Places to live near MEM
 

Just getting a head start as it looks like I'll be going to MEM and I am curious on places to live. I hear the area is terrible and am looking for advice on places to stay away from. Anyone live there or have any experience with the area?

Thanks

I grew up just outside of the city and never thought anything of it. However after I moved back after flight school and college I came to realize that the city is pretty dirty. There are a lot of places that aren't that bad though. I would assume you want to be close to the arpt. I would suck it up and get a place about 30 mins from the arpt and you will find much better living. If you get a place outside the city it = much lower taxes too. I live on the northside of MEM near the state park and it is about 15 mins to downtown and about 25 - 30 mins to arpt. No city taxes here and county schools. Can walk out the back door and go hunting if I so desire. There are a lot of ok places to live though. Most are on the east side of the city and cost a bit more though.

So you got the SAAB? If I get hired that where I'm going too. MEM isn't bad. There are some pretty rough places, but a lot of cities have parts like that right? I agree that the east side of town is good and the Germantown area as well (little farther east). Some of the apartments out there can be kinda high though. Overall its not a bad place.

You guys should look around Cordova. There seems to be less expensive places there. Also Bartlett has some ok areas that are affordable.
As far as rough places I have always thought of STL, ORD, and parts of JFK as much worse. I think we have a lot of little hood rats, but they seem to stay well contained in their respective hoods :D

I used to fly out of Memphis for 3 years. I just recently moved from there a year ago. I lived across the border in Southaven, Mississippi. I had a 9 mile drive to the airport and all on back roads. Not much traffic at all. There are many apartment complexes and houses for sale and is a real safe area. Its about a 15 minute drive to downtown memphis. The traffic around the 240 Beltway is a pain in the ass sometimes. Just my 2 cents but take a look in that area.... you may just find something worth it.

Ok, thanks for the suggestions.

ORD being rough? It's almost in the suburbs, Schaumburg area :)

I don't think STL is such a "rough" area. I lived in the suburbs for 5 years. If you are willing to move to the West suburbs and deal with a 20-30 minute commute to Lambert its not bad at all. St. Charles, St. Peters, and O'Fallon all have nice areas with reasonable housing and apartments.

Thanks for the suggestions in MEM, I may be based there soon enough and this was a question that was running through my head already.

How is it by the university?

I agree with MillerTime.

From the research that I have done, working out of MEM and living in northern Mississippi would be the way to go. You have the towns of Southaven, Olive Branch & Corinth. All are located in Northern Mississippi. Great places to start and raise a family. Not to mention the cost of living is less than that of the surrounding area. JMO.

Btw, check out newhomes.com. You just may see something you like. Good luck!!!



atp

South of the city look at Southaven and Olive Branch. The best areas to the east are Germantown and Collierville. The Cordova area was once a great place to live, but it has really declined over the last several years. If you really want to live close to downtown, check out Mud Island. Not the cheapest, but it's pretty nice down there.

Not very good.

Corinth is nowhere near MEM. It will take you well over an hour to drive into work. Check out Oakland, Rossville, Fisherville, etc...

My girlfriend recently moved to the Memphis area. Definitely take a look at Cordova. I'll be moving up there when/if I can get on with Mesaba or Pinnacle @ MEM. Germantown is also nice. Real pretty architecture down there.

Hearing a lot of stuff about Cordova... is this close to the airport?

Cordova isn't too close to the airport, I would say from the middle of Cordova it's around 30 min depending on traffic. I was under the impression that after Memphis took Cordova that the housing market took a dump. I know some people were having a hard time selling houses for close to what they bought them for. And yeah, Corinth is nowhere near Memphis. Either Northern MS, Germantown, Collierville, Oakland, Fayette County are would be good. Right now I live just south of Germantown still outside of Memphis limits and it isn't too bad.

Its about 20 miles to the airport from Cordova. Probably a 30 minute drive if there is no traffic.

Most of these guys got it right. The places I would look at are Germantown, Cordova, Collierville, Mud Island, Southaven and Olive Branch. If it’s not on that list, I'd stay away from it.

For reference, Collierville and Mud Island are a little pricier than the others. Germantown and Cordova are pretty middle class. Southaven and Olive Branch would probably be the cheapest spots.

I have lived in MEM my whole life. I have lived in germantown and collierville, grandparents were in cordova for years, friends live downtown. If you are young and single look at living downtown- its not that expensive, many places are actually nice, and there is plenty to do. If you have a girlfriend/wife or just like the suburbs take a look in germantown and collierville. I live right on the germantown and collierville border and its a 20-25 minute ride to the employee lot. In my apartment complex I have 2 fedex crashpads and 6 pinnacle pilots that I know first hand. Cost of living is cheap out east. You DO NOT want to be in the city of Memphis unless you are downtown. Cordova has been anexed into Memphis so yes- that market took a hit. If you do live downtown you actually can get assisted living from the city- meaning since you make such little money (as an FO) you get money to help out the rent. I have talked with a few FO's who live downtown who live in some places nicer than mine and pay less than I do b/c of the assisted living deal. Look into it.

Also if you are downtown you are stumbling distance to the Flying Saucer- great bar. Every time I go there I run into pilots. Its actuallly kinda weird.

I kindda thought Germantown was more expensive than Collierville...

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=e...3459&z=12&om=1

Google says 30 minutes, but I know it takes 19 minutes on average.

Negatory.... Unless you are in Southwind the average home price is now lower. Cville had "the other side of the tracks" averaged in for a while but collierville is the most expensive suburb now. Hence the "fedex neighborhoods". You should know that. Now I am coming over to argue with you and drink all your beer!;)

I guess things have changed a little... :rolleyes:

i have lived in mem for a little over 2 years now. i bought a house out in cordova, and i really enjoy it. i don't live in the heart of cordova, i am actually pretty far out east, past houston levee so it takes me a good 30 min to the parking lot. really nice area though. great neighboor hood and NOT getting annexed to mem for atleast 10 years. we aren't even on the chopping block right now, and with them still trying to annex southeast memphis, and the area above shelby farms, it will be a while before they make it to us. like everyone said stay out of mem. there are a few downsides to mississippi too.

here are a few things to consider.

1. Outside of mem you pay county taxes only .
2. Mississippi has a state income tax, TN does not.
3. Sales tax in TN is 9.25%
4. If you own a car you can almost expect to pay 500 bucks a year to register it in MS. i have a 1999 4 runner that would have been 400 bucks to register in MS, only 75 in TN.
5. Lots of good ole boys in MS
6. Southaven is to close to whitehaven for me.

if you have any other questions just ask, i am sure everyone on here can help out.

Get an apt on Mud Island. Or downtown. East of the loop is BORING. Safe but Boring. Lots of reasonable condos for sale right now downtown. Homes in the new part of mud island as well.

Memphis overall can be rough

Thanks for all the suggestions. I may commute for a while until I find something I really like.

The waitresses are usually young and wear knee-highs w/little plaid skirts that barely cover their a$s... kinda the "Catholic schoolgirl" look. I love that place.

They are referred to as "Beer Goddesses" and the great part is I know alot of em- We went to high school together.... I never thought they would be bringing me beer!

I own a crashpad in Cordova, not a great area. A lot of Cordova has been annexed and as a property owner up there looking to one day get rid of my house, investing in property in that area is a mistake. Schools are terrible and the less than desirables are starting to move in. I have been in Memphis for 14 years so far and am about to move to Jersey so I know what your dealing with while looking for a home in a not so great area. I would definitely recommend looking hard in Germantown and Collierville. These areas are not expensive at all if you look at the average in most places in the states. G'town has great ordinances that keep it looking good and you would be living in a safer area within a descent commute. Collierville is a little further, but a little more affordable and just as safe with descent schools. North MS is not too bad, so as suggested above I would check out those areas. Corinth as stated is ridiculously far, that one must have been a mistake. Good Luck with your search!

Buy yourself a bullet proof vest if you live anywhere inside the 240/55 loop...enjoy the BBQ......I lived there working with 9E for 9 months and shared a pad in Olive Branch which was ok.

...
While I would like to say its not THAT bad, tuth is, Memphis has some pretty rough parts that you don't want to go to. Memphis is my home away from Orlando and I spent about two years there before I came back to school. If I get hired by Mesaba, I plan on moving up there.

An important thing to remember no matter where you live in Memphis is to keep things secure and locked up. My dad lives on Hacks Cross road in Germantown right by the Fed Ex corporate headquarters and even though that area is a pretty nice, they have had home invasions and robberies as well. Other than THAT Memphis is pretty cool. "Memphis in May" is a neat things and yeah, the BBQ is AMAZING!!

Wow reading most of these things I guess I should be more concerned living here. I guess after spending most of your life living somewhere you turn a deaf ear to all of it. Most of the crime is located in the bad areas though. I can't think of but a few places where I WILL not go at night. There are a lot of poor people in MEM but I have been luck enough to never have had a house or car broken into. Lived in Tulsa for 5 years and I lost a motorcycle and most of my radio and CD's...go figure.
The MS taxes on Auto's are MUCH higher than TN and like many other "OK" neighbor hoods in MEM it is on a stone's throw from some of the worst areas. MEM is not a big city and living outside of it is probably the best idea. It will only cost you a 30 minute drive and will be well worth it in taxes, crime rates, and schools.
I guess if you like Tunica or gambling then MS has some of that to offer. Last time I checked I think they said Tunica was the 3rd largest gaming center in the country. Only 30- 45 minutes from almost all areas around MEM.
I think the next big problem is affording anything in a decent neighborhood on a regional salary. It is REALLY hard to find a decent place in a decent area for less than 120K...That is pretty high with all the student loans and regular bills.
I enjoy it most of the time though. Even though they recently starting closing the bars down early.....5 am now...I use to love to see the sun coming up at closing time :D

MEM is rated the 7th most dangerous/crime ridden city in the USA per the last data provided by the FBI....stay away from the BBQ you'll get fat...A trip out to Graceland will give you an idea about how dirty the area is.

Never been to Graceland but I know that area around whitehaven is not the best place. I love BBQ and I'm sure i'm in about as good a shape as any pilot out there today but thanks for the concern ;). I know MEM has its dirty areas. Like MOST medium to large cities do. I just prefer to stay out of those areas....I think that is what the thread was about anyways right? :confused:

Tunica is the Place to be.... Taxes aren't that high because of the Casinos! The place is growing so the Cost to buy or rent isn't all that bad. With the New I69 U can be from an Apartment Complex and To the Airport in 30mins. Free drinks at the casinos, good golf if you like it (3 world class Courses within 10mins,) lots of women and you got 9 casinos to choose from. Grew up in Tunica and I've seen that place go from the Slums to the Cream of the Crop. If it was me I'd stay out of Olive Branch, and Southaven as People Migrate to those places so does the crime.

Just my Suggestion!?