I would go with Ballwin. It is a lot nicer then Pacific plus closer to the city. The only thing near Pacific is Six Flags which makes traffic a bitch during the summer.

Originally Posted by mtxbass1 What do you guys think about Ballwin or Pacific? I've found a few nice 4-5 br homes out that way that seem to be exactly what I'm looking for, space wise. We need at least 2000 sq feet, if not more.

Pacific is way out Highway 44 from anything, and as others have stated, traffic around Six Flags makes travel along 44 by there a PITA during the summer.

Ballwin is much closer to a lot of things than Pacific, and I'd certainly pick it over Pacific. A number of my co-workers have been living out that way for a while and they certainly enjoy living out there.

Only day-to-day issue with Ballwin is that traffic along Manchester to get to Highway 270 can be a pain sometimes during the peak travel times of the week. You're looking at being 10-15 minutes from Highway 270, though you're somewhat close to Highway 141, which will give you reasonably easy access to Highway 40 and 44.

yeah Id like to also say Manchester traffic is a ing nightmare pretty much at anytime, my dad lives in Ballwin in a condo and its really nice but takes forever to get there from north county

I stay as far away from Ballwin as I can only because of traffic.

Manchester/Ballwin also has high cost of living in terms of apartments. I'd say South County or Fenton would be your best bet.

A little birdie told me EA did not send out a lot of extra copies of Amalur to Gamestop's for non-preorders. That birdie from Fenton told me they have 1 free sell copy on 360 and 1 on PS3 unless they get more via UPS tomorrow afternoon. Similar news with the other releases tomorrow, only 2-5 freesell copies of Darkness 2, Fallout UE, RE: Rev, Jak and Daxter HD, and the 3DS Circle Pad Pro.

Originally Posted by shrike4242 Pacific is way out Highway 44 from anything, and as others have stated, traffic around Six Flags makes travel along 44 by there a PITA during the summer. Ballwin is much closer to a lot of things than Pacific, and I'd certainly pick it over Pacific. A number of my co-workers have been living out that way for a while and they certainly enjoy living out there. Only day-to-day issue with Ballwin is that traffic along Manchester to get to Highway 270 can be a pain sometimes during the peak travel times of the week. You're looking at being 10-15 minutes from Highway 270, though you're somewhat close to Highway 141, which will give you reasonably easy access to Highway 40 and 44.

Very good to know. Maybe I need to look elsewhere. I'm not a fan of traffic. When I visited recently, I thought the traffic on 270 was an absolute nightmare.

Originally Posted by MSUHitman Manchester/Ballwin also has high cost of living in terms of apartments. I'd say South County or Fenton would be your best bet.

I keep hearing South County. Is this an actual county (named South County), or is it a municipality? What defines that region? We're looking for rental homes at the moment, with a max budget of $2000/month.

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South County is of St. Louis County. Includes Ballwin/Manchester/Crestwood/Affton/Mehlville/Oakville/Fenton and many other areas. For your budget, you should be able to find something very nice in any area you would like.

Originally Posted by hufferstl South County is of St. Louis County. Includes Ballwin/Manchester/Crestwood/Affton/Mehlville/Oakville/Fenton and many other areas. For your budget, you should be able to find something very nice in any area you would like.

Thanks!

We're hitting a wall really. We can find smaller houses, but I really need something large. 4-5 br at least. Both of us work at home, so we need offices, etc. I'm kind of surprised at how much houses run out there to rent, compared to where I'm coming from now.

270 is horrible during the early morning rush (5-9) and the afternoon rush (4-7) but other than that it's fine barring any type of accident.

I got Reckoning at Best Buy yesterday, there were tons of copies on the shelves.

Originally Posted by mtxbass1 Thanks! We're hitting a wall really. We can find smaller houses, but I really need something large. 4-5 br at least. Both of us work at home, so we need offices, etc. I'm kind of surprised at how much houses run out there to rent, compared to where I'm coming from now.

I wouldn't consider Ballwin and Manchester to be South County, it's more West County.

South County is normally viewed as South of 44 along Highway 270, until you hit Illinois. I would say that Crestwood/Affton/Mehlville/Oakville/Fenton is South County, though Arnold is in Jefferson County but it usually lumped into the South County area.

I'd personally look into Fenton and Arnold for houses, as there's lots of new construction out that way for houses that large in the 4-5br size.

Originally Posted by MSUHitman 270 is horrible during the early morning rush (5-9) and the afternoon rush (4-7) but other than that it's fine barring any type of accident.

I drive it five days a week and would say it's more 7AM - 9AM that's an issue than earlier, and 5PM - 6:30PM is more the issue than earlier in the afternoon rush. I've pretty much driven 270 northbound to work anytime from 2-3AM all the way to 10-11AM in the morning and it's pretty much good most of the time save the times I mention above.

The main clogs in traffic along 270 are from Gravois to Manchester northbound in the morning rush and 40 to Doughterry Ferry southbound in the afternoon rush. They're working to widen it with an additional lane in the next couple of years, so it should be less of a mess than it is currently. It's also been better than it was before they worked on Highway 40, when it was horribly bad prior to that timeframe.

Rest of the time, it's not been an issue.

Prices within STL county are going to be above 2k for a 4 or 5 br house. Most of the affluent 'burbs are in that area. If you are looking for a steal with houses I would suggest maybe looking over the river on the IL side. Places like Shrewsbury, Collinsville are closer to the base so they have lower prices on housing out there. You'll just want to make sure to check out the area before you commit because there are some really out of the way towns in that area too, and you'll want to avoid anything that gets too close to East Saint Louis.

The housing prices in that area are coming down right now, a lot of people in that area are out of a job due to the government layoffs on the base. It sucks for them but you might be able to get a deal out of it.

The downside if that you've got more of a 1/2 an hour drive to STL from that side rather than a 15-20 minute drive from the border towns on Saint Louis county. Also, traffic suuucks during rush hour, so coming into the city at around 7 in the morning is terrible and going out of the city at 4 - 5 PM is also equally bad.

Originally Posted by shrike4242 I'd personally look into Fenton and Arnold for houses, as there's lots of new construction out that way for houses that large in the 4-5br size. I drive it five days a week and would say it's more 7AM - 9AM that's an issue than earlier, and 5PM - 6:30PM is more the issue than earlier in the afternoon rush. I've pretty much driven 270 northbound to work anytime from 2-3AM all the way to 10-11AM in the morning and it's pretty much good most of the time save the times I mention above. The main clogs in traffic along 270 are from Gravois to Manchester northbound in the morning rush and 40 to Doughterry Ferry southbound in the afternoon rush. They're working to widen it with an additional lane in the next couple of years, so it should be less of a mess than it is currently. It's also been better than it was before they worked on Highway 40, when it was horribly bad prior to that timeframe. Rest of the time, it's not been an issue.

Those two are definitely on my list now. Thanks!!!

Originally Posted by confuseousprime Prices within STL county are going to be above 2k for a 4 or 5 br house. Most of the affluent 'burbs are in that area. If you are looking for a steal with houses I would suggest maybe looking over the river on the IL side. Places like Shrewsbury, Collinsville are closer to the base so they have lower prices on housing out there. You'll just want to make sure to check out the area before you commit because there are some really out of the way towns in that area too, and you'll want to avoid anything that gets too close to East Saint Louis. The housing prices in that area are coming down right now, a lot of people in that area are out of a job due to the government layoffs on the base. It sucks for them but you might be able to get a deal out of it. The downside if that you've got more of a 1/2 an hour drive to STL from that side rather than a 15-20 minute drive from the border towns on Saint Louis county. Also, traffic suuucks during rush hour, so coming into the city at around 7 in the morning is terrible and going out of the city at 4 - 5 PM is also equally bad.

We've considered Collinsville and O'Fallon over in IL. They're definitely still on my list along with other places.

I'm honestly kind of shocked at the prices around STL. I'm used to being able to get a 1500 sq foot house for $1000 in a good area...

rental houses here are pretty cheap by me, but my house payment on mine is under 1k and its 1600 sq ft, split level house

I don't know what kind of shape your fiances are in but you might consider buying if you are planning to be in the area for a while. The market here isn't the greatest, I've seen prices go down since we've been here. Only problem if of course being stuck with it if you need to move.

Check out Realtor.com for prices. As confuseous says the prices have went down. I have seen at times it has went back up on buying homes but they seem to stay around the same price area for a long time. No place near the 20,000 or less for a 1500-2000 square feet like it was 3 or 4 years ago.

Originally Posted by Kezmer rental houses here are pretty cheap by me, but my house payment on mine is under 1k and its 1600 sq ft, split level house

What location is this?

Originally Posted by confuseousprime I don't know what kind of shape your fiances are in but you might consider buying if you are planning to be in the area for a while. The market here isn't the greatest, I've seen prices go down since we've been here. Only problem if of course being stuck with it if you need to move.

Finances are in great shape, but we're not buying another house right now. Keeping my current house as a rental. I don't want more debt.

I live in Hazelwood MO North County maybe 5-6 miles from the airport. Basically its the subdivision before the Mills Mall

The South County Best Buy has (or had, if they disappeared since I was there yesterday) two PS3 and two 360 Assassin's Creed Brotherhood CEs on a table at the front of the store.

Price on each is $49.99.