Are these prices for real?

[TeflonPeZ]

To dispel some of the negativity; I love the City of Rochester and would strongly encourage you to buy a house here. Your dollar will go far and the area has it all.

My favorite areas of the City of Rochester are on it's southeast side.

The ZIP codes of these urban areas would include:

14607, 14610, 14620, 14618

Here's a map that might help.

Rochester ZIP Code Map - Free Map of Rochester New York ZIP Codes

I currently reside in the 14620 ZIP code, known locally as the "South Wedge" and I really love it.

[HowardRoarke]

Originally Posted by lovebrentwood

Holy moly. I lived in the Dewey/Stone area, no garage. Although I loved living in the Rochester area, I'm glad I moved.

I lived in the same house there for 7 years, and I sold it for what I bought it for and was told by real estate agents that I was fortunate not to lose anything. I think the homes go for about $10K more now, 16 years later.

In the same time period, my home in Raleigh appreciated about $70K total (from its original price), which for Raleigh, is still somewhat low compared to newer homes. (I've always preferred older homes.)

$4K in taxes on a 900 square foot home west of Mt. Read!? OMG! No wonder people are flocking here. (Although things are pretty bad now -- very high unemployment, high real estate, high living costs, etc.) The Rochester area has more things to do.

And no wonder you are in SC.

One friend lives on Wendhurst, off Stone. Bought the house from his parents. I've seen houses in that area as low as $65K (I've heard some go for less; there are HUD homes that come up for sale from time to time, there), and that's usually for one that needs lots of work and updating. Highest was maybe $100K, and that would include a pool or 1.5 car garage, at least, with updates, hardwoods, EIK, vinyl siding, HVAC, new roof, expansions, properly insulated (those Cape Cods can be a pain) etc.

His house would go for $450K here in a nice part of the City of Greenville (1300 sq. ft. Cape that needs nothing), but he'd be lucky to get $85K for it, tomorrow, up there. Sad, with all the work, landscaping, etc., that's gone into the property. I think he pays around $2700-$2800/yr. on the STAR program. One issue, too, in that area are the neighbors. Houses are close together, and if the neighbors on both sides, behind, across the street, etc., don't maintain their properties, then all that work is for naught. He's in that situation right now. Sure, his assessment 5 years ago was for $95K, but there's no way he could get that with a rental on one side, a vacant house across the street, a vacant foreclosure 2 houses down, etc. There have been issues with drug houses here and there, right off Dewey (California Dr., definitely, which is sad).

Much of Dewey/Stone has seen better days, although there are decent pockets. Was nicer 20 years ago when high school friends of mine lived there. Personally, I'd rather live there than off Ridge by St. John's parish near to the mall (similar area), if it were my choice.

Mine and my wife's first house in Rochester was of newer construction, yet not new, per se. Couple had divorced and the house was priced for a quick sale at way under market (Fairport area). Taxes went up $500 2nd year we were there, to $6500/yr. (total taxes), and our house was smaller than others in our neighborhood. Didn't really like the area so much, and I got a job on the west side in '05, so we moved and ended up in Greece near to the canal, which is a nice area (off Elmgrove). Older post war house, yet the taxes were still high ($6K). I'm with you, I like older, solid construction that is easy to maintain and repair.

Moved to Columbia, SC, for a year and rented, then moved to Greenville last year, before our oldest started kindergarten. Bought our first SC house, and it's a post war 1800 sq. ft. ranch, 1.5 car garage, almost half an acre, needing little work when we moved in, and our taxes are $1300/yr. I figure every dime we put into this place will pay us back in spades, upon sale. Both houses we had in Rochester were nice, and I had one of my own when we met that was nice, too, on the canal in Fairport.

Several folks we know whom have left Rochester (Monroe and Ontario counties) lost some money upon resale, and these were nice houses that would probably go for between $200K and $450K, down here.

One reason why my mom's taxes are high is because her property abuts a school lot. Crazy, considering there are 1200 sq. ft. ranch houses on her street, with pools, hot tubs, 1.5-2 baths, finished basements, etc., and her assessment is the same, despite her scarce amenities (although it's a nice house).


-