I'm looking to move from east to west, hopefully.  I don't have a lot of money, and some credit issues, and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions where I start looking, what neighborhoods are safe, etc.  Thanks in advance!

I'm looking to move from east to west, hopefully.  I don't have a lot of money, and some credit issues, and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions where I start looking, what neighborhoods are safe, etc.  Thanks in advance!

Welcome

 

In order for us to help you.  You'll need to provide more information

• Where do you currently live?
  
• Are you looking to rent or buy?
  
• What type of housing are you looking for?  New or old?
  
• Do you want urban living or suburban living?
  
• What are some attributes you look for in a community/neighborhood?
   
  
• Where do you work? (the area)
   
  
• Do you drive or use public transportation?
  
• Married, single, or divorced w/kids that need housing?
   
  
• What type of activities do you like?
  

You get the picture.

I'm looking to move from east to west, hopefully. I don't have a lot of money, and some credit issues, and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions where I start looking, what neighborhoods are safe, etc. Thanks in advance!

Welcome

 

In order for us to help you. You'll need to provide more information

• Where do you currently live?
  
• Are you looking to rent or buy?
  
• What type of housing are you looking for? New or old?
  
• Do you want urban living or suburban living?
  
• What are some attributes you look for in a community/neighborhood?
   
  
• Where do you work? (the area)
   
  
• Do you drive or use public transportation?
  
• Married, single, or divorced w/kids that need housing?
   
  
• What type of activities do you like?
  

You get the picture.

 

It won't matter what you tell us, MTS will just tell you to move to Shaker Square anyway. ;-)

I'm looking to move from east to west, hopefully.  I don't have a lot of money, and some credit issues, and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions where I start looking, what neighborhoods are safe, etc.  Thanks in advance!

Welcome

 

In order for us to help you.  You'll need to provide more information

• Where do you currently live?
  
• Are you looking to rent or buy?
  
• What type of housing are you looking for?  New or old?
  
• Do you want urban living or suburban living?
  
• What are some attributes you look for in a community/neighborhood?
   
  
• Where do you work? (the area)
   
  
• Do you drive or use public transportation?
  
• Married, single, or divorced w/kids that need housing?
   
  
• What type of activities do you like?
  

You get the picture.

 

It won't matter what you tell us, MTS will just tell you to move to Shaker Square anyway. ;)

 

TRUE!  ROFLMAO!  ;D :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

I currently live in Eastlake, with my dad.

 

Looking to rent.

 

Older house/apartment.

 

Would prefer urban living.

 

I work in Lake County as well.

 

I drive.

 

Living all alone.

 

And I like just about everything.

 

Basically, I've lived in Lake County my whole life, and want to try something completely and utterly different.

I currently live in Eastlake, with my dad.

 

Looking to rent.

 

Older house/apartment.

 

Would prefer urban living.

 

I work in Lake County as well.

 

I drive.

 

Living all alone.

 

And I like just about everything.

 

Basically, I've lived in Lake County my whole life, and want to try something completely and utterly different.

 

you haven't told us a budget

Male or female?

Age?

I keep forgetting the important stuff!  About 500 a month, and I'm female. 33 years old.  I know, i'm asking A LOT!  Just trying to get an idea of what i need to do.  I'm gonna end up in the ghetto, aren't I?

"the ghetto"?  What is your definition of "the ghetto"?

If you don't have a lot of money and have some credit issues, it might be better to try to find a roommate until you establish good credit history as a renter over time, so that at least you'd have a reference to refer people to when you go to get your own place.  It's been awhile since I was a single renter, but with the $500 a month threshhold, that's definitely my recommendation. You might be able to find a grad student to room with in the CSU, downtown or Asia plaza area for example.

That's what I was thinking too, but I don't even know where to start looking for a roommate.  And I have no idea where the ghetto is!  I live in Lake County, where Painesville is considered "ghetto"  It was insensitive.

MTS is overly sensitive, I get that you were just trying to be funny.

 

Try craigslist for a roommate, but take someone with you when you go to check it out.

I'll take the first stab even tho I'm not in Cuyahoga Co.. I would think the Collinwood area should be a top choice for you.  My reasoning is you have a nice art district, its fairly safe, good options with Beachland Ballroom and other very nice restaurants in walking distance, and finally if you're keeping your job in Lake then it is still a fairly easy commute. 

  You didn't say how far west you were wanting to go in Cuyahoga or how far south for that matter..  If you want a bit more livelier area then I would look at Cleveland Heights/Coventry.

MTS is overly sensitive, I get that you were just trying to be funny.

 

Try craigslist for a roommate, but take someone with you when you go to check it out.

 

Sweetie, don't speak for me.

 

I'm far to much of a mega Bitch to be overly sensitive.

 

When I don't know what a person mean, I ask for clarity.

 

I agree with Audidave.  Collinwood might be the best fit, to bust your living in Cuyahoga County cherry!

 

You may also want to consider AsiaTown.

I'm not speaking for you, I'm speaking about you, and I feel you are overly sensitive. I should have used the phrase "I feel" but I thought that was implicit.

 

I wonder if downtown Willoughby might be a decent choice for the poster? What do you all think?

^Probably out of his price range.  Collinwood would have some places, but might be a little too much of a culture shock.  Spend a year or so in Cuyahoga County and you might be ready for Collinwood.  You MIGHT be able to find something around Coventry in Cleveland Hts for approx. $500 and it is a good place to get a feel for more urban living.  Just limit your search to Mayfield Road and anything south of there.  Do not rent in any of the duplexes north of Mayfield Road or any of the apartments on Superior. 

 

Another idea may be University Lofts on Euclid.

Downtown Willoughby IS out of my price range.  I know it seems like I'm asking for a lot, but a studio apartment would even be suitable for me at this point.  Anyone have any websites or anything like that where I could check out properites?

My new fave website for hunting for a place to stay is padmapper.com since they grab data from a variety of sources. 

That's what I was thinking too, but I don't even know where to start looking for a roommate.  And I have no idea where the ghetto is!  I live in Lake County, where Painesville is considered "ghetto"  It was insensitive.

nothing wrong with Painesville (that moving out won't fix--kidding!). As a matter of fact I grew up in the crummiest part of town--the North End. But that was back in the 60's. It didn't have as bad a reputation in those days. Painesville's gotten a bad rap in the overwhelmingly white Lake County as it's the only town with significant black and Latino populations (lots of controversy about illegal immigration still roiling the town), and also the poorest with the highest crime rates in Lake Co. But it's attempting to turn itself around (www.downtownpainesville.org). Otherwise, you can probably still find some decent housing there at affordable prices. Best neighborhood would be around Lake Erie College and blocks to the west. And if you really wanna get bogged down in Painesville minutae, try reading this blog-- http://painesvilleohio.blogspot.com/ --hosted by someone called "terminator" who basically monitors everything happening in City Hall, to the less-than-stellar reputation of the public schools--in spite of the brand new facilities that have been built in the last five years (you would think that all the people posting complaints there about the quality of P'ville's educational system would at least sound semi-literate--okay, they're mainly from Mentor). Think of it as ghettofabulous!! (okay, I don't think I even know exactly what that phrase means--lol)

I've been giving Painesville some thought as well.  Rent is WAY cheaper out that way, but I don't want to live in an apartment complex.  Thanks for the suggestions, keep them coming!

can you get a 2nd job? That's what I always did in order to afford living on my own without a roommate.

That's part of the plan as well.  I'm just trying to move on with my life, get a fresh start. 

I hear you. Can you get the 2nd job first so you have an idea how much more $ that could open up for you in terms of rent? It would suck to get into a crappy, tiny studio not necessarily where you want to be living when 1 month later you could have signed for something a little nicer.

Thought about that as well.  I'm going to do a little shopping around after work today, check out Cl, and see what happens.  Still, keep those suggestions coming!

I think that E.185th would be a great area for you to consider, which boarders Euclid and North Collinwood.  The neighborhood is probably one of the last true remaining neighborhood "main streets" left in the city, with just about EVERYTHING you could need within walking distance.  Check out the homes in the area along with the businesses- as the homes are in great shape and were mostly built in the 30s in both Collinwood and Euclid. 

 

If you're used to driving everywhere for entertainment or for needs, you might enjoy being able to walk to where you need to go.  You'll find a mix of races and ethnicities who live in the area, which has grown more diverse within the last few years.  Try the street out for yourself- it's not too far from Eastlake and has a freeway exit so you can get back to Lake County in a short amount of time. 

I could use a second income at my Lakewood condo, but I'm a 43-year-old man and I'm pretty certain you (if not your father!) would not be too happy with that type of arrangement!!! :D I had a guy from Toronto stay here as a roommate over the summer for an internship. But seriously, I think the suggestion of a roommate makes a lot of sense. And if you want a change of scenery, the Lakewood/Edgewater area is a decent one, since it's close to the West Shoreway and you could be in Lake County in 20-30 minutes. It's very urban, 24-hour restaurants and shops, and safe.

Well if you're still going to be working in Lake County (you didn't specify where, but if you're currently living in Eastlake, I assume it's somewhere on the west side of the county) and you don't want to be in an apartment complex, and downtown Willoughby is out of your price range, your options are definitly limited. Collinwood would be my first choice, but there are some homes split up into apartments in Euclid (Though admittedly not many in your price range). I haven't wandered around Painesville much myself, but I'd consider it your next best option.

 

Is your employer near a bus line? I'm asking as it might be worth considering taking the bus instead of driving for a while to save money. (We tend to be a little bit of a transit nerds on this site.)

 

As far as websites, for the most part they're going to list complexes which you said you didn't want. If you want to find something else, you're probably better off with something like craiglist, a newspaper classified section, or just wander the neighborhood you want and look for "For Rent" signs.

I know, I'm totally limited.  I suck, I'm lame.  I'm beating myself up right now.

If you are looking to have a total life change and expect to get a new job as well, then you might want to describe what you are looking for in an urban lifestyle..  We are mainly suggesting things closest to Lake Co that are accessible to maintain that job.  Whole other areas open up on the western side of Cuyahoga Co like Lakewood and others.  If you are seeking to avoid big snowfalls that might be a good place to go.

It's hard to explain.  I'd love to get a job in health care somewhere, or a social work type job.  An urban lifestyle just seems fun to me, and totally different than what I have now.  I'm looking for roommates on CL and I'm doing everything I can to make this work.  I'm sure this doesn't make sense to most of you.

It kind of makes sense. It sounds like you've lived at home all this time and now don't want to do that, but you've never lived on your own as an adult so you're just casting about based on what you think you want to do. 

I'm sure it makes sense to most people on here.  That's why its called Urbanohio.com.  I would guess the majority of the people on here have decided to live other places than where they grew up.  It's never a bad thing to reconsider your place in life. I wish more people gave more thought to that at least to the question "why do I live here"..  A good answer to that question is NOT "because I always have".

If you're thinking of finding a different/second job, it's probably best to look into do that before you sign a lease and get stuck with a long commute you hate, or realize you settled for a home that's less than you could have afforded, or worse more than you can afford.

 

And stop being so hard on yourself. We understand the desire to change and do something different.

 

Good luck

Exactly!  I have lived on my own, but with a boyfriend, so that technically doesn't mean on my own.  So, I'm just tossing around ideas here.  I just got a call about a place in Lakewood for 425.  So I'm excited about that!

Wow KJP that was fast!  :evil:

Wow KJP that was fast!  >:D

 

ROFLMAO! 

Lakewood is great!  But it would be quite a long commute to work - how real is the possibility of getting a different job?

Who knows?  But the rent is cheap.  I'm just a confused kitten right now, that's all!

Wow KJP that was fast! :evil:

 

Yep, I'm evil. Seriously, a roommate (a female roomie) makes good sense.

 

Where is the Lakewood rental for $425? I have lived in Lakewood for 14 years and know the city. While Lakewood is a safe city, some streets or even sections of streets are better than others. Since the houses are so close together, a bad neighborhood can easily wreck things. Before moving in, don't be afraid to ask lots of questions.

I went and looked at the neighborhood today, and I have a scheduled visit on Sunday.  We shall see.  Keep your fingers crossed for me.

I don't really know much about the rent price range, but I would think Detroit Shoreway would be a good fit.  It has a cool neighborhood vibe, close to highway access and convenient to both Downtown and Lakewood.  Would $500 be too much for a 1-bedroom in DS.  I would think finding a roommate there would not be that hard.

$500 is about right for Detroit-Shoreway, maybe a little more though.

I think that drive from the westside to the Lake County is going to get tough.

Then can she borrow your chauffeur once in a while?  :wink:

what about Little Italy?  this seems like a deal for the neighborhood.

 

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/apa/2078579429.html

 

west 116th/detroit?

 

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/apa/2077775811.html

 

become kjp's neighbor on clifton...

 

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/apa/2077674997.html

 

In the heart of Gordon Square... steps from my favorite coffee spot.

 

http://www.dscdo.org/ticc/propertyDetail.aspx?propertyid=13

 

$500's actually gets you a lot of choice in Cleveland - I'm sure you could find plenty of choices in Old Brooklyn, the fringes of Ohio City (south of Lorain), or West Blvd.  Cleveland Hts and Shaker Hts is going to be tough without a roommate, but you might find a third floor studio in Cleveland Hts or maybe a carriage house apartment.  Check out Case's housing service for some leads: http://studentaffairs.case.edu/living/services/aloha/

Thanks for all your help everyone.  I've got two place to hopefully look at this Sunday in Lakewood.  yes, I know the drive will be a pain, but I need a fresh start!  Keep those suggestions coming.

I think Lake County to Lakewood is a good choice for your transition to a more urban environment.  And this is coming from an 'east-sider'...

I'm back!  Here's the 411.  I have two places to look at on Sunday, plus a possible third with a roommate in Tremont.  I'm not KEEN on the idea of a roommate, but, with along with rent, it includes all utilities and wifi.  I'm gonna take a drive by the area tomorrow and see what's up.  Any suggestions?

Where in Tremont?  There are some great places to live there.... and some particular areas you may want to avoid

More questions....Duck Island anyone?

More questions....Duck Island anyone?

 

What about it?