Is Homeland safe? (Baltimore, Towson: for sale, crime, houses)

[rochfamily]

Can anyone give me an idea of the crime in Homeland or Roland Park? We are moving to Baltimore in the summer and have young kids. We need to stay within the 695 belt so I need some help for what are good safe neighborhoods. Our price range does not exceed 800K. Many thanks from a midwesterner.

[sobo16]

You can google Baltimore City crime maps. When I was looking at houses, Homeland, along with the southern and eastern portions of Guilford, was a little too close to York Road/Greenmount Avenue for my comfort. Homeland seemed overpriced, in my opinion. The houses, and especially the bathrooms within them, were small, even for a $500K house. I would suggest Roland Park or even Mount Washington for safer neighborhoods (zip codes 21209 and 21210). You should be able to find something nice in your price range there. Good luck!

[Tallybalt]

I live in Roland Park and this is my input:

Homeland is perfectly fine. After all, if it isn't then why are people forking over considerable sums of money to buy a house in Homeland? The crime is the same you find in most other places: bicycle thefts and a few break-ins. Every now and then a car will be stolen. The same can be said for Roland Park.

It's a charming community. Wonderful architecture. Very family friendly, and lots of young families have moved to Homeland in recent years.

Roland Park is more Victorian than Homeland, and perhaps a shade darker in the summer months as the tree canopy is more extensive. Since most houses are frame, the maintenance costs are higher.

Your price range will get you a very comfortable house in either Homeland or Roland Park. You should also look at Guilford.

[GoodCoffee]

Homeland and Roland Park are both excellent. You might, however, want to look at houses just inside the county line. City property taxes, services, and schools (everyone in Roland Park and Homeland send their kids to private schools though) are a killer.

[Local Expert]

Homeland and Roland Park are safe neighborhoods. However, If you were going to live there I recommend that you consider living in the county as has been previously recommend. Taxes are 3 times higher in the city for the same type of property in the County. Great areas that are well within your price range and have tremendous resale value are in the 21204, 21286, and 21212 zip codes. I recommend neighborhoods such as Stoneleigh, Rodgers Forge, Wiltondale, Yorkleigh, West Towson. These neighbhorhoods all hold their value and as you will see when doing searches, there are not a lot of properties for sale in these areas. If I can be of assistance please feel free to email me.

[Tallybalt]

His price range is in the 700s up to 800K. That puts him at the very top of the range in the neighborhoods you mentioned, if you can find a house that expensive. Possibly one of the bigger houses in Stoneleigh?

His price range is right in the middle for Roland Park or Homeland. If he wants to look in the county, he could consider Ruxton, but he'd be looking at houses at the lower end of that community's price range and getting less square footage per dollar.

I agree taxes are high, but I'm sure he's already considered that.

Originally Posted by Local Expert

Homeland and Roland Park are safe neighborhoods. However, If you were going to live there I recommend that you consider living in the county as has been previously recommend. Taxes are 3 times higher in the city for the same type of property in the County. Great areas that are well within your price range and have tremendous resale value are in the 21204, 21286, and 21212 zip codes. I recommend neighborhoods such as Stoneleigh, Rodgers Forge, Wiltondale, Yorkleigh, West Towson. These neighbhorhoods all hold their value and as you will see when doing searches, there are not a lot of properties for sale in these areas. If I can be of assistance please feel free to email me.

[jfre81]

Wasn't the Dept. of Homeland Security established to keep Homeland safe?

[barante]

Previous posters have made a salient point. If safety is your only concern -- as opposed to proximity to private schools -- shop for the best house you can buy in one of the top-tier neighborhoods. They are all safe. I would think Roland Park and Guilford will be pricier even in an economic downturn than some other choices. But also take into consideration the considerable maintenance (painting etc) that Roland Park frame houses demand.