Wife just got offered a high paying job in Memphis doubling her salary. With my job I can move just about anywhere. Question is I know nothing about Memphis or the area. What are the schools like? Is it a nice place to raise a family? Places to live? Things to do ect. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
OT Memphis
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Wife just got offered a high paying job in Memphis doubling her salary. With my job I can move just about anywhere. Question is I know nothing about Memphis or the area. What are the schools like? Is it a nice place to raise a family? Places to live? Things to do ect. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Wife just got offered a high paying job in Memphis doubling her salary. With my job I can move just about anywhere. Question is I know nothing about Memphis or the area. What are the schools like? Is it a nice place to raise a family? Places to live? Things to do ect. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
If you are a city person and can afford private school, you can choose mud island or Mid town.
If you are a suburbs person, choose Collierville or Germantown. Schools are very good and you can send your kid to public school for at least elementary and jr high.
best private schools are St. George's and Briarcrest for actual schools.
PM me and I will give you all the info you want. Memphis is a great place if you understand what it is. Its a large city and yes, it has its problems. But, it also has a lot of great places.
If you are a suburbs person, choose Collierville or Germantown. Schools are very good and you can send your kid to public school for at least elementary and jr high.
best private schools are St. George's and Briarcrest for actual schools.
PM me and I will give you all the info you want. Memphis is a great place if you understand what it is. Its a large city and yes, it has its problems. But, it also has a lot of great places.
You have some good options if you are city or suburb person. I can offer some advice depending on what your preference is. Where are you moving from?
Also, be sure to discount the inevitable responses about how Memphis is a war zone. It's not. You face a property crime risk in the city and in the suburbs, but what larger city can claim they don't have that? Violent crime is localized to poor areas.
Also, be sure to discount the inevitable responses about how Memphis is a war zone. It's not. You face a property crime risk in the city and in the suburbs, but what larger city can claim they don't have that? Violent crime is localized to poor areas.
Seriously though, above post is correct. Memphis is a great city, you just need to know where to go and what to stay away from. I lived all over, and personally, liked Mud Island the best by far. But, if you want a large yard, not the best place, though there's plenty of park.
Wife more of the suburban type I'm more city. Always heard the crime is bad there but i take that with a grain of salt. We are moving from Starkville actually both just finished up school about a year ago and have only been to Memphis for concert or sporting event. Is it better to live in Germantown or live in possibly olive branch or Southaven? How's the housing market? I know in Starkville is around 100 a sq ft or more depending on if u live on south Montgomery.
podunk little town I have from in MS has had more violent crime per capita in recent years than my neighborhood in Germantown ever thought of having...
zoo is amazing, very accessible downtown, great restaurants, great baseball experience with the redbirds
zoo is amazing, very accessible downtown, great restaurants, great baseball experience with the redbirds
Its a buyers market right now in the Memphis area. Everything from large homes and big lots, to brand new zero lot lines are available.
You're best bet is decide if schools are important...choose one...and go from there.
You're best bet is decide if schools are important...choose one...and go from there.
My family and I have lived in Hernando for 8 years and love it.I'm a small town MS guy so TN was never really an option for me, but I can be downtown Memphis in about 20-25 minutes. Pretty much all the public schools in Desoto County are very good. My wife teaches Elementary School in Olive Branch and loves it. Hernando just has a nice small town feel with the square being the focal point and a lot of young families.
you are just about going to HAVE to deal with germantown parkway and/or 240. Living in Lakeland or Arlington might be something to look at. Its a little more 'rural' than Collierville or Germantown but its nice houses and all. Would have to look at private schools moreso.
Commute from Mid town would not be bad but again, private schools.
Commute from Collierville or Germantown would be 30-35 min in the morn and afternoon rush hours
Commute from Mid town would not be bad but again, private schools.
Commute from Collierville or Germantown would be 30-35 min in the morn and afternoon rush hours
it's the opposite direction that sucks. And G'Town parkway as you said. I could take 40 or Sam Cooper and have little trouble most days. Hell Walnut Grove isn't that bad going West.
I live in Highpoint Terrace and used to work over on Goodlett Farms Parkway (which is just the opposite side of Whitten road as Century Center parkway). I was in the parking lot of the office in less than 15 minutes. It's easy jumping onto Sam Cooper and heading East on I-40. There's very little traffic compared to the traffic heading from the East heading towards Memphis. I wish I still had that commute.
ETA: So point being, anywhere in the city is pretty good for that work location if you have reasonable access to Sam Cooper. Collierville/Olive Branch/Hernando would be a ***** though if you went the suburb route and preferred those areas. Lakeland is a good suburb suggestion - it's really not as far out as you would first think. You can be downtown in a little over 20 minutes with good traffic. I'm not sure about the schools though...
ETA: So point being, anywhere in the city is pretty good for that work location if you have reasonable access to Sam Cooper. Collierville/Olive Branch/Hernando would be a ***** though if you went the suburb route and preferred those areas. Lakeland is a good suburb suggestion - it's really not as far out as you would first think. You can be downtown in a little over 20 minutes with good traffic. I'm not sure about the schools though...
More stuff to do in mid-town on any given weekend. I'll defer to a real estate expert, but I would assume the market is more stable with a lower inventory of homes available at any given point in time. If kids aren't in the picture right now, you at least have 5 years before school is imminent. And even at that point, Memphis City Schools don't begin to really suck until after middle school.
I really enjoy it, I've lived on Mud Island and in Olive Branch as well. I've lived here for about a year and it is by far my favorite location of the 3. I'm just a few years out of college and there are a lot of young people in the area. Right next to the Greenline that you to run, or ride your bike. Pretty central location for good bars and restaurants. <div>
</div><div>There are a lot of houses for sale in the area, it depends on what you're looking for.</div>
</div><div>There are a lot of houses for sale in the area, it depends on what you're looking for.</div>
East Memphisgenerally (and High Point Terrace specifically)are great options. Close to a lot of things, and an easy commute for your wife. Schools can be a draw back in this area, but there are some good public options. It's also a nice compromise between city and suburb in that there are some decent sized lots, but all of East Memphis is still in a convenient location. Anything in this area is unlikely to be any more dangerous than a normal decent-sized city.
If you don't have kids, I'd suggest downtown. The places you'd be looking (mud island or south main) are great areas, and not very dangerous. If I didn't have kids now, I definitely would have considered buying a place downtown.
Also, if it makes any difference to your decision, I'd disagree with the previous poster who said that Briarcrest and St. George's are the best schools in the Memphis area. They're good schools, but there are others that I've heard a lot more people speak more highly of. Also, the area they're in is really inconvenient to anything inside the loop.
If you don't have kids, I'd suggest downtown. The places you'd be looking (mud island or south main) are great areas, and not very dangerous. If I didn't have kids now, I definitely would have considered buying a place downtown.
Also, if it makes any difference to your decision, I'd disagree with the previous poster who said that Briarcrest and St. George's are the best schools in the Memphis area. They're good schools, but there are others that I've heard a lot more people speak more highly of. Also, the area they're in is really inconvenient to anything inside the loop.
Dude,
The home prices in North MS are stable right now. We have a record low inventory so that is helping maintain prices some. If you are not in a rush to buy, a short sale purchase is a good way to get a good deal right now. A lot of short sales are on the market right now, but take a little longer to close. Homes that are 225,000 and below are moving well especially in Hernando and Olive Branch. This area has a lot of good school choices as mentioned in the thread.
I work North MS and Memphis so I will be glad to help if you have questions.
The home prices in North MS are stable right now. We have a record low inventory so that is helping maintain prices some. If you are not in a rush to buy, a short sale purchase is a good way to get a good deal right now. A lot of short sales are on the market right now, but take a little longer to close. Homes that are 225,000 and below are moving well especially in Hernando and Olive Branch. This area has a lot of good school choices as mentioned in the thread.
I work North MS and Memphis so I will be glad to help if you have questions.
My wife and I have worked in the Greater Memphis area almost 10 years and lived in a couple of places in the area. IMO, DeSoto County is a great place to live if working in Memphis. We live in Southaven, but it's getting a little crowded. Hernando or Olive Branch would be a good place to start. The school systems are probably the best in Mississippi, especially DeSoto Central, Lewisburg, and Center Hill.
1. Memphis is a big city with the pros of great culture, events, places to go, things to see, etc. & the cons of big cities-crime, social ills, etc. I am from a small MS town & have been in Memphis for 24 years. It has a whole lot more to offer than what you hear from visitors regurgitating what soemone else said. Rest assured a lot of what you hear about Mmephis by even some suburbanites is overblown. Like any large city, you just need to know the places to avoid and teh places where you need to be aware.
2. I have lived all over this city from out East in Germantown/Cordova to Midtown to East Memphis. The longest possible commute is barely 30 minutes & that woudl be from Collierville to downtown. So dont get too hung up on drive time.
3. Public schools can be OK in Germantown, probably better in Collierville & either for elementary. Once kids get to middle school or high school, you just need to determine what is best for your family. Private school options are many & there are many great private schools from coed to same sex, elementary to K-12. As one stated, St. Georges or Briarcrest are good private schools. My sons go to PDS, a JK-6th grade all boys school, and MUS, a 7-12 all boys school. THey are quality schools & their academics, athletics, etc.speak for themselves.
4. If you dont have kids, consider mid town. Everyone shoudl expereince Mid Town pre-kids. Great place to expereince the city. As you have kids & or begin to work toward that, look @ East Memphis. I have lived in East Memphis b/w Poplar Perkins & Highland for 14 years. Great stable neighborhoods, close to downtown/midtown & yet equally close to the burbs.
5. Memphis, like any large city, is what you make of it. If you retreat to the burbs & never recreate downtown--Grizzlies game, nightlife, dinner, etc. or in Midtown you truly miss out on a lot that the city has to offer. Rest assured, wherever you finally settle in--i.e. with kids, family, etc., that is where you will spend your life, That is where you will go to church, school, go out to dinner, make friends, etc. Figure a 5 mile radius.
Welcome to Memphis. Hope you enjoy it.
2. I have lived all over this city from out East in Germantown/Cordova to Midtown to East Memphis. The longest possible commute is barely 30 minutes & that woudl be from Collierville to downtown. So dont get too hung up on drive time.
3. Public schools can be OK in Germantown, probably better in Collierville & either for elementary. Once kids get to middle school or high school, you just need to determine what is best for your family. Private school options are many & there are many great private schools from coed to same sex, elementary to K-12. As one stated, St. Georges or Briarcrest are good private schools. My sons go to PDS, a JK-6th grade all boys school, and MUS, a 7-12 all boys school. THey are quality schools & their academics, athletics, etc.speak for themselves.
4. If you dont have kids, consider mid town. Everyone shoudl expereince Mid Town pre-kids. Great place to expereince the city. As you have kids & or begin to work toward that, look @ East Memphis. I have lived in East Memphis b/w Poplar Perkins & Highland for 14 years. Great stable neighborhoods, close to downtown/midtown & yet equally close to the burbs.
5. Memphis, like any large city, is what you make of it. If you retreat to the burbs & never recreate downtown--Grizzlies game, nightlife, dinner, etc. or in Midtown you truly miss out on a lot that the city has to offer. Rest assured, wherever you finally settle in--i.e. with kids, family, etc., that is where you will spend your life, That is where you will go to church, school, go out to dinner, make friends, etc. Figure a 5 mile radius.
Welcome to Memphis. Hope you enjoy it.
With the exception of some of the northernmost parts of Bartlett/Millington, you can get to basically anywhere in the greater Memphis area within about 30 minutes(rush hours excluded as well). The reason that I bring this up is that my wife and I still get ribbed about being "so far away" from the city by our long time Memphis friends, but we can honestly get to various areas of the city just as quickly as they can.
I live in Olive Branch and we're about 10 min from Germantown, 10 min from Collierville, 15 min from East Memphis, and 25-30 min from downtown Memphis. There's not much that's a bad drive at all with the exception of our team's damn softball fields out in NE Bartlett...
I live in Olive Branch and we're about 10 min from Germantown, 10 min from Collierville, 15 min from East Memphis, and 25-30 min from downtown Memphis. There's not much that's a bad drive at all with the exception of our team's damn softball fields out in NE Bartlett...
Peabody. Both residences and both of his cars were broken in to at different times. His wife was at a red light with windows down, and was propositioned by a dude that got out of a 70s Chevrolet filled with other dudes. She ran the red light. Panhandlers roam all over. If you go out at night in the Beal Street area you will constantly asked for money. My son gave one a handful of change, and the guy looked at it with contempt and threw it down. Most don't get that arrogant, but lots of them do. I would recommend Mud Island, private schools, caution, alarms and a carry license. Day time is not nearly as bad as night time.
I realized most of the posts here have been regarding where to live, less about what to do, etc. that you asked about.
There are lots of great options of places to eat in Downtown, Midtown, East Memphis, Germantown, and Collierville. I think the highest concentration is probably downtown, getting progressively less concentrated as you move east. There may be decent (non-chain) places to eatin north Mississippi and Arlington/Lakeland also, I'm just not familiar with them. I'm fairly certain Cordova doesn't allow restaurants unless they're chains.
For sporting events, obviously the Grizzlies and Redbirds are great options, and I think the Riverkings (minor league hockey at the DeSoto Civic Center) is fun also, though it's been years since I've been to one of their games. I'm one of about a dozen people to have done so in the past few years, but I've enjoyed going to a couple University of Memphis football games because the parking is free, it's about 10 minutes from my house, and it's pretty easy to find free tickets. If you just want to watch some college football in person, it's a very easy way to do so. And, they sell beer at the games.
The Greenline in East Memphis (an old railroad track that's been paved over and is closed to traffic) and Shelby Farms are nice outdoor activity options.
There are always a variety of concert options, and venues throughout the Memphis area, including north Mississippi.
On the last Friday of each month, the South Main area downtown has a trolley tour, where the art galleries and other shops in the area stay open late, and one trolley has free rides and wine. Broad Avenue in mid-town does something similar, though less frequently (and sans trolley and I don't think there's any free wine).
The zoo is very nice and has some events that are worth going to, including zoo brew (beer tasting) and something similar with wine. It's also worth going to just to see the animals (which include pandas).
I'm sure there's a lot of things I'm forgetting, and that someone without kids can come up with a much more comprehensive list, but there's a partial list off the top of my head.
I also wanted to reply to UnknownDawg's post because he's right that wherever you settle down, you will pretty much spend your life within a 5 mile radius of that area. For that reason, I'd suggest renting for a little while to figure out what you really want.
Finally, I like that this post used "recreate" as a verb.
There are lots of great options of places to eat in Downtown, Midtown, East Memphis, Germantown, and Collierville. I think the highest concentration is probably downtown, getting progressively less concentrated as you move east. There may be decent (non-chain) places to eatin north Mississippi and Arlington/Lakeland also, I'm just not familiar with them. I'm fairly certain Cordova doesn't allow restaurants unless they're chains.
For sporting events, obviously the Grizzlies and Redbirds are great options, and I think the Riverkings (minor league hockey at the DeSoto Civic Center) is fun also, though it's been years since I've been to one of their games. I'm one of about a dozen people to have done so in the past few years, but I've enjoyed going to a couple University of Memphis football games because the parking is free, it's about 10 minutes from my house, and it's pretty easy to find free tickets. If you just want to watch some college football in person, it's a very easy way to do so. And, they sell beer at the games.
The Greenline in East Memphis (an old railroad track that's been paved over and is closed to traffic) and Shelby Farms are nice outdoor activity options.
There are always a variety of concert options, and venues throughout the Memphis area, including north Mississippi.
On the last Friday of each month, the South Main area downtown has a trolley tour, where the art galleries and other shops in the area stay open late, and one trolley has free rides and wine. Broad Avenue in mid-town does something similar, though less frequently (and sans trolley and I don't think there's any free wine).
The zoo is very nice and has some events that are worth going to, including zoo brew (beer tasting) and something similar with wine. It's also worth going to just to see the animals (which include pandas).
I'm sure there's a lot of things I'm forgetting, and that someone without kids can come up with a much more comprehensive list, but there's a partial list off the top of my head.
I also wanted to reply to UnknownDawg's post because he's right that wherever you settle down, you will pretty much spend your life within a 5 mile radius of that area. For that reason, I'd suggest renting for a little while to figure out what you really want.
Finally, I like that this post used "recreate" as a verb.
Judging from the responses in this thread.
I was born and raised in Memphis & much of my immediate family still lives there. Despite family, it is just about the last place I would choose to make a home. The excuse that it is no worse than any other city is not true. It may be no better than Jackson, Atlanta, Detroit, or Chicago but there are many cities in this country that are actually great places to live.
When living in Memphis, my wife could not walk to her car alone after work for fear of being mugged, car jacked, or worse (and with good reason). My folks have had at least 3 cars stolen out of their driveway in a fairly affluent neighborhood that is supposedly safe. The murder rate in Memphis is higher than most major cities twice it's size.
The Shelby County schools were not horrible, but the new merger of city & county will just ruin any good that was there. There are decent private schools: St Marys for girls, Christian Brothers or MUS for boys, ECS is coed and far superior academically to Briarcrest. These will each set you back between $3K - $10K a year, however.
The quality of restaurants is great & a selling point... as long as you don't want anything other than BBQ. The night life is not bad. I really do love Autozone Park, The Orpheum, Young Ave Deli, some of the bars on Beale Street, etc. There is no place to get a proper cocktail & few places to get an exceptional meal, however.
Long story short: Salaries are very high in Memphis for people who have a choice to live elsewhere. There is a very good reason for this. Do your wife & yourself a favor by taking a lower paying job in a better location.
I was born and raised in Memphis & much of my immediate family still lives there. Despite family, it is just about the last place I would choose to make a home. The excuse that it is no worse than any other city is not true. It may be no better than Jackson, Atlanta, Detroit, or Chicago but there are many cities in this country that are actually great places to live.
When living in Memphis, my wife could not walk to her car alone after work for fear of being mugged, car jacked, or worse (and with good reason). My folks have had at least 3 cars stolen out of their driveway in a fairly affluent neighborhood that is supposedly safe. The murder rate in Memphis is higher than most major cities twice it's size.
The Shelby County schools were not horrible, but the new merger of city & county will just ruin any good that was there. There are decent private schools: St Marys for girls, Christian Brothers or MUS for boys, ECS is coed and far superior academically to Briarcrest. These will each set you back between $3K - $10K a year, however.
The quality of restaurants is great & a selling point... as long as you don't want anything other than BBQ. The night life is not bad. I really do love Autozone Park, The Orpheum, Young Ave Deli, some of the bars on Beale Street, etc. There is no place to get a proper cocktail & few places to get an exceptional meal, however.
Long story short: Salaries are very high in Memphis for people who have a choice to live elsewhere. There is a very good reason for this. Do your wife & yourself a favor by taking a lower paying job in a better location.
Austin Texas
It is a great city with a great economy, low crime, high quality of living & a large population of educated people. Downtown is safe, fun, busy & offers choices from dive bars to 5 star fine dining & everything in between. Austin is the live music capital of the world and you cant go anywhere without hearing some great local (or nationally popular) band.
The worst thing about this town is the god awful heat.
It is a great city with a great economy, low crime, high quality of living & a large population of educated people. Downtown is safe, fun, busy & offers choices from dive bars to 5 star fine dining & everything in between. Austin is the live music capital of the world and you cant go anywhere without hearing some great local (or nationally popular) band.
The worst thing about this town is the god awful heat.
I have family that live in the Memphis area and most of them live out east of Memphis. Some of the areas in Mid-town arn't too bad. Definitely want to stay away from Orange Mound and Whitehaven!!
Moving to Memphis September to start work at an accounting firm. Looking to spend around $700. 1 bedroom.<div>
</div><div>I found this so far,http://www.whitneymgmt.com/the-renaissance
Anyone know anything about it??</div>
</div><div>I found this so far,http://www.whitneymgmt.com/the-renaissance
Anyone know anything about it??</div>
You will have more options at $700 if you split a 2 bedroom. I have a friend that used to live in the apartment you linked. It's just okay...nothing special, but definitely cheap. If you are going to be a tax guy at KPMG, you will have a convenient commute to work every day. I think they are right next door...
grew up in memphis, immediate family is the only reason to return. last time i "lived" in memphis was 1988. the immediate family moved out of city limits years ago.
i notice many of the other suggestions on this thread are "midtown" or any of the other city around memphis. that's just makes me want to visit that much more.
i notice many of the other suggestions on this thread are "midtown" or any of the other city around memphis. that's just makes me want to visit that much more.