Submitted by dobbythepup t3_ybtcbg in baltimore
Unable-Garden-4824 t1_itikmw8 wrote
I love Charles village so so much! My partner and I bought a historical two story co-op here that is absolutely amazing.
I grew up in NYC my whole life - parents still live in their first apartment they bought together back in the 80s (Apt I grew up in and lived in for many years). NYC is not the place it used to be. It’s truly become a playground for capitalistic yuppies to spend their 20s in and then leave as soon as they want to have kids.
Sense of community has far been gone from NYC for awhile / I recommend trying Baltimore out. Been here 3 years and loving it. Plus we were able to purchase a 1200 sq foot two story historical apartment for 135 K
dobbythepup OP t1_itin7b5 wrote
Could not have said it better myself. Real estate lobby working overtime to remove any remaining sense of community here.
I am excited but also sad to leave NYC - we'd planned/hoped to raise our kids here and be little old people sitting on the subway and walking together in the park. We will definitely check out Charles Village! (especially hearing you're from the city!). My jaw dropped at 135k
JBG1973 t1_itixn5c wrote
My husband grew up in Canarsie, and we have lived in Baltimore for nearly 20 years (and raised a child here) so he is not up to date on the current vibe in Flatbush, but for similar housing stock and a Jewish turned black now become more mixed neighborhood with architecturally appealing brownstones I would add reservoir hill to your list. Druid hill park is a great asset, but the neighborhood is lacking in "walk to amenities (coffee shops, restaurants, grocery, etc).
For example this one: https://www.redfin.com/MD/Baltimore/2430-Eutaw-Pl-21217/home/10866259
On a two (even public interest) lawyer salary I would also consider Roland Park, Guilford and Tuscany Canterburry. Tuscany Canterberry is all row homes, Roland Park and Guilford have large row homes at the edges (they were built to keep the riff raff out).
I find that those that choose to live in the city are pretty committed to the city and making it better and therefore very neighborly. I know that our block really looks out for each other and my impression is that is true in many parts of the city.
dobbythepup OP t1_itj3o51 wrote
Omg amazing haunted house find! Thank you for your suggestions - this is so helpful!
dopkick t1_itmv2v4 wrote
That property is also going to need a solid $100K in renovations I bet. If not more.
wbruce098 t1_itj33i2 wrote
There’s a lot of good, 1500sq’+ homes to be had in safe Baltimore neighborhoods for under $400k. Honestly, many well under 350; mine is 1700sq’, 3br/2ba and I got it for under 300 last year, Highlandtown. It’s a great, walkable, family friendly neighborhood on the east side but no rail anywhere near it. The biggest issue is gonna be schools. I can’t speak for elementaries; I’ve heard some are good; the one near me seems fine. But the high schools are 🤷🏻♂️ unless the kids can score high enough to go to one of the city’s top schools or you can afford private school. Which, if you can afford living in NYC and are getting a better paying job here, maybe you can with lower cost of living here?
Bmore has fairly limited rail, mostly in the center of the city, though it has a good bus system — just not near enough drivers so buses are often late.
Wherever you choose, Baltimore has a lot of amazing neighborhoods with great vibe and friendly neighbors. I’ve been here 2 years now and couldn’t love it more!
JBG1973 t1_itjgk4w wrote
Just a FYI on the high schools...
When people here magnet schools by admissions, they tend to think of hyper competitive magnet schools like Thomas Jefferson in Fairfax County or Hunter or Stuyvesant in NYC. The formal cutoff for City is 65th percentile on nationally normed standardized tests and successful grades in middle school. Students of educated parents who are spending time researching schools will most often have test scores in the 65th percentile. At a school like Stuyvesant you are looking at 95th+ percentile of those who take the test for magnet schools.
Baltimore School for the Arts is by artistic potential.
But for the most part if you are in a good elementary/middle district your student will be able to go to one of the good public high schools
Xanny t1_itjqxft wrote
Fair warning, if you see a house thats too good to be true, it probably is. The stuff under 200k is usually structurally unsound or has something really wrong with it. You can get a lucky break, but tread lightly, especially in the bougie neighborhoods.
dopkick t1_itmvkga wrote
> My jaw dropped at 135k
Your jaw would really drop if you moved into a $135K home in a good neighborhood. Especially when you found out it was going to be another $135K to make it habitable.
WildfellHallX t1_itjj1c0 wrote
Plus we were able to purchase a 1200 sq foot two story historical apartment for 135 K...really??
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