Realistic rental price - S. Euclid, CH, UH, Shaker, etc. (Lakewood: rentals, appliances)

[Sunshine79]

Hi folks,

I've read lots of threads on buying, but I'm wondering what a realistic price to pay for renting is these days.

My fiance and I are moving to the city next summer. He'll be working at University Hospitals and hopefully I'll be going to Kent State. We're looking for a decent place to rent that will be relatively convenient for both of us to get to - on a bus line to the hospitals would be a plus. Ideally, we'd love to be in a racially diverse, safe area with shops in walking distance. Outer ring suburbs don't really interest us. We're not buying and have no kids, so schools aren't an issue.

We have a line on a $1100/mo 3br single family bungalow in South Euclid, but can we do better? We know that it's got a great landlord, 2 car garage, central air, all appliances included, beautifully remodeled. I've seen postings on craigslist with a lot of beautiful places in Shaker/CH/UH for less, but I've also heard that the utilities can be sky high in those older homes. Can we realistically get under $1200 combined for rent and utilities for a 3br with similar features?

Thanks so much!

[airics]

the way i am reading your post is $100 for utilities... never gonna happen... i have a 1400sf ranch in mayfield new windows, ac, furnace etc... the electric bill alone in july is 200+, the gas bill in feb is usually around 300...

[Sunshine79]

Airics,

I'm getting the figure straight from the friends who live there now, not the landlord. They said they "blasted the AC" and their utilities have averaged $100-130 per month. If this is true, then my fear is that any savings I could find on rent would be quickly eaten up by utilities. That's why I started this thread.

[airics]

ask to see the bills and what they consider blasting the ac.. and also this year was very very mild.

[Peregrine]

I used my AC for like a week this summer.
Yea old homes are more expensive to heat but many (inlcuding mine) have been remodeled to the point where it is as efficient as any new home. So I wouldn't count out an old home simply because it is old.
I love old homes.
I think you could easily find something reasonable in CH for $1,200/month total. Even at a high rent of $800 you would probably spend $200-$300 on gas and $50 on electric. $1,150. You could do it for less in Lakewood but that's to far west from you. So many rentals it keeps the prices down.

Here's an entire home in Shaker for $725.
Shaker Two Bedroom Just Available
Look like newer windows, gas bill may not be to bad.

This is a really cool neighborhood.
Small house, hopefully remodeled. Some great homes over there, I am sure it's really cute.
Magnificent Carriage House

Good luck!