Relocating from NY - help please!

C+S · March 2011

Hi ladies.

I know I can find some good answers here. We are moving from Syracuse, NY to Cincinnati area withing a few months. We are in our late 30s and have an infant. My husband will work in West Chester and we are looking for the best suburbs outside the city. Let me describe our wishes and hopefully we'll find a good match....

School districts are not that important with such a young baby, but I imagine the better districts are also in the nicer areas.

We don't want a fixer upper but I just don't like the newer houses in new developments where there are no trees, all the houses are similar and backyards connect, no character, oak kitchen cabinets, banisters and trim, ridiculously large great rooms with high ceilings, etc. We currently live in a stone-front cape cod (1940), very cute with great curb appeal, character galore, very cottagey/pottery barn look, and with a good size backyard. Any chance of finding something similar? It doesn't have to be an old house, just feel like one

We think $350,000 will be our max budget and would like to live in a nice area with amenities nearby, maybe an established, slightly more affluent area.

My husband wants no more than a 30 minute commute to work. I will be staying at home so I do not want to be isolated without any neighbors, stores, interesting places to walk, intellectual stimulation, or good "mommy" opportunities.

Thank you all for any help and patience with my follow up questions. I truly appreciate any suggestions and advice. This is my first major move ever and I am really nervous!

I am going to cross-post this on thenest.com as well.

C

sara401 · March 2011

Hi there! My first thought is Wyoming. We didn't look there, so I'm not sure exactly what you can get for your money. It's off of 75, probably a 20-30 minute commute from West Chester and it's super cute. On the other side of town (still probably a 30 minute drive), there is Montgomery & Symmes Township. We looked there as well and felt for your same price range, we couldn't get what we wanted in terms of land. We ended up building in Lebanon. It's only about a 15 minute drive from West Chester, but it's north. There are a ton of older cute houses out here though and you get more for your money than anything south of West Chester. Good luck and feel free to PM me with any questions.

kel716 · March 2011

Wyoming & Mariemont are probably 2 areas that have what you're looking for. Both Wyoming and Mariemont have great schools too. Mariemont is probably a 30 minute commute depending on where you live.

In West Chester there is a diversity of neighborhoods- some areas are new homes and some are not... you may be able to find what you're looking for really close to your husband's work. Lakota Schools are also good.

$350K will buy you a LOT of house in Cincinnati- check out www.sibcycline.com- it's my favorite real estate site to search. One of the nice things about this area is there are lots of different kinds of neighborhoods. Each area has parts about it that are unique too.

GL and welcome!

1CINCYGIRL · March 2011

kel716:

Wyoming & Mariemont are probably 2 areas that have what you're looking for. Both Wyoming and Mariemont have great schools too. Mariemont is probably a 30 minute commute depending on where you live.

In West Chester there is a diversity of neighborhoods- some areas are new homes and some are not... you may be able to find what you're looking for really close to your husband's work. Lakota Schools are also good.

$350K will buy you a LOT of house in Cincinnati- check out www.sibcycline.com- it's my favorite real estate site to search. One of the nice things about this area is there are lots of different kinds of neighborhoods. Each area has parts about it that are unique too.

GL and welcome!

I agree. Mariemont is my vote.

teacherjess · March 2011

1CINCYGIRL:
kel716:

Wyoming & Mariemont are probably 2 areas that have what you're looking for. Both Wyoming and Mariemont have great schools too. Mariemont is probably a 30 minute commute depending on where you live.

In West Chester there is a diversity of neighborhoods- some areas are new homes and some are not... you may be able to find what you're looking for really close to your husband's work. Lakota Schools are also good.

$350K will buy you a LOT of house in Cincinnati- check out www.sibcycline.com- it's my favorite real estate site to search. One of the nice things about this area is there are lots of different kinds of neighborhoods. Each area has parts about it that are unique too.

GL and welcome!

I agree. Mariemont is my vote.

Another vote for Mariemont. I love it there and would move there if I could (I live way far north).

kel716 · March 2011

Since Mariemont is getting overwhelming votes, I thought you might like to check this website out: https://www.mariemont.org/

robnnoel · March 2011

I would also have to vote for Mariemont or Wyoming too from what you are saying. I would have add though that a morning or evening commute from Mariemont to West Chester could become a long one with the way traffic is around here on the highways. But, I absolutely hate driving in traffic or should I say sitting in traffic and waisting my time, plus waisting gas. I would also have to put in my vote for the Lebanon area, we just built in this area also and love it. Its not far from West Chester and there are plenty of different ways to get there without sitting in traffic, it is a great school district, a great area for kids, and there are really cute older homes in the area that you may love. I also suggest the sibcycline website someone already posted.

baze2 · March 2011

I live in Mt.Lookout..it is exactly what you are describing as well. $350,000 will be a nice house here! Just to give you another option!

msmiss-77 · March 2011

I would check out Ft. Thomas, Ky, as well. Quaint community, great schools, very close to city and homes like you are describing.

Dani3679 · March 2011

I definitely have to agree with Mariemont. I live there now and commute to Sharonville, which is just a few minutes south of West Chester and it only takes me about 20 minutes. You're going opposite direction of the majority of the traffic so it's usually a decent commute. The area is definitely great for walking and having friendly neighbors. The schools have been rated Excellent for the past 10 years, so if you do remain in the area, you'll be great for when your LO starts school. Let me know if you have any questions about the area, I'll be glad to help.

Emily2me · March 2011

I don't have a lot of advice when it comes to areas to live because I haven't been in Cincinnati long, but I wanted to let you know that I'm from Rome, NY! I usually claim Syracuse as my hometown since it's so close and nobody knows where Rome is. Small world! I came to Cinci for college and stayed after. I think you will love it here!

KittahMama · March 2011

No help here cause I am in the process of relocating here from Louisville, KY. But welcome!! My DH works in West Chester and we are currently in an apartment here. If you get here and need someone to explore with, I am always up for it!

hav2run · March 2011

Hyde Park might also be a good place to look. Close by is Oakley. They have lots of homes with character. Old Lebanon, perhaps. Glendale. Good luck!!!

I sent you a PM.

doodlebug914 · March 2011

We live in West Chester and love it here. We live in the Beckett Ridge community which is very close to the I-75/I-275 interchange, tons of walking trails, golf course, pool. You can typically search for Beckett Ridge under the city listings on the realtor websites because it's a huge community. We can get most anywhere in 20 minutes which is great. We have a huge wooded backyard which we love. There is a lot of new growth in West Chester or Liberty Township, but also many well established communities. You could purchase a very nice home for your price range here. I also agree Glendale or Wyoming would be locations closeby (within 10-15 minutes to West Chester) with lots of homes with great character.

allibaba76 · March 2011

I am surprised no one has suggested Madeira. I think it would also fit your search criteria and it is so close to the mall, shopping/restaurants, and the highway. For house hunting, I prefer to search the MLS. I like searching by school district https://www.webmls.net

ML* · March 2011

I think you would love Hyde Park. The houses are super charming and the neighborhood is active and walkable. Mariemont is similar but not nearly as many restaurants/shops. Mariemont has a mostly suburb feel while Hyde Park has suburb + city feel. Mariemont is also pushing it if you want to get to West Chester in 30 min. I would say that's possible during non-peak hours but you're probably talking 45 mintues during rush hour.

Hyde Park is a mix of big million dollar 100+ year old homes and smaller homes similar to the one you live in now. The smaller homes are still pricey but you should be able to find plenty of options around 350K that are well maintained. The school district is Cincinnati Public which is not always desireable but the individual schools in Hyde Park are highly rated. Also, if you are looking at school district mostly for resale value you don't have to worry--Hyde Park is always a desireable area to live which keeps resale high.

C+S · March 2011

Thank you soooo much for all your help. I know I will have tons more questions in a few weeks when we make our first visit to the area.

Want a personalized experience?

Relocating from NY - help please!

Re: Relocating from NY - help please!

Choose Another Board

Search Boards