I am looking at buying a new (old run down) house...I am pretty sure I am down to three of them:

 

First is a nice century colonial - 1562 W 29TH STREET

Second is a Victorian double - 2083 W 28TH STREET

Third is a quad next to Franklin Castle - 4304 FRANKLIN

 

Any idea of how these streets are? I have driven by them many times, and they look like well kept, low crime streets, but you never get a sense of how a place really is unless you live in the neighborhood...I hope that makes sense...Any help would be appreciated...

Just glancing, I'd say the West 29th house is in an area of substantial new development which suggests it might be a better investment. It's also closest to main transit routes and is in reasonable walking distance to Daves, etc.

 

The West 28th house... well, for the life of me I don't understand why there's such a drastic change as you go south of Lorain but crime-wise, blight-wise - it might be getting better but it's not an area I'd recommend just yet. The Franklin home might be closer to Detroit-Shoreway but it's further east of the main commercial strip (not in *easy* walking distance). Of course, that area could be well-positioned for the Shoreway re-do. Just my non-professional opinion.

Thanks, your non-professional opinion is appreciated...

 

I like the 29th street house the best...A little smaller, but has some charm to it...

Or....you could be an urban pioneer and begin the redevelopment south of Lorain.  Has to start somewhere. 

Redevelopment south of Lorain has a way to go but there's some happening. The Orchard Park houses around 41st and Bailey, a few other new construction homes on 38th, plus a number of substantial rehabs. The current market isn't helping anything but there's a fair amount of  disconnect between the reality and the reputation of of south of Lorain.

The quad next to Franklin Castle has some really nice features, not to mention awesome room sizes and a great listing price. It does however need a lot of work. Some of the woodworking in there is inspiring though, isn't it?

 

The 29th street victorian is gorgeous.

 

Not much help on the last one, haven't seen it. lol

Well I was at all three places tonight...I was expecting a little more from the exteriors...

 

The 28th street Victorian is gorgeous.

 

It is on the outside, unfortunately I would say in the last 15-20 years it was gutted and redone poorly and made into a double...Some of the interior features you would expect in that house like that are not there at all...It was a HUGE disappointment to say the least...

 

I actually did the boarding up and winterization (Not that there is any plumbing in it) of the Franklin house, It is in pretty good shape and I like it, but a Quad might be a little bigger than what I want...BUT after talking to some of the Fannie people they think she could go as low as 40K...I posted some pics of the house here:

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=9327.msg231927#msg231927

 

The house on 29th wasn't in much better shape, both houses are owned by the same person...This was in every sense of the word a hack job...It is a cute LITTLE house turned into a double...I posted a pic to illustrate what a HACK job is...

 

A nice house, but needs major foundation work and for the 30K asking price, might be a little high...

 

Note that instead of cutting into the walls to install duct work, they just hung it on the outside.  A nice look on a modern house, but not so much on an old one...

 

Anyway, thanks for your help people...I am sure I will have more questions to ask, I have a goal to be in Ohio City by August...

Jar3232,

 

Have faith.  You should have seen my house and my condo when I bought them.  It was like 1977 disco came to my house, hid in a closet and died. The previous owner, likened eggplant-purple walls.  :-o Need i say more?!  But I like fixer uppers.  Oh goodness, I think I'll post some pics for a real good laugh!

 

With the proper inspection, reasonable work (labor) estimates, the proper work crew to correct all the major problems, , a tight timeline and realistic budget and a lot of patience and imagination, you could have a sweet crib!