moving to memphis from chicago this summer (Central, Louisville: apartment complexes, for rent)

[future teacher]

I am going to be teaching in MCS next fall. I am 22 and moving here with my girlfriend. We want to live in midtown, but we are not quite sure where. Could somebody please help us in limiting our area. Obviously, we are younger, so we are looking for a fun and safe area of midtown. Also, we are looking to rent.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by future teacher

I am going to be teaching in MCS next fall. I am 22 and moving here with my girlfriend. We want to live in midtown, but we are not quite sure where. Could somebody please help us in limiting our area. Obviously, we are younger, so we are looking for a fun and safe area of midtown.

I don't know what your price range is, but the Cooper-Young neighborhood is fun and relatively safe (particularly if you stay close to the intersection of Cooper and Young) and is one of the more affordable neighborhoods in midtown, largely because the homes tend to be small. Overton Square is also a fun neighborhood.

Keep in mind that no matter where you are in midtown, you're never far from a neighborhood of run-down homes, crack houses, and crime. But I still loved living there.

[Pearlbob]

Midtown can be wonderful, but yes, it all depends on the street you live on. My street is beautiful, but a few streets back has some boarded up homes. So it's hard to give a generalization about "midtown."

Cooper Young has a bunch of bars and restaurants, but like the previous person said, it depends on the street. If you go a few blocks south or east, it's not very nice.

There are always a billion homes for rent in Midtown. Central Gardens is a national historic neighborhood, and 95% of it is safe so I think if you were to find an apt that is listed as "central gardens" you can bet it would be relatively okay. That's where I am, and the Cooper Young and Overton bar/restaurant areas are a 3 minute drive and there are several other bars/restaurants that are within walking distance of me.

I love Chicago....and you will be in culture shock here. Just be forewarned! I was for the first 5 years or so that I lived here.

[future teacher]

I was planning on either going to overton park area or cooper young. Are there any places in that area that I should be sure to avoid. Also, does anyone know of any good apartment buildings or complex's in those two areas?

[Pearlbob]

There really aren't "apartment complexes" in midtown. You basically rent a duplex or part of a house. Midtown Place (I think is the name) is a group that has a bunch of buildings in midtown that are converted into apts. But more or less, you are looking for a house to rent. There are definitely no "complexes" in midtown like you see out in the burbs with pools and tennis and parking lots and lakes. It's just old neighborhoods around here.

I know plenty of people who rent apts in old homes, and they are can be very beautiful.

It's hard to generalize about areas to avoid. Cooper Young can be good, depending on the street. You'd have to go look for yourself. I can't generalize. Same with Overton. For instance, my street is really nice with big huge homes, but about 1/2 mile down the road, crossing a major road...not so good. Major streets in Memphis are sort of the equivalent of "the tracks" in the phrase "other side of the tracks."

[playingwdolls]

I am also thinking of moving to the Memphis area. I am in Southern Illinois now because of family medical issues. But I lived in LA, CA for over 15 years. My wife & I are looking to find a city similar to LA, but without the LA prices. Loved the heat, hate the cold. I have a BA but still made crap in LA & here. So unfortuantly we can not afford a place over $500 a month for rent. Plus we want to buy a home really soon, so morgage can't be over $500 including insurance & taxes. So probably a home around $50K. I know thats pushing it. We have also looked at Nashville (but seems more expensive), Louisville, & St Louis. We want a wild party atmophere. We are into music-rock, metal, goth, fetish, love the darker aspects of life. Not insane things. I am also a drummer-been playing 23 years. But we are downhome people as well. My wife loves animals. Can anyone give us some insight if Memphis is a good choose, or suggestions from everyone where else to live. Thank you for everyones time & comments.
Alan (Friday)

We have no kids- so schools aren't a facture for us.

[Pearlbob]

$50,000 will not get you a home here in Memphis, at least not one that is safe. I think minimum in a semi-safe area would be about $110,000. In the city. In the burbs, you could probably find an older home on the outskirts in a so-so neighborhood for about that same price as weel, but the neighborhood would just be older, not necessarily bad.

[playingwdolls]

Thank you for your responce. I know my pricing is very low. I should have choose a differnt career. I work with the behavior & mentally ill adolesance. I will probably go back to school after I get settled in to finish the medical part of my licence.

[Pearlbob]

If you want to work with the mentally ill and children with behavior problems, Memphis is the place to be. We have a ton of that here (I used to volunteer in that field as well).

I would suggest just renting here, if you can't afford more than $50,000. That really won't get you more than a boarded up former crack house here. You could find something in the Cooper Young area, or anywhere in Midtown, for $500 rent. The midtown area mainly has homes, townhomes, duplexes, etc and is the "alternative" area of the city (gay, lesbian, hippie, etc).

[peanutbutterz]

I'm going to assume you're doing teach for america. It's noble, but you'll probably be screaming to get out in a bit (that's because it's memphis).

Originally Posted by future teacher

I am going to be teaching in MCS next fall. I am 22 and moving here with my girlfriend. We want to live in midtown, but we are not quite sure where. Could somebody please help us in limiting our area. Obviously, we are younger, so we are looking for a fun and safe area of midtown. Also, we are looking to rent.