Anyone move to the Youngstown/Warren/Boardman metro???? (Eaton, Cortland: bank owned, short sales)

[JR_C]

I don't have much time, and I haven't read your other post(s), but I want to make a quick comment about the schools.

I don't have kids, and I've only been told this by others, so take it with a grain of salt. Youngstown elementary schools are fine. Youngstown middle schools are OK, and the highschools are less OK. The primary reason is discipline. (or the lack of) What I'm hearing is that the teachers have had their "teeth" removed by the district administration. And so, have to teach very slowly because disruptive students won't let the teachers do their jobs. And, the disruptive students aren't punished in a meaningful way to make them stop being disruptful.

If you send your highschooler to Chaney, (the west side HS) be sure to work with them closely on their school work, and keep up to date on their feelings and progress. My great-grandmother was fond of saying that anyone who wants a good education can get one, regardless of surroundings.

Also, just FYI, one of Ohio's teachers of the year is an english teacher at East High in the YCSD.

[CortlandGirl79]

[quote=KenD;6877336]CortlandGirl,

I guess I need to tell you that I'm one of the people who pushed your hit count way over the top. The contributions you have made to this forum (and hopefully will continue to make) are more valuable to people like me than you will ever know.

Awesome job, really - and thanks.

Haha! I was wondering why my count suddenly spiked! That you for your kind words. I do really enjoy answering people's questions and sometimes i think i should work for the Camber of Commerce or something! haha! I'm glad my posts have helped you!


Probably not. From what I can see, the picture isn't pretty. I'm reading up on the Open Enrollment (Thanks again) and will have to figure out of we will find a way of affording private school (if a suitable one can be found) or even home school, an option I would prefer to not have to depend on.

If you do move into Y-town, open enrollment is probably your best bet. I know there are also charter schools, but i have no idea how those work.



Being able to afford and will to pay are two very different things.

I understand what you are saying. Hope i didn't sound snobby w/my reply........not everyone can afford private school.

For example, I know I have a choice of literally hundreds of homes in the under $35K price range. This means with a strong downpayment and possibly taking some of the Youngstown buyer's incentives, I can pay off a home in three to five years, much like a new Buick. As I would be taking out a 15 year mortgage, my monthly payment (P&I only) would be just north of $100/month and in many areas, including property taxes and insurance, we would be below $300/month.

Canfield's lowest priced home is $49K and goes up rapidly from there. Poland is in that range, even though there are a couple of homes that are probably too small in the $40K range. Don't even get me started on the property taxes - but I'm sure that subject is heated enough.



To be honest with you, we are looking in the below $50K range, probably in the $35K neighborhood, unless we can't find something suitable. The areas are open but we would like to be near shopping. My wife noted that Warren doesn't seem to have supermarkets (plural) and we would like to be somewhere where we can shop at more than one supermarket to play off the specials without having to drive all over to do so.

I believe Warren also offers incentives. I think i heard of a program where you can buy a home for $1 if you promise to live there for 5 years.....not sure if they are still doing that and it's probably not in the best area, but it might be worth looking into.

Since you are looking in the $35-$50k range does this mean you are looking into foreclosures too??? You might be able to get some great deals in the NE Warren, Girard, McDonald, Niles, Hubbard area in that price range. I know someone who just bought a foreclosure in Howland for $57k in a nice neighborhood (there aren't many bad ones there). The bank was asking in the $80k's and he ended up getting it much cheaper. Of course the place needs a lot of work, but once he does some clean up and buys some new carpet, paint and appliances he will be in good shape.

Understood, even though I consider you a fountain of knowledge, period.
What is your feeling about our needs in as far as shopping is concerned?
Is there anywhere up in the northern sections that might meet them?

I'm not sure how many options you may want in the way of shopping. I live in NE Warren and i'm 5 minutes from two Giant Eagles (one in the Elm Rd Plaza, one in Howland on E. Market), 5 minutes from Super Walmart. We also used to have Topps very close by, but they're gone now and i didn't care much for them anyway. I just googled grocery stores in Warren and this is what i found grocery stores in warren ohio - Google Maps The Sav-A-Lot on N. Park is about 10 minutes from me (w/stop lights and such), but i'm not sure i would want to shop there, it's a little ghetto.

My grandma is a bargain shopper like you guys, looks at the ads and used to make me drive between Topps, Giant Eagle, and a small grocery store on Youngstown Rd (St Rt 422). I believe that store is still there.........according to the map its called Convenient Food Mart DBA Big Apple Supermarket‎. That place is like walking back into the 1970s and i believe there are a few liquor stores next door.......you know, if you are looking for "refreshments" haha!

If you're willing to drive 10 minutes you will find many more options than are being showed on the map. I live 10 minutes from the Eastwood Mall Complex and there are plenty of options in that area. Here are all the ones i can think of and they are very close together..........Target, Sam's Club, Sav-A-Lot, Super K-mart, Aldi's, Marc's, GFS, and oh yeah, there is a new amish farmer's market between the mall and North Rd. on 422. There are also several Sparkle markets in the area, I know there are a couple in Warren, but i believe they are on the West Side (never shopped over there), there's another Giant Eagle and Sparkle in Niles (also probably 10 minutes from the mall, and Champion Twp northwest of Warren has a Stop and shop, Sav-A-Lot and a Sparkle......this is about 15 minutes from me. Hopefully, that helps........i also get adds in the mail for specials at Rite Aid, Walgreens and the like......so i think you will have plenty of options if you pick most areas of Trumbull Co.


And again, THANK YOU for everything you've done.
If I was contemplating a move like this 10 years ago, none of this would have been possible.

I agree! City-Data.com is the best and we have many great contributors here. There are a lot of things that i didn't have 10 years ago that i couldn't live w/out now. How did we ever live w/out cell phones, internet (high speed), DVR's, etc?!?! I will never know!

If you have any questions at all on the area north of Youngstown you know i am more than willing to help. Of course i'm more specialized in Cortland, Howland, Warren, Champion, and Niles, but i'm sure i have enough friends in other areas that i could help you out w/any area of Trumbull Co. Good Luck and welcome to the Mahoning Valley!

[CortlandGirl79]

If you're looking for a good search site w/picture i would use Eaton Group, Inc. GMAC Real Estate: Middlefield, Warren, Youngstown Ohio Homes and Real Estate for Sale!: Eaton Group, Inc. GMAC Real Estate to do your search. I tried to do a search for you and post it, but the links are messed up. I only recommend this site because they show lots of pics.........

[CortlandGirl79]

Love the stained glass in this one Listings Search: Eaton Group, Inc. GMAC Real Estate

http://www.eatongmac.com/listings/de...pe%3D1%26areas

Thought i would like to give you some idea of what you could get up here.

[CortlandGirl79]

Wow, how sad is this..........this home is right near courthouse square in Warren near the YMCA, Perkins Park, Presbyterian Church, etc and they are selling it as investor rehab or tear down! OMG! why tear down this beautiful house! Listings Search: Eaton Group, Inc. GMAC Real Estate

[JR_C]

Originally Posted by KenD

Thanks, I found that map some time ago and have been using it. Do you know where there is a key that explains what the names of the neighborhoods are for the numbers?

This is the map of the neighborhoods, as designated by the Youngstown 2010 plan. The neighborhoods with numbers don't have names yet.

I'm not sure you can ever understand how valuable the work you did in taking those shots and posting them is to someone like me. I owe CortlandGirl a big thank you as well and I'll get around to that in due time.

I'm glad they were helpful.

One quick question...

I like the look of the Garden District, some of the homes you posted pictures of are breathtaking. Is it a safe neighborhood? Would I need a security system, bars on the windows and doors as well as a locked garage to keep my possessions from being ripped off?

It's a neighborhood in transition. So, you do need to be more careful than you would if you were living out in the middle of nowhere. I happen to have a security alarm, but I don't think one would be absolutely necessary in this neighborhood; it just offers extra peace of mind. I wouldn't leave my garage unlocked if I weren't home. But bars are definitely not necessary!

There really seems to be quite a consensus about that area. I think I will use this advice to see what I can find. Thanks!

I don't know if you will find anything in your price range, but I would also suggest looking in the following neighborhoods that haven't already been mentioned: 20, 21, 22, and 25. I know people who live in these neighborhoods, and they are also very nice.

Originally Posted by KenD

CortlandGirl,
From what I can see, the picture isn't pretty. I'm reading up on the Open Enrollment.

I know that some of my neighbors send their kids to McDonald.

To be honest with you, we are looking in the below $50K range, probably in the $35K neighborhood, unless we can't find something suitable.

Here's where the city has an advantage. Just as an example, you can find a house that is move in ready in my neighborhood for about $40k. (and still be adjacant to the park!) Under $35k, and houses will need some minor work. Under $25k, and you'll probably need to tackle at least one of a couple more major projects. (may need a new roof, or maybe missing copper plumbing, or needs a new furnace, etc.)

That same $40k, in a surrounding community probably won't go as far. (I'm speaking generally about Mahoning county. I'm sure Cortlandgirl will know better about Trumbull county) The house you find may be smaller, the property taxes will probably be higher, this is subjective--but the house may have less charm. (when I lived in Austintown, most of the houses in my neighborhood were built after WWII, and were the typical suburban G.I. salt boxes, or mid-50's ranches. Blah, IMO.)

I hope I helped. I may be focusing on the city, but I think just about any of the communities around here would meet your needs. Isn't it a great feeling that you have lots of good choices?

[JR_C]

Originally Posted by CortlandGirl79

Wow, how sad is this..........this home is right near courthouse square in Warren near the YMCA, Perkins Park, Presbyterian Church, etc and they are selling it as investor rehab or tear down! OMG! why tear down this beautiful house! Listings Search: Eaton Group, Inc. GMAC Real Estate

I wonder if it's the realtor or the current owner (or both) that has no vision.

[NYmomma]

i have read this whole thread and WOW!! that was alot of info to take in lol!
i live in NY and my dad relocated to cortland about 2 years or so ago with my younger brother
and sister! i now have been considering for some time now.. well, my husband is now ready to go and
look for a job at the end of next month and is ready to up and move we have been looking at all kinds of houses and areas and kinda like Ken can put a hefty down payment if not in some aspects buy out right now we have two very young kids and will be staying for quite some time (til our kids graduate and we have one who will be going into preschool next year lol)
is there a thread or something that is already posted about the south side of youngstown??
and thank you all again for all the info! you guys are amazing for all your help!

[000000]

Originally Posted by NYmomma

well, my husband is now ready to go and look for a job

there are very few of those in the youngstown area. wherever you are at likely has more. the youngstown projected on the internet is different than the youngstown on the ground.

Originally Posted by NYmomma

Ken can put a hefty down payment if not in some aspects buy out right now we have two very young kids and will be staying for quite some time (til our kids graduate and we have one who will be going into preschool next year lol)

you likely will not want to have your kids go to youngstown public schools. if education is your goal with your children's education, it would be a better choice between private y-town or some of the suburbs' publics.

Originally Posted by NYmomma

is there a thread or something that is already posted about the south side of youngstown??

there are bits here and there in other topics, but you are also free to start a new one.

[JR_C]

Originally Posted by NYmomma

i have read this whole thread and WOW!! that was alot of info to take in lol!
i live in NY and my dad relocated to cortland about 2 years or so ago with my younger brother
and sister! i now have been considering for some time now.. well, my husband is now ready to go and
look for a job at the end of next month and is ready to up and move we have been looking at all kinds of houses and areas and kinda like Ken can put a hefty down payment if not in some aspects buy out right now we have two very young kids and will be staying for quite some time (til our kids graduate and we have one who will be going into preschool next year lol)
is there a thread or something that is already posted about the south side of youngstown??
and thank you all again for all the info! you guys are amazing for all your help!

I would definitely get a job lined up before I moved here. IMO, it's a great place to live if you have a good job. But, nowhere is a great place if you don't have a good job. And, they are hard (though not impossible) to find around here. I guess it depends on what you and/or your husband do for a living.

I already shared my opinion of the Youngstown schools at the top of page 7.

As far as living on the south side, I would definitely rent for a year before buying to get a better feel for the area. Some of the worst parts of the city are on the south side. But there are nice areas too. I'm not familiar enough with that side of the city to give any good advice, though. I have heard good things about the Brownlee Woods, Indian Village, and Lansingville neighborhoods. (see maps on page 6) Idora would probably be a less desirable neighborhood right now, but they have a strong neighborhood group that is working hard to make the area better. So, it may become desirable someday.