Commute from Clifton to E. Walnut Hills (Cincinnati, Jefferson: apartments, rentals)

[nyc/oh]

My family is moving to town soon and we have decided that we probably want to be in the Hyde Park/Mt. Lookout area long term, but are having no luck finding a decent home to rent for the next year. Kids will be going to school in East Walnut Hills, so we're trying to find someplace decent within a 15 minute drive. I've come across a few promising leads in the Clifton gaslight area, but we didn't get to see any of that part of town during our trip out a few weeks ago. Any idea how long a morning commute from Clifton to EWH would realistically be? Do you think Clifton would be a comparable area to Hyde Park? It looks like anything we buy will likely need substantial renovations so we may be in a rental for a while and want to be in a home and a neighborhood where we will be comfortable. Thanks!

[Sarah Perry]

Originally Posted by nyc/oh

My family is moving to town soon and we have decided that we probably want to be in the Hyde Park/Mt. Lookout area long term, but are having no luck finding a decent home to rent for the next year. Kids will be going to school in East Walnut Hills, so we're trying to find someplace decent within a 15 minute drive. I've come across a few promising leads in the Clifton gaslight area, but we didn't get to see any of that part of town during our trip out a few weeks ago. Any idea how long a morning commute from Clifton to EWH would realistically be? Do you think Clifton would be a comparable area to Hyde Park? It looks like anything we buy will likely need substantial renovations so we may be in a rental for a while and want to be in a home and a neighborhood where we will be comfortable. Thanks!

People typically seem to underestimate commute times on this forum, but I think you should be within the 15 minute range or very close to it from the gaslight area of Clifton. Easily within it, if you are not commuting during the highest-traffic times for UC. In terms of finding a rental house, the areas of Clifton with similar housing stock to Hyde Park and Mt. Lookout should be fine. For longer term, some people have issues with encroaching crime in that area, but even though I'm very crime-sensitive I'd have no qualms about renting there.

Do make sure you avoid the areas of Clifton that are mostly student housing. Noisy, often rundown, and overpriced.

[Wilson513]

You won't find anything comparable in Clifton's gaslight area to what would be available in HP/MTL. Although Clifton is not as desirable as HP other than its proximity to UC and the hospitals, there are far less attractive rentals. When I say far less, there may be 300 decent apartments in Clifton gaslight and they are at 100% occupancy. Whereas, HP/MtL probably has more like 3000 attractive rentals. Keep looking.

[Sarah Perry]

Originally Posted by Wilson513

You won't find anything comparable in Clifton's gaslight area to what would be available in HP/MTL. Although Clifton is not as desirable as HP other than its proximity to UC and the hospitals, there are far less attractive rentals. When I say far less, there may be 300 decent apartments in Clifton gaslight and they are at 100% occupancy. Whereas, HP/MtL probably has more like 3000 attractive rentals. Keep looking.

Kind of sounds like the OP is talking about renting a house as opposed to an apartment.

[Wilson513]

Originally Posted by Sarah Perry

Kind of sounds like the OP is talking about renting a house as opposed to an apartment.

Multiply the difference by 4. I doubt there are two houses for rent in gaslight clifton.

[wolden]

I definitely recommend renting for a while in Clifton before you decide to buy.

What is your price range and how big a house do you need?

One thing about that morning commute is it is in the reverse of most of the rush hour traffic (which is flowing from Mt Lookout/Hyde Park to the medical center/UC).

Regardless, it is a trivial distance/time. I commute every day from Hyde Park to UC and it takes 15 minutes max. To EWH its 10-12 minutes from UC. No highways either.

[goyguy]

Ludlow/Jefferson -> Nixon/Goodman -> Eden -> MLK (and vice-versa), easy does it.

[Sarah Perry]

Originally Posted by Wilson513

Multiply the difference by 4. I doubt there are two houses for rent in gaslight clifton.

If you have some time to fritter away, you should troll through the Craig's List rentals for Cincinnati with a search on "Gaslight." I was amazed at how many large houses are for rent. Probably a reflection of the economy, and perhaps the neighborhood is slightly more transient than some others due to proximity to the university and the hospitals.

You can get a quick idea of ones actually in desirable neighborhoods by looking at listings in the $2,000 to $4,000 a month range. I got bored and quit counting, but only after on the first couple pages I saw houses listed for rent on Belsaw, Rawson Woods and Middleton.

[Wilson513]

I stand corrected.

[nyc/oh]

Thank you all for your advice.

Sarah, the house on Belsaw is the one we are considering.

I've been watching Craigslist and all of the cincinnati rental sites with the frequency of a day trader, so I have a good idea of what has been offered for the last 30 days. I would love for something comparable to that house to become available closer to Hyde Park/EWH, but it just doesn't seem likely.

Thanks again.