Young Professional Looking for Apartment/Housing Recommendations (Cincinnati, Norwood: lease, safe area)

[shelto19]

I'm 23 and I'm currently working downtown. I grew up in Cincinnati in Sharonville and I'm currently living with my parents saving money before I move out. It's coming on a year since I graduated college and I'm looking to move out. I am looking to move to an area that has a lot of young professionals I can meet. Also I want to be within walking distance of local attractions in that neighborhood. My ideal choices right now are Hyde Park or downtown. The company I work for owns Sycamore Place downtown so I was heavily looking at that property but even with the discount that I would have I still dont want to spend that much to live downtown. I'm sure there are cheaper options than Sycamore Place. But also I realize that living downtown is expensive and it is not a necessity to live there by any means, I just think it would be cool and convenient.

Commute: I dont mind my commute on 71 from Pfiffer going to work everyday. It's more so the commute I have to make when I want to go out/be social. So for social reasons I'd like my commute to be shorter.

Budget: Rent-600-820, I would like to stay out of the 800's if possible but I wouldn't rule something out especially because I want to live on my own which is more expensive. (Studio/1 Bdrm)

Area: A safe area is important, I was a college athlete so I run a lot to stay in shape.

[natininja]

You could consider something across the river (Newport or Covington). Cheaper, relatively safe, within easy walking/biking/bus distance from Downtown. Otherwise, check Craigslist for Downtown and Hyde Park. Since you're not operating on a lease currently, you can be pretty discriminating until you figure out exactly what you want.

[goyguy]

Definitely don't rule out Norwood, where it's still more reasonably priced than Hyde Park or Oakley but right next to both areas and 71. St Bernard might turn out to be a great possibility. Its housing costs are low yet it's a safe and unpretentious community with easy access to the expressway via Mitchell Ave. (Or to get downtown you could just stay on Vine St - either driving or by using Metro route 78.) You'd not be far from Clifton or Northside - nobody said yuppies and hipsters can easily find cohorts in St Bernard but that's also why rents are less. One of the geographic reference points of the town is the long hill from Mitchell up past Roger Bacon High School which descends more steeply from the top. I know runners look out for these kinds of things.
For foodstuffs there's the Shur-Fine (former IGA) supermarket right in town. Plus for "good but not good for you" eats you'd have the Priscilla Bakery, Dairy Queen, Long John Silver's, Chili Time, and Dairy Queen close at hand. Not only that, the venerable - but varying in quality - Blue Gibbon is right next door in Paddock Hills for when ya gotta have Chinese take-out.

[progmac]

you aren't going to find downtown housing in your price range. so cross that off. you could probably find something in Oakley.

[flashes1]

Can you find a roommate? You can get a nicer place, share utilities, and have a friend there every night. But yeah, I would recommend Oakley (within walking distance of Oakley Square) or Clifton.

[deg1114]

I would check out Hyde Park, Oakley, Downtown, OTR, and Clifton.

[yayoi]

I would look into Oakley and the Rookwood side of Norwood. I had to choose between those two with my last move. I eventually picked Norwood because you get more space for your money yet you are still close to everything.

The commute north on 71 is relatively pain free.