St Louis Housing Info

[countingdays]

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I'm moving to St Louis and have been trying to look into places to live. Where I am now, the big realtors offer rental listings and will help you find places to rent. For the most part, the realtor websites I've found in St Louis offer exclusively home sales or have only a couple of rentals listed. Is there a big agency that'll have plenty of rental listings that I haven't found with a google search? I'm going to St Louis in May to look at rental places in person and to hopefully sign a lease. I'm hoping to narrow the search and arrange to see several places before my trip.
I don't particularly want to use craigslist since I'd have to contact each person individually, arrange separate times to see the places, etc. It seems less than ideal since I live far away and will only have 2 days to look at rental homes.

 

[Impromptu]

If you are heading to SLU they have a lot of realty information for incoming residents. They are also pretty good at connecting people with graduating residents who want to sell.

 

[Pilot Doc]

Rents in STL are too cheap to support commissioned salespeople. Unless you're looking to rent an attending level house, it's a DIY affair.

 

[PhakeDoc]

I would recommend looking at the Central West End, especially if you are going to Wash U - tons of restaurants, vibrant nightlife, all within walking distance from homes and hospital. Fairly cheap too and in close proximity to Forest Park.

 

[countingdays]

Thanks for the responses.

I think CWE would be great since it's walking-distance to work, but my impression is that CWE is mostly high-rise apartments. Are there likely to be any rental houses available in CWE? I have a wife and 2 dogs, so we are hoping to find a house to rent.

I hear that University City, Richmond Heights, and Dogtown might be better places to look for a rental house. How're the areas around Tower Grove Park and Benton Park?

Ideally I could find a realtor who I could tell what I want and my price range and who would have several places to show me when I head up there to look around in a couple of months. Pilot Doc's post sounds like that might not be possible in St Louis. I guess I have my work cut out for me. Hearing about where to focus my search would still be helpful though. I should at least be able to avoid setting up appointments to see rentals that end up being in shady neighborhoods.

 

[gutonc]

Thanks for the responses.

I think CWE would be great since it's walking-distance to work, but my impression is that CWE is mostly high-rise apartments. Are there likely to be any rental houses available in CWE? I have a wife and 2 dogs, so we are hoping to find a house to rent.

I hear that University City, Richmond Heights, and Dogtown might be better places to look for a rental house. How're the areas around Tower Grove Park and Benton Park?

I'm not familiar with Benton Park but Tower Grove would be a good area for you. U. City will be tough to find decently priced houses in unless you go way north or West (which get a little sketchy). Dogtown would be a great place as well. South Grand, Soulard and South City are also areas where you should be able find decently priced rental houses. If you want to go further west, Rock Hill and Maplewood are both decent choices.

 

[DrRobert]

South city would be perfect in regards to what you're looking for.

 

[boilerbeast]

I'm an intern at a WashU Program and our situations are similar. I live in Richmond Heights and love it. I have a fenced yard for the dog, a safe spot to park my car, and can hop on the Metro to head downtown/CWE (or to the hospital) when it's more convenient. Now that 40 is open, my commute to Barnes/Children's is only about 5 minutes. I couldn't have picked a better spot--definitely recommend it. We rent, but it's reasonable ($975 for 3 bedroom house) and perfect for what we need.

 

[countingdays]

I'm an intern at a WashU Program and our situations are similar. I live in Richmond Heights and love it. I have a fenced yard for the dog, a safe spot to park my car, and can hop on the Metro to head downtown/CWE (or to the hospital) when it's more convenient. Now that 40 is open, my commute to Barnes/Children's is only about 5 minutes. I couldn't have picked a better spot--definitely recommend it. We rent, but it's reasonable ($975 for 3 bedroom house) and perfect for what we need.

You aren't moving out in June are you? 😉

 

[Pilot Doc]

I'm not familiar with Benton Park but Tower Grove would be a good area for you..

If safety is his first priority, tower grove isn't the hottest.

http://interact.stltoday.com/mds/news/html/1576

 

[Impromptu]

If I were moving to St. Louis for SLU or WashU I would recommend anywhere along/near Hampton Avenue. Consider Dogtown, Clifton Heights, or the Hill.

Tower Grove's safety changes street by street. You can tell by the lawns.

If you move to the Central West End your car will get stolen, you will get mugged, and you will pay high prices (relative to St. Louis) for a lousy place.

Everyone highly advises against North St. Louis. By North St. Louis I mean North of Delmar Ave. If you click on the link above and put in all the murders, then zoom in, it's like a wall. One side of the street will be full of murders, and the other side is candyland.

If you want an average of $800,000 homes go out to Ladue.

 

[odieoh]

Tower Grove area can be really nice. As someone mentioned it really varies street by street, one street will be crackhouse central, and the next will be pleasantville usa. I lived on DeTonty street which was more the crackhouse variety. In 4 years my car was broken into once, otherwise no problems. One of my classmates' car was stolen and they found it on my street.

I had classmates with kids who lived on better streets and had no problems at all. The park is nice to have nearby. I miss StL, enjoy it!

 

[PhakeDoc]

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