Affordable starter homes just outside Salt Lake City

One myth that some buyers have been led to believe lately is that if you are looking for a starter home, you’ll have to settle in some way. Either you’ll have to buy one that’s too old for you, too small, or in an area that you don’t think is nice enough for you. People will say that everything is too expensive these days if you’re starting out.

I don’t believe that you have to settle if you know where to look. One prime example that comes to mind is a development in Stansbury Park where the townhomes start at about $146,000. The name is Benson Mill Crossing, located about 3 miles from exit 99 in Stansbury Park. For some people that I’ve talked to, Stansbury Park seems way too far out there. I drove there not too long ago, and I was surprised at how short of a distance away it actually seemed to be. Especially if you work somewhere close to downtown, or on the west side, you just hop on I-80 and stay on it almost the whole way.

People who live in Stansbury, love it. It’s not the west desert, like some will have you believe. They’ve got most everything that you need, and if they dont’ have it, nearby Tooele probably will. The neighborhoods are attractive and well kept. The scenery is nice. I don’t know if there is anything not to like about it.

I encourage you to look into the Benson Mill Crossing website here. They’ve got a list of things that are nearby, floorplans, directions, etc.

If you’re looking to buy a first home, this could be a good choice for you.

*My service doesn’t stop here! In addition to maintaining The Salt Lake City Utah Real Estate Blog, I also help people buy and sell homes in Utah. When you need help with either of these, contact me!

Tags: Stansury Park Utah real estate,real estate,Utah starter homes,Salt Lake City real estate

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Fountain in South Jordan

I took this picture in South Jordan, next to my office. There’s a big fountain in an open area next to The Pie Pizzeria and the South Jordan Library. The picture would look much better if there were leaves on those trees, but I guess that will be coming soon.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

South Jordan, Utah – It’s only getting better*

-This is the second post in a series briefly covering the cities in and around Salt Lake City, Utah -

The words South Jordan used to bring to mind images of endless fields and few people. But in the last 20 years or so, the city has changed dramatically from ‘way out in the middle of nowhere’, to a booming and desirable location. And this city is only getting started.

Its central location is what many people are growing to love about South Jordan. Now that Salt Lake’s west side is developing like never before, South Jordan is no longer at the far reaches of the valley. It’s about 15 minutes away from downtown Salt Lake on a no traffic day, and only minutes away from the rest of Salt Lake’s cities. Since many people in the south valley don’t even go downtown anymore, South Jordan feels more centrally located now than ever before.

Real estate on all levels is alive and well in South Jordan. In the last few years, it has seen a good number of pricier neighborhoods creep up within its boundaries. This has given many people the impression that South Jordan is no longer affordable, but this is not the case. These pricey neighborhoods have just created a higher end market where there really wasn’t one before. There are still numerous homes to choose from, no matter your budget. If you’re looking for apartments, basic or luxury townhomes, single family homes, or mansions, you’ll find them here.

South Jordan has also really stepped up its business and retail development. The Jordan River bottom area is growing so fast that if you don’t drive by it every day, you’re probably unaware how many office buildings are there now. It really is amazing to see how the place has boomed. I was there a few nights ago to visit the new Market Street Grill, and I was really impressed at how the river bottom has come alive. But what I especially appreciate about it, is that they’ve kept the Jordan River trail and shoreline looking nice; some groups are doing all they can to make sure that the ecosystem is not destroyed by all the development.

And who can mention South Jordan without talking about Daybreak. This development on the western side of the city is now considered by many to be the pride of South Jordan. The homes are architecturally unique, recreation abounds, and soon we’ll see some big business and retail development there, helping Daybreak achieve its goal of becoming a self-sustainable community. If you haven’t visited Daybreak, it’s time.

I would summarize South Jordan this way: it’s only getting better (Daybreak’s slogan is ‘This is getting good’, but this one is my own creative slogan:). The quality of life is great, and whether you are coming here with a family or by yourself, you’ll find something for you.

*My service doesn’t stop here! In addition to maintaining The Salt Lake City Utah Real Estate Blog, I also help people buy and sell homes in and around South Jordan, Utah. When you need help with either of these, contact me!

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Draper City Utah – The Spirit of the Past is the Strength of the Future*

-This is the first part of a series that will cover cities in and around the Salt Lake Valley.-

I’ve decided to do a series of short informational blog posts about some of the cities that are near Salt Lake City. Some people in Utah refer to the whole valley as Salt Lake City, but there are quite a few suburbs of the capital city that I’m going to cover individually. I’ll start with where I live – Draper, Utah.

Draper is located in an ideal spot. It’s lies right about where Salt Lake and Utah counties meet, making for a nice central location. It’s also pushed up against the Wasatch mountains, adding a beauty to the city that is difficult to parallel. On a day with minimal traffic, you can expect a drive to downtown Salt Lake to take about 20 minutes, and to Provo in the heart of Utah Valley to take maybe 25. Even better is how short of a drive it is to the four mountain resorts close by. Draper residents are about 15 miles from Brighton, Solitude, Snowbird, and Alta, give or take a few miles.

So why might you want to live in Draper? First, the quality of life is great here. Draper residents take pride in their city, and it shows through the various festivals, shows, and events that take place here. And if you just look at the condition of the city itself, you’ll see pride of ownership, or pride of citizenship, or whatever you might call it.

Second, you are close to business. 12300 South street is home to an abundance of eating establishments and other businesses. There are plenty of other business building around Draper too. One of my favorites is the Ralph Wadsworth Construction Co. building. It’s different in a good way. There are other retail businesses, prominent among them being IKEA, small businesses, office buildings, and much more to come. In fact, there is a Harmon’s grocery store being built as I write this. But the above is just a sampling of the business here.

Third, just take a look at some of the neighborhoods in Draper and you’ll see why it’s a place that people want to spend their careers and raise their families. You’ll find everything from apartments, to luxury townhomes, to historical homes, to mega-mansions, and everything in between. There are a ton of young people here, a few retirees, and quite a few kids. Most residents that I know will tell you that their neighbors are great and always willing to help you with something. I can attest first hand – just the other day I was bailed out of a bind that included a large snow drift, grass, and my car. But that’s not important here. The point is, you won’t have trouble finding a place to call home and you’ll be able to find and afford something in Draper.

I don’t know how much I need to go into the weather, since it’s typical Utah weather. Lots of snow in the winter, especially if you live on the benches or atop Suncrest, and hot in the summer. I love Draper in the summer. Lots of tall trees, well groomed parks, excellent trails for those who are into the outdoors, and a big nice pool for those days that become unbearable. What to do in the winter? What else?!!

Draper is a great place to live and I’d recommend it to anyone. Like I said before, people in any stage of life will be able to find something here.

*My service doesn’t stop here! In addition to maintaining The Salt Lake City Utah Real Estate Blog, I also help people buy and sell homes in Draper Utah. When you need help with either of these, contact me!

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!