Is Baltimore really that bad? (Mount Vernon: real estate, to rent, insurance)

[Wren28]

I am a 28 yr old female. I am moving to Baltimore from New Jersey. I know some people in Maryland but more in the suburbs. I myself want to live in a city, but everyone I speak to seem to tell me that Baltimore isn't a place for a young single woman.I'd like to live in the "heart" of it all and be able to get around. I frequent NYC so I know a thing or two about cities, Im not some counrty bumpkin ( no offence ment) just saying I can handle myself, but I keep hearing "bad' things about baltimore, like its not the same as it used to be, but Im thinking frankly its NOT the same world it used to be, no where is the same...... I do not drive and am having problems obtaining a license, so IM also wondering what public trans is like and how accessable it it.Everyone keeps telling me that I should be looking in the Fed Hill and Canton area. I have been investigating on the net and seem to think that Charles Village seems nice but Im only going by pictures...


Any suggestions or areas I should be looking at.

[barante]

Wren28 -- Welcome! Please search this site for Charles Village and Mount Vernon. Both would be ideal for you. Good (for Baltimore) transit connections, lots of young people.
Federal Hill, Canton are overrated, expensive, and would present insurmountable transportation problems.
Good luck.

[Wren28]

thank you so much. I feel much better now about my choice.

[Tom Lennox 70]

Originally Posted by Wren28

I am a 28 yr old female. I am moving to Baltimore from New Jersey. I know some people in Maryland but more in the suburbs. I myself want to live in a city, but everyone I speak to seem to tell me that Baltimore isn't a place for a young single woman.I'd like to live in the "heart" of it all and be able to get around. I frequent NYC so I know a thing or two about cities, Im not some counrty bumpkin ( no offence ment) just saying I can handle myself, but I keep hearing "bad' things about baltimore, like its not the same as it used to be, but Im thinking frankly its NOT the same world it used to be, no where is the same...... I do not drive and am having problems obtaining a license, so IM also wondering what public trans is like and how accessable it it.Everyone keeps telling me that I should be looking in the Fed Hill and Canton area. I have been investigating on the net and seem to think that Charles Village seems nice but Im only going by pictures...


Any suggestions or areas I should be looking at.

Oh jeez, another person from Jersey moving to Maryland.

Well I'm going to use an analogy you're probably familar with. Baltimore is what NYC was like before Giuliani cleaned it up.

[Oakback]

Originally Posted by Wren28

I am a 28 yr old female. I am moving to Baltimore from New Jersey. I know some people in Maryland but more in the suburbs. I myself want to live in a city, but everyone I speak to seem to tell me that Baltimore isn't a place for a young single woman.I'd like to live in the "heart" of it all and be able to get around. I frequent NYC so I know a thing or two about cities, Im not some counrty bumpkin ( no offence ment) just saying I can handle myself, but I keep hearing "bad' things about baltimore, like its not the same as it used to be, but Im thinking frankly its NOT the same world it used to be, no where is the same...... I do not drive and am having problems obtaining a license, so IM also wondering what public trans is like and how accessable it it.Everyone keeps telling me that I should be looking in the Fed Hill and Canton area. I have been investigating on the net and seem to think that Charles Village seems nice but Im only going by pictures...


Any suggestions or areas I should be looking at.

My suggestion would be to live in a neighborhood that close friends suggest.
But whatever you do, DON'T BUY, RENT, until you get to know the city.

[km703]

If you can handle high crime, high taxes, high pollution, high insurance premiums, high real estate prices and high energy bills, Baltimore City will work.
I lived there for 20 years.

[carolott]

I think Oakbrook's suggestion to rent before you buy is a good one. I've rented for the past seven years and have no regrets. The perfect house hasn't come along yet, and with the market in the crapper, maybe it will not only come along -- but come along with a better price! :-)

[carolott]

OMG I'm so sorry -- I meant Oakback, not Oakbrook. I can be such a ditz sometimes.

[Scriv]

in a word, YES

[PeteU]

Originally Posted by Wren28

I am a 28 yr old female. I am moving to Baltimore from New Jersey. I know some people in Maryland but more in the suburbs. I myself want to live in a city, but everyone I speak to seem to tell me that Baltimore isn't a place for a young single woman.I'd like to live in the "heart" of it all and be able to get around. I frequent NYC so I know a thing or two about cities, Im not some counrty bumpkin ( no offence ment) just saying I can handle myself, but I keep hearing "bad' things about baltimore, like its not the same as it used to be, but Im thinking frankly its NOT the same world it used to be, no where is the same...... I do not drive and am having problems obtaining a license, so IM also wondering what public trans is like and how accessable it it.Everyone keeps telling me that I should be looking in the Fed Hill and Canton area. I have been investigating on the net and seem to think that Charles Village seems nice but Im only going by pictures...


Any suggestions or areas I should be looking at.

Baltimore is not bad at all. Much of the city is a lot different than what you see on "The Wire." (Which is still an excellent, excellent show by the way) My little sister is 22 and lives in the heart of Canton. She absolutely loves the neighborhood and says everything she needs is close by, within walking distance.

She does have a car, but only uses it to go visit my parents in Calvert County. She says she could otherwise just as easily live without a car there.