From Philly to Cincinnati-advice (Kent, Bellevue: relocation, transplants, budget)

[city_lady]

Hello there,

My husband and I are moving to Cincinnati over the summer to take jobs teaching at the University of Cincinnati. We're young-ish (around 30) and don't have kids. We like funky, eclectic, artsy places to hang out, but are also semi-homebodies and definitely not into the bar scene.

We have lived in Philadelphia for a number of years, renting a nice-sized Victorian house near the university (in the west philadelphia area). We're unsure whether we should rent or buy in Cincinnati, given our price range and the fact that we've accumulated a lot of stuff living in a house over the years. Do most people buy/rent? What areas would you recommend? It seems like we would be looking at fairly different places if we bought vs. rented (we can afford low 200,000s or high 100,000s to buy...e.g. we could afford to rent in Gaslight Clifton but definitely not buy).

Any advice about housing, stuff to do, philly v. cincinnati would be incredibly helpful and appreciated! Thanks.

[Cincy-Rise]

city_lady, I don't want to come across as rude, but actually helpful ...

You might want to try searching for Philly to Cincinnati or something similar, because I think there are/were about 3 Philly transplants within the last month or so ...

[city_lady]

That's not rude at all! I appreciate your telling me about it; I'm new to the fora and I am glad to know about it.

I am also specifically interested in recs re: buying/renting (just in case the other posts don't touch on that issue). Thanks.

[Mike Dunn]

Have you tried craigslist for rental prices in the Cincinnati area? You can search my location and rents. They also have pictures of the rentals most of the time. Here is the link.

craigslist classifieds: jobs, housing, personals, for sale, services, community, events, forums

Also, here's another helpful link for relocation to Cincinnati

Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber

[wastina]

I suspect that the types of houses that you're looking for are sitting on the market for sale. However, in this market, people are desparate. House sellers might be willing to go a land contract route, which could get you more (and better) house than your current budget allows.

[sfs08]

Originally Posted by wastina

I suspect that the types of houses that you're looking for are sitting on the market for sale. However, in this market, people are desparate. House sellers might be willing to go a land contract route, which could get you more (and better) house than your current budget allows.

I don't think it can ever hurt to rent, but at the same time I have barely any experience renting or buying.

I would maybe rent in the clifton gaslight area first. An area I would highly, highly recommend you checking out is northside. It is very much, for lack of a better term, a poor man's gaslight neighborhood. I would personally prefer it. The diversity, the people, and the culture seem to fit me better.

I have heard many people comment on how Northside is where Clifton was twenty years ago. They have a fast growing bohemian movement that is very evident, a growing small (walkable) business district, and many cool food joints.

Plus, it is about 3 miles to the University. Bus transportation to UC is very easy from there, so hopefully you'd save wear and tear on a vehicle.

To top it off anything you want to do that would be in the gaslight is perfect, because the gaslight district is only about 1-1.5 miles away.

BTW, I'm a little biased because my cousin lives in Northside. She works at UC too, and she rides the bus!

[Mike Dunn]

There are lots of great communities within a close drive to the University of Cincinnati area. You may want to consider Northern Kentucky also. Covington, Newport and Bellevue have all seen new interests especially with young, urban professionals.

[jlrosen]

Buy a place in over the rhine [OTR]. nice historic condos with 10 year tax abatements. free and frequent bus service to the university and lots of cool places around the neighborhood.

A lot of people on this forum will tell you OTR is a bad place, but they don't live there. see it for yourself