ksonic99

Cleveland isn't the greatest cab town...BUT they do camp out at the hotels...and generally there is a pretty good presence downtown, but you will be on the fringe of downtown. Get the cell phone number of the first driver. call him when you are ready to leave Peabody's

You can priceline the Hyatt....seen it go for as little as $45 bux. Actually you can price line pretty much any downtown hotel and be within a $5 cab ride from peabody's. You might get lucky and get the Hyatt or the HI.

In reading the HUD docs http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/203k/203kabou.cfm there are REQUIRED improvements. And lots of paper work to comply. so if you are already planning on doing the required improvements (or most of them) and can handle all the "red tape" why not.... What are the benefits to you? Seems like a lot of work, unless you plan on doing this repeatedly and can make a "template" with the first one. I would think screwing up any where along the line could wipe out whatever benefit there is, and possibly put you in the red. here is the application process A. Homebuyer Locates the Property. B. Preliminary Feasibility Analysis. After the property is located, the homebuyer and their real estate professional should make a marketability analysis prior to signing the sales contract. The following should be determined: 1) The extent of the rehabilitation work required; 2) Rough cost estimate of the work; and 3) The expected market value of the property after completion of the work. Note: The borrower does not want to spend money for appraisals and repair specifications (plans), then discover that the value of the property will be less than the purchase price (or existing indebtedness), plus the cost of improvements. C. Sales Contract is Executed. A provision should be included in the sales contract that the buyer has applied for Section 203(k) financing, and that the contract is contingent upon loan approval and buyer's acceptance of additional required improvements as determined by HUD or the lender. D. Homebuyer Selects Mortgage Lender. Call HUD Field Office for a list of lenders. E. Homebuyer Prepares Work Write-up and Cost Estimate. A consultant can help the buyer prepare the exhibits to speed up the loan process. F. Lender Requests HUD Case Number. Upon acceptance of the architectural exhibits, the lender requests the assignment of a HUD case number, the plan reviewer, appraiser, and the inspector. G. Fee Consultant Visits Property. The homebuyer and contractor (where applicable) meet with the fee consultant to ensure that the architectural exhibits are acceptable and that all program requirements have been properly shown on the exhibits. H. Appraiser Performs the Appraisal. I. Lender Reviews the Application The appraisal is reviewed to determine the maximum insurable mortgage amount for the property J. Issuance of Conditional Commitment/Statement of Appraised Value. This is issued by the lender and establishes the maximum insurable mortgage amount for the property. K. Lender Prepares Firm Commitment Application. The borrower provides information for the lender to request a credit report, verifications of employment and deposits, and any other source documents needed to establish the ability of the borrower to repay the mortgage. L. Lender Issues Firm Commitment. If the application is found acceptable, the firm commitment is issued to the borrower. It states the maximum mortgage amount that HUD will insure for the borrower and the property. M. Mortgage Loan Closing. After issuance of the firm commitment, the lender prepares for the closing of the mortgage. This includes the preparation of the Rehabilitation Loan Agreement. The Agreement is executed by the borrower and the lender in order to establish the conditions under which the lender will release funds from the Rehabilitation Escrow Account. Following closing, the borrower is required to begin making mortgage payments on the entire principal amount for the mortgage, including the amount in the Rehabilitation Escrow Account that has not yet been disbursed. N. Mortgage Insurance Endorsement. Following loan closing, the lender submits copies of the mortgage documents to the HUD office for mortgage insurance endorsement. HUD reviews the submission and, if found acceptable, issues a Mortgage Insurance Certificate to the lender. O. Rehabilitation Construction Begins. At loan closing, the mortgage proceeds will be disbursed to pay off the seller of the existing property and the Rehabilitation Escrow Account will be established. Construction may begin. The homeowner has up to six (6) months to complete the work depending on the extent of work to be completed. (Lenders may require less than six months.) P. Releases from Rehabilitation Escrow Account. As construction progresses, funds are released after the work is inspected by a HUD-approved inspector. A maximum of four draw inspections plus a final inspection are allowed. The inspector reviews the Draw Request (form HUD-9746-A) that is prepared by the borrower and contractor. If the cost of rehabilitation exceeds $10,000, additional draw inspections are authorized provided the lender and borrower agree in writing and the number of draw inspections is shown on form HUD-92700, 203(k) Maximum Mortgage Worksheet. Q. Completion of Work/Final Inspection. When all work is complete according to the approved architectural exhibits and change orders, the borrower provides a letter indicating that all work is satisfactorily complete and ready for final inspection. If the HUD-approved inspector agrees, the final draw may be released, minus the required 10 percent holdback. If there is unused contingency funds or mortgage payment reserves in the Account, the lender must apply the funds to prepay the mortgage principal.

Wow Okay I will listen to you now. How do we make it all better?

How about anything..... I gave a list up top. Fund a candidate, petition drive for a charter amendment....become mayor himself. How about starting up a Libertarian party in C-town? Venture fund...small business incubator, move the taping of the price is right to Cleveland.....Like we couldn't fill an studio with overweight people to bid on the show case show down. ANYTHING....besides talk. and Wow Sherman 2 years and people don't want to listen to you....imagine that. Pray tell, where do you think you would move and the people would listen to your answers after 2 whole years of living there? Savannah? Minneapolis? St. Louis? Covington? Bangor? El Paso? Are you doing anything, besides offering criticism that is? Do they not listen to you before or after you tell them that the civil war wasn't about slavery? TALK <> DO

He can say what ever he wants. Once he actually does something besides talk about doing something, then I might pay attention to him. Especially since he actually has the ability to DO something. Because he COULD do something besides talk, but chooses not too, It is mental masturbation and downright cruel. Hey starving guy...what you need to do is get yourself some bread, I could give you bread, I could give you a job where you could earn enough to buy bread, I could let you use my oven..... But I am not going to do any of that, but what I will do is tell you that you should get yourself something to eat, now thank me :-). The only connection he still has with Cleveland is that he still owns his parents house.

Your reading comprehension is sorely lacking. Go back and read that again. I would be more than happy with somebody rolling up their sleeves and doing something to help Cleveland. Somebody on the left coast sitting back with a big cigar and and a glass of scotch telling me "what you need to do is....." not so much. You at least are here....so any misguided "help" you actually engage in, well you get to live in the consequences. Mr. Carey will be going to Nobu and then to a strip club when the Cleveland potholes aren't filled and the garbage isn't collected.

They are unhappy their child is being teased. Which is only natural, and it is good that they are involved enough to 1) notice 2) care to do anything about it. The "new" kid invariably is teased. 1) this isn't a "good" thing. 2) it IS going to happen. It will happen if they send their Child to St. Christopher or OLA...Mags, St. Joe's, Lakewood, Mayfield Hts, Shaker, Solon or Rocky River. It will happen if they move to Denver, Charlotte, or Houston. What might, I stress might, be different is how the school administration reacts to/handles this information...but that wasn't presented here. Where is the presumption of anything?

It's tough...the "new kid" is gonna get teased, it will probably be about the easiest thing to make fun of. Height, weight, what they eat for lunch, if they have an accent. She is going to get teased the next place she goes to as well, even if everyone else is whatever bi-racial makeup she is...the kids will find something. The new kid has no network, no niche, no clique...is fair game for everyone. I moved from North Olmsted to Rocky River in the fifth grade and got it pretty bad, as did everyone who came in after me...didn't matter that everyone was different shades of lilly white.

The Chase bank ATM at 67th (approx) and Detroit is available 24 hrs. Need a card to get into the vestibule.

I rode the 26 from 65th to downtown for the cavs game on Saturday at approximately 1:20. Non-articulated bus. Standing room only. By general outward appearances, and the general flow of people when we got off the bus, myself and the 2 people I was with were the only ones going down to the game. It did not take any longer than it has in the past.

Probably meant something like perplexed. Those 'per' words can be tricky :-)

The larger take away should be that you will be able to find something suitable. I would figure out where you are both going to be working, that would be the most important to me in the decision making process. You can find Lakewood on the east side in the various Heights communities....Shaker, University, Cleveland. Tremont/OC on the west...shaker square little italy on the east. As well as various burbs Rocky River/Beachwood Fairview/mayfield hts....etc etc etc. if one of you works downtown and the other in Solon...then maybe Shaker square or Mayfield Hts. if it is downtown and Westlake....then Lakewood. Downtown and Independence...then Tremont. or you can live down town :-) Driving from Shaker square to Westlake or from Lakewood to Solon will be about as long a commute as you can come up with. Especially when you are first here and renting find an area that works in the short term...then look for the best long term fit especially for having kids. Cleveland Eastside-Westside is Chicago North-South.....the river divides us both physically and mentally. Whichever side you pick...your neighbors certainly and you probably will rarely cross the river. Downtown is Switzerland :-)

They aren't buying at the pointe at gateway because there is no parking...you have to rent a spot in an open garage across the street. In chicago just being able to get a spot off the street might be a bonus...in C-town if you don't have covered secured parking it ain't selling. Rent in Lakewood, then buy in Rocky river (Don't everybody get all over me or list 30 other burbs just as good or better than river....River is the best closest burb to lakewood/west side of cleveland)....if you are going to have kids. Look up the school ratings where ever such things exist. Next time you are in town check out the area around Detroit and Wooster old down town rocky river. The 55 bus serves the area.

I have nothing bad to say about any of the areas you have discussed so far OC Tremont DS and now Downtown Lakewood I have visited friends in Chicago....Lincoln park and Wrigleyville......No matter where or when we went out and about (including some 4 am bars and late night burrito stands) there were ALWAYS people around and not just people but what I call "citizens" you know somebody who looks like they might help or at least call 911 if a problem broke out. Cleveland just isn't like that....people just aren't out and about on foot like you are used to. Much less walking/public transport in C-town.....you just don't have foot traffic like you did in Chi-town anywhere in the Cleve. The few places that might come close are small and situational. There are tons of event down at the Q/Jacobs field but if you go down town on a Sat/Sun non game day it will most likely be a ghost town during the day...E 4th seems to have achieved some critical mass that weekend evenings should have a good bit of activity with or without Events. Next time you come observe all the cars with bike racks/bikes....people here drive to where they ride their bikes (a generalization of course, but this is not a "bike friendly" city) or roller blade or even jog sometimes. Ohio City by the market will be hopping on a sat morning/afternoon and be deserted on Sunday. Lakewood is a decent community, like all others there are pluses and minuses. A huge Minus for someone hoping to use public transit extensively...RTA just discontinued the 55 service down Clifton on the weekends as part of some wide ranging cuts. Lakewood does have quite a bit of Density and is full of the "Cleveland brownstone" Wood frame up and down doubles. We needed to double up on the available land not triple or quadruple like chi-town when they were built. We also didn't have THE FIRE and the resultant codes. The nice thing about any and all of the areas you are discussing.....it isn't but a 20 (30 during rush hour maybe) minute drive between the furthest ones (lakewood - tremont/downtown). Downtown to DS or Tremont is 3 miles, less to OC. You can try to live car-free here but it will be a lot more challenging than Chicago. On the other hand, 1/2 a house in lakewood shouldn't cost you much more than $600, so the difference in the rent can go towards a car(s). And driving from lakewood to downtown shouldn't be more than 30 minutes during rush hour and you can shave this down by adjusting your start/leave time and/or how close you can find a place to an on ramp. The key will be where you work in relation to where you live as to how hard it is to public transport it. If you are trying to get by on 1 car and maximize public transit/walking downtown might be the best bet, but it will be more expensive than Lakewood. The difference will probably equal out to a car payment on a Honda Civic or so. One nice thing you have is flexibility......pick a place come and rent, visit the areas a little more, get a 1 year lease, after a year you will have much better idea of how the Cleve works :-).

Drew Carey doesn't want to save Cleveland he wants to TALK about saving Cleveland. This one is real simple...if Drew Carey wants to "save" Cleveland he can move back and run for mayor. I don't think it would take all that much for him to win, then he can start saving it. Anything else, especially from somebody who could actually come here and do something about our issues, is a cruel joke. It is what I call mental masturbation.....TALKING about fixing a problem when you could actually DO something to solve the problem. Perhaps he has done a lot that I am unaware of....started or funded a group(s) to put charter amendments on the ballot? funded candidates? I am sure the Libertarian Party in C-town is drowning in Drew Carey Money?? Started up a venture fund or business incubator? Please enlighten me.......talk from someone who could actually affect change??? meh not so much

Everything is walkable from the "center" of DS 65th and Detroit unless otherwise noted. A quick list: Convenience store at least once a day The Rite Aide/Save a lot will probably meet most of these needs, otherwise you will need something near or on your way to work....at least currently the convenient store options within walking distance are pretty sketchy. gastro pub/hole in the wall bar This is covered, Luxe, Reddstone, Stone Mad, Happy Dog, latitude 41 ethnic food Mihn Ah, La Boca, and the Puerto Rican Place inside the arcade...Harp might be a bit outside the walking zone @45th st. good place to run/work out Run in Edgewater Park. There is the Y, a fitworks and that new place at 558 to work out downtown ...it is 3 miles away on the 26 bus route. coffee shop (does not have to be starbucks) Gypsy bean bookstore going to have to leave DS access to public transportation 1/2 mile to the red line rapid train, the 26 and 45 buses come through the intersection of 65th and Detroit. movie theater Right at 65th and Detroit. Capitol Theater Grand re-opening last fall, they serve beer/wine with your popcorn. Show first run and some Indy films. Cleveland Public Theater is also located at this intersection. good grocery store Going to have to leave the hood...there is a good butcher on Detroit, the West side Market is 3 or miles away, Giant Eagle is at 117th, there is a Sav-a-lot on Detroit low end groceries Aldis equivalent if you have those in Chi-town. definitely access to Cleveland pro sport facilities..one of the bigger draws for me, my GF much less so. She hates LeBron...too full of himself. Oh, the heresy. ;) Take the 26 (or the train) downtown and you are a pretty easy walk to any of the sports faculties. If it was just me, I'd sleep in a tent outside of Browns Stadium and I'd be fine. For my dear GF, being able to use public transit late at night and feeling safe would be very important. We both like to do similar things, although the cultural amenities and having access to a dance studio, thirft stores, and retail is much more important to her. I'm the Neanderthal. She rides the Chicago "L" all over the city at all times of night by herself or with friends. Late at night we take a cab.....$10 from downtown to DS or Tremont, can be a little less to OC. The train is less sketchy. Actually it is more where you have to stand and wait for the public transportation that can make you feel very uncomfortable more than actually being on it...and where the Train lets out can be a long lonely walk to DS, OC it is much closer to whatever activity is occurring. dance studio, thirft stores, and retail Unless somebody else knows different, you will need to leave DS for these things...."Antique row" is pretty darn close though up on Lorain Rd. We're going to be checking things out this weekend and I'll definitely share my thoughts after our visit. If you wanted to pick a time to meet at say Stone Mad, you might get some locals here to buy you a guinness.

Tremont and OC are more "mature" as gentrified areas, DS is getting started. Things to think about are the things you do on a daily, weekly, monthly basis. Like where do you get your car serviced? Doctor/Dentist/Eye care? Banking? Church, mosque, synagogue? Morning coffee? Newspaper? Grocery, drug, convenient store? Dry Cleaner? Hair cut, pedicure/manicure?--A work friend moved here from Youngstown...it took him 3 years to find somebody to cut his hair in any sort of satisfactory way. Hobbies? An important one for me.....Ice Cream Some of these I end up doing near work, some I do near where my mother lives. Some are more important to you than others, I probably haven't listed some that are very important to you, and some that are on my list aren't for you. But think of the things you do regularly and semi-regularly....you will need to replace that here, some will be easier than others.

With all due respect punch... When deciding which neighborhood to live in, what amenities are in or nearby that neighborhood, such as a 24 hour ATM, is absolutely on topic. There is one in Tremont and at least 2 I know of in Ohio City. For instance the closest gas station I would send my wife to alone is the get-go at 117th, and there is no dry cleaner that I am aware of. But there is a drug store, Rite-aid, at 65th and Franklin All of this information is important in deciding which neighborhood to live in.

Not sure....My wife has a chase account/ATM card. The couple times she has used it the bank has not been open...like 6 pm. but I think you need at least an ATM card to get into the vestibule, not sure if a different bank ATM card would work to get in after hours...or if it is accessible to anyone after say 9 pm all "after-hours" not being equal and all. Next time she has to visit and I am with her I will see what I can figure out. It isn't clear on-line...Some of them are labeled 24 hour access and that one is not given that designation.

blinker there is a chase with an ATM at 67th and Detroit (walk in, not drive through), it hasn't been there long but it is there now.

My wife moved here from the Upper east side of Manhattan....she just went back to visit some friends, she doesn't miss it. Which townhouses? if it isn't battery park, take a look at google maps and give me some cross streets. None of them are really isolated, access to/from the park/lake is limited but everything south is pretty darn dense. Battery park is currently being built (probably what you are asking about) ...they run between W 73 and W 76th. There is at least one person on these boards who lives there and there is a very extensive thread, 24 pages, in the Development section on this development. http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,1684.0.html here is their website http://www.batteryparkcleveland.com/ There are what I call the "modern Nautical" ones along W. 67th St. here is a real estate listing for one of those http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1207-W-67_Cleveland_OH_44102_1117492795 And in between are some slightly more traditional looking ones between W. 69th and 70th. I know someone in this development. http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1211-W-69Th_Cleveland_OH_44102_1111733699 also take a look at this http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1343-W-49Th-St_Cleveland_OH_44102_1109330671 and this http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/5311-Herman-Ave-Unit-3_Cleveland_OH_44102_1116457594 and NO I am NOT a realtor....we bought in this neighborhood 7 months ago after I spent 2.5 years looking for what would meet our needs. Those 2 (along with the first 3) sound like they are kind of what you are looking for, which was remarkably a lot like what we were looking for.

Second Ohio City as very good possibility. And it is in between Tremont and DS. it also has it's +'s and -'s. One thing that could tip the scale to one neighborhood over another would be where you (and your significant other) might be working. I work out on the east side---Beachwood, and the move from Tremont to DS added 10 minutes to my commute each way. from 20-35 mins to 30-45. If I worked in Westlake it would have dropped it by that much. Public transportation is great but if it takes 3 hours to use it to get to where you need to go....well then you are going to drive. And I have a fist full of bus passes and use the RTA whenever it is practical, but that is just the reality. http://www.riderta.com/maps-schedules.asp has a system map and schedules....you can plot out some sample trips to see how public transport will work for you.... Hub and spoke system, everything is geared around downtown. so if you are going or coming from downtown it is fairly efficient, if you are trying to start or end anywhere that isn't downtown...well then things start getting much less usable in a big hurry. nothing like a 2 bus 1 train 3 hour trip somewhere to make you decide that driving is a better option....especially when our rush hour traffic here looks like 3 am Traffic in Chi-town. Generally speaking traffic moves at 50-60 MPH during rush hour...outside of a couple of problem spots and/or an accident. AND this was before the latest round of RTA cutbacks. The longest drive you would have to make from somewhere in the city of Cleveland to anywhere in cuyahoga county (and most parts of Lorain, medina, or Lake that you might need to go to) will NOT take an hour, most trips will be significantly less. For instance if you are in the medical field and plan on working at the Clinic or UH, then Shaker Square or Little Italy would probably work out better for you.

I lived in the upper half of a rental in Tremont for 7 years. I now own in Detroit-Shoreway (since august). Both areas are great, I would Say DS is where Tremont was 10 years ago or so. Including the housing prices, not sure about rents..I was paying $650/mo for 950 sq ft with an off street parking space in the "less nice" section of tremont (South of 490). Bought for under $100 a square foot for something with a 2 car garage and 3 story views of the lake/park/marina in DS---TAKE THAT CHICAGO :-) Both areas have their +'s and -'s. Freeway access cannot be beat from Tremont, Public transit is more frequent and reliable from DS. DS has 5 Bars/Restaurants, Tremont has 20. (not exact numbers but you get the ratios) DS is adding to theirs, Tremont is pretty built out....but Oh how nice it is multiple choices at all price points and huge range of styles of cooking, from italian to thai to vietnamese to sushi...... DS has the Capitol movie theater, Tremont has a dog park. DS has access to the Lake/edgewater park, Tremont has Art Galleries/Art walk. Both are 3 miles from downtown. and about 2 from Ohio city. Tremont has Steelyard Commons, DS is a bit closer to a "traditional" grocery store, both are the same distance from the west side market. DS is a little bit closer to your family, but not so much closer than tremont that it should really affect your decision. and of course, Little Italy/Shaker Square/University Circle even Old Brooklyn are all worth exploring. There are also any number of inner ring burgs that would probably be worth looking at, but they aren't Cleveland. One thing about the East side locations is it will add 30 minutes to getting out to your family, which can be good or bad :-) 1 hour away might be a "better" number than 30 minutes, depends on your family dynamics :-) DS to Avon is 20 - 30 minutes depending on traffic and exactly where you are starting ending. If you are planning on children you will want to explore options other than Cleveland Public schools, my friend/neighbor/landlord had his kids in Urban Community which is near the west side market...I think they also have a facility on Detroit Rd near Detroit Shoreway....It is run by the catholic church but does not teach theology. I think they have a considerable waiting list and charge a sliding scale based on your income....but definitely look into your options. If you plan on coming to town any time soon I would be happy to share my opinions of all things Cleve over a pint of Guinness.

But there are considerable costs associated with Wind farms out on the water rather than on land...water and electricity don't go together so well. plus it is pretty close to the CPP plant with its heavy duty electrical infrastructure.