Any ideas on where? (Buffalo, Rochester: real estate, to rent, buying a house)

[skilldeadly]

My GF's parents are looking to move from LI. They are done with the high taxes (they pay about 11k a year now) and have no need for the City since they rarely if ever go.

They are looking at a max price of 175k. They really want a 2 family unit since we are planning on moving back to WNY then buying a house in Buffalo or Rochester. Her parents don't care about having a backyard so it can be a city type area but a little grass behind the house for maybe a swingset would be nice. They wouldn't mind city as long as it has a place to park their car and it's safe enough. Her dad wants to be able to jump in his car and within 5 minutes go to a grocery store. The only thing they don't want is lots of land, the country, and areas with higher crime.

Obviously Elmwood would be nice, Delaware area, Tonawanda, Amherst. After we move out with a year or two, they want to rent it out for extra income. I'm not sure how often 2 family units at that price there are. They saw a 159k 2 family 6 bedroom on inwood pl near Delaware. Any idea if that's a good deal?

[genoobie]

I would not buy in Tonawanda as prices seem to be in flux there. In N. Buffalo prices have been on the rise for some time but they may be a bit over-inflated. The city is your best option for lower taxes unless you want rural (Genesee county). For $160 you could pick up quite a few nicer doubles in the area. You may want to check this site out Buffalo Niagara Homes and Real Estate

Here's a specific listing that would fit your description quite nicely.
Property Detail - ML# B414024 - 2FindYourHome.com Property Search

[TheITGuy]

If they plan to rent it out soon after buying, I would avoid the suburbs, and stick to the city proper. Anywhere in N. Buffalo, Delaware Park, South Buffalo, North Park, Black Rock, or Riverside would work in this case.

[JSmith11]

The city is going to have the lowest taxes. North Buffalo houses typically all have driveways (and often garages) and are very safe. Plenty of two-flat doubles there, too. Most houses in this neighborhood run between $100K and $150K, I would say.

Elmwood/Delaware area would also be very nice if more expensive, with a little less certainty about having a driveway. South Buffalo feels too isolated from the rest of the city for me, for might be fine for retirees who don't need to leave the neighborhood as much. I think the prices are very nice in South Buffalo for the quality of houses you can get.