Moving to WV from CA (#2) (Parkersburg, Vienna: rentals, houses, to buy)

[HORSE_LOVER2132]

Hello all!
I have posted one of these about 2 months ago.
After futher research, I still do not know much about WV. Lol!

I am currently looking at the following cities:
-Marietta, WV
-North Hills, WV
-Vienna, WV
-Parkersburg, WV
-Belpre, OH

I am trying to stay as close to Waverly as possible

I do not know much about the cities listed above except I noticed the homes I have seen in my research in Parkersburg seem run down?
If someone could help me with some "Local Insight", that would be great.
I am trying to narrow my search down and would like to stay away from "drug" areas.
I have seen a lot of discussion on drugs in several northern WV cities?
I am not sure if this is true...but I am not interested in living in an area with high drug related activity.

as much info as possible is great about any of the above cities
for Ex: is Parkersburg large enough where there is a "nicer" part of it?
(some cities in my current area are large enough where one part is very nice and another is a little run down and dated)
Info like this would be great!

[pknopp]

There really is only one area of Parkersburg that is "run down" and it's even pretty hit and miss.

95% of the houses in Vienna and North Hills are in good upkept condition. Marietta (which is in Ohio) is a cool old town. It's a small college town. Many nice older homes with newer homes on the outskirts.

There is also Williamstown. Picking is likely a little less than the other areas. It's hard to find a house in Williamstown that isn't in good shape. Many of them are older homes which will always need attention but there is also some real new developments.

Now if you are considering "dated" as run down, yes, there are many older homes in this area. We rarely tear houses down to simply replace them with new ones. Drugs are certainly everywhere just like most places but stay away from 8th to say 19th street in Parkersburg and you are unlikely to see it. The thing is though, some of the nicest old houses in the area are also in that area. I really love the mid century modern homes in the 14 th st area near the city park in Parkersburg myself.

I suppose it would help to know what size home and price range you are looking for. I guess you are going to be going to Merideth Manor? My brother in law lives right behind there. There is a new housing development on Rt 2 not 10 minutes from there.

[bballjunkie]

Just come visit and spend time looking around. Refresh our memory of what exactly you are looking for in living quarters.

[HORSE_LOVER2132]

Originally Posted by pknopp

There really is only one area of Parkersburg that is "run down" and it's even pretty hit and miss.

95% of the houses in Vienna and North Hills are in good upkept condition. Marietta (which is in Ohio) is a cool old town. It's a small college town. Many nice older homes with newer homes on the outskirts.

There is also Williamstown. Picking is likely a little less than the other areas. It's hard to find a house in Williamstown that isn't in good shape. Many of them are older homes which will always need attention but there is also some real new developments.

Now if you are considering "dated" as run down, yes, there are many older homes in this area. We rarely tear houses down to simply replace them with new ones. Drugs are certainly everywhere just like most places but stay away from 8th to say 19th street in Parkersburg and you are unlikely to see it. The thing is though, some of the nicest old houses in the area are also in that area. I really love the mid century modern homes in the 14 th st area near the city park in Parkersburg myself.

I suppose it would help to know what size home and price range you are looking for. I guess you are going to be going to Merideth Manor? My brother in law lives right behind there. There is a new housing development on Rt 2 not 10 minutes from there.

Yes, actually
I will be going to Meredith Manor
Your Post has actually been an amazing help.
Dated is not run down to me, I mean the old boarded up and abandoned homes. Here in CA, those areas are usually high in drug related issues.

My price range to rent is $400-$800
I am looking to rent for about 6 months-1 year so i can get a feel of the area a little more and decided where I am most comfortable to buy a home.
I am looking for a 2 bedroom, but dont mind more rooms. lol


I am visiting in August to tour the school and to check out the surrounding cities.
I am just trying to find out as much as I can before that visit so my search is not so broad.

[pknopp]

It's actually fairly hard to find a boarded up house. The housing mess by and large missed WV. Our prices didn't skyrocket like other places so they had nowhere to fall back to. People generally did not get in over their heads.

The only area that might not be to your liking is the 13th st area. There are some abandoned houses in that area. Not too many though. A house will be very hard to find in the $400 range. At the upper range you should be able to find something suitable.

Vienna is generally going to be more expensive as is North Hills. Marietta or Williamstown is appx a 12-15 minute drive to M.M. but there doesn't seem to me to be a lot of rentals open, but then again, I've had no reason to look.

You really shouldn't have any problems finding a decent place in an area that is good for what you have budgeted.

[HORSE_LOVER2132]

Originally Posted by pknopp

It's actually fairly hard to find a boarded up house. The housing mess by and large missed WV. Our prices didn't skyrocket like other places so they had nowhere to fall back to. People generally did not get in over their heads.

The only area that might not be to your liking is the 13th st area. There are some abandoned houses in that area. Not too many though. A house will be very hard to find in the $400 range. At the upper range you should be able to find something suitable.

Vienna is generally going to be more expensive as is North Hills. Marietta or Williamstown is appx a 12-15 minute drive to M.M. but there doesn't seem to me to be a lot of rentals open, but then again, I've had no reason to look.

You really shouldn't have any problems finding a decent place in an area that is good for what you have budgeted.

Thank you very much for your post.
This is very helpful!
Its a lot harder to find rentals online compared to CA. lol!
So narrowing down my search was much needed and you guys have certainly helped me!