Is the Cleveland Lake area for me? (Mentor, East Cleveland: real estate, city hall)

[Suzieq1958]

My husband is on a job search due to a recent layoff here in NJ. He received a call about a possible opening in Concord just outside of Cleveland.

I'm a bit apprehensive because the kind of area I'm looking for might not be compatible with the Lake region. Just to give you the basics:

1. I hate snow, cold, etc... I have arthitis that acts up when the temperature falls. It's tough enough to deal with three months of cold here.

2. I need plenty of sunshine or I become depressed.

3. I don't want to feel isolated as I am disabled and getting around is hard enough without having to travel far.

4. One of our favorite hobbies is attending Rock concerts. Any big arenas up there?

5. We enjoy having NYC and Atlantic City within an hour's drive.

6. I love warm summer days in the 80's w low humidity.

How happy would we be up in that region?

My husband claims I'm worried about nothing; that I'll find all that and much more there. Would someone give us an honest idea of whether this is the place for us?

[orion1778]

I love Cleveland, but to be completely blunt, Concord Township is almost 35 miles away from the city and I would never want to live out there.

It will be cold and it will snow. The exurbs east of Cleveland generally get hit the hardest with snow. A foot or more of snow is nothing out of the ordinary. I believe I recently read that NE Ohio averages 2 hours of sun in the winter and 6 hours in the summer, but don't take my word on that... You probably would love the weather from June - August, however.

A car will be a necessity if you live in the exurbs. With very few exceptions, nothing will be within walking distance; you might need to drive several miles to get to stores, appointments, etc. You could live in a suburb further west and your husband could drive to Concord. More than likely it will be your typical suburban life with big-box stores, corporate restaurants, etc.

Cleveland has plenty of live rock shows and plenty of good concerts, but like I said, Concord is a good 30+ miles away from Cleveland and there isn't a big concert scene in the exurbs. If you're OK with commuting for concerts then it might be OK.

I wish your husband's job opportunity was in Cleveland because I think you would have a lot more options and could be happy in the right neighborhood.

[ottomobeale]

I lived in both places so I can say been there done that to both.

>1. I hate snow, cold, etc... I have arthitis that acts up when the temperature falls. It's tough enough to deal with three months of cold here.

Worse than NJ. Slightly colder LOTS more snow East side.

>2. I need plenty of sunshine or I become depressed.

Worse than NJ Nov 15 to Feb 1. Little difference otherwise.

>3. I don't want to feel isolated as I am disabled and getting around is hard enough without having to travel far.

Try to have him move in toward Cleveland. Mentor/Eastlake area. East siders could better elaborate specifics.

>4. One of our favorite hobbies is attending Rock concerts. Any big arenas up there?

Absolutely yes. Multiple places and Blossom Music Center is amazing

>5. We enjoy having NYC and Atlantic City within an hour's drive.

NYC is an 8 hr drive if you dont stop. If you like gambling go to Vegas; the odds are closer to even, and the shows are better. Atlantic City exists to **** Yuppie New Yorkers out of their bonus checks.

>6. I love warm summer days in the 80's w low humidity.

Cleveland has fewer 90 degree days in summer.

>How happy would we be up in that region?

Only you can answer that.

> My husband claims I'm worried about nothing; that I'll find all that and much more there. Would someone give us an honest idea of whether this is the place for us?

I call it as I see it. And Cleveland does have some things over NJ.

1) Assuming similar salary. Your home will be massively better with lower price and property tax. (I rent a crapshack in NJ for $1750 a month. In OH I would own a better house for less)
2) From police to city hall. For the most part fewer people are "out to get you" Note fewer does not mean none.
3) Cleveland Hopkins Airport sucks. Therefore it is 99999999999 times better than anything in Metro NYC.
4) Two words "no jughandles"
5) The people average more friendly/ open especially vs Bergen/ Passaic County areas.
6) Slightly lower taxes overall.
7) Massively less corrupt govt. I swear every place in NJ is run like East Cleveland. East Cleveland is/was exceedingly corrupt. It is exceptional for OH. East Cleveland would fit right in NJ.

[Suzieq1958]

Thanks for the info. I can't agree with you any more about NJ. We moved there from CT. What a change! Hate those jughandles and left turns by turning right. The only thing we like about Atlantic City and NY are Broadway and concerts. You'd never catch me at their one way cash machines.

Looks like I'd have to learn to put up with snow if we moved up there. Last year in NJ the leaves were still on the trees in December. We had one or two days of snow each measuring a inch or two.

We're in central Jersey near Princeston. Talk about attitude!

If my husband is offered this job it would be in Concord. What would be the best areas around there to keep commuting down while not being too far away from shopping and doctors, etc... We're not really into the city scene (for living) but we also don't want to be out in the sticks.

Also, how clean are the beaches up in that region?

[ottomobeale]

>What would be the best areas around there to keep commuting down while not being too far away from shopping and doctors, etc... We're not really into the city scene (for living) but we also don't want to be out in the sticks.<

NW toward Mentor/ Eastlake. Typical suburbia. SE is sticks.

>Also, how clean are the beaches up in that region.<

Compared to the shore.

SMALLER
often free or very nominal parking cost
Lots of driftwood. Some trash. (ex: lumber) Little garbage. (organic rotting) The shore is "cleaner" due to cleaning crews due to far more users and the fees.

Oh and Cleveland's idea of a traffic jam is laughable after you lived in NJ.

Same money should be a BIG increase in your living standard. $200K house near Concord is nice. $200K in NJ is on fire at the time.

BTW Cleveland has VERY good medical coverage. Just start with the Cleveland Clinic. On the west side Fairview Hospital (AKA the baby factory) is insanely good at some things (like baby delivery).

Im up in bear country (Sussex Co). We had snow. Just not compared to Cleveland.

[ottomobeale]

Go to a real estate site for NE ohio and enter MLS 2443605

200k!

[Suzieq1958]

You mean there was snow fall up there in August? Yikes!!!

[jas3443]

Willoughby, Mentor, Eastlake would all suit you pretty well I'd imagine. Just do some research on Google and such.

[jas3443]

Originally Posted by Suzieq1958

You mean there was snow fall up there in August? Yikes!!!

There's no snow here in August. That picture is from this past winter.

[ottomobeale]

Earliest snow I remember as a child was around Oct 5. It was like 3 inches and was melted away by like 10AM.