I am in Love with Louisville... (Germantown: for sale, real estate, apartments)

[usernameLOL]

...but is it affordable for a relatively poor person such as myself.

Are there little frame houses in your area where there is pride of ownership and not a big house price? I am not interested in any McMansions or putting on the dog, I am hoping for a safe little neighborhood and a cozy little ol' house with a nice yard.

I grew up in a neighborhood where the houses were just frame houses left over from WWI barracks (yes, 1 not II), but they were kept neat as a pin and people minded their business and let us mind ours and our neighborhood while poor had pride and pretty gardens. But Katrina put the swamp back where it had once been and that is long gone.

It seems to me that in a place as pretty as Ky in general and Louisville in particular, you pay for that prettiness with a big ol' house payment. And asking a real estate agent to help you find a thrifty place is like asking your kitty-cat to guard your cream for you, they write you off right then or say that there is no safe thrifty neighborhoods but then you find out too late they were not exactly truthful.

Man, I think Louisville has it ALL! The beauty, the climate, the jobs! Where I live now and have lived before, either a person is house-poor or they live like in a prison if they can't afford the spendy area. I don't know, the housing market in the U.S. got weird on me when I wasn't looking.

Thanks for any help about little ol' sweet neighborhoods.

[censusdata]

Louisville has very affordable housing. A 1 bedroom apartment in a nice area can run from $350 to $500. There are a lot of shotgun houses throughout the Old City which run anywhere from $40,000- $90,000 even in good areas

For cheap houses, look in St Joseph, Germantown, or Schnitzelburg. For cheap, but very nice apartments look in Old Louisville or The Highlands.

Check out pictures of these areas on the Louisville Photo Stiicky

[gameguy56]

Originally Posted by censusdata

Louisville has very affordable housing. A 1 bedroom apartment in a nice area can run from $350 to $500. There are a lot of shotgun houses throughout the Old City which run anywhere from $40,000- $90,000 even in good areas

For cheap houses, look in St Joseph, Germantown, or Schnitzelburg. For cheap, but very nice apartments look in Old Louisville or The Highlands.

Check out pictures of these areas on the Louisville Photo Stiicky

on a slightly offtopic note, do you happen to work for the census in jeffersonville?

[louroclou]

Germantown is definitely the idea, as is Clifton, Clifton Heights. Both areas are developing neighborhood 'scenes' that add to the attractiveness... and if you get in now, your investment is sure to grow...

[censusdata]

Originally Posted by gameguy56

on a slightly offtopic note, do you happen to work for the census in jeffersonville?

No, I'm still in college.

That would be pretty bad to have a government job and spend all day surfing the internet

[usernameLOL]

This is the best news I have had in a long time. I thank you each and all for answering. A little ol' shotgun house is exactly my hope!!! I love the cosmopolitan aspect to your city. The idea of getting to be part of a scene is delightful!

[censusdata]

I've seen VERY cheap shotgun houses for sale just East of the Univ. of Louisville in the St Joseph neighborhood. This is among the safest areas in the entire city.

I just checked the CJ Real Estate section and there are lots of listings in good areas from $40,000-$50,000.

Courier-Journal.com - List View

Areas to avoid would be Shelby Park, but stay south of the RR tracks in that area and you'll be fine

[Peter1948]

Originally Posted by censusdata

I've seen VERY cheap shotgun houses for sale just East of the Univ. of Louisville in the St Joseph neighborhood. This is among the safest areas in the entire city.

I just checked the CJ Real Estate section and there are lots of listings in good areas from $40,000-$50,000.

Courier-Journal.com - List View

Areas to avoid would be Shelby Park, but stay south of the RR tracks in that area and you'll be fine

Good advice. The area bounded by Floyd street on the west, Broadway on the North, Logan on the East, and Hill Street on the South is a somewhat shady area that I would mostly avoid, and it is essentially the only "bad" area east of downtown. Outside that, you sound like a PERFECT fit for Germantown, Clifton, or Butchertown.

If you come from New Orleans, Louisville's architecture will look very similar in parts. Historically, these were two of the south's major cities, and the shotgun housing form was brought up to Louisville by the river traders, becoming the predominat housing form.

I would search homes for sale in the areas mentioned on Craigslist. If you have any questions about specific streets or listings, PM me. But yeah, in short, a nice 700-900 sf shotgun can be had for under 100k in a decent area if you are willing to update the kitchen and do some minor cosmetic stuff on your own. Germantown really has a lot of character, and it sounds like what you are looking for. Clifton has become yuppy and trendy, and is getting a bit expensive in parts. Same with the Highlands.

[usernameLOL]

Hee hee, sneaking a peek at the replies at work --

THANK YOU censusdata for the Links to the Houses, that is so helpful!!!

THANK YOU stx for your remarks as to the good areas. As a person of German descent, the name of Germantown seems a definite sign to me!!!

I almost cried when I saw all the little shotgun houses, it has been so very long. I guess a person gets "imprinted" with what they grew up with and it just strikes a chord in their heart when they see it again. Presently I am in the desert (I have lived all over), and the beauty of Louisville just has ahold of me.

Just one thing, is there lots of SNOW? I fainted the first time I saw snow, I could not wrap my mind around it. I thought it was a giant pile of oyster shells (lots of blindingly white piles of oyster shells near New Orleans).

[censusdata]

Originally Posted by usernameLOL

Just one thing, is there lots of SNOW? I fainted the first time I saw snow, I could not wrap my mind around it. I thought it was a giant pile of oyster shells (lots of blindingly white piles of oyster shells near New Orleans).

Usually just a couple of dustings per year - and it rarely stays on the ground more than a day or two

If you have any questions about a specific street or area, just ask it here because we could let you know how it is. i live really close to this area and do most of my shopping there, so I'm very familiar with it.

My summary of it: very little crime, friendly people, lots of shopping, and a nice mixture of college educated people with working class people. If I ever bought a house, this would defiantly be the area I would look.

Here are specific neighborhood maps of the best areas that still have affordable housing.