I hate to do it but another "where to live in cleveland" ... (Akron: house, neighborhood)

[19hsm]

I'm desperate. Last minute my spouse just got a job in Warrensville Heights, OH and now we are going to have to move in a few months.

A few things we are looking for ...
Affordable housing - we are 2 newlyweds looking to build a family in the future. We were looking for something 3-4 bdrms, at least 2 baths, basement, decent size lot (prefer about .20 acre or more) that is within communiting distance. We currently have a price range of $150-175K but I have a feeling we might have to increase it. I'm looking either NE, E or SE of cleveland so far as I might have to commute to either Erie or Athens a few days a week sometimes. Easy access to highway would be nice.

Anyone that might be able to give us some areas would be great. I had looked in Cuyahoga, geauga, northern medina and portage.

[19hsm]

Nevermind, it looks like we have 2 offers to consider before we have to decide.

[19hsm]

But if anyone wants to weigh in, I'd love to try to sell Cleveland to my husband.

[MABCle]

Sell him on this Lake Erie

[19hsm]

Well it looks like its our top pic over Michigan. I've been looking on the eastern portion but it seems I can't find much with our specs.

3-4 bdrms, at least 2 baths, basement, decent size lot (prefer about .20 acre or more) that is within communting distance. We currently have a price range of $150-175K but I have a feeling we might have to increase it. I'm looking either NE, E or SE of cleveland so far as I might have to commute to either Erie or Athens a few days a week sometimes. Easy access to highway would be nice.

Anyone have any insight? The cheaper the better works ... I'm not sure how bad travel is during the winter so that worries me on how far I can look out of the warrensville heights area ...

[MABCle]

I would look at Shaker Heights-though taxes can be rough, Oakwood, Cleveland Heights, Beachwood, Solon, Walton Hills, Richmond Heights, South Euclid and Lyndhurst. Actually Lyndhurst would probably be the best bet.


Here's a map of Cleveland-Akron area. The area in red outlines the areas I think would fit. the area circled in the center is Warrensville Heights. You may have to zoom in to see it better.


You can see I-271 is a main North south route through this area, as are Richmond Road and of course Warrensville Road.

Lyndhurst is part of the South Euclid Lynhurst school system and has older split level, colonial and ranch style homes that would fit your needs and price. Its also a 10-20 minute drive by streets to Warrensville.

[19hsm]

fantastic! Thanks for your assistance. If anyone else has any feedback I'd appreciate it.

I was looking at the school district list and ranking and was concerned that some of the areas seemed ranked really low. Are there any areas that I should avoid for market issues such as some of the lower ranked school districts?

Its official as he signed for Cleveland so now I can put all my efforts for Cleveland.

I'm really liking the eastern side as it would probably fit our needs a little better but I'm concerned with the snowfall amounts (and the ice!). Since we can't go above $150K I understand it will be difficult. The fact that we have 2 big dogs and would like a yard makes it even harder. Something with easy interstate/highway access would be good as well. I've looked at some of the counties and although medina looks nice it seems a bit far for us.

Anyone have anything on Bedford, Garfield as I thought they weren't the nicer areas? I could be completely wrong as well. This MLS search is frustrating at time as I can't get all the parameters I'd like on some of these searches!

[MABCle]

In this area, Solon, Shaker Heights, Beachwood, Cleveland Heights and Mayfield probably offer the best schools. The rest are good, if your children do their work. I say this because the way by which schools in Ohio are ranked is flawed. It bases the rank on how well students do on the state proficiency test. This doesn't count in how many skilled teachers a district has, or how well students who normally study and do homework do, versus those that JUST come to school and do nothing else. Lots of schools are weighted down due to lazy students not just bad schools overall. School ranking in Ohio is a complicated issue, sorry to get caught up on that.

By the way, where are you living now?

[ottomobeale]

While I agree that the ranking system is a bit flawed. A school that rates a 10 is STILL a crappy school system. Get scores into the 20s and I doubt you will see a huge difference between a 21 and a 20.

WATCH out on the property taxes in some of those cities circled. Some are very nice but the taxes are killer. 150K makes it tough. 175K makes it a bit easier tho I don’t see you getting into Solon at that price.

Erie is MUCH easier to get to from the East side. Athens is a tossup East vs West.

East side is hilly compared to the very flat West side. The west side has better metroparks (google Rocky River Reservation) West side has less snow. Rich west side is athletes and new money in Westlake. Rich on the east side is old money. East side has most of the museums. West side has IMHO better housing bargains. North Olmsted schools while not spectacular are decent and 175K on a lucky day could score a nice brick ranch ~1800 SF with a good back yard in a NICE neighborhood.

Stay the er.. heck… out of Maple Heights. It is sinking fast.

[19hsm]

Thanks for the insight. Currently I'm in Tulsa but I'm from the midatlantic. So I know how property taxes can really play a rut into things.

As some of you guys said its easier to go east than west and as I will be commuting to ERIE alot this coming year the east side is working more in favor for us. Especially since my husband needs to have a short commute for work with his crazy hours.

I'm staying out of maple heights ... I've look at S. Euclid, Cleveland Heights, Richmond Heights and Lynhurst but the taxes are a little high out there.

We found a cute house in Brunswick but I had heard that area isn't the best. Anyone have any info?

Or on bedford city or oakwood as well? South of the city would work for us ...