Looking at Havre de Grace... (Baltimore, Columbia: relocation, housing, rent)

[becca]

for when my boyfriend and I move back to the States from Israel. We'd really appreciate anything you can tell us about the town and the area around it.

I want someplace with a reasonably metropolitan atmosphere (somewhere to hear live music, lots of restaurants, that kind of thing) - where I'll have a variety of job opportunites or can drive to them. My boyfriend is looking for outdoor tourism or nature guide work.

From what we can see online, Havre de Grace is in a beautiful area and has things going on. What do you think?

[pkoons]

Havre de Grace is affordable, close to Baltimore, has good golf (Bulle Rock) and is near the water. Sounds great, but if you're looking for something fairly "metropolitan", with plenty of jobs nearby, I would recommend Columbia, Annapolis, or Rockville. These are large suburbs with plenty of jobs and restaurants and easy access to the major cities (DC/Baltimore). Havre de Grace is certainly quieter than these areas. In the past year, I've seen a bunch of great concerts in Columbia (Merriweather Post Pavilion), Annapolis (Ram's Head Live) and Rockville (downtown area hosted a free Hootie & The Blowfish show last year!)

If you're looking for something less expensive, or perhaps something farther removed from the heavily trafficked-hectic DC metro area, then Havre de Grace would work, but I would recommend Eldersburg or the MD Eastern Shore over Havre...

In Harford County, try Fallston - very nice suburb and closer to B-More for things to do.

Good luck!!!

[becca]

Thanks pkoons! Less expensive and not overly congested is definitely something we're looking for, but I guess it'll have to wait until we can really visit the area for me to decide how quiet is too quiet.

One thing we liked about Havre - keeping in mind that our only source of info right now is the internet - was that it's on the water. It's close to a lot of kayaking operations, and I thought that the waterfront must be an area with a lot to do - no?

I had the impression that the eastern shore of the Bay is a great place to go for retirees who enjoy fishing - is that what the immediate western shore is like, too?

Last comment - I like the mouth of the bay because it's only three hours from my family in the NYC area - this is less important to my boyfriend. For me, it makes Fallston one of the more attractive of the towns you mentioned.

Thanks so much for your guidance!

[pkoons]

Eastern Shore is better for fishing.

Havre de Grace isn't exactly a sailing/waterfront paradise like Annapolis or Easton, but I'm sure if you enjoy kayaking you'll meet up with some people who can point you in the right direction. I live in Crownsville and people love kayaking in Valentine Creek/Severn River where it's less turbulent.

Fallston is certainly nice. For more affordability, go farther north (away from Baltimore) and you'll find some nice communities. Happy to answer any questions you may have.

[Adream]

My DB and SIL live in Havre de Grace and love it. Nice neighbors (Bulle Rock), beautiful area. It is a little quiet for them, having moved from Philly and Baltimore respectively then HdG after marrying, but they are getting used to it.

Interestingly, they are as close to the Philly airport as Baltimore and consider it to be an easier drive. Just under 2 hours to the Jersey shore too. Great area!

[rubytue]

I, too, am thinking of moving to the area (for a job at Aberdeen). My husband and I are so exciting looking at the costs of housing. We currently live much closer to DC, and are amazed that we could possibly find a SFH for less than our house appraises for! If we stretch the budget, we could even get waterfront.

Thing is, as much as we hate things abot DC (traffic, people, traffic, people, and toss housing costs) - there are things we love, too. Can anyone tell me if the Harford county area has things like a good sushi place, maybe some indian food, an organic food store, or other little things we might be spoiled on in DC but will miss when we increase our overall quality of life in a smaller town?

[EmJake]

becca - so if you are still checking in, how are things where you are? there's a nice shul in HdeG

[becca]

I think that Rubytue and I have similar concerns. Can a soy-milk-guzzler and heavy user of take-out international cuisine such as myself keep that going in the area in question?

Adream, if you don't mind my asking a million questions, did your DB and SIL move to HdG with jobs already arranged? If not, did they find work easily? What did they find? What do you think is helping them get used to the quiet - have they found fun things to do?

Pkoons, thank you so much for your suggestions - I suspect that there is such a thing as too far from Baltimore, but we also don't have very deep pockets right now...I feel like beyond checking out housing prices and job sites online (know any good area-specific sites?), a good compromise town can't be identified without our physical presence in Maryland come January.

EmJake, things here are getting creepy but still rolling along, especially in Tel Aviv where I live and work.

[rubytue]

Becca - we are going up to the area next weekend. I will report back what I find :-) We will be checking out things such as the job market, along with the little luxuries like organic food and takeout :-)

[EmJake]

from a native: HdG has: McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Dominos, Waffle House, greasy spoon diner. Another diner, Lighthouse, on Rt 40 is ok, definitely nothing special. One ok restaurant: Bayou. Several in town tourist trap restaurants (over priced, limited menu, great views). Int'l food is best found in DC, Philly, NY. Baltimore has the famous seafood, of course. HdG is a lovely Victorian-styled "bedroom community" on the waterfront. There is a moderate crime rate with gangs trying to encroach the otherwise calm demeanor of the community. Harford County is busting at the seams and to get more so with the relocation of NJ folks from Monmouth to APG. Golfing is becoming quite the sport - Bulle Rock is pricey but hosted the LPGA tour in '05 and '06. Schools are so-so. One local community college. Active Fire and Rescue volunteer association. One ok hospital in HdG - one better one in Bel Air. Bel Air is so congested, you don't want to find yourself at rush hour on a Friday night in downtown Bel Air. I grew up in HdG when it was a population of only 10K and very quiet. Things are quite different today. Aberdeen isn't much better, but you do have the Ripkin Stadium.