Syracuse/Rochester/Buffalo (Amherst, Albany, Greece: crime, houses, unemployed)

[arudd427]

I'm an Albany native & looking to relocate back Upstate (from Virginia) in a few years.

In addition to Albany we'd consider Syracuse, Rochester & Buffalo, but I don't know much about any of them.

We'd like a neighborhod/suburb/nearby that's (in this order)...

1. Safe & quiet. I'm not a big fan of lingering unemployed folks, crime or just plain loud, obnoxious neighbors. Also I'd like to find a place where we wouldn't be worrying that the neighborhood is going to go to Hell in a few years, you know?
2. Inexpensive. If we were to buy a home now it would be in the $100-125,000 range. Maybe a bit more & certainly less!
3. We prefer older homes & tree-lined neigborhoods.

We really do not like where we are now. It's just dirty, depressing & well, ghetto. Unfortunately he's in the military so it's going to be a few more years.

Anyone who can recommend something in any of the cities would be greatly appreciated! I spend my free time on realtor.com thinking of where we'll end up...

Thanks!

[I'minformed2]

well, I'm not as informed on Buffalo and Syracuse, but I can tell you that any of the neighborhoods in the Southeastern area of the city of Rochester. Pretty much that whole area of the city has older homes (mostly late 1800's to 1920's) on tree-lined safe streets that are well kept. Typical house will run about $120,000....and that's for 3-4 bedrooms and 2000 sq feet. The schools won't be too great, but if that is an issue (you didn't mention if you had kids or not) there are some great catholic schools in the area.

[purdue512]

Actually, the public schools in Brighton, Pittsford and Penfield (all suburbs in SE Rochester) are all rated really well.

The real issue is property taxes. They are really high!

[aka_mouse]

The Southtowns in Buffalo are like you describe.. especially the central neighborhood parts mainly just cause they are older so have large trees.. where Amherst (north) is your typical suburban sprawl.

[NY2LV2?]

I'm from Greece in Rochester. Greece is a great place to live. Good schools, great people, good entertainment. A good place to raise kids! The houses are very affordable, but the taxes are a little high. I now live in Las Vegas, and eventhough the taxes are high in Greece, its still way way cheaper to live in greece. Check out nothnagle.com and Rochester Association Of Realtors. That should help you.

[I'minformed2]

I second that and am SO glad that someone else realizes that Greece is a great place to live and that the affluent eastern suburbs aren't the only liveable areas of Rochester...I just moved back home to Greece from Raleigh NC 2 weeks ago and couldn't be happier about it.

[niptucknlv]

Originally Posted by NY2LV2?

I'm from Greece in Rochester. Greece is a great place to live. Good schools, great people, good entertainment. A good place to raise kids! The houses are very affordable, but the taxes are a little high. I now live in Las Vegas, and eventhough the taxes are high in Greece, its still way way cheaper to live in greece. Check out nothnagle.com and Rochester Association Of Realtors. That should help you.

I too live in Las Vegas, NV presently and am looking to relocate to Rochester NY. I don't find people in LV to be friendly at all and I have had enough of the heat. What sense of community would you say about Rochester in comparison to LV? Also are fleas a problem in Rochester? sounds silly but I am an animal lover and Vegas dosen't fleas...one good thing about LV.

[teebopop]

It's nice to hear about Greece. I went to Greece Olympia Highschool centuries ago (1965-66). I loved that area.

[mikesuicide]

look into North Tonawanda or Tonawanda in the northern suburbs of Buffalo

[AJNEOA]

Rochester - I think most people forget about areas in Henrietta. It's a nice and close suburb to Rochester's downtown, and it's much less expensive than Brighton, Penfield, etc... The only problem is that the houses are a little newer than the nicer areas.

Definitely consider Greece, as there are "some" older homes there and the schools aren't bad. One thing to watch out for in Rochester are the property taxes. The house costs and cost of living are great, but the property taxes are very expensive! Both Henrietta and Greece have their own large commercial districts to them as well.