Like to get in early on a hot new trend? In 2011, "Bloomberg Businessweek" named Olive Branch the fastest-growing city in the entire country.
If you have a hankering for urban convenience and a quaint lifestyle, you've found your next home in Olive Branch, Mississippi. The city is just 30 minutes away from a major metropolitan area, with bustling Memphis, Tennessee right next door. Living in Olive Branch is like having the best of both worlds: an uncongested community, with employment opportunities and city excitement just a few minutes away.
House Hunting: Lets Get Started
Looking for an apartment in Olive Branch may seem like a daunting task, but as with any major project, getting started is half the battle. Here's some information you need before you hop in your car and go house hunting:
Housing Options: More than 80 percent of real estate properties in this city are detached family homes. If you want to rent a condo or a small apartment, the pickings are slimmer. Buck up, though. You know what they say about anything worth having.
Commute Time: Does a long commute make you want to bang your head against the steering wheel? Check driving time from rental properties to your place of employment before you sign on the dotted line.
Rental Cost: Rental cost is heavily dependent on the neighborhood, home size, and extra inclusions of the contract. Whether the rent rates you find sound like a steal or highway robbery just depends on your perspective.
Olive Branch Neighborhoods
Different neighborhoods have varying charms to offer. If youre trying to figure out which area of Olive Branch suits your taste to a tee, heres a quick overview and a relative cost comparison of the different communities:
Lewisburg/Cedarview: This is a very popular neighborhood.
Handy Corner/Miller: The booming industries in Olive Branch leave in their wake newly constructed houses, and they all seem to be concentrated in this area. Big, rambling homes kind of spring up like weeds here. Before you rush on over, keep in mind that this area is rather spendy. Although it's no Beverly Hills, rental costs in this neighborhood are higher than 95 percent of all Mississippi neighborhoods. Most residential properties are large, detached, single-family homes, so apartment hunters may be disappointed with the selection. If you like the faint smell of new homes, however, this is the place for you.
Pleasant Hill Rd/State Line Rd: This is one neighborhood where the general populace takes pride in good education.
Quail Rd/Alexander Rd: You'll rarely find home rentals with fewer than 3 bedrooms in this neighborhood. This is for people who like roomy homes and spacious yards. Did anyone say barbecue?
Mineral Wells/Maywood: Executives and managers are in good company in this neighborhood, since most residents here are the movers and shakers of various businesses. If you happen to be one of them, youll feel right at home in this area.
City Center: This is one neighborhood where many different age groups are amply represented. You have young professionals, families with children, seniors, and students. If you like the diverse culture and environment that kind of mixture could inspire, this is where you should be.
Hacks Cross Rd/Marina Dr: This is one of the few places in Olive Branch where you can rent in one of those high-rise apartment complexes. You'll have to be more patient with your search, however, since this is also one of those areas with low vacancy rates. Patience is a virtue!
Goodman Rd/Alexander Rd: Are you one who likes to hang out in pubs or bars from time to time? Did we really need to ask this? There are lots of good hangouts in this neighborhood. Hurry up before you miss out on all the fun!
Life in a Nutshell
With its colorful history and bright future, landscaped parks, and modern shopping centers, Olive Branch has life in perfect balance. People here enjoy the deep sense of community, yet are all geared up to face the challenges of an industrialized and technology-infused world. If you're longing for that kind of duality, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and come on down!