I am a Cincinnatian. I am moving to Columbus in June for a grad program at OSU medical center. I have been looking for a nice place to live for about a month now. I have found this to be unexpectedly competitive, but I have been looking in areas near OSU.

 

I really do not mind a reasonable commute, but being from Cincinnati here is what I know about Columbus:

 

OSU is there

Its flat

 

As you can see, my knowledge is impressive. If anyone knows any landlords, or nice properties, or has tips on traffic and decent parts of town, do tell.

 

And no ColDay, I can't find anything in Grandview. I've been looking for a month. 16,000 grad students are all looking for the same 1 bedroom apartment in that neighborhood.

Well, try Olentangy Village, Clintonville, or even a unit in the Victorian Village.  What's your price range???

And I find it hard to believe that ALL of Grandview is booked.  I know there is a large apartment complex at Watermark that usually has vacancies.

Watermark is on my list, but honestly it's about the only place. Most of the rental companies and communities I have contacted have been on a wait list for 3 months for Summer move in.

Oh, price range, under $1000.

How far out will you commute?  You can always look at Hilliard (The Quarry, for example) or Sawmill area but those two areas are suburban.  Hell, there are areas that are suburban and have the #2 COTA to commute to like Central Park in Worthington.

 

Of course, if you want to live more urban, The Annex @ RiverSouth downtown I believe has some great rates and are totally nice (ask Ink).

 

As for Grandview:

http://metro-rentals.com/grandview.htm

How far out will you commute?  You can always look at Hilliard (The Quarry, for example) or Sawmill area but those two areas are suburban.  Hell, there are areas that are suburban and have the #2 COTA to commute to like Central Park in Worthington.

 

Of course, if you want to live more urban, The Annex @ RiverSouth downtown I believe has some great rates and are totally nice (ask Ink).

 

As for Grandview:

http://metro-rentals.com/grandview.htm

 

Quarry's waitlist is closed until further notice. Just got off the phone with Metro Rentals, they rented out their June places 3 months ago. Also just got off the phone with Annex River South. Minimum 10 person wait list for their units through July.

Have you talked to Colony Club, Heritage (often backed up with a waitlist) or The Chambers? They're not superlux or anything but are close to the hospital being off of King and/or Chambers. Columbus is full of secrets, so you may end up having to come up one day to walk or ride a bike around to look for rent signs. Most duplexes and 4-plexes around here rent this way. To get my duplex a block north of Grandview, I had to talk to my management company from my then-current place in Bexley and tell them that I wanted to move to that part of town. They put a sign in the yard of my new place and got 30 calls within days, but I was at the front of the line since they'd worked with me before and had my deposit. The other side of the duplex went up for rent on the 1st of this month and also rented within a few days, so it is indeed competitive.

 

Oh, and don't call sneakers gym shoes -- Columbusites won't know what you're talking about. And bags are called sacks.

This is all indeed very strange to me lol

We've got a new apartment/home/condo hunting tool, here:

 

http://www.columbusunderground.com/urbanliving/

^Great addition, Walker, and perfect timing. The rental market is amazing right now in urban Columbus, with so many new units planned/under construction and rents on the rise. My landlord in is raising the rent on my Short North/Victorian Village apartment 11% next year.

My brother's girlfriend who is getting her doctorate and also works at fisher(OSU) lives at arlington park in hilliard. Although its suburban, it really is not a bad drive to osu and is directly off of fishinger rd which makes the commute better. They are less than a year old I believe and seem to be pretty nice and definately the most affordable edwards apts. I have heard of. I think she pays 700 for a 1bedroom although I have no idea what the rates are currently. Heres a link.http://www.livearlingtonpark.com/

^Great addition, Walker, and perfect timing. The rental market is amazing right now in urban Columbus, with so many new units planned/under construction and rents on the rise. My landlord in is raising the rent on my Short North/Victorian Village apartment 11% next year.

 

Probably because property tax reassessments happened last year during your current lease. That part of town saw its property tax rates increase anywhere from 10-22%.

 

edit: I should say saw its property tax valuations increase 10-22%, not the rates. The rates stayed the same, but they're being paid on more valuable assets. But, the end result is that property taxes increase by that amount.

My brother's girlfriend who is getting her doctorate and also works at fisher(OSU) lives at arlington park in hilliard. Although its suburban, it really is not a bad drive to osu and is directly off of fishinger rd which makes the commute better. They are less than a year old I believe and seem to be pretty nice and definately the most affordable edwards apts. I have heard of. I think she pays 700 for a 1bedroom although I have no idea what the rates are currently. Heres a link.http://www.livearlingtonpark.com/

 

Thanks buckeye, I've actually been there twice now and the girl I have worked with is EXTREMELY professional and helpful. I feel like writing them to commend her, even if I don't rent there.

 

I'm seeing 5 places tomorrow, from Mill Run to Upper Arlington to Victorian Village. That should give me enough options to make a decision in a couple days. Then, as of June, I will officially be a Columbus...person. Whatever you call yourselves up there.

We've got a new apartment/home/condo hunting tool, here:

 

http://www.columbusunderground.com/urbanliving/

 

That's a very slick site Walker. I have called a few of the places on that list already, but they are full. :(  I think that speaks to the demand of living in walkable neighborhoods.

Then, as of June, I will officially be a Columbus...person. Whatever you call yourselves up there.

 

We have a forumer named Columbusite.  That should give you a little hint at what people in Columbus call themselves.

Well, formerly named Columbusite to be accurate.  But yes, apparently Columbusite is the proper term - like Cincinnatian or Clevelander.  Although as a life-long Columbus resident, I've never heard people refer to themselves as "Columbusites".

Here's a two bedroom that just put a sign out right next to where I work at the corner of Chambers and Northwest about 2 miles from the hospital. A/C, no pets. Rent's not on the sign but I figure it's between $700-800. It's the brick 2-story building I believe. 614-226-1790

 

 

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=Jsh&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1056&bih=659&q=1730+northwest+blvd+columbus+oh&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x88388e5c13ed0809:0xa365ea0950910cd4,1730+Northwest+Blvd,+Columbus,+OH+43212&gl=us&ei=5mqgT5ygHMWqgwej4YnmDQ&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CB4Q8gEwAA

Thanks GCrites.

 

I think I've found something...it's not in a trendy urban location but it's not in the boonies.

 

This whole experience has felt a lot like a rent bubble. I looked at several places over the past 5 weeks that posted to Craigslist and within hours had multiple showings and offers. The only explanation I have is that the comatose housing market and/or availability of mortgages has put a glut of young professionals into the rental market, overwhelming supply.