, both of which will make it considerably longer. See previous post about going around Point of the Mountain.

[kaytidid]

You might also want to check out Foxboro in North Salt Lake.