Washington Village v. Seton Hill...... (Baltimore: apartment complexes, rent, house prices)

[cal-tex]

Is there a big difference in these two neighborhoods? Which area would be better to invest in? THX!

[barante]

The Pigtown location has its pluses, such as it being at the end of the BW Parkay and close to the UM. Both are also among the attractions of the Seton Hill locale.

Pigtown is Baltimore's oldest existing slum, as per UM Professor Garrett Power; so construction often may leave something to be desired. Many Seton Hill houses are even older. Their size tends to be small and design antiquated.

However, if the State Center redevelopment takes off, Seton Hill may have a future. Unless that speculation is already built in in prices/rent.

Up to you.

[cal-tex]

Originally Posted by barante

Their size tends to be small and design antiquated.

Thanks for your response. But, can't the same be said for identical homes in DC, that are selling for 12 times more; let alone Georgetown at 40 times more? Most things about a house can be changed; a location cannot be changed. My biggest concerns are with the vibe and the trend (not trying to be a "hipster"). Some areas are just plain hopeless, like a lot of Detroit, and there is just no possible way they will be able to make a comeback in my lifetime. I would be looking at a 3-10 year window. On paper, the biggest negative is clearly the sky high property taxes...well over 4% in many cases.

[barante]

Look around and decide. However, remember that house prices also can go down. And neighborhood improvement in Baltimore, if it happens at all, takes far, far longer than in the feverishly gentrifying D.C. Good luck.

[pwduvall]

Both neighborhoods are dependent to on the revival of the west side of downtown Baltimore. Seton Hill, being on the border of the West Side, is much more so. If the law suits for the Superblock are ever cleared up and West Side redevelopment starts to produce something positive, Seaton Hill will boom. Washington Village, while it has good long-term prospects, is also a few years from really jelling. As barante alluded to above, both neighborhoods will (at best) have to wait for revival in the medium term.

New leadership at the BDC may help (- we can always hope.)

[KLynch10]

Pigtown's renaissance can rely directly on capitalism, meanwhile Seton Hill has some serious government obstacles... those being subsidized and low rent apartment complexes adjacent to them as well as very troubled McCulloh Homes across MLK. Improvements will happen but we will not see major change until there are changes at these complexes would be incredibly complicated. But they can definitely benefit from the spill over currently happening on the western parts of Mt. Vernon and what looks like increased investment around Lexington Market.

Pigtown is all private property and only market trends and supply and demand will determine its future. The fact that you can get rehabbed homes there for $120-$180k is crazy, and one must thing they'll be worth $200k-$250k in the near future. Pigtown has an incredible location, but still has a long way to go become hot or more desirable but slowly but surely progress is being made. A couple talked about restaurants would really make the area take off.