Anyone have updated info on moving/working/living.... (Harrisburg, Middletown: apartment, renter)

[DavidWebb]

in Harrisburg and the surrounding areas?? I've interviewed for a job with the state and have other interviews beginning in the next year. Currently live in Saylorsburg, PA which is a 2 hour drive and I don't plan on doing considering my wife requires dialysis 5 times a week. We do the dialysis at home. The prospective job will be in a building across the street from the state Capitol so I'd like to be within a 1/2 hours distance from there. We're looking to rent instead of buying since at our age (both 58) we don't need the headaches anymore of home ownership. So we'd like to be in an area with people our age or younger but not the college-age crowd. We've already been warned to stay away from the area directly behind and to the northeast of the Capitol. Drove by there on our way home after the interview and it really did not look good at all. Max rent we can afford is $1200/month, have 3 Chihuahua's which are trained and house-broken, and 2 parakeets. Appreciate any info anyone can provide.

[LampTrill]

Welcome!

Are you looking to rent a single family house? Row home? Apartment? Condo?
What about parking situation...garage? Paid parking? On-street parking? Off-street parking? Paid parking? etc.

When you say you are looking for a commute of half hour or so - do you mean in rush hour? Or any time of day?

[DavidWebb]

Originally Posted by LampTrill

Welcome!

Are you looking to rent a single family house? Row home? Apartment? Condo?
What about parking situation...garage? Paid parking? On-street parking? Off-street parking? Paid parking? etc.

When you say you are looking for a commute of half hour or so - do you mean in rush hour? Or any time of day?

Please re-read my post....some of your questions are already answered....as for parking off-street would be ideal....for a half-hour commute from the state Capitol I don't think parking will be an issue....I don't plan on living in the town itself unless a good deal were found and I doubt it....and as for rush hour: REALLY in Harrisburg!! We're not talking Manhattan or the Lincoln Tunnel....how much traffic can that area have compared to major cities?? The job will Mon-Fri, 8am-4:30pm, no weekends nor nights.....

[LampTrill]

I did re-read your post. And don't see where my questions were originally answered. You mention that you want to rent, rather than deal with home ownership. But, I didn't see where you specified what you want to rent - which is why I asked...apartment? condo? row home? single family home? This makes a difference.

If working near/at the state Capitol you will have to pay for your parking regardless. There may be a few exceptions (higher level executives etc may have their parking fees covered) otherwise you are on your own. Think it runs about $110 or so a month if leased just to park to go to work.

You may be surprised as far as the traffic goes. Not a large amount of folks live within the city, but a lot of folks commute into the city. There's only so many ways to get in, and so many ways to get out. You'll be traveling at the peak times with those hours.

I'd suggest the following West Shore communities - Camp Hill, New Cumberland, Lemoyne, Enola and Wormleysburg. All should fall within 30 minutes of downtown (unless there are accidents - so I'd stay away from I83). Close proximity to highways, shops, restaurants, etc. I wouldn't say that there any areas overflowing with college students. I've noticed more families than anything in this area.

Looking quickly I was able to find a 3br2ba home for rent in Lemoyne within your budget.
Here's another home with 2br1ba well within budget.
There's plenty more out there.

[DavidWebb]

Originally Posted by LampTrill

I did re-read your post. And don't see where my questions were originally answered. You mention that you want to rent, rather than deal with home ownership. But, I didn't see where you specified what you want to rent - which is why I asked...apartment? condo? row home? single family home? This makes a difference.

If working near/at the state Capitol you will have to pay for your parking regardless. There may be a few exceptions (higher level executives etc may have their parking fees covered) otherwise you are on your own. Think it runs about $110 or so a month if leased just to park to go to work.

You may be surprised as far as the traffic goes. Not a large amount of folks live within the city, but a lot of folks commute into the city. There's only so many ways to get in, and so many ways to get out. You'll be traveling at the peak times with those hours.

I'd suggest the following West Shore communities - Camp Hill, New Cumberland, Lemoyne, Enola and Wormleysburg. All should fall within 30 minutes of downtown (unless there are accidents - so I'd stay away from I83). Close proximity to highways, shops, restaurants, etc. I wouldn't say that there any areas overflowing with college students. I've noticed more families than anything in this area.

Looking quickly I was able to find a 3br2ba home for rent in Lemoyne within your budget.
Here's another home with 2br1ba well within budget.
There's plenty more out there.

Thanks for the info, LampTrill....as far as the traffic for commuting I figured its the way you stated since I saw many articles online in the local newspapers about accidents and the such shutting down the highways during rush hour....I guess Harrisburg is not properly developed for the amount of traffic they're now seeing in the downtown area compared to years ago....you would think that being the state Capitol city it would be better taken care of by the elected officials but we don't even get that from the moron's running DC....but that's a whole other topic....I'll have to check out those communities you mention since a few of them were already mentioned to me by the waitress we spoke with at Cork & Fork who also moved down there recently....she said she lives in Camp Hill and loves it over there....the 2 houses you mention don't accept pets though but they are good choices....thanks again....greatly appreciated....

[teachbeach]

Middletown might be an area to look at as well.

[DavidWebb]

Originally Posted by teachbeach

Middletown might be an area to look at as well.

Looking there also....I have noticed that all utilities tend to be dumped on the renter in a lot of the rentals I've looked at online....never heard of renters having to pay for ALL utilities.....

[MissShona]

Originally Posted by DavidWebb

Looking there also....I have noticed that all utilities tend to be dumped on the renter in a lot of the rentals I've looked at online....never heard of renters having to pay for ALL utilities.....

Really? That's the case that I've seen here in southwestern PA. I rent....and I even have to pay water/sewer (even though the city will not let a tenant put the bill in their name....my last 3 landlords just passed the charge on to me).

[DavidWebb]

Looking for more input on my original post at top from anyone else willing to share info on surrounding areas in Harrisburg....the job I'm waiting to hear from with the state looks likely to come through finally....appreciate some good guidance from long time residents and recent movers to the area also....