North East or Havre de Grace? (Towson, Edgewood: section 8, real estate, 2010)

[Ken1222]

My job will be moving from NJ to Aberdeen in 2010. After exhaustive searches, I have narrowed down my relocation choices to Bulle Rock in Havre de Grace, or Ridgely Forest in North East (located just off of route 7, one mile east of route 272). I am single with no kids.

I do like Bulle Rock and Havre de Grace, also like the fact of the new stores on route 40 in HdG (supermarket, drug store, etc). On the other hand, North East also has a new supermarket, Walmart, Pizza, Chinese, etc.

I am aware of what is said about HdG, but others say that is an area with potential. My questions are:

1. Which is more desirable, HdG or North East? I was just down in Md last week, and spoke to a HdG native who referred to North East folks as rednecks.
2. Was told of a rumored drug problem in North East, centered around Lakeland road?
3. Any rumors about Bulle Rock golf course closing after LPGA leaves?

Thanks very much...

[Sweetpea79]

Hi Ken,


1. Which is more desirable, HdG or North East? I was just down in Md last week, and spoke to a HdG native who referred to North East folks as rednecks.

I've lived in North East for the past 1 1/2 years, and before that I lived in Bel Air for 20 yrs. I would highly agree when the person you talked to said North East is a little "redneck". But it's got it's pluses living up there at well. There are several new home developments going up in the area like Ridgely Forest or Courts of Mallory that are fairly inexpensive. Plus the gas is always cheaper up here compared to Harford County (at least 10-15 cents). When you live up in North East you'll have Delmarva Power instead of BGE for your electric, and in most cases they are a lot cheaper than BGE. All and all it's cheaper living up there for someone that's single (property taxes too). Another thing is that Delaware is only 10 minutes up the road, and as soon as you get over the border on Rt. 40 you have a Home Depot, Starbucks, Safeway, and other places (feels like you've re-entered civilization, LOL), and it's all tax free . Christiana Mall is fairly nice, and there's a few places around there. Personally I feel I made a good choice moving there.

HDG is a nice area down by the water, I have a friend that lives down there and it's a nice area too. Normally once you get into Bel Air, you have everything you could possibly need, from malls, to shopping, food, etc. Most you can find or get to within a 10 minute drive. Bel Air/abingdon (zip code 21014, 21015, 21009) can get crowded too so be aware of that.

2. Was told of a rumored drug problem in North East, centered around Lakeland road?

There's a drug problem anywhere you go, in that area from what I understand there is. But then again there's a gang issue in Aberdeen and Edgewood.

3. Any rumors about Bulle Rock golf course closing after LPGA leaves?

I highly highly doubt that. Bulle Rock has a lot of people living there, it's a nice place to live but the HOA fees are crazy.

[Ken1222]

Thanks Sweetpea...I agree with you regarding the HOA fees, but the $250 per month covers snow shoveling, lawn maintenance, and garbage. Currently in NJ, I pay about $2000 per year for lawn cutting & maintenance, $400 per year for garbage. Not too mention maintaining the snowblower and getting my butt out on winter days to shovel.

I like Ridgely Forest ($300-$350K range), but Bulle Rock has the Master BR on first floors. Several of the homes there have sold in the $600K - $1M range, and I am looking for a great deal wherever I go.

[PSUguy]

I would check out Bel Air/Fallston/Churchville over Northeast or HdG.

I would recommend staying on the other side of 95 away from 40, plus you house will shake atleast once per week from the explosions at APG. I am on the Abingdon/Bel Air border and when it's rainy/cloudy my house will shake from the big booms...very strange. Traffic is not bad either, it is nothing like NJ...that is where we came from.

Abingdon is also nice, no real downtown though but most of Abingdon is districted to Edgewood. Not sure about HdG but that is very important factor.

FYI - ZERO good pizza/bagels down here. We tried everything in 20 miles radius, some decent stuff in Towson.

[lilaluvs2cook]

Hi, I agree with a previous poster that Bel Air would be a better choice. Especially if you plan to resell later, the schools are MUCH better than both areas that you mentioned. O.k., with that said, North East is pretty "rednecky", however it's very close to the water if you like fishing or boating. Ridgely's Forest is VERY nice for the price, and I think the schools will get better once the economy picks back up and more homes/schools are built. As of now though, North East schools are terrible! which would make resale more difficult. All in all, I would search 21015, 21014. I currently live in Bel air and love it. Good luck!

[girliegirl1234]

Pick Havre de Grace over North East. Cecil Country does not currently have a Target, and Havre de Grace is close enough to Cecil County and Deleware if you need to go there. If you live in Cecil County and work in Aberdeen, the traffic is terrible going over the Rt. 40 bridge into Cecil County, and the 95 bridge costs $5 each time going northbound (the Rt 40 bridge you buy one $5 sticker and it lasts a year). Bulle Rock has a beautiful club house, with pools and the golf course definitely has plans to stay.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea79

Hi Ken,


Which is more desirable, HdG or North East? ...

I've lived in North East .... it's cheaper living up there for someone that's single (property taxes too). Another thing is that Delaware is only 10 minutes up the road, and as soon as you get over the border on Rt. 40 you have a Home Depot, Starbucks, Safeway, and other places (feels like you've re-entered civilization, LOL), and it's all tax free .....

Would Ken be better off just moving just inside the DEL state line? I thought there were tax issues that made DEL attractive.

[Sweetpea79]

Yeah that's the one thing I hate about Cecil County, all WalMart's and Food Lion's and no Targets.... Don't get me wrong, Harford County is a nice area depending on where you live. And yes I would stay away from the Southern portion of the county if you can because of the explotions from APG. With Girlie's comment, they are recontructing the Rt 40 bridge...it's a crappy bridge but you can't beat the $5 a year sticker for the toll. With Mike's comment below, I'd agree on that too, move to the Glasgow/Newark Area. But hey if you can afford living in Bulle Rock, I'd say go for it...lovely homes over in that neck of the woods!

[Ken1222]

Thanks again to all. I do like Bulle Rock. The condos/townhouses/villas/homes in there range from $250K up to $1M. The clubhouse is spectacular, I have been in there several times. Taxes are the same in Bulle Rock as in NJ---high. I heard BelAir has cheaper taxes, but more traffic. In BR, I would be 6 miles from my job in APG, and just down the road from the route 40 entrance to BR is a new drugstore, and newer supermarket. I still will look at Ridgely Forest and Charlestown Crossing in North East, but the BR lifestyle (no lawn cutting, no snow shoveling, more time for golf) appeals to me. Where exactly is the gang issue in Aberdeen? I was down in Edgewood last month and drove to the 715 gate to APG and route 40 down there looks bad...adult book stores, tatoo parlors. Suppose I want to walk around the town of HdG after dark...is that safe? What about down by the HdG water after dark? Thanks

[Regularguy123]

In reference to your questions:

1. Which is more desirable, HdG or North East? I was just down in Md last week, and spoke to a HdG native who referred to North East folks as rednecks. 2. Drug problems.
- I used to have an old Victorian home in HdG, on one of, if not the best streets in town. HdG has its shares of ups and downs. The biggest problem is that the local elected leadership is poor; anything goes attitude with respect to zoning, ie. building homes in alleys, allowing run down homes to stay in crap condition, etc... Things should improve when some out of town folks start to run for office and the populace changes and they refuse to accept mediocrity. There are still too many rental properties (about 40%) and way too many Section 8 recipients in homes owned by landlords that do not care about the home's appearance. HdG has some great waterfront properties that are still afordable. Bulle Rock is nice too, great clubhouse, etc... This may end up being way too large of a development when fully built. BR is away from the gang/drug issues. Downtown HdG has some gang/drug issues, much as the entire Route 40 corridor.
- NE has some nice spots too. However, you have to be carefull there. Lots of run down houses, trailers, etc... I also looked for a home there, and was shocked to find out that there is a public housing project (some type) down the street from the Thome School. I don't remember if Lakeland drive is nearby. Drive by there sometime and you will see that yes, there is a drug problem there, and yes, they have all the earmarks of young gangsters.
-Bottom line: Both towns can be nice. Since you do not have kids, schools are not such a concern for you. My advice is to drive around and look at the house/condo you are considering, park the car, then walk around that neighborhood in daylight. Venture off at least 5 - 10 blocks and ask yourself, do you feel comfortable? Would you feel comfortable about your wife/girlfriend jogging there? Then ask yourself, how would you like to take this same walk at night? Only you will know the answer w/out anyone elses opinion.

3. Any rumors about Bulle Rock golf course closing after LPGA leaves?
-Doubtful. However, the LPGA will likely never return and the quality of the course may decline faster than you could lose golf balls in tall grass. Furthermore, if we have fiscal austerity for several years, the developers may put up far more townhouses in lieu of single family homes. The end result will be more rental properties and you know what happens then.

There are some very nice, honest Rednecks who live in both of these towns. There are also a lot of trashy businessmen from old family's in both towns that would lie right to your face and stab you in the back, ie. the real estate field.
Best of luck in your decision! Welcome to the area.