anyone know bethlehem/delmar? (Albany, Rotterdam: real estate, rental, selling a house)

[Lukesmama]

we're moving to the area -- can't decide between east greenbush and delmar/bethlehem -- have kids to put in school, want a nice family neighborhood, not ritzy, not dumpy -- just nice middle america.

advice?

[averagenyjoe]

Originally Posted by Lukesmama

we're moving to the area -- can't decide between east greenbush and delmar/bethlehem -- have kids to put in school, want a nice family neighborhood, not ritzy, not dumpy -- just nice middle america.

advice?

E. Greenbush is "just nice middle America" and fits your description. The other 2 lean more on the ritzy side. Delmar more so. Maybe even a bit stuffy in some neighborhoods. Bethlehem if you go on the outer edges toward the mountains south of Albany you can get affordable housing but you are starting to get out a ways there.
Schoos in each of those areas are good. E. Greenbush is worth a visit and is at least one good choice for anyones list. Have you been to this area? What do you know about it at this point? have you exhausted other areas?
Best wishes.

[Lukesmama]

i always love your responses -- you know this area SO WELL!

my husband's new job is on riverside in rensselaer, so we want to stay within a 15-minute commute for him after years of an hour-plus here in new jersey! i read the ny dept of ed's reports on the area schools as well as the times union's school violence stats, and bethlehem central and columbia (east greenbush) appealed most to us.

that said, we saw east greenbush and liked it, visited columbia and loved it but didn't have time to see bethlehem central or those neighborhoods.

where we live now, the high school kids have iPhones and fancy cars. that's NOT what we want up there. sounds to me like EG is for us -- and i've heard nothing but great things about columbia high school.

[averagenyjoe]

Originally Posted by Lukesmama

...i read the ny dept of ed's reports on the area schools as well as the times union's school violence stats, and bethlehem central and columbia (east greenbush) appealed most to us.

where we live now, the high school kids have iPhones and fancy cars. that's NOT what we want up there. sounds to me like EG is for us -- and i've heard nothing but great things about columbia high school.

Wow, you have done some good research. Bethlehem had some problems MANY year ago when I had friends going there but I feel like they have cleaned up a good bit and probably make the grade now. It has a nice quaint feel to the area but the rich keep migrating out that way and then all of a sudden you are in the boondocks and will face the problems associated with that. I do think that if you move to EG and somewhere feel like you made a mistake, I feel strongly that you wont think its the worst mistake you ever made. I have some family there and they really like it

I think it would be hard to completely get away from the technology that so many spoiled brats have to have day 2 after it comes out but I agree with you 100%, I dont want all that for my son either. Walking or driving a ford escort might build more character. Thus my name, your "average ny joe", I cant stand sloppiness or living dumpy but I sure dont fit the upscale crowd either. :-)

[Logan11]

Come out here to the Duanesburg area Excellent schools and 20-25 minutes into all the malls etc. on the nw side of Albany, 15 minutes to shopping on the west side of Rotterdam. Also a very nice rural feel and the option of going 15-20 minutes west into the lovely Schoharie Valley if you prefer that to the suburbia to your east.

Also we got 30 inches more snow than Albany last year ...76" versus their 46" ..now you cant beat that

In rereading all the posts I see you need to commute to Rensselaer and it is true that you would be looking at a 30 minute (35 tops on a bad day) ride from here into there, but that's a piece of cake compared to NJ. Albany traffic for the most part is childs play compared to NJ. The only corridor that can compare a bit is the Northway into Saratoga County during rush hours. I'd stay away from that route. This area out here is seeing some growth partly because people have realized that its a lot easier ride into work.

[Lukesmama]

thanks, logan! will look into that -- husband's already looking at snowmobile catalogs, so the more snow, the better (for HIM, anyway!)

[trussell]

I am relocating with work to Albany. I will work near SUNY. My biggest concern is getting to a good public high school. We are moving from Columbia, SC so we are prepared for the culture shock.

From my research I think we like Bethlehem Central for the school. It is a little smaller than the school we are coming from and gets good ratings.

Initially we will rent, we are selling a house in SC. Also initially it will be myself and my daughter, the rest will join us at the end of the school year (May).

This said we are looking for either a 2 or 3 bedroom with a short-term lease. In June we will either upgrade (to a 3 bedroom if we settle on a 2 bedroom initially) or have selected a home to move into.

Many decisions to make in a short time span. Any help would be most appreciated. Mostly how to find a good rental.

[marska]

and find it to be nice, quiet, safe, and tho I don't have kids in school myself, I hear very good things about the schools here. I find it to be very down to earth and not at all "uppity".

For those in "family mode" I think it is an excellent choice.

[juppiter]

I disagree that Delmar people are at all "down to earth...." The town is the definition of "yuppie."

The schools are great though, if that's what you're looking for. And it's close to everything. You want to go to the mall? Hop on 85. You want to go downtown? Hop on 9W/32. I guess the only thing I appreciate about the place is that it's very centrally located (I grew up there... hated it, so glad I'm out.)

[marska]

Originally Posted by trussell

I am relocating with work to Albany. I will work near SUNY. My biggest concern is getting to a good public high school. We are moving from Columbia, SC so we are prepared for the culture shock.

From my research I think we like Bethlehem Central for the school. It is a little smaller than the school we are coming from and gets good ratings.

Initially we will rent, we are selling a house in SC. Also initially it will be myself and my daughter, the rest will join us at the end of the school year (May).

This said we are looking for either a 2 or 3 bedroom with a short-term lease. In June we will either upgrade (to a 3 bedroom if we settle on a 2 bedroom initially) or have selected a home to move into.

Many decisions to make in a short time span. Any help would be most appreciated. Mostly how to find a good rental.

For a rental I recommend a real estate agent. Try Sally at Realty USA. She did well by us, thats for sure.