Is Ridge & East Ridge "Safe" Neighborhoods To Live In??? (Chattanooga: apartment complexes, rentals)

[gizmoviki73]

Hiya and thank you for all who can help. My husband and I are considering a relocate to your beautiful area. We bring with us, are 9 year old son and ocassionally our 15 year old daughter from Florida. We have MANY reasons to leave Florida, and have our move narrowed down to 3 places. I narrowed it down to a few places, 1 in Ridgeside and the rest seem to be in East Ridge. Are the neighborhoods safe and good public schools? We don't want to spend alot a month on rent, since we are moving without future jobs and want to relax for a bit before working again. We figure, decent neighborhood, then we can move to better one after 1 year lease is up.

Thank you all again!
Viki

[financelife]

East Ridge is pretty safe. I lived there for 4 months. People even complained that there were too many cops for the area. The schools are decent from what I've read. Of course, they're not the best schools in the county, but they're far from the worst. It should be fine.

Another plus for the area is that it is in the middle of Chattanooga, so you're in between Downtown, and East Brainerd (hamilton mall) area, and really close to the interstate.

IMO, a great place to stay while learning and making future decisions about Chattanooga.

[gizmoviki73]

Thank you very much. It's so hard, doing everything via the internet. I have people from other forums, telling me to look at East Brainerd, Ooltewah and Signal Mountain, but I can't seem to find any rentals in those area, plus since I put us on a budget at first. And I can't seem to find any home rentals, only apartments too.

Viki

[RiverView]

Originally Posted by gizmoviki73

Thank you very much. It's so hard, doing everything via the internet. I have people from other forums, telling me to look at East Brainerd, Ooltewah and Signal Mountain, but I can't seem to find any rentals in those area, plus since I put us on a budget at first. And I can't seem to find any home rentals, only apartments too.

Viki

I live on Signal and there are rentals. Mostly houses and duplexes. I have no idea how much they are but they are out there. I notice them on my runs and rides. Try looking in the Chattanooga Times Freepress.

[beachbyrd]

We live in Hixson and really love it here. We found that the houses that were in our original budget range (all over the Chattanooga area) were not so great and generally 3/2 houses are running $800 and up for something decent. We were able to find a 3/2 about 1600sf on 2/3 acre with a 2 car garage for $850. We may be paying maybe $50 too much now that we have had time to really learn whats out there. There are also some really good schools in Hixson, like Big Ridge and McConnell. Also, a little more toward Red Bank, Hixson border there is Alpine Crest which is supposed to be pretty good, as well.

If jkmewright jumps in, she can tell you a lot more about the East Ridge area.

We just really love the areas north of downtown, including N. Chatt, the area north of N. Chatt (our friends who live there in the Stuart Heights neighborhood say they are the N. Chatt wanabees, lol), Hixson, and Red Bank. We like Signal Mountain, which definitely feels like it's own little community up there on the mountain, but personally, I would feel a little isolated up there. Everyone I know up there from church absolutely loves it.

You have to check the school the houses you find are zoned for on hcde.org, because the schools do vary widely in Chattanooga. Sometimes you will have two very similar type areas, but the schools are very different as far as performance.

Many people love the E. Brainerd and Ooltewah, butjust consider that it is somewhat conjested and it is growing. I mean it does not compare to the Ft. Lauderdale area, but I definitely feel more stressed when driving in E. Brainerd by the mall. I believe one of our regular posters lives in E. Brainerd and loves it though.

[jkmewright]

Hey Giz and family! I am in Brainerd just across the interstate from E. Ridge. The convenience of the area is fabulous and the schools are decent. I bought here in '00 and contemplate moving later only because my house is so small. It is not one of the trendy areas where most consider living but it is a nice place to raise a family. If you find something that sparks your interest I am sure one of us can do a quick drive by for ya Anyway, check our local paper, I you haven't already, for more rentals: www.timesfreepress.com

[gizmoviki73]

Thank you all, so very, very much. I'm still reading and looking. We are planning to come up there in February and move end of March. I'e been reading the paper up there online, but it's hard, not being there, lol.

Again, thank you!
Viki

[jkmewright]

Thanks for the update Giz!

[gizmoviki73]

We're coming up this weekend, since it's supposed to snow Saturday morning. Just going to look at 2 apartment complexes and drive around a bit.

Any areas we should avoid?

Thanx!
Viki

[jkmewright]

You'll know them when you see them What area are you looking in?