There are many affordable housing solutions in St. Louis, Missouri, but one may have to be a bit creative in order to find them. The St. Louis area is comprised of much more than just the city of St. Louis. The county of St. Louis spreads for over 500 square miles and there are housing bargains to be found in almost any township or city.
Make a list of all the things you may require in housing: type of residence, family size, location and proximity to work or school, square footage needs, and so forth. Decide if you're planning to buy or rent and how much you are able to budget for rent or mortgage payments; don't forget to include downpayment, deposits, and cost of utilities.
If you're looking for an apartment, www.craigslist.org is inundated with listings from apartment complexes; most offer great deals such as free rent, move-in bonuses, and roommate finding services. Many, too, cater to families, and some offer sizeable apartments and comprehensive amenities.
Craigslist also contains ads for home rentals as well as homes for sale, usually "by owner", but often realtors advertise here too. You can search by number of bedrooms and bathrooms, or price, or zip code/city.
Another good place to search is www.realtor.com. You can search by size, price, and location for both rent and purchase. You are more likely to see pictures and details on this site as opposed to Craigslist, and of course will be working with professional agents versus homeowners.
The location of housing in the St. Louis area is the main factor which will determine cost and affordability. One must, naturally, decide which things are the most important to have. For example, a good school district will be found in most areas, but the most highly rated are located in Clayton, Ladue, and in the western part of the county.
If neighborhood amenities are important to you, many subdivisions in St. Louis county provide pool and tennis clubs; YMCAs and JJCs abound there as well. Always remember, with an excellent highway and road system, and St. Louisans tendency to slightly ignore speed limits, nothing anyone could want is farther than a 15-20 minute drive.
Houses can be purchased from $65,000 on up to several million dollars; location is the key factor. Of course, homes on the higher end will be equipped with comparable facilities and services, larger lots, and so forth. But one can find, in a good area, family-size homes from around $100,000. Condos, too, are quite numerous, and will start at about the same price. At this time, in this economy, one can also pick up huge bargains, such as a home valued at $350,000, in the city of Creve Coeur, which recently sold for $159,000.
Older homes, too, can be had for less - especially those built 40-50 years ago. Most are brick, solid, well-built, and simply require updating; or perhaps not, if the style suits you. Lesser-known areas in the city of St. Louis are also good places to find bargains; some neighborhoods have gone through a renovation streak, but some are just beginning and homes there can be purchased at a very good price, especially if you're handy and can do the work yourself.
Be careful, however, when searching for housing in the city itself. Historically, some areas have been deemed more dangerous and, in particular, the north area is known for a rather high volume of crime. The south side includes such ethnic and eclectic areas as The Hill and Dogtown, Dutchtown, and Soulard. The Loop in University City has made a comeback as "the" place to shop, club, and generally exhibits more diversity; again, the area you choose can be dependent upon many factors.
If you are looking to rent, sometimes a wise move initially even if you wish to purchase later, many homes are available. Some sellers even will work with a lease-purchase or have turned to renting when their homes won't sell. Now you're in a great position to bargain - trade services for rent, or make an offer. Negotiate between two possible residences at the same time. Many homes have been on the market lately; many apartments and condos stand empty - use your skills and don't be afraid to tell a potential landlord that someone else made you a better offer. Apartments and condos start around $750 per month, and homes at $1000 or less.
One last possibility is St. Charles County. In recent years this has become a bedroom community of sorts for the St. Louis area, and many people commute from there. Home prices and rentals are much cheaper than in St. Louis County, but again, decide which things are most important to you first. A good, family-size home here starts around $80,000.
Housing in St. Louis, Missouri is much more affordable than one could expect, based on city size and population and all the possibilities throughout the area such as schools, universities, museums, parks, libraries, and entertainment venues. Check a map, research the zip codes, drive around and see all that is available - then plan to stay. The St. Louis area has more than you can imagine, and it's all quite affordable.