Apartment Recommendation (Columbus, Clinton: renter, crime, houses)

[jerizl]

I will be separating from the Army in a few months, and my wife and I intend to move to Columbus so that I can finish my bachelor's degree at OSU. We will soon have a baby as well.

Where is a nice affordable place to live in Columbus? I would like to be close enough to the OSU campus either to walk/bike or use public transportation. We will be on a stretched income and wouldn't want to spend more than $650 per month, but less would be better if the neighborhood is OK. Can someone suggest an area to start looking or a resource to help?

[Ms. Kay]

Honestly I don't think you'll like any areas close to OSU in that price range. A hidden fact, more obvious lately, is that they're having a serious crime issue lately. I've found that the neighborhoods in that area are hit or miss and it's really hard to suggest one to you w/i your specifications.

[Sondra Johnson]

Look up in the Beechwold area, north of Clintonville. The bus lines run up and down High St, so transporation is a snap. The Graceland shopping center has most everything you need, and you could walk to it.....

[YoMikey617]

The area along High St between Lane Ave (north Campus) and East North Broadway (southern border of Clintonville) can appear to be sketchy in some places, but if you're looking to slum it and live close to everything you might be able to find a bargain. Also check out the strip of Indianola between Lane and Broadway. It might appear sketchy and run down in some areas, but for the most part it's harmless compared to other ghetto areas of Columbus. Lotta hippies, lesibians, college kids, and at worst poor white people.

To get good deals in older neighborhoods, you pretty much need to drive up and down the streets and phisically spot the "For Rent" signs in the windows of houses. If you're going to use COTA I highly suggest sticking close to the High St busline. COTA sucks in every way possible when you have to transfer busses but if you're taking just one north-south bus it's fine.

You'll get better deals on rent if you can find something NOT on the Sep 1st rent schedule. The highest rents in Columbus start on the Sept 1 cycle to mimic the school year. Don't ask the landlord about this though... Just know that if it's not rented by Sept 1st the landlord is more likely to take a good renter to fill the place.