Nice apartments or houses to rent in Salem, Roanoke (Franklin: for sale, rental)

[kristendrew]

We may be transferring to either place for 6-1 year, maybe longer and we don't want to buy yet ( due to a possible transfer again) We are 31 & 32, good jobs and have a 3 year old. Any suggestions on nice places to look at?? Or good websites??? We may be moving very quick and the internet doesn't give you the best info on types of neighborhoods. Thanks from one stressed mom!!!!

[emsgoof]

Accidentally posted something in a wrong forum.
Salem is nice, nicer end is away from Roanoke. I haven't been there in a while though, so can't recommend any apartments.

[seanpecor]

Try craigslist: roanoke classifieds for jobs, apartments, personals, for sale, services, community, and events also. The quality of neighborhood will be reflected in the rental fee. As a rule I'd avoid the Williamson Rd / Melrose Ave area if you wanted to rent in a nice neighborhood. Lots of good neighborhoods in Roanoke City and County; Raleigh Court, Penn Forest, Grandin Village, Old SW City, etc.

Sean

[Eerinthevalley]

Originally Posted by kristendrew

We may be transferring to either place for 6-1 year, maybe longer and we don't want to buy yet ( due to a possible transfer again) We are 31 & 32, good jobs and have a 3 year old. Any suggestions on nice places to look at?? Or good websites??? We may be moving very quick and the internet doesn't give you the best info on types of neighborhoods. Thanks from one stressed mom!!!!

I lived in Raleigh court in a nice little townhouse row. It was $600 a month- including gas, water, and trash. It was managed by Poe and Cronk. 2 bed, 1.5 bath. Older places, but pretty solidly built. I never locked the doors at night. Nice little garden space, allowed gas grills.

Sits right on the corner of Sherwood and Grandin, two blocks from the village. Quiet neighbors...;only the occaisonal Scooter buzzing buy that was annoying. 5 minutes to downtown, and 10 to Salem. 10 minute walk to 4 parks.

[J.Michael]

A site that you can find pictures, floor plans, and prices is Apartments.com - Free Nationwide Apartment Search with the Most Visual Rental Listings Online. i find it a good site for apartment searches.

[kristendrew]

Thanks!!! This is a lot of help!!!!!

BTW.... EMSGOOF.... no problem, I was just a little thrown of by the "disregard" Thanks to everyone!!

[roanoker 4]

Please don't take the advice to rule out the Williamson Road area as a nice place to live. By whose standards? The main road from north to south is Williamson Road. The road leads to the best shopping in the valley, many of the nicer restaurants, hotels, etc. It may offer the best opportunity for renters. Remember, many people who live outside Roanoke City come from a more rural background. They are unfamiliar with people with a more diverse,
racial, ethnic and other lifestyle backgrounds and feel threatened by diversity.
I would suggest to visit Roanoke and view the area for yourself and not let many of the local "authorities" about Roanoke City steer you the wrong way.

[kristendrew]

Thanks roanoker 4, we will if he gets transferred

[seanpecor]

I apologize for my generalization that one should rule out Williamson and Melrose if you're looking for a nice apartment or home to rent. I should have been more clear as to why I would make those generalizations.

However, I'm not sure if it's appropriate to imply that if one does raise that generalization, that somehow that person is rural, backwards or xenophobic. After all, my mother is Native American, born on a reservation in Canada, my father was Franco American and Blackfoot. I was born in New Haven, CT, a city of close to 1M people. My family lived in the slums aside the industrial sectors. I spent most of my young life in Burlington, VT, one of the most tolerant cities in the country. In a trailer park. Surrounded by people of all colors. My best friends were of Armenian, African and Israeli heritage. I've traveled the world, having conducted business in several continents and dozens of countries. I've developed Intranets and portals for some of the nations' largest securities firms and non-profits. I was once offered a lucrative position in Dubai by the holdings firm that owns Monster.com. Today I have customers in about twenty countries. I'm hardly unfamiliar with people from a more diverse racial, ethnic and lifestyle background. And I'm hardly threatened by diversity.

But if I have an opinion, and if it is asked of me, either directly or in a forum, then I give it. I try not to give it while also demeaning the character of another who has presented an opposing view. And my view of Williamson Rd and Melrose Ave, both also known as Route 11, is that the road is a major commercial corridor. And I'm not sure there is any neighborhood on a major commercial corridor in the Roanoke area that I would personally call a nice place to live. My negative generalization, while lacking clarity, had nothing at all to do with their diversity. In fact if one were to read through my archive of posts, there would be no xenophobia present, but rather several examples where I proudly defend the diversity of the Roanoke area. Franklin County included, which unlike most semi-rural counties in Virginia is 10% non-white. In fact it might surprise some that Roanoke and Botetourt Counties at only 5% non-white, aren't nearly as diverse as our "rural" county.

Sean

[kristendrew]

Thanks for all the info on Roanoke and surrounding areas. I haven't rented in years but this may be a temp. transfer and would hate to buy a house and get uprooted again. Can anyone suggest apartments with open spaces and great for a 3 year old and people that don't want to listen to partying all night. We are in our early 30's and don't want the " college type" apartments. I did some checking on the internet and it is hard to tell and would be happy to hear any suggestions!!!