Moving to Lexington

[H-D cat]

I'm considering moving back to Lexington and am looking for advice on the best areas to live. My wife and I both graduated from UK in 2008 and have been back to visit at least once a year since then so we aren't completely unfamiliar, but I've never looked for a house in the area before. We know the areas close to campus but become less familiar the further you move out.

Our budget would be in the $450K range. We have two kids 7 and under, so schools are certainly top of mind. I've always loved the Chevy Chase/Montclair/Mr. Vernon/Ashland Park area and really the whole area between Cooper and Richmond Rd, but I realize that budget barely gets you in there.

We would need at least 3 beds and 2 baths, preferably more of both of course. I'd love to have at least a half acre but could go for less if not right on top of the neighbors and in an older neighborhood. No real interest in Masterson Station or Hamburg style neighborhoods.

I work from home so not really worried about a commute for myself. Having said that, if my wife stayed with the same company, her office would be right at Nicholasville Rd and New Circle.

Thanks for the help.

 

[funKYcat75]

Douglass Park area is nice.

 

[H-D cat]

The Paddock never disappoints.

 

[Laparkafan]

Midway

 

[funKYcat75]

There are a couple nice little neighborhoods off of Wellington/(was Reynolds Road). Would be very short commute for her, good schools, and you wouldn’t have to spend a lot of money.

 

[bluthruandthru]

Parents live near Lafayette HS. Nice houses back in there and I think well within your range.

 

[JumperJack]

She works at Cirilla’s?

 

[H-D cat]

She works at Cirilla’s?

Ha well not right at New Circle and Nicholasville. Would be some pretty sweet perks though!

 

[Elbridge]

Look around the Shady Lane area and the neighborhoods around or near Glendover Elementary School.

 

[KRJ1975]

Blackford parkway area is nice. Convenient to Hamburg and interstate. Brand new elementary and high schools.

 

[TurnipDaBeet]

Da Villas Of MJones

Mad basement space

 

[WildcatFan1982]

Cambridge drive. Lived there for a few years and never had any problems

 

[bluthruandthru]

Tiny pool house.

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

Where are you living now? Lexington is very livable and safe. Other than UKsports and Keeneland, it’s fairly uneventful.

 

[H-D cat]

Where are you living now? Lexington is very livable and safe. Other than UKsports and Keeneland, it’s fairly uneventful.

We’ve been living in Bowling Green for the last three years after living out of state for the previous 7. I like BG but there’s really nothing keeping us here and Lexington is closer to ‘home’ (Madison County).

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

We’ve been living in Bowling Green for the last three years after living out of state for the previous 7. I like BG but there’s really nothing keeping us here and Lexington is closer to ‘home’ (Madison County).

Oh....never mind my comment

 

[TurnipDaBeet]

Actually... a nice solid tent on Keeneland Grounds sounds perfect for you.

Solid tent~ $750

*not including air mattresses *

 

[H-D cat]

Oh....never mind my comment

Fair enough. Lexington is definitely the most ‘eventful’ place I’ve lived.

 

[TurnipDaBeet]

Yep

Seattle Ky

*Louisville*

 

[qwesley]

I'm considering moving back to Lexington and am looking for advice on the best areas to live. My wife and I both graduated from UK in 2008 and have been back to visit at least once a year since then so we aren't completely unfamiliar, but I've never looked for a house in the area before. We know the areas close to campus but become less familiar the further you move out.

Our budget would be in the $450K range. We have two kids 7 and under, so schools are certainly top of mind. I've always loved the Chevy Chase/Montclair/Mr. Vernon/Ashland Park area and really the whole area between Cooper and Richmond Rd, but I realize that budget barely gets you in there.

We would need at least 3 beds and 2 baths, preferably more of both of course. I'd love to have at least a half acre but could go for less if not right on top of the neighbors and in an older neighborhood. No real interest in Masterson Station or Hamburg style neighborhoods.

I work from home so not really worried about a commute for myself. Having said that, if my wife stayed with the same company, her office would be right at Nicholasville Rd and New Circle.

Thanks for the help.

Stonewall Estates area has great lots, older homes but many have been updated.

 

[bluthruandthru]

Landsdowne area probably right on your price point. Could be wrong but there are good houses and neighborhoods there.

 

[anthonys735]

I'm considering moving back to Lexington and am looking for advice on the best areas to live. My wife and I both graduated from UK in 2008 and have been back to visit at least once a year since then so we aren't completely unfamiliar, but I've never looked for a house in the area before. We know the areas close to campus but become less familiar the further you move out.

Our budget would be in the $450K range. We have two kids 7 and under, so schools are certainly top of mind. I've always loved the Chevy Chase/Montclair/Mr. Vernon/Ashland Park area and really the whole area between Cooper and Richmond Rd, but I realize that budget barely gets you in there.

We would need at least 3 beds and 2 baths, preferably more of both of course. I'd love to have at least a half acre but could go for less if not right on top of the neighbors and in an older neighborhood. No real interest in Masterson Station or Hamburg style neighborhoods.

I work from home so not really worried about a commute for myself. Having said that, if my wife stayed with the same company, her office would be right at Nicholasville Rd and New Circle.

Thanks for the help.

Several houses in 40502 for that range right now. You can get 3 bed 2 bath for that. It's just going to be an older home as everything in the area is and that range might be just below a new reno. If you need any help shoot me a message. Good luck.

 

[thabigbluenation]

all depends on where you want to send your kids to school. with that budget I can assume you could afford the private route which means you can live where ya want. you can find nice neighborhoods anywhere, school districts vary greatly if you decide to go the public route. that alone should make your decision.

 

[cole854]

Where are you living now? Lexington is very livable and safe. Other than UKsports and Keeneland, it’s fairly uneventful.

This is a joke, right?

 

[HagginHall1999]

I know someone selling house off Harrisburg Rd right when you get into Jessamine County but asking more. Beautiful custom built home on large lot, 4BR/6BA, 3 stone fire places.

You get a hell of a lot more house living there than downtown area for the money. Their kids all went to Dunbar fwiw (which is one of best public schools in state I believe). It is like right on the county line.

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

This is a joke, right?

Nope. It was a nice place to grow up—but it’s simply an overgrown bedroom community with strip-mall sprawl. It’s also a bit insular socially. People are family-focused. Not saying that’s bad—but for outsiders, the town is a tough nut to crack.

Not sure why that’s so hard to understand.

 

[cole854]

Andover, Beaumont, Palomar, Hartland, Stonewall Estates to name a few nice areas that check a lot of boxes. There are pros and cons everywhere, especially with school choices. Do you want newer or a project....ranch, multi story....nice yard, etc.

 

[cole854]

Nope. It was a nice place to grow up—but it’s simply an overgrown bedroom community with strip-mall sprawl. It’s also a bit insular socially. People are family-focused. Not saying that’s bad—but for outsiders, the town is a tough nut to crack.

Not sure why that’s so hard to understand.

Partially true....Lex has lost its identity and tried to compete w/ Ville and Cincy in many aspects. The "horse" capital thing has worn out its welcome and is laughable now given where you have to go to see horses. I think it welcomes outsiders well, especially considering Lex is now predominantly liberal and open to pretty much every walk of life.

 

[toll_booth_guru]

Nope. It was a nice place to grow up—but it’s simply an overgrown bedroom community with strip-mall sprawl. It’s also a bit insular socially. People are family-focused. Not saying that’s bad—but for outsiders, the town is a tough nut to crack.

Not sure why that’s so hard to understand.

Totally agree...being better than Bowling Green is about all it’s got going on besides Keeneland. Even though folks there aren’t Mormons, they’ll leave you just as cold as it’s society-driven (what high school did you go to?) and people not from Lexington without strong ties...well forget it as there are some great places in this country to live that are not land locked and have better social options. I could never imagine considering Lexington, Kentucky other than being a student ...not far away you have Belle Meade & Bellevue Tennessee just outside of Nashville with no STATE INCOME TAXES. Huntsville is a good consideration if Nashville Isn’t an option.

KY will be raising State income tax across the board to fulfill governor Beshear‘s allegiance with BLM to provide medical insurance to only one segment. I’m not sure most Kentuckians see this as their idea of progress. Moving to a state with Gov. Beshear at the helm for someone that actually had an option reminds me of that really massive female witness for the prosecution during the Trayvon Martin trial ‘Sir, that’s retarded’.

 

[Tskware]

Look around the Shady Lane area and the neighborhoods around or near Glendover Elementary School.

That area is rapidly increasing in price, even more than the rest of the city

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

Partially true....Lex has lost its identity and tried to compete w/ Ville and Cincy in many aspects. The "horse" capital thing has worn out its welcome and is laughable now given where you have to go to see horses. I think it welcomes outsiders well, especially considering Lex is now predominantly liberal and open to pretty much every walk of life.

“Welcoming” outsiders is one thing, fostering real relationships is another. There are pockets around Lexington where it’s mostly transplants. That could be an option. I realize you’re a local as I was raised here but moved away and back-but from an outsiders perspective, it’s different.

Like I said, nice place to grow up and go to college. Also decent for raising kids. Money still talks, though.

 

[CB3UK]

In what way are we unwelcoming to outsiders. Lived in Lexington my whole life. What youre describing to me isnt any different than if I packed up and moved to any small town in KY. "Oh, youre not from here." The appeal of Lexington is its like a small city/big town where you grow up knowing a lot of people all over but still have the peace of relative anonymity a large city affords one. You dont have people all up in your business like a small town because they dont have **** else to do. I wouldnt consider us unwelcoming at all to outsiders, particularly if theyre folks from out in the counties. If youre a fellow Kentuckian you are always welcome.



As to OPs question, the best options Id say have been mentioned. Stonewall, Lansdowne, Harrods Hills, Rabbit Run, Palomar. Several nicer newer developments out Brannon Rd, South Point, etc.

Dunbar is the public HS you want to send your kids to here for sure. If youre going private, Lexington Catholic and Lexington Christian are both right in that area as well.

Im no real estate agent but lived here my whole life, be happy to answer any questions.

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

In what way are we unwelcoming to outsiders. Lived in Lexington my whole life. What youre describing to me isnt any different than if I packed up and moved to any small town in KY. "Oh, youre not from here." The appeal of Lexington is its like a small city/big town where you grow up knowing a lot of people all over but still have the peace of relative anonymity a large city affords one. You dont have people all up in your business like a small town because they dont have **** else to do. I wouldnt consider us unwelcoming at all to outsiders, particularly if theyre folks from out in the counties. If youre a fellow Kentuckian you are always welcome.



As to OPs question, the best options Id say have been mentioned. Stonewall, Lansdowne, Harrods Hills, Rabbit Run, Palomar. Several nicer newer developments out Brannon Rd, South Point, etc.

Dunbar is the public HS you want to send your kids to here for sure. If youre going private, Lexington Catholic and Lexington Christian are both right in that area as well.

Im no real estate agent but lived here my whole life, be happy to answer any questions.

Welcoming? Yes. ..but as far as friendships go...it’s a tough nut to crack. I’ve never heard of Lexington being “cold” to newcomers. On the surface, people are welcoming. I mean I hear the same thing about other cities..like Richmond VA. Burgeoning city, but still tough to make lasting friendships.

Lexington has a strong church culture, for instance, and it’s easy to meet welcoming people at these places—but even an outsider can find churches being a tough place to acquire real friendships.

Unless you are NOT from Lexington, it’s a concept that escapes the “natives”.

 

[anthonys735]

Lex has some clique tendencies, that's a fair assessment. I moved here 13 years ago. It's not really unwelcoming though but there is something to the old guard take.

I love living here. Great place to raise a family. Very safe and quality schools(when they are open). Love where I live in town by campus. Can walk to games, Chevy Chase, Romany, Arboretum.

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

Lex has some clique tendencies, that's a fair assessment. I moved here 13 years ago. It's not really unwelcoming though but there is something to the old guard take.

I love living here. Great place to raise a family. Very safe and quality schools(when they are open). Love where I live in town by campus. Can walk to games, Chevy Chase, Romany, Arboretum.

The Arboretum is beautiful. The children’s garden has been a great go-to for our little guy. Miss the walk through it/by it on the walk to games at Kroger.
I forgot about the old Shakespeare in the park series there, too.

McConnells Springs is a hidden gem. An urban hiking trail and conservatory located where Lexington started.

 

[Tskware]

The Arboretum is beautiful. The children’s garden has been a great go-to for our little guy. Miss the walk through it/by it on the walk to games at Kroger.
I forgot about the old Shakespeare in the park series there, too.

McConnells Springs is a hidden gem. An urban hiking trail and conservatory located where Lexington started.

Plus Legacy Trail (soon to be extended) and Raven Run, close to Red River Gorge, Cincy and Louisville for other big cities nearby. I am not moving anywhere else, if I can help it.

I agree a lot of Kentuckians who move here fit in fine, and never leave, but I have been told by those who moved here from out of state that they feel a "good old boys" network here enough times that I have to believe it may have some truth to it.

OTOH, our mayor, comm attorney and most of the judges and city council are women, so maybe it has a "good old girls" network too.

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

Plus Legacy Trail (soon to be extended) and Raven Run, close to Red River Gorge, Cincy and Louisville for other big cities nearby. I am not moving anywhere else, if I can help it.

I agree a lot of Kentuckians who move here fit in fine, and never leave, but I have been told by those who moved here from out of state that they feel a "good old boys" network here enough times that I have to believe it may have some truth to it.

OTOH, our mayor, comm attorney and most of the judges and city council are women, so maybe it has a "good old girls" network too.

Totally forgot Raven Run. Talon Winery, too.

 

[CB3UK]

Welcoming? Yes. ..but as far as friendships go...it’s a tough nut to crack. I’ve never heard of Lexington being “cold” to newcomers. On the surface, people are welcoming. I mean I hear the same thing about other cities..like Richmond VA. Burgeoning city, but still tough to make lasting friendships.

Lexington has a strong church culture, for instance, and it’s easy to meet welcoming people at these places—but even an outsider can find churches being a tough place to acquire real friendships.

Unless you are NOT from Lexington, it’s a concept that escapes the “natives”.

I guess I see what you're saying. Yeah, the church crowd for sure. Very surface friendly and nice but no real depth to those relationships. Thats just people being outright fake in some regards. Totally agree. One of several reasons I grew disenfranchised with going to church in my teen years. I don't need all that jazz to have a relationship with God.

Having been here my whole life, its my experience that most people move away and then eventually move back.

As far as lasting friendships go, I guess I always assumed thats why so many of us post on here frequently. We have our common bond here and this is where we can all meet up to "hang out" and talk about the stuff we are all collectively interested in. It's not as satisfying as doing it in person obviously, but I'd say most of us have family or friends who just don't care about this stuff. This is our outlet.

Definitely agree with the above comment about Lexington being cliqueish. I have a wide variety of interests and I always viewed my friendshsips and social relationships as a large venn diagram, the people I grew to be real good friends are the ones who fell in the overlapping areas. Few and far between.

 

[CB3UK]

Plus Legacy Trail (soon to be extended) and Raven Run, close to Red River Gorge, Cincy and Louisville for other big cities nearby. I am not moving anywhere else, if I can help it.

I agree a lot of Kentuckians who move here fit in fine, and never leave, but I have been told by those who moved here from out of state that they feel a "good old boys" network here enough times that I have to believe it may have some truth to it.

OTOH, our mayor, comm attorney and most of the judges and city council are women, so maybe it has a "good old girls" network too.

Its supposedly been completed. I'm not paying the H-L to read their article on it [laughing] In fact as soon as I get done jibber jabberin on here I'm gonna head out to ride it! I've only ever gone from the Scott Co line down to the YMCA. Not sure where they've extended it from there, and not sure I really want to ride my bike down through that stretch frankly.

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

Its supposedly been completed. I'm not paying the H-L to read their article on it [laughing] In fact as soon as I get done jibber jabberin on here I'm gonna head out to ride it! I've only ever gone from the Scott Co line down to the YMCA. Not sure where they've extended it from there, and not sure I really want to ride my bike down through that stretch frankly.

But stay outta the hood