Valparaiso or bust?

[BobD]

Hey All,

Anyone here familiar with the Valparaiso area? I'm currently considering an offer to relocate there. My office would actually be in Merrillville? We've lived in Indiana before, but in the Noblesville, Carmel area just north of Indy. Is it a nice area? Are there some nice neighborhoods? I'm accustomed to commuting so I could live anywhere within say an hour of Merrillville. What are some of the +'s and -'s? I already know the obvious of attending ND games and about the weather there, except does Valparaiso get lots of lake effect snow? I currently live in San Francisco which we love , but they're offering California type money to relocate back to Indiana so I have to at least give it some thought.

Thanks for any insight you can share, BobD

 

[Wild Bill]

Hey All,

Anyone here familiar with the Valparaiso area? I'm currently considering an offer to relocate there. My office would actually be in Merrillville? We've lived in Indiana before, but in the Noblesville, Carmel area just north of Indy. Is it a nice area? Are there some nice neighborhoods? I'm accustomed to commuting so I could live anywhere within say an hour of Merrillville. What are some of the +'s and -'s? I already know the obvious of attending ND games and about the weather there, except does Valparaiso get lots of lake effect snow? I currently live in San Francisco which we love , but they're offering California type money to relocate back to Indiana so I have to at least give it some thought.

Thanks for any insight you can share, BobD

Grew up in the area and I think I can help you out. Merrillville isn't the greatest area. Valpo, however, is a nice area. Merrillville is in Lake County and Valpo is in Porter County. They are close in proximity but there is a distinct difference. The only place I would recommend in Lake County is Munster. If you plan on visiting Chicago often, maybe Munster is a better choice (it's approximately 30 miles from Chicago). I prefer Valpo for a variety of reasons. Great schools, low taxes, quaint downtown district and a few decent restaurants. I live and work in Chicago now but if I moved back to Indiana, I would definitely move to Valpo. In fact, I picked up a couple rental units in Valpo and I'm always around that area. The weather isn't great. It's northern Indiana, you know. Valpo does get some lake effect but it's not much, and certainly not life altering. If you have any questions at all, feel free to PM me.

 

[condoms SUCk]

Hey Bob, I actually live in Valpo currently. I'm a transplant from Marion, IN. Valpo is a great town, great schools if you have kids, a great downtown with awesome restaurants and an outdoor concert area where bands play during the summer and low crime. I had a job w/ Xerox for about 4 years that was located in Crown Point, which is right next to Merrillville. My commute was around 20 min or so. Lake effect can be hit or miss. The past few years lake effect has been non-existent. My first year it was crazy.
Other good aspects of Valpo is you are only an hr or so away from downtown Chicago by car, or you can take the South Shoreline train. South Bend is an hr away and you can go straight up IN 49 to the beach on Lake Mich. It's not an ocean beach but it's still sand, small waves and sun and a blast on the 4th of July.
PM me and I can give you more detail.

 

[BobD]

Hey Bob, I actually live in Valpo currently. I'm a transplant from Marion, IN. Valpo is a great town, great schools if you have kids, a great downtown with awesome restaurants and an outdoor concert area where bands play during the summer and low crime. I had a job w/ Xerox for about 4 years that was located in Crown Point, which is right next to Merrillville. My commute was around 20 min or so. Lake effect can be hit or miss. The past few years lake effect has been non-existent. My first year it was crazy.
Other good aspects of Valpo is you are only an hr or so away from downtown Chicago by car, or you can take the South Shoreline train. South Bend is an hr away and you can go straight up IN 49 to the beach on Lake Mich. It's not an ocean beach but it's still sand, small waves and sun and a blast on the 4th of July.
PM me and I can give you more detail.

Thank you for the info! Valpo sounds great. I'm definitely interested now.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

I grew up in The Region (you will learn that term), and Valpo has always been the crown jewel of Northwest Indiana alongside Crown Point in Lake County.

The last decade has pushed a lot of riff raff from East Chicago and Gary eastward into Portage (towards Valpo), so I wouldn't live any further west than Valpo from an investment standpoint if you are buying a house.

Property taxes in Porter County are considerably lower than Lake County, and Valpo schools are top notch.

If you are coming from the Bay area, you might be bored. Other than Chicago, there isn't much to do if you are a "big city" type a person. If you like outdoor activities (fishing, hunting, boating, etc.) then you will love it.

Good luck!

 

[IrishSteelhead]

NW IN is an extremely blue collar area, but Valpo is quite refined. There are great restaurants for a small city, and a very prestigious college that attracts ND type people. They have an annual "Popcorn Festival" that is one of the most fun events you can go to during the summer.

Valpo is far south enough where you aren't near the steel mills and other industrial aspects that some would say make the area desolate looking, but you are still close enough to the lake and Southshore if you want to hitch a ride into the city, and there are TONS of casinos around if you are a gambling man.

Coming from California, I doubt you will even notice or be turned off by Valpo residents, who sometimes can have a snooty attitude towards other "Region Rats." Maybe that perception has changed, dunno, haven't been there in years.

 

[BobD]

Me and the wife are doing lots of contemplating today....... looking at houses on Zillow

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Me and the wife are doing lots of contemplating today....... looking at houses on Zillow

If you like golfing (and have some $$$$) there are really nice houses in the Aberdeen community, and a membership to the CC is included I believe.

 

[Wild Bill]

I'm with you, Steel. Aberdeen is a nice place to live, especially if you enjoy golf. I'm from the region too. Interesting place, to say the least. If you have a boat or enjoy boating take a look at Shorewood Forest. If you prefer living near the downtown area, the homes are Washington Street are nice. Older homes with a ton of character and a lot of them have been updated. Good luck.

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

Ever since Fetlas closed down in Valpo, the place has really taken a downturn, in my opinion.

Just kidding. I loved Valpo. I am a Southern California boy born and raised and I had a great time in Valpo.

 

[Irishnuke]

Ever since Fetlas closed down in Valpo, the place has really taken a downturn, in my opinion.

Just kidding. I loved Valpo. I am a Southern California boy born and raised and I had a great time in Valpo.

I'm the opposite of you. Chesterton born boy now living in SoCal. I'd never move back to Indiana, especially where I grew up.

Valpo isn't a bad city. It's more developed than the surrounding cities but that isn't saying much. I didn't realize Fetlas closed. That's very disappointing to hear. I went back and visited NW IN last summer and found myself extremely bored. Good news is is that it's close to Chicago and South Bend (an hour west or east respectively). Salt Creek is a good place to fish for steelhead. Steelhead could probably tell you more about that. Dunes State Park is nice but its no Yosemite. Closest mall is in Merrillville (sp?). The Kankakee river a little further south has good fishing in places. There's a decent amount of outdoor recreation available. It's a whole hell of a lot cheaper than CA. I could live like a king for what I paid for my town home out here so IN does have some advantages. That's all I got for now.

 

[gkautz10]

I am from La Porte, about 25 minutes east of Valpo. Valpo is the "crown jewel" of the region. Very nice place and has blown up in the past several years. The mayor and economic development folks have done a great job of attracting all sorts of businesses to the town. Honestly it is the only place in Northern Indiana that is growing, besides the Warsaw area. If I stay in this area I will likely move to Valpo.

They have an awesome downtown area that is very busy during all months of the year. All kinds of cool restaurants and shops. Pretty good brewery downtown. VU is really growing that side of the downtown as well. IMO you would not be making a mistake in moving here. Home values are fairly low right now but Valpo is a very attractive place.

As others have mentioned, if you like outdoor activities this area is an awesome place. Kayaking and canoeing are very popular as is fishing and hiking. You aren't going to have the nightlife of a big city but Valpo is an awesome community and a great place to raise a family. There are also a few decent towns surrounding it with a lot of cool shops and restaurants.

 

[BobD]

Thanks for all the info guys! Please keep it coming.

I do love to golf and our last home in Indiana was on a golf course in Noblesville, IN.

I'm meeting with the company that wants me to go back to Indiana later today, not for a final decision, but to hammer out some details if it happens.

 

[BobD]

My wife has already decided she wants to go back to Indiana......hmm.

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

I'm the opposite of you. Chesterton born boy now living in SoCal. I'd never move back to Indiana, especially where I grew up.

Valpo isn't a bad city. It's more developed than the surrounding cities but that isn't saying much. I didn't realize Fetlas closed. That's very disappointing to hear. I went back and visited NW IN last summer and found myself extremely bored. Good news is is that it's close to Chicago and South Bend (an hour west or east respectively). Salt Creek is a good place to fish for steelhead. Steelhead could probably tell you more about that. Dunes State Park is nice but its no Yosemite. Closest mall is in Merrillville (sp?). The Kankakee river a little further south has good fishing in places. There's a decent amount of outdoor recreation available. It's a whole hell of a lot cheaper than CA. I could live like a king for what I paid for my town home out here so IN does have some advantages. That's all I got for now.

You misunderstood. I said I had a great time "while I was there". I came back to California and I wouldn't move back. Home prices are much better compared to Southern California, but I wouldn't trade where I am now. Especially when I talk to my friends from IN in the harsh months of January and February when it is 80 degrees here and they are freezing their butts off.

I had a great time while I was in college and it was a great place to be while in school. It made me appreciate California so much. You won't hear me complain about the weather here.