Places to Live near Allentown PA (Bethlehem, Easton: real estate, apartment, rentals)

[Master DeZaster]

Hey all. First time poster, but Ive often used City Data to get an idea of places to live.

I think me and the Soon to be Wife have finally settled on PA as the place we would like to move within the next 2 years.

The game plan is to rent, unless we can find a great deal on a home.

What is a good place to live around Allentown that we could get a single family fully detached for under 100K? Would be willing to commute up to 30 minutes, obviously closer is better though.

Don’t mind rural, would like to stay away from Urban.

If no such places exist, what place could we rent for around 700 a month?

We are looking for a place to start a family in the coming years, so that would be a main concern. I don’t need the best school district, just a good one. I plan on being active in my children’s education.

I’ve been looking at places like Emmaus and Bethlehem, but figured you'd know best.

Thank you!

[toobusytoday]

I don't know if you can find a single family home for under $100,00 in the Lehigh Valley. Any of the towns surrounding Allentown, Bethlehem or Easton are nice but your price point may be the deciding factor. Check out some of the links at the top for renting and buying options. Good luck!

[Lehigh Valley Native]

The only thing you will get in the suburbs of the Lehigh Valley for under 100k, is in a mobile home park. There are some nice communities, but lot rent can be a killer.
A single family detached for 100k might be possible in Allentown, but it will be a very small cape cod or ranch and might not be in a nice area.
I look at real estate often for the Lehigh Valley and last month I did see a 2 bedroom cape cod for 139k in the very nice west end area of allentown.

You could probably find a place to rent in your price range of 700.00, but it will probably be an apartment if you want to be in a nice area. You won't find a house rental close to that amount, but if you do, it will be in bad sections of one of the three cities in the Lehigh Valley.

[Gettingouttahere]

Have just started looking - very preliminarily - for rentals in the Valley. If you don't want urban, you're looking at $1,100 and up for a decent house in a good area. Check out Craigslist - I've found the best selection of rentals on there. Know the areas before you start deciding one rental is worth it over another. The nicest area in the Allentown city limits is the West End. There are several nice areas in Bethlehem, but they're all pretty urban. I don't know enough about Easton to give you any guidance. There are tons of nice areas outside the cities, but I don't know your priorities. If you are looking to start a family, obviously the school district will become of paramount importance down the line. Among the "best" are Parkland, East Penn, and smaller districts of Southern Lehigh and Saucon Valley. But that shouldn't be your first priority at first. Advice - find a nice apartment in a great area of Bethlehem (the city with the most offerings for young couples without kids) while you get familiar with the Valley and decide where you want to settle down. Don't buy first; rent.