Relocation Advice-St. Peters Area (St. Louis, St. Charles: real estate, home builders, neighborhoods)

[baghabit]

We have a relocation opportunity in the St. Peters area. We would prefer a newer house in a family friendly neighborhood. How's the housing market in regards to building a new house vs. buying an existing property? Advice on public or Catholic elementary schools welcomed. Will be commuting to the airport frequently. Feeling a little overwhelmed, and folks on this forum were so helpful with our last relocation, we're hoping for some direction this time as well. Thanks in advance!

[aragx6]

There are many many newer homes in the St. Peters area. You can have your pick really. You could build if you want to, but I suspect a resale will give you a better deal at present.

There are essentially three school disctricts in that immediate area: Francis Howell, Fort Zumwalt and St. Charles. My list is in order of desirability (though FH and FZ are close in terms of test scores), and also in order of property taxes (though the differences in that are relatively small).

Francis Howell or Fort Zumwalt would both be considered very good districts, and if you're comfortable with public schools it would make very little sense to go the Catholic route. The top tier Catholic schools are mostly going to be in St. Louis County and would pose quite the commute ordeal. The parochial elementary and high schools, from my experience growing up there, are sub par to the public schools.

The commute to the airport is easy peasy. Lots of people who live in the area commute there everyday for work at Boeing.

I grew up right there and my mom still lives there, so fire any questions at me that you might have. I am happy to help!

Best of Luck!

[baghabit]

Thanks for your help! We would be looking for a home in the $250-300K range. Do you know who the reputable home builders are in that area? Are there neighborhoods with pools etc.? Youth sports programs would also be important. How about shopping, restaurants, and basic modern day conveniences? I'm spoiled now with two grocery stores and a Target store within a mile or two of my house. Besides St. Peters, what are the names of other cities in the school districts you mentioned? Beginning a search in a new area is so overwhelming, so I greatly appreciate your input!

[aragx6]

St. Peters, St. Charles and O'Fallon are the three cities you will most likely be looking at. They're huge cities with a combined population of about 200K. Some people who don't mind being farther out also look to Wentzville.

That whole area put together is sometimes called the Golden Triangle (usually by real estate agents) and all in all there's not a huge difference amongst them. As you head west the homes are typically newer, but there has still been a good deal of infill in the farther east areas in the last 5-10 years so new homes can be found there quite readily.

Two of the biggest builders are Whittaker and TR Hughes -- both of which seem to have a pretty solid reputation. There's also McBride who I know less about, and I'm sure many many others.

I would start looking around on Remax.com or CBGundaker.com to see what you can expect for your budget -- I suspect you'll be pleased.