Considering relot to Cincy (Cincinnati, Mason: houses, neighborhood, construction)

[rusty2006]

Moving from the midwest, in a town of around 30,000. We lived in Houston for many years, so we have a good feel for big city life. Would like something under $300k, within a 30 minute commute of intersection of 71 & 275. Would prefer suburbs, but please no 20 minute drives to get to the grocery store (been there, done that in Houston). Newer construction preferred (hard to give up the 3 car garage!). Need a good yard for the dog. We don't have kids, but good schools are a plus for resale, if we ever move again (ugh). Would prefer not to have a "white-knuckle" drive just to get past the strip malls etc to get to the dr or the grocery store etc. If you know what Sugar Land has become, you know what I mean. Something more like Kingwood or more rural would be OK. Any suggestions?

[YoMikey617]

Mason and West Chester are out if you don't want to drive everywhere or feel like you're in Stripmall / Paladian window hell. Fields Ertel Road is one of the Sugarland strip mall area here, and the shopping centers up there are already starting to look run down.

I would seriously look at Fairfax or Mariemont. The homes have character, it's a quick jump to anywhere in the city (esp. 275 and 71), and homes in the Mariemont SD always sell briskly even during housing slumps. You'll notice that in both towns there's a low but good inventory. Unlike in the rest of Cincinnati, homes in both towns listed right now have not been on the market for 1-2 years. Fairfax is the cheaper option and closer to 71 btw.

[ex-cincy]

Montgomery is a good area - close to harper's point. Sycamore School District, which is a good school district. Acutally put you right at the 71/275 intersection

[Traveler87]

Mariemont is a great area to look into.

[cincylifer]

I would echo Montgomery, Blue Ash Area, both are in Sycamore Schools...not sure that you can get a 3 car garage under 300K, you would have to move to West Chester, (Lakota School District for that), but the traffic is a bear. Also, check out the Loveland area, good schools, reasonable housing. I would definitely say Mariemont is OUT! It is a great neighborhood, one of the prettiest, you can walk to the square, great schools, but you will barely get a 3bd, 1 bath for 300K in Mariemont.

One of the best sites to check is Sibcycline.com, you can look for houses by School Districts..also check out this link,
http://www.cincybusinessmag.com/medi.../RTB-top47.pdf

[jlrosen]

given that oil closed at an all time high today and gas prices are at an all time high, I might recommend choosing walkability over the 3 car garage.

[cincyUK]

Originally Posted by rusty2006

Would like something under $300k, within a 30 minute commute of intersection of 71 & 275.

There are two 71 & 275 intersections, one just south of downtown, and one far north east of the city - which one do you mean?

[jlrosen]

I would guess the ohio one, because the ky one is a 75/71 interchange.

[rusty2006]

Yeah, it's the Ohio 71/275 intersection. While, I'd love to be within walking/biking distance, 300k for 3bd/1ba won't work for us, so Mariemont may be out of the question. Thanks for the good info.

[rusty2006]

West Chester, Mason etc are absolutely out of the question. Sitting stopped on a two lane road so far from the intersection that you can't even see it. Seems that the infrastructure hasn't kept pace with the builders. I mean it was nice, but what a hassle. If it wanted that, I would have stayed in the suburbs in Houston. We really liked the Kenwood, Blue Ash area. Not too far from shopping etc. Home prices are high, but quality of life has to be factored in.