moving to cincy need help with housing (Cincinnati, Norwood: real estate, for rent)

[ictoapw]

We are moving to Cincy with a toddler and want to live near the Univ. of Cincy, not more than a 20 min commute. We would like to buy a 200k to 250k house in a nice neighborhood with excellent schools. We are generally opposed to sprawl so we don't want to live too far out of town in a McMansion, and we really want a neighborhood that is safe, with lots of families, one that is really walking distance from stores, etc. I've been thinking about Hyde Park and Mariemont, but for max 250k are we going to be living on 'the wrong side of the tracks?' I can't get a feel for that when I look at real estate listings. Should I be looking at other neighborhoods? Thanks so much for your help!

[progmac]

for 250k in Mariemont or Hyde Park you can get an average-to-below-average grade house in a nice location. 200- 250k in Pleasant Ridge will buy you a very nice house in one of the best parts of the neighborhood, which has more income and ethnic diversity than Hyde Park or Mariemont but is still safe and has tons of families. But it is about a 5-8 minute longer commute than Hyde Park, about the same if not shorter commute compared with Mariemont. Also consider Columbia-Tusculum, it is very nice and 200-250k will get you a decent but not phenomenal place. Walking to things is questionable and there are more DINKs than families, but the commute would be short.

But if you will be around the University for most of your days, the Clifton gaslights area or Northside would be a shorter commute. Cliftons gaslights area is very nice but expensive (probably more expensive than Hyde Park). Northside isn't as expensive but is an up-and-coming area with some problem pockets. I would be comfortable raising a child there, though.

That is just a scratch of the surface. Don't ignore Westwood or Covedale, or Norwood either. Around Raeburn in Mt Airy you can have a ten minute commute and a bunch of land that backs up to a large forest. Not much is in walking distance though.

Every place I mentioned is in the City of Cincinnati except for Norwood, which is its own city completely surrounded by Cincinnati.

Also, check your budget against our property taxes, which are high compared to many parts of the country. They are about four-fold higher than where I was in Colorado. But they may be low compared to New York or New Jersey or Florida. They tend to be about 2% of the property value annually or with today's rates will add about 35% to your monthly mortgage payment.

[Chemistry_Guy]

For your price range I would strongly recommend the area on the south side of Ludlow in Clifton, the streets Terrace and Howell to be specific. The area is overflowing with UC professors and doctors and their families, and it is within convenient walking distance of a grocery store, the University, Burnett Woods, the hospital, and a bunch of shops and restaurants.

[Wilson513]

You said "excellent schools".

Cincinnati Pubic Schools are not excellent.

[Faith and Love]

I have a house for rent in Mt Healthy school district 4 bd 2 bath finished basement fenced in backyard for 1200 a month if interested let me know