Under $90K in Tallahassee? (Memphis, Oakland: short sale, renters, houses)

[scyscyscy]

I'm moving to Tallahassee from NE Tennessee later this summer to go to grad school at FSU. I'll be giving up my lovely little house in a working-class neighborhood within walking distance of the university. Is there any possibility of an equivalent there? I'm wondering if there's anything similar to what I have now- an established older neighborhood, slowly converting from renters to owner-occupants, quiet and safe, where I know my neighbors, where homes are selling for around $85K or $90K, where the people who buy those homes move in and do renovations as time and money allow. Is there anything like that? I spent a long time in Memphis, where the neighborhoods around the university were either very expensive (where I did not live) or were filled at night with the sounds of gunfire (where I DID live).

Would I be wasting my time looking for a place to buy, or should I just bite the bullet and rent?

[soulohio]

I would check out craig's list and get an idea of what is available. i have only been thru tallahassee and can't say what you will find, but there are so many schools in that area that you will probably not see a real defined 'university' area...and that would be a good thing as if there was, you would find it very expensive.

[JAS]

Doubtful that you will find that. The neighborhoods around FSU aren't very nice, and the nicer areas of town will cost more than $100k. There are a lot of rentals around campus as opposed to established, owner-occupants. Not to mention that the university unfortunately borders on one of the rough parts of town.

[sunrico90]

Maybe a short sale? Can the experts tell us how to bid for a short sale....

[tally jeweler]

Sounds like my neighborhood! Houses built in the 40's, massive live oak trees, good mix of retired folk (original owners), rentals, and new folks renovating former rentals. Sales are slow in Tally right now, as elsewhere, so you can probably find something for not much more than $100k. My advice is to get a short-term lease and start looking in the area around the old Oakland Cemetery neighborhood. Don't let the yuppy faction scare you off with tales of the evil Frenchtown area! There has been a major revitilization effort for the past decade and it's a different place now. I would avoid the student ghetto of course, for sanity's sake!

[TD*]

There are very nice older neighborhoods try OLD TOWN and Myers park area.