Please tell me something nice about Bmore!! (Baltimore, Columbia: transplants, rent)

[mad2306]

I moved here from Chicago about 3 months ago. I currently rent in Ellicott City (no complaints), but I've been researching the entire Baltimore area heavily to buy. I've heard nothing but negatives about the city from realtors, friends, family, etc., etc...it seems like everyone loves the suburbs, but fear getting anywhere near the city! This is so odd to me...I'm from Chicago where lots of people want to get IN the city (we have crime there, too, you know)! I don't have a lot of money, so I'm not going to move to Columbia or anywhere near DC...I have family on the east side of Baltimore, but everyone basically laughs at me when I suggest moving there. I've checked out Catonsville and I think it's okay...anyway, why does everyone hate Baltimore city??? And what happens to the middle class??

[Zippy7fo]

DC is full of ivy league, college educated elitist types. Bmore is blue collar hard working city. Basically the gov't props up DC while Bmore actually relies on commerce by industry. When the economy suffers Bmore takes a hit, not as big as other parts of the country but they suffer while DC just keeps on ticking.

My advice, don't listen to everybody else. The crime in Bmore is bad unfortunately because the education system is terrible, the parents are irresponsible and poor leaders, and the drug game prospers as a hub for the rest of the east coast cities. But the city is going thru massive transformation with downtown getting cleaned up and all the transplants moving in from DC trying to buy affordable housing. Look for something around Fells Point, Canton, Federal Hill and you'll be fine.

[lscalder]

Let them all laugh because I remember when people use to advice others not to move to Washington Dc about 5yrs ago and look at Dc now. Baltimore is the next transformation area. in the next 5 yrs baltimore will be the next dc. If you are buying in Baltimore city just purchase in the safer areas in Baltimore city. If you buy now in the next 5 yrs your property value will triple.

[mad2306]

Thanks! I've actually been through the downtown areas you mentioned and I think it looks like a great place. I can't believe you can get a rehab around $200-$300K right downtown! Iscalder, I think you're right about buying now. From what I've researched, the area will be a great investment for the future.

[wm90]

Originally Posted by Zippy7fo

DC is full of ivy league, college educated elitist types. Bmore is blue collar hard working city. Basically the gov't props up DC while Bmore actually relies on commerce by industry. When the economy suffers Bmore takes a hit, not as big as other parts of the country but they suffer while DC just keeps on ticking.

Another downside to Baltimore: you get more people like "Zippy", who thinks running the country does not involve hard work and finds a college education to be elitist.

[Tom Lennox 70]

Baltimore is just a very depressing place. It has one of the highest crime rates in the country and the streets are controlled by drug dealers and street gangs. There are over 300 murders a year in the city. ALso the weather is very cold and dreary throughout the year except for the summer months. The winters in all of Maryland are unbearably freezing.

The entire look of the city is depressing too with miles or miles of industrial wasteland and brick row-houses. The water in the harbor looks very polluted and not inviting unlike Lake Michigan which is always blue and shiny, at least during the 5 times I've flown through Chicago on connecting flights. For some reason the tourist office is proud of Bmore's row-houses.....they are just utterly depressing even if they weren't falling apart. You know brick and stone buildings (with the exception of monuments like in DC) are just very drab and sullen looking....Baltimore can't be compared to the glass and steel wonders of the Chicago skyline. At least outside the Inner Harbor area.

I personally don't like Baltimore or anywhere in Maryland much...with the exception of Ocean City and Deep Creek Lake and some of the rural areas.

[TrippingJay]

I have quite a few co-workers and friends who have moved from DC to Baltimore and they actually enjoy it. You have to realize that Baltimore is nowhere near as great a city as Chicago is, but that said it does have its nicer areas that do have some character.

You want want to visit livebaltimore.com, it's a very informative site about different neighborhoods.

[Zippy7fo]

Originally Posted by wm90

Another downside to Baltimore: you get more people like "Zippy", who thinks running the country does not involve hard work and finds a college education to be elitist.

LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mad2306]

Hey Terrapin2212...

I love that you're trying to compare Baltimore to Chicago when you've only been to O'Hare. And I think it's hysterical how you compare lake Michigan to the harbor! Did you know that most of the summer you can't swim in lake Michigan because the bacteria count is too high? Shiny blue? Hahahahahaha!!!! Oh, and please spend a winter in Chicago before you talk to me about how cold it is. On average, Bmore's winter is ten degrees warmer than Chicago.

Anyway, I'm not comparing the two cities, that's not my point. I was just wondering why everyone hates Baltimore. I think the truth is, everyone is afraid of black people. I was looking at a house today in Patterson Park...I think this will be an awesome area in the city to invest in...and a very nice black neighbor came by to talk with me about the neighborhood. The realtor actually tried to shoo her away! It didn't deter me; in fact, I liked the fact that there are actually friendly neighbors!!

You're never going to escape crime in the city...or the suburbs.

[lscalder]

Terrapin: have never been to the other side of Lake Michigan stayed ecause I have you talk about poor. If you drive about 5-10 mins from Lake Michigan to the south side it looks just like Baltimore. You only visited the area that the county or state officials hide just like Baltimore. I love Chicago and I have no problem with driving thru the poorer areas just to see the hidden truth about the area.