Reply to Do we stay in DC or move to Baltimore?

Forum Index » Real Estate

Reply to "Do we stay in DC or move to Baltimore?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP here. Thanks all! We have definitely contemplated renting out our condo and then renting a house in Baltimore. Perhaps we just haven’t looked hard enough but it feels like the cost advantages dissipate a bit in the rental market than buying? Perhaps because the Baltimore real estate market is soft? We can find apartments there pretty cheap but SFHs are significantly more expensive to rent than to pay the mortgage on (even factoring in the taxes, which we are very aware of). Still an option, but less appealing for a variety of reasons.

So far, we’ve looked at Fed Hill/Riverside/Locust Point, Roland Park, and Hamden. Fed Hill has been most appealing because of my DH’s commute and because it feels most like where we live now. Roland Parks is most appealing for schools but feels pretty suburban to us. Hamden is a mix of the two and feels the most like an “up and coming” neighborhood of anything we’ve seen in Baltimore.

We have looked at both Catonsville and Ellicott City, but again they might be too suburban for us. Even looked at Columbia because the schools are great but yes to the PP who mentioned it gets pricy fast.

I don’t know, maybe this is a pipe dream? Starting to feel like our best bet us to stay in our condo in DC another 5 years or so, assuming we can figure out a school situation we can live with, and then reassess. It feels like there should be a middle ground (maybe Hamden?) but we just haven’t figured it out.[/quote]

I think the most important factor here is to see Baltimore for what it is, and not what you want it to be. You are clearly taking a thoughtful approach to this decision, which is commendable.

We seriously looked at Baltimore last year and ultimately decided against relocating. Everyone has their opinions. Mine is that Baltimore is past saving and not worth a long-term investment. Granted, the city has some cultural gems, attractive housing, and pockets of desirable neighborhoods. However, the sheer magnitude of poverty, urban decay, and crime across the entire city is such that I don’t think it will ever turn around, and will only worsen over time. I think the sole reason that prevents Baltimore  from turning into a full-fledged Detroit or Cleveland is its proximity to D.C.

I have family roots in Baltimore so I’ve heard from older relatives firsthand how far the city has fallen over the past 50-60 years. Unfortunately, the city’s incompetent government and its perpetually strained relationship with the state make matters even more challenging.

Best of luck to you.

[/quote]

Cleveland? I’d be thrilled if we had a proxy for Cleveland nearby. Spent our summer vacation there a few years ago and it was amazing! [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics