Williamsville vs. East Amherst vs. Clarence vs. Hamburg vs. Lewiston (Buffalo: transfer, neighborhood)
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I purchased my house in '05 for 100K. There is nobody smoking crack in this area. You seem to want to categorize and slam the city as being an unhospitable place to live. Surely the city its share of problems. I have lived in Buffalo since 2001 and I love it. Anecdotally, I've been walking to work for years now and have never had a problem. Nobody has sneezed on me. Is that to say there aren't problems? No, I am not naive. However, if I were to send my kid to Hamburg high school, or some other suburban schools, I would certainly want to inform them of the dangers of heroin, or other prescription drugs. The hazing incidents all seem to happen with greater frequency in suburban schools. With information being as freely available as it presently is, provided you are educated, it really is less important than ever where you live.
I stated before, this is my opinion, and everyone is clearly entitled to their own. I suggest you back up your statement with a fact rather than broad generalizations that lack support. I'm sure you must have a map of where "crack central" is and the corresponding house prices.
A friend of mine just bought a duplex in Hamburg (Frontier SD) for $75K ..... while they are obviously not going to be glamorous there are plenty of homes available for $100K (or slightly under) that aren't in bad neighborhoods (in the city & the suburbs).
I purchased my house in '05 for 100K. There is nobody smoking crack in this area. You seem to want to categorize and slam the city as being an unhospitable place to live. Surely the city its share of problems. I have lived in Buffalo since 2001 and I love it. Anecdotally, I've been walking to work for years now and have never had a problem. Nobody has sneezed on me. Is that to say there aren't problems? No, I am not naive. However, if I were to send my kid to Hamburg high school, or some other suburban schools, I would certainly want to inform them of the dangers of heroin, or other prescription drugs. The hazing incidents all seem to happen with greater frequency in suburban schools. With information being as freely available as it presently is, provided you are educated, it really is less important than ever where you live.
I stated before, this is my opinion, and everyone is clearly entitled to their own. I suggest you back up your statement with a fact rather than broad generalizations that lack support. I'm sure you must have a map of where "crack central" is and the corresponding house prices.
You would do well to ignore 12, typical East Amherst/Williamsville soccer mom who thinks everything within the city is a warzone & all the other suburbs are ghettos.
I purchased my house in '05 for 100K. There is nobody smoking crack in this area. You seem to want to categorize and slam the city as being an unhospitable place to live. Surely the city its share of problems. I have lived in Buffalo since 2001 and I love it. Anecdotally, I've been walking to work for years now and have never had a problem. Nobody has sneezed on me. Is that to say there aren't problems? No, I am not naive. However, if I were to send my kid to Hamburg high school, or some other suburban schools, I would certainly want to inform them of the dangers of heroin, or other prescription drugs. The hazing incidents all seem to happen with greater frequency in suburban schools. With information being as freely available as it presently is, provided you are educated, it really is less important than ever where you live.
I stated before, this is my opinion, and everyone is clearly entitled to their own. I suggest you back up your statement with a fact rather than broad generalizations that lack support. I'm sure you must have a map of where "crack central" is and the corresponding house prices.
Hi there. I grew up on the westside of Buffalo. I know the city probably better than most. And I can tell ya, houses selling for 100k today? Not my "cup of tea"...but to each his own...glad it works for ya. I love Buffalo and it needs all the love it can get. It is painful for me to see what were once beautiful areas turned into war zones. I can't even go visit the old neighborhoods anymore. Sad really.
LOL I had to laugh when I read that war zone comment too.
Interesting article in last Sunday's Buffalo News about how dramatically home prices are increasing in parts of the West Side due to expats and suburbanites moving in and restoring those magnificant older homes into the jewels they once were.
Link to Buffalo News article:
West Side stories - Business - The Buffalo News (http://www.buffalonews.com/business/article621506.ece - broken link)
The funny thing is I own two houses in Buffalo and both have appreciated significantly. One by about 50% (10 years of investment) the other by about 25% (5 years of investment). If I were to sell I'd get a pretty decent return on my investment. But I like living here. The biggest drawback is schools, but I can afford to send my kids to private schools because I'm not paying a ton for mortgage interest and taxes. This appears to be a little known economic strategy. And to boot, I get to walk places and don't depend on my car for anything. In fact, we are probably going down to one car this year which further decreases cost of living and increases savings. I feel bad for the "house poor" crowd who sink all their money into housing.
I feel bad for the "house poor" crowd who sink all their money into housing.
So true there is really no more frustrating way to go through life than to be house rich and cash poor. People that take out the maximum mortgage amount a bank will lend them are setting themselves up for a life of stress and frustration over all the things they will not be able to do because every cent is going to their house.
The funny thing is I own two houses in Buffalo and both have appreciated significantly. One by about 50% (10 years of investment) the other by about 25% (5 years of investment). If I were to sell I'd get a pretty decent return on my investment. But I like living here. The biggest drawback is schools, but I can afford to send my kids to private schools because I'm not paying a ton for mortgage interest and taxes. This appears to be a little known economic strategy. And to boot, I get to walk places and don't depend on my car for anything. In fact, we are probably going down to one car this year which further decreases cost of living and increases savings. I feel bad for the "house poor" crowd who sink all their money into housing.
some might feel sorry for you for getting 50% roe after ten years...I bought in getzville and sold for a 35% profit after two years... sold at the market peak. Bought the house with a zero down mortgage so I got to keep my cash - taxes amortized...it can be done even in metro Buffalo in the "demand areas" with great schools..and it does not necessarily translate to house poor...and who pays PMI anymore anyway?
You were lucky, what can I say. I bet averages are far lower than what you experienced. And I believe it is 50% ROI I think. Considering the time frames involved I would challenge you to find many during the same period who got 5%/yr. Considering housing meltdown, etc. When I said mortgage interest I was referring to the interest on the bank loan. Not mortgage insurance (PMI). In fact, signing up for PMI and then paying down your principal (in about 5yrs) will save you money (versus putting 20% down).
Anyhow, the house poor crowds have two incomes and run themselves ragged just so that they think their kids are getting a better education. It's a nice marketing tactic, but nothing more than a push by greedy tax hungry towns and developers to move product. 20 years ago realtors were probably saying "buy amherst, good schools". Now they are probably saying "buy clarence good schools", 20 years from now they'll be saying, buy "newstead good schools" It's a big friggin' wash. Teach your kids to read and think and they won't need school to learn, they'll be able to teach themselves.
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