Salt Lake City

Old May 23rd, 2002, 05:46 PM
  #1  
Sally
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Salt Lake City

Is Salt Lake City affordable? Is it a nice city to live in? Problems with crime?
 
Old May 23rd, 2002, 08:32 PM
  #2  
Dayle
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Are you thinking of relocating? If so, I'll be happy to give you my opinions. I'm a southern California native, went to college here. Have lived here 2 times - 20 years ago & present with 16 years back in CA in between.

Lots of changes here in 20 years. Lots of things to consider in relation to your likes & dislikes.....
 
Old May 24th, 2002, 01:51 AM
  #3  
Sally
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Yes Dayle. Could you give me your views of the city and the questions I asked?
 
Old May 24th, 2002, 02:23 AM
  #4  
Jen
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Hi Sally & Dayle,
Hope you don't mind me piggy backing on this post, but I was wondering if Dayle had an opinion on a hotel close to the airport in Salt Lake City.
Just need an overnight stay for a very early flight and I'm looking for a pool and convenience to airport.
Thanks!
 
Old May 24th, 2002, 04:31 AM
  #5  
Non Mormon
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Salt Lake is nice, it is clean and crime is relatively low. The cost of living is about average for the country, that is to say cheaper than your major metropolitan areas, but more expensive than if you were to live in Wichita, Kansas. However, Salt Lake is not about the crime or the affordability and to judge it on those merits alone does not tell the entire story. Salt Lake is all about where you go to church, and if your church does not start with Mormon, you will end up feeling like an outsider. This is unfortunate, and I am sure people will post talking about how it has changed in the last 20 (which is has, and the Olympics have done wonders) but there is still the feeling of an outcast if you do not belong. So be careful in making the decision and try to talk to other people that live/have lived in Salt Lake to avoid making a costly mistake.
 
Old May 24th, 2002, 06:27 AM
  #6  
Dayle
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Hi again Sally!

I beg to differ with Non Mormon's opinion. I was raised Mormon, but do not practice now. SLC has grown to the point that its population is about 50/50 Mormon & Non. People naturally gravitate to social circles with common interests & you will find plenty of "categories" here.

Depends partly where you live. If you chose the Provo area (home of BYU), you might think you were the only nonmormon in town. If you chose Park City, you would find very little Mormon influence. Park City is a resort town that started out as a mining town. Today most people here have come from somewhere else & because it's a resort town, it's expensive to live here. Consequently, there are a lot of highly educated, successful & sophisticated people here.

Salt Lake City area would be part way between the two. Great cultural opportunities - a world class symphony, ballet, opera, theater, fantastic restaurants. Unlimited outdoor sports - the only thing we don't have in Utah is surfing. Almost the entire state population is located in the Wasatch Front between Ogden & Provo. The rest of the state is almost empty so there is lots of space to "get away".

Four distinct seasons, but the weather never seems that cold or hot due to very low humidity.

I love living here, but there are drawbacks. I make 35% less than I did in Orange County, CA. Realizing that Orange County is one of the most expensive places to live in the US. Utah's state taxes are high in proportion to other states. Education is a problem here. TOO MANY KIDS!

It also depends on your age - if you have school-age kids - you may feel that the Mormon & nonmormon kids don't mix. It's true - the Mormon church has so many meeting/activities that are expected of its families that there is no time left for socializing outside of church. It's not that they are unfriendly or excluding you, it's just that they have no time. Believe me, I've been there....

Any other specific questions, let me know.
 
Old May 24th, 2002, 07:57 AM
  #7  
tttt
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tttt
 
Old May 24th, 2002, 08:28 AM
  #8  
Eric
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Having lived in Utah for a time and having the unfortunate experience of going to Jr High/High School on the Wasatch front I think I would have to agree more with some of the Nonmormon post. Dayle pretty much hit it on the head when he said that there is a perception that school age children will not mix. At ninth grade the Mormon kids will all take one class period and go to the Mormon church across the street (there is one across from every school) and take "Seminary". This continues through high school and then in college all the Mormon kids take off at 19 for the misson. So as you can see, immediately there are some stark difference. Unfortunately, this can bleed over to the parents as many social circles are formed based on who the kids' parents are. What this does is it tends to form an isolation, especially when it comes to neighborhood parties, etc.

But you are right, Utah is gorgous, the weather is spectacular, and really has taken tremendous leaps and bounds over the last ten years. My mother still lives there up in the mountains and I love to visit when I get a chance to see real scenery.

 
Old May 24th, 2002, 10:52 AM
  #9  
Sally
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Eric, Are the public schools of SLC adequate, safe, etc?
I have heard much about gangs in SLC - any truth?
 
Old May 24th, 2002, 10:53 AM
  #10  
xxxx
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Is the housing market going through the roof in Salt Lake? Can you find reasonable homes under 100K?
 
Old May 24th, 2002, 11:02 AM
  #11  
Eric
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Salt Lake schools are just like any other city in America you have good ones and you have bad ones. Overall though, it seems that the safer high schools in the areas tend to be in the bedroom communities like Bountiful, Wood Cross, Layton and to the South West Valley City, Sandy. Unfortunately, I went to school in Ogden and did not know anyone that went to high school in Salt Lake so I don't have any first hand knowledge, but judging from what I know of those other communities and the lack of any bad news the schools should be fine.
 
Old May 24th, 2002, 02:18 PM
  #12  
Dayle
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Real estate prices in SLC and other parts of Utah were in double-digit appreciation during the 1990's. Prices have declined slightly in the last 2 years.

You would have to spend more than $100K on a nice house in a good location. In SLC the preferred area is "the east side", meaning almost anywhere east of I15. All the lower cost, newer development is happening on the west side & traffic is horrible because the streets are far behind!

Re-built I15 has helped north/south commuters significantly. TRAX (electric commuter train running from Sandy to downtown & from downtown to University of Utah) has been super successful since day one. Further expansion plans for a western SLC valley line are coming along.

 
Old May 24th, 2002, 03:06 PM
  #13  
xxxx
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Dayle,

How do avg. wage earners survive in Salt Lake? The homes I have noticed online under 100,000 are literally shacks.

Where do all your teachers, firefighters, etc. live? What is the avg. home price for the east side, or Sandy (inhabitable homes)?
 
Old May 24th, 2002, 08:56 PM
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Dayle
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When I was looking about 3 years ago in the SLC valley, my price range was approx $170K to $180K. I was shown smaller, older homes closer in to downtown - desirable for shorter commute & nice mature neighborhoods. Most had 2-3 bedrooms & 1 or 2 baths. Sometimes a 1 car, detached garage, sometimes only a car port.

Note that almost every home in Utah has a basement which is often turned into a den/rec room/pool table room or else additional bedroom(s)/bath.

I was also shown newer homes further south in Sandy. 3-4 BR, 2-3 BA, some basements finished, some not. 2 car garages & larger lots. More "suburbs" style neighborhoods.

I have a good friend who is a teacher in SLC. She & her husband both work, but have always lived in Utah & reaped the benefits of high appreciation during the last two boom periods.

When it comes to Park City, most of our firefighters & police live in smaller towns to the east where homes a much less. Many teachers in Park City are lucky enough to have higher income spouses! If you are a teacher, you better really do YOUR homework before coming to Utah. Starting salaries for teachers are almost at the bottom of the list of the 50 states.....
 
Old May 25th, 2002, 03:10 AM
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Sally
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Yes I know about the Utah pay scale Dayle! This is really the only reason we have not moved there, at least at this point. That and the fact we would be hit with a state income tax, higher cost of living and so forth would really set us back financially.
Very valuable information, thanks.
 
Old May 25th, 2002, 08:06 AM
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Dayle
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Hi again Sally!

Of course the trade offs are:

Living 5 minutes to a hour from 10 ski resorts & skiing at season pass rates!

All the other recreation that is nearly free like hiking, biking, camping, fishing, climbing.

No smog in Park City, ever!

Golden aspens in the fall, wildflowers in the summer and moose in the backyard.

Picnics at the outdoor symphony & jazz concerts. Hollywood Bowl can't even begin to compare!

 
Old May 25th, 2002, 11:53 AM
  #17  
lucky
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Dayle. It is a well known fact that you are the voice of authority on matters regarding Utah and the SLC area..and the surrounding Intermountain West. you should be a travel agent. I have always agreed with the sage wisdom you have imparted to questions asked regarding this area, but dang girl don't over sell the place. We already got enough folks in Park City. Just joking. To whoever asked the question about Utah. This whole Mormon thing is way over sold. Utah is a great place to live.
 
Old May 25th, 2002, 08:21 PM
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Dayle
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to quote Miss Emily Latella

nevermind....
 
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