Are You Gay? Which Neighborhood Did You Move To In Baltimore?

[remstone]

I don't think I'm the most informed about the market down there. But I'd probably point you towards 1209 N Charles.

First off, most any housing development opening its sales in the middle of a bad recession is going to struggle. The developer of this one was quite well-respected for good projects across town for the last twenty years, and even they went bankrupt (I don't know who bought the project after that). So based on the Streuver Brothers name it's probably well done.

Secondly, I can't tell you how sold or unsold it is. Current asking prices look attractive but not fire sale. You can look over condo association account statements when you view a unit, and the new project owner is almost certainly picking up the tab for condo fees for the unsolds. If it looks like they have deep pockets then buy in confidence (at the bottom, preferably). I suggest you go to our SDAT site and do a little digging into how many units are owned individually and how many by the new developer - SDAT: Real Property Search

Third, Baltimore has always been a poor condominium market. It's just kinda common knowledge of people involved in housing around here, not that some projects didn't succeed (though for about 30 years I heard most every major project had put the original developer into bankruptcy). Maybe its because our rowhouses were a good enough substitute that the market never developed, or local lenders didn't understand them, or our people are backwards. That history doesn't really have anything to do with you, it's just that the usual metrics that might have applied elsewhere (sold out, resale prices increased) aren't as useful in our immature market.

I don't know what you're looking for but this should be somewhat appealing:
1209 CHARLES St NORTH #301, BALTIMORE, MD 21201 | MLS# BA7799577

[KLynch10]

Baltimore is not a by city for condo buidlings or condo developments. The taxes here are high, so that plus condo fees is a lot of money down the drain every month. People love their rowhomes here. Mt Vernon does have a lot condos scattered all over in subdivided buildings though. I would get on a good realtor site and see what's available, I like coldwell banker.com, and also try to hit a bunch of open houses on Sunday.

[jrh0341]

How gay are you looking for? If you want a gay community, then I don't know, but if you just want somewhere accepting, then I doubt you'll have a problem in any of those spots. For example, my usual bar is in Butcher's Hill and the overwhelming majority of us are straight, but there are a few regulars/neighborhood locals there who are very openly gay, and they are just as well liked as anybody else. Their sexual orientation is an absolute non issue.

[B.K.]

Originally Posted by jrh0341

How gay are you looking for? If you want a gay community, then I don't know, but if you just want somewhere accepting, then I doubt you'll have a problem in any of those spots. For example, my usual bar is in Butcher's Hill and the overwhelming majority of us are straight, but there are a few regulars/neighborhood locals there who are very openly gay, and they are just as well liked as anybody else. Their sexual orientation is an absolute non issue.

I'll second jrh's opinion. Unless you absolutely, positively have to be near the center of gay population concentration, you'll find most of Baltimore very accepting and non-discriminatory. Lauraville, Beverly Hills, Waltherson, Hamilton are neighborhoods near us in NE Baltimore that have had rapidly growing gay populations for the last 10-15 years. Lots of bars, restaurants, shopping options along Harford Rd that are all "gay friendly" at the very least. And still less than a 15 minute ride from Mt. Vernon.

[jenkinsky]

We have a good friend who bought at 1209 N. Charles Street during the tail end of the 'boom' - I think 2006ish? She paid over $400K for a 2BR/2BA unit there and a few years down the road, the owner started leasing which made it impossible to get financing in the building. She's been trying to slowly sell her since then but told us that in the last year or so, like units are selling anywhere from the low $200K-$250K range - the building is also managed poorly she says by Campbell & Company who don't exactly have a glowing reputation in this town (we rented in a building run by them when we first moved here - never again!). The buzz out there among the owners (who are about half of the building's make up - the rest are renters [mostly college-minded/aged/acting students & residents/doctors] - is that they are getting ready to search for a new management company who is a bit more hands on. It's a nice building though with a beautiful courtyard on the interior and our friend has a rooftop terrace so I wouldn't rule it out but maybe wait it out until they eliminate the rentals or get rid of management. Good luck! We bought a short sale in Harbor East by the way and love it very much - safe neighborhood close to work for both of us!

[movin2Reston]

Heading there this weekend so I will take a look at it.

Originally Posted by jenkinsky

We have a good friend who bought at 1209 N. Charles Street during the tail end of the 'boom' - I think 2006ish? She paid over $400K for a 2BR/2BA unit there and a few years down the road, the owner started leasing which made it impossible to get financing in the building. She's been trying to slowly sell her since then but told us that in the last year or so, like units are selling anywhere from the low $200K-$250K range - the building is also managed poorly she says by Campbell & Company who don't exactly have a glowing reputation in this town (we rented in a building run by them when we first moved here - never again!). The buzz out there among the owners (who are about half of the building's make up - the rest are renters [mostly college-minded/aged/acting students & residents/doctors] - is that they are getting ready to search for a new management company who is a bit more hands on. It's a nice building though with a beautiful courtyard on the interior and our friend has a rooftop terrace so I wouldn't rule it out but maybe wait it out until they eliminate the rentals or get rid of management. Good luck! We bought a short sale in Harbor East by the way and love it very much - safe neighborhood close to work for both of us!

[bmorefella]

Originally Posted by movin2Reston

Good to hear. As for Harbor East, what do the prices typically start at?

I'm not gay but I think you would be fine in any of those neighborhoods, especially Mt. Vernon. And harbor east is a little pricey, I know studio apartments in harbor east start between 1,700 and 1,850

[movin2Reston]

Sounds like about the same for Reston Town Center right her us.

Originally Posted by bmorefella

I'm not gay but I think you would be fine in any of those neighborhoods, especially Mt. Vernon. And harbor east is a little pricey, I know studio apartments in harbor east start between 1,700 and 1,850

[bmorefella]

Yeah I'm sorry but I can't see me spending 1700 a month on a stylish glass box, I would take that 1700 and go to Bolton hill you could get a three bedroom or maybe even a whole house.