Where to move in Elkridge Help! (Baltimore, Columbia: low income, to rent, HOA)

[goingeast]

Hello,

My family and I are possibly moving back east to the Elkridge area. Just wanted to know your thoughts on what areas are a good place to live and buy a house that is affordable $300-400.

We have 3 children under the age of 5 so looking to settle down, we would like an nice little community that is fairly safe, schools are decent, and not too far from Baltimore. Our jobs will probably be around the Baltimore area.
I've been reading some things on Elkridge like alot of low income housing being built in that area and problems with builders and methane? The closing of Jessup prison, is that far? Help!

Thanks for any advice from what I've read on city data it seems like parts of Elkridge are sketchy. Others have also recommended possibly Catonsville, Ellicott City, or Columbia? Where would you live to raise your family???? Thanks again!

[Bosque]

Lawyer's Hill is good, but I do not think there is a bad place in Elkridge.

Catonsville has always been a secret. A wonderful place to live. It is close to everything, but not too close.

[scottfs]

Stay away from Rt. 1. Lawyers' hill is nice, personally, I'd try to live on the side closer to Ellicott City. I lived right up on Rt. 1 when I lived there and I didn't like it.

[jessy0780]

I live in Elkridge, and I love it here. I would agree about avoiding the areas closest to rte 1. Stick to the areas off of rte 103- it's a great area. Are you looking for a sfh or th?

[goingeast]

Thank you for everyone's response. We're most likely going to rent at first and eventually a single family house. I've been looking alot at the Catonsville area also and like what I see but seems very close to Baltimore City. Which I don't mind at all but am worried about the crime rate. Ellicott City looks nice but definitely seems more expensive to live. We have 3 kids so schools and safety are a big deal.
So Elkridge looks like it has areas of nice houses with decent land and than industrial areas? So are the areas closer to Ellicott City the way to go in terms of looking for a house? Also does anyone know about the housing development that had some Methane problem, has that been resolved?

[BigDragon]

Pay particular attention to the jets next time you're in Elkridge. They fly right overhead of some of the developments there, particularly New Colony Village. I looked in some of those houses but could not even hear myself think when a jet came overhead, and I could hear people talking outside. They're very poorly insulated and many have some sort of water pipe problem over the kitchen. The HOA and condo fees are also astronomical. I was touring some townhomes in Jessup in which were practically soundproof.

I'm looking in the same area as well as others, but I'm convinced housing prices have quite a bit further to drop over the next 2 years. I would watch prices in Ellicott City and Columbia if I were shopping in your price range. Methane problems are probably related all the new construction from Ryan.

[ChosenGSR]

+1 on staying away form Rt1. I am not familiar with all of Elkridge but it seems to me that the areas bordering EC are the best parts of Elkridge.

[dej]

Originally Posted by goingeast

Thank you for everyone's response. We're most likely going to rent at first and eventually a single family house. I've been looking alot at the Catonsville area also and like what I see but seems very close to Baltimore City. Which I don't mind at all but am worried about the crime rate. Ellicott City looks nice but definitely seems more expensive to live. We have 3 kids so schools and safety are a big deal.
So Elkridge looks like it has areas of nice houses with decent land and than industrial areas? So are the areas closer to Ellicott City the way to go in terms of looking for a house? Also does anyone know about the housing development that had some Methane problem, has that been resolved?

Was the methane problems ever confirmed one way or the other?