I will be moving to Tulsa soon and have been looking for a house. I have found several for sale in Brady Heights but have gotten mixed reviews about the area. I am just trying to get opinions on living in this area...is it safe? resale value? etc... Thanks for your help!
That's a good question for Carlton Place if he'd show back up on here again
I always thought it was a nice neighborhood. Unfortunately, though, it has the North Tulsa stigma.
You can use this to your advantage though, because it means you can get a little more house for your buck than you would in other parts of town.
I would advise seeking the help of a full time active Realtor to show you the area and back up all information provided with current real estate market data.
Perception is a factor for that area. In general is the outlook good?(2-5yrs) I say "yes".
It is a good thing were in Tulsa!
Oklahoma IS the future.
....and yes I am poud and happy to be a Realtor in the Tulsa area.
Do you have a question?....ASK A REALTOR!
Last weekend I was driving down the Tisdale Expressway at night - what an amazing view of Tulsa. Felt like I was approaching some strange, beautiful city. You really forget that part of town is up there...kind of tragic when you think of it. I think there is great potential. Yes, it's "north", but it's not really the part I think of as dangerous. If I had free cash, I'd consider buying and fixing something up as an investment. It's definitely still "up and coming", but that process is very VERY slow in Tulsa. I live in Florence Park, which was up and coming 20 years ago, and STILL feels that way to me looking at many of the shabby houses.
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Originally posted by newtulsan
I will be moving to Tulsa soon and have been looking for a house. I have found several for sale in Brady Heights but have gotten mixed reviews about the area. I am just trying to get opinions on living in this area...is it safe? resale value? etc... Thanks for your help!
Go South!
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Originally posted by guido911
Go South!
No! Go anywhere...ANYWHERE but South!
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Originally posted by DScott28604
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Originally posted by guido911
Go South!
No! Go anywhere...ANYWHERE but South!
That's right. Stay away from those pesky, higher quality schools, lower crime, shopping, blah blah blah...
South Tulsa is any town USA, period. If you want good schools, chain shopping, cooker cutter homes, and uniform neighbors... move South. I prefer my more diverse neighborhood with good schools, unique stores, and a bit of congestion to keep things lively.
South Tulsa has things to offer, but it bores me.
The Brady Heights area is a very interesting place. Unfortunately I do not have a bead on how it is doing, what the crime may be, or anything else.
I live on Reservoir Hill and I drive through Brady Heights twice a day. The more I see of it the more I really like Brady Heights.
Brady Heights was Tulsa's first neighborhood. Big two story detached garage homes there tend to list around $150,000. I've seen houses there go up for sale, sit for six months and then get taken off the market and rented. I've also seen a handful of house there turn in a few months.
I have my eye on a string of very large two story homes in a row that are not for sale and that I want to have. There is one in particular that I have been thinking about. I may try to find the owner and make an offer. Several homes in Brady Heights have been restored to nearly perfect original condition. That's what I would do with a house there.
There are a handful of good private schools close by and also a handful of good public schools. There is quality day care available downtown.
Some people fear north Tulsa in general because they are fearful of living near Blacks. The Black families in my neighborhood are successful business owners and are very fine neighbors.
I sought out a diverse neighborhood when I returned to Tulsa from California two and a half years ago. I've spent my adult life in international cities and all White neighborhoods do not interest me.
I'm an older, comfortable White gay man and I shop and drive around north Tulsa every day and I have never felt unwelcome or unsafe.
Finally, I believe north Tulsa is a great investment but you may need to hold onto property there for a while to get what you want.
I bought my home for $200,000 and after a lot of restoration and improvement my realtor believes I could get $350,000 for my home now.
Finally, I'm a Democrat and I wanted to live in a neighborhood that was predominately Democrat. District 1 where Brady Heights is fills the bill.
I don't understand why people pay a premium to live in South Tulsa and shop at its strip malls and sit in traffic when the older neighborhoods of mid-town and north Tulsa are so clearly superior, but I think a lot of it gets back to fear of ethnic people.
Good luck with your search.
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South Tulsa is any town USA, period.
I grew up far east (41st ST/145th) Tulsa, and as things changed over there (stores closing) my family gravitated south. So I guess I grew up south too for the most part. South/BA is not all bad...There are some great little hole-in-the-wall restaurants close by in BA. My child's soon to be (excellent) elementary school is within walking distance. My street is blessedly diverse as well. I live by the awesome bike trails too.
I think my parents settled in East Tulsa in a new home because of my mom. She had always grown up in cramped military housing which tended to be old and she always shared a room with at least 3 other sisters at a time. (NINE kids total) So when she got married and moved to Tulsa she wanted a home that was shiny NEW with lots of S P A C E. And a few bathrooms to spare! And for someone who grew up with military commissary limited choices, Big Box goodness close by would seem very enticing indeed.
Definitely NOT because of a fear of diversity. And you can't judge for the reasons a person lives where they do.
There ARE unique stores and restaurants and shops, but just like anywhere else, you have to know where to find them. And you just may have to drive a little to get there...
Sorrrry to rant, but you're knockin' where I grew up, man.
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Sorrrry to rant Cannon, but you're knockin' where I grew up, man.
And he's knockin' where I live now...
Sorry I edited, I wasn't trying to pick on Cannon. Hometown got me all fired up!
I just got back from lunch in North Tulsa, and I'm obviously still alive.[8D]
I'm not trying to knock it, just telling it like it is. If I took off a blindfold in South Tulsa, west Des Moines, East Wichita or a suburb of nearly any decent sized US city they are all the same. Decent schools, strip malls, sprawling subdivisions neatly separated from the newest chain stores and plenty of white people with moderate incomes.
Sure they have unique things in and about them. But there is more similar to most any other town than different. Which is why I refer to it as AnyTown USA - it's a not bad. Man Americans PREFER to live there. It's comfortable, secure, and well known. That shouldn't be taken as offensive unless you want to pretend Broken Arrow/South Tulsa is something other than as described.
And not to imply that Midtown Tulsa is a super elite or unique bastion. But it's the best we have to work with IMHO.
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Originally posted by cannon_fodder
I'm not trying to knock it, just telling it like it is. If I took off a blindfold in South Tulsa, west Des Moines, East Wichita or a suburb of nearly any decent sized US city they are all the same. Decent schools, strip malls, sprawling subdivisions neatly separated from the newest chain stores and plenty of white people with moderate incomes.
Sure they have unique things in and about them. But there is more similar to most any other town than different. Which is why I refer to it as AnyTown USA - it's a not bad. Man Americans PREFER to live there. It's comfortable, secure, and well known. That shouldn't be taken as offensive unless you want to pretend Broken Arrow/South Tulsa is something other than as described.
And not to imply that Midtown Tulsa is a super elite or unique bastion. But it's the best we have to work with IMHO.
Sounds like class envy [:)]
I am not going to argue with you on this. It's counterproductive and there can be no winner. I lived in mid-town for several years. You can have Tulsa Public Schools, pain in the donkey traffic, higher crime and all those "unique" stores at the Promenade Mall and Utica Square.
I guess I will just have to put up with all that crappy developmental in the Jenks Riverwalk area, Union/Jenks/Bixby public schools (Holland Hall's better), lower crime, less traffic congestion, and overall better public safety.
I'm not trying to argue one is better than the other. All those things you said are true. We have higher crime, you're school are rated batter (though I'm REALLY happy with my son's TPS), you are less congested. Midtown is not better, it's different.
I like the quasi urban feel and the fact that it is at least somewhat unique. That's all I'm saying, not that one is better than the other.
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Originally posted by cannon_fodder
I'm not trying to argue one is better than the other. All those things you said are true. We have higher crime, you're school are rated batter (though I'm REALLY happy with my son's TPS), you are less congested. Midtown is not better, it's different.
I like the quasi urban feel and the fact that it is at least somewhat unique. That's all I'm saying, not that one is better than the other.
Got it. Now, time for you to move to South Tulsa.
LoL, I might have to. In the not-too distant we will want more more room and trying to pay for it in Midtown or getting it cheaper somewhere else will be a hard decision.
[edit]The dreaded double post[/edit]
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Originally posted by cannon_fodder
LoL, I might have to. In the not-too distant we will want more more room and trying to pay for it in Midtown or getting it cheaper somewhere else will be a hard decision.
I think the most important reason for living where I do (south) is b/c both sets of grandparents are a mile away and that was very important for us b/c of free babysitting. Not for the plethora of SuperWalmart, Chili's, and Lowe's Depot. If they had lived Midtown or Owasso that's probably where I would be now. Mr. K and I went to Union and were happy, so naturally, why change?
I see new construction going in over where I grew up...hmmm.
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Originally posted by Kashmir
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Originally posted by cannon_fodder
LoL, I might have to. In the not-too distant we will want more more room and trying to pay for it in Midtown or getting it cheaper somewhere else will be a hard decision.
I think the most important reason for living where I do (south) is b/c both sets of grandparents are a mile away and that was very important for us b/c of free babysitting. Not for the plethora of SuperWalmart, Chili's, and Lowe's Depot. If they had lived Midtown or Owasso that's probably where I would be now. Mr. K and I went to Union and were happy, so naturally, why change?
I see new construction going in over where I grew up...hmmm.
Sounds like you live in my neighborhood. Those grandparents freelance?
Nawww...one set retired, one set still works fulltime-at a large complex-on the verge of Owasso...
I wish they freelanced. More time to babysit!
I wish I had sidewalks, half my neighborhood does, half does not. Cedar Ridge is the elem I am referring to. Lots of little kids and great families on the street. We are a "biracial" family and we feel really comfortable here.
All in all, I have it pretty darn good.[;)]
Hey newtulsan,
My husband and I moved to Brady Heights in October. We love the great deal we got on our historic home but it's the fantastic sense of community and neighborhood pride in Brady Heights that we really appreciate.
Brady Heights has the feel of midtown without the high costs. Flippers are doing a great job of remodeling abandoned homes in the area and, more importantly, young people and families are moving here with plans to put down roots in the neighborhood. Within the last three months, 5 young couples have moved into our block alone!
Resale values are not the greatest but the neighborhood is constantly improving and I'm sure that will change in the coming years, especially with the coming of downtown development and the OSU/Langston expansion.
Brady Heights is truly an economically diverse neighborhood which keeps it from becoming too pretentious. Some people may be turned off by the North Tulsa address, but I have never once felt unsafe here. Besides, it's a fun and easy way to impress people from the southside. Instant street cred!
We have an active neighborhood association, a great community garden, and plans are in the works to form neighborhood walks on sunday afternoons. An old grocery at Latimer and Cheyenne will soon be reopened as a coop and community center. Great things are happening in Brady Heights and I hope that you'll join us! Send me a message if you'd like. I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have.
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Originally posted by Kashmir
Nawww...one set retired, one set still works fulltime-at a large complex-on the verge of Owasso...
I wish they freelanced. More time to babysit!
I wish I had sidewalks, half my neighborhood does, half does not. Cedar Ridge is the elem I am referring to. Lots of little kids and great families on the street. We are a "biracial" family and we feel really comfortable here.
All in all, I have it pretty darn good.[;)]
Glad your happy. I am on the other side of Memorial and we are happy as well. We got lucky with sidewalks.
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Originally posted by newtulsan
I will be moving to Tulsa soon and have been looking for a house. I have found several for sale in Brady Heights but have gotten mixed reviews about the area. I am just trying to get opinions on living in this area...is it safe? resale value? etc... Thanks for your help!
I usually look at active crime when my wife and I are going to move to a new area. You can go to: www.tulsapolice.org/mapcentral.html and pull up a map for that area.
I just did and it's pretty hot! I just pulled up homicide, assault, and rape and got somthing like 63 little red dots(only a few were homicide) in the last 12 months.
I like the architecture and great old design of the neighborhood, and if I was single I would consider it, but not with a wife a babies!
That's just me though.
Brady Heights has potential, but unfortunately they put the county jail within a half mile and the Salvation Army even closer. It's promoted as within walking distance of downtown, but who wants to walk through all those people hanging out at those places??
The main street through the neighborhood is a bit of an expressway because its the quickest way out of downtown to the north side. I looked at houses there around 5 pm one day and cars were whizzing by me at 50 mph.
If the shady places were moved and the traffic would slow down (given an alternate quicker route maybe?), it would be a fabulous neighborhood. Until then, its limited.
Go South of downtown to midtown or even further South to Union and Jenks schools to find the best areas of the town.
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Originally posted by Hometown
I live on Reservoir Hill and I drive through Brady Heights twice a day. The more I see of it the more I really like Brady Heights.
I don't understand why people pay a premium to live in South Tulsa and shop at its strip malls and sit in traffic when the older neighborhoods of mid-town and north Tulsa are so clearly superior, but I think a lot of it gets back to fear of ethnic people.
Good luck with your search.
Well said, Hometown. You know me and my home in midtown Tulsa Lortondale subdivision, your childhood neighborhood. Tulsa has much more to offer besides the new generic suburbs of south Tulsa county, with the wealth of vintage homes from 1910 bungalows, 1920s oil mansions, to 1950s ultra-modern tract homes, such as my house. History is alive and well in north Tulsa and midtown/downtown Tulsa. Not to mention the short commutes and less reliance on the automobile.
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Originally posted by Steve
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Originally posted by Hometown
I live on Reservoir Hill and I drive through Brady Heights twice a day. The more I see of it the more I really like Brady Heights.
I don't understand why people pay a premium to live in South Tulsa and shop at its strip malls and sit in traffic when the older neighborhoods of mid-town and north Tulsa are so clearly superior, but I think a lot of it gets back to fear of ethnic people.
Good luck with your search.
Well said, Hometown. You know me and my home in midtown Tulsa Lortondale subdivision, your childhood neighborhood. Tulsa has much more to offer besides the new generic suburbs of south Tulsa county, with the wealth of vintage homes from 1910 bungalows, 1920s oil mansions, to 1950s ultra-modern tract homes, such as my house. History is alive and well in north Tulsa and midtown/downtown Tulsa. Not to mention the short commutes and less reliance on the automobile.
Whose to say those who live in South Tulsa dont have short commutes and less reliance on the automobile? I imagine there are quite a few people who live in midtown or north Tulsa who work in South Tulsa. There are quite a few office building all around South Tulsa now. Before you know it, all of 71st, 81st and 91st along 75 will be retail, so we will rely even less on commuting as well.
While I am on the subject, plans just came across for a 250,000 sq ft retail shopping center on the NE corner of 91st and hwy 75. Name is said to be South Tulsa Hills. How true is the name, I am not for sure.
Sorry about getting you fired up Kasmir. As Steve has pointed out, I grew up in what was then far south Tulsa – Lortondale. Then as now, south Tulsa represented something new and improved. I can remember telling my PE teacher at Lincoln Elementary that we were moving to the Hoover District and her face lit up like I had said we won the lotto.
The disconnect between reality and the promise of something new and improved is where I am focused. South Tulsa, before it was built held incredible promise. Unfortunately what has really been developed is disappointing. The city planning does not compare well to Midtown and North Tulsa. The mix of people in South Tulsa may make some feel comfortable but I think that is lacking too.
Now, when it comes to rearing children I absolutely understand that your first concern is for your child's safety. I would say that wherever you live your child needs your constant supervision. That is a sad fact of life now.
If I were a parent I would also wish that my child grew up knowing a variety of people, a variety of ethnicities from a variety of economic backgrounds. I believe isolating your child from the broad cross section of people he will have to deal with in his life puts him at a disadvantage.
While people talk about being priced out of midtown my impression is that people pay a premium to live in South Tulsa. When we were looking we saw $650,000 homes in South Tulsa and I have to say, they just didn't make any sense at all. The truth is that I see lovely old historic midtown homes go begging and fall into deterioration.
When Cannon says he may have to head south to find the space he'll need at a price he can afford, he clearly is not considering north Tulsa, where we offer the best values in Tulsa.
Midtown home prices do tell us something important though, they have improved over a long period of time, which tells us there is increased and sustained demand, so apparently there are people out there looking to move in closer to town.
Here's a list of wonderful old Tulsa neighborhoods that offer value and urbanity and a piece of history:
Owen Park
Reservoir Hill
Gilcrease Hills
Brady Heights
Riverview
White City
Lortondale
Patrick Henry
Saddleback
I personally love Ranch Homes from the 50s and 60s and the homes in Patrick Henry (Best elementary in Tulsa) and Saddleback were built for executives. Modern Lortondale rivals North Tulsa in offering tremendous value. Weren't they named a historic neighborhood this past year?
The redevelopment of the neighborhoods around Utica Square is taking a toll on their incredible charm, but they are still a pricey treasure.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not an old Tulsa snob that won't drive south of 51st. Southwood Nursery is my favorite retail operation in Tulsa. My niece's family lives in Bixby. The ORU campus is an architectural high point. And there is still time to make some improvements to your zoning. (But I'm not holding my breath.)
Newtulsan, did we scare you away? I hope not.
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Originally posted by Hometown
I'm not an old Tulsa snob that won't drive south of 51st.
Call me a snob. My nose bleeds every time I go south of 51st...
[}:)]
This weekend Mr. K and I took a drive out far east where we used to live as kids. I think I would still have lived there had our parents not moved. However, our neighborhood, in later years of living there, was plagued with car break-in's (mine twice, a freakin' Saturn, what gives?) homes getting VERY neglected, and some scary violent crime in the neighborhood. Next door was broke into during day when little brother (well, 15) was home alone sick from school-very scary.
I miss Nam Hai being close, as well as Coney Island, lots of great Mexican food and grocery. Skateland. Eastland.
Sigh.
My wife and I have lived in Brady Heights going on three years now. Originally we were a few blocks shy of the boundaries(denver & oklahoma) but have moved into the official Brady Heights.
I have lived within a mile of downtown for the last ten years and BH would have to be my favorite neighborhood.
Also, I just saw that a new house is for sale in the neighborhood. I don't know what your budget is, but the Brady mansion is now for sale. Its only listed at $999,000.