Where are the best places to buy a house in Cleveland?

Question

My husband and I may be moving to Cleveland. We are young professionals with a 1-month-old son. We would prefer to live in a clean, safe neighborhood with lots of other children and local parks. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

The metropolitan area of Cleveland is very large to the surprise of most out-of-towners. There are all different types of neighborhoods- even clean, safe, child-friendly ones can be very different. For instance there are some that are some on different sides of town, some that are of older or newer housing stocks, some that are near the lake or near the Metroparks, and there are some that have better shopping than others. There are also a lot of different schools available in Cleveland, and it would be a good idea to decide first what type of schools you would prefer down the road. We have a lot of Catholic schools, montessori schools, jewish schools, extremely elite day/boarding schools, and excellent public school districts. There is an extensive park system throughout Cuyahoga County called the Cleveland Metroparks. They offer a phenomenal range of recreational opportunities in various 'reservations'. Most reservations are connected in what is known as the Emerald Necklace. The most desirable neighborhoods have or are located very near a Heinen's Grocery Store; which is an excellent upper-scale grocery store with excellent customer service unique to Northeast Ohio.

I know the area from downtown all the way out into the suburbs along I-90 and the western lakeshore very well, so I can be of more help in that area of town. The West Shore area is generally very nice, and extremely convenient to get downtown. There are a lot of Catholic schools, little diversity, and a large middle to upper-middle class population.

The neighborhoods closer to downtown like the Warehouse District, Ohio City, Tremont, Edgewater, and Detroit Shoreway are undergoeing major renewal, soaring property values, and very popular with young professionals. But it is most popular with signle young professionals or couples without children. In those neighborhoods you will find of lot of apartments, condos, and townhouses.

The suburb of Lakewood is very popular with young professionals of all different types; single, married, or with children can all find an appropriate neighborhood here in Lakewood. Whether it is a nice apartment or house for rent, or a starter house or condo for sale you can find it Lakewood. Lakewood has a lot of parks throughout the city, and Lakewood Park on the lake, and the Rocky River Reservation in the Cleveland Metroparks makes Lakewood one of the areas most accessible to recreation and parks. One thing to keep in mind about Lakewood is that some people find it extremely clean and very safe, but other people might disagree. It is fairly densely populated and has an older (but beautiful) housing stock. There are more desireable parts of Lakewood than others. The neighborhoods along the lake and the western edge of Lakewood are very nice and prestigious. The public schools are just okay; not terrible but certainly not very good. If you choose to live here though, the Catholic schools and nearby montessori schools are probably what should go with.

Excellent public school districts in the West Shore area include Rocky River, Bay Village, and Westlake. Rocky River is pretty distinguished suburb with well-kept homes, unique shopping, and in an excellent location. Bay Village is more down-to-earth, quiet, lakeside community with a very nice beach. Westlake is a lot larger, with a lot of new construction, big homes, and a major shopping center called Crocker Park. These are all definately suburbs where people start out in one home and later move to another nearby when they outgrow them.

The East Side is a little different. It is more East Coast than the West Shore which is more Midwest. It is more diverse, and a greater discrepency in terms of socio-economic status. The East side of Cleveland (between downtown and University Circle) is where most of the poverty in the area is concentrated, but the area east of University Circle and in the suburbs along I-271 is where most of the wealth is concentrated. There is also a significant Jewish community, and a lot of extremely prestigeous private schools.

The Heights area that includes Cleveland Heights, University Heights, South Euclid, and Shaker Heights is great for commuting to University Circle; the city's cultural, medical, and educational center and second hub of employment. There are some very beautiful older homes, and excellent commercial districts. It is popular with doctors, professors, artists, students, and young professionals. The situation in these cities is much like Lakewood. There is a variety of housing, beautiful older homes, great parks, and a great location, but a lot of people feel the need to send their children to private schools.

The communities of Beachwood, Mayfield Village, Lyndhurst, Woodmere, Highland Heights, Pepper Pike, Orange, Moreland Hills, Bentleyville, Hunting Valley, Chagrin Falls, and Hudson all have excellent school districts. Beachwood, Mayfield Village, Lyndurst, Woodmere, and Highland Heights probably offer a little more affordable housing than the others. Chagrin Falls and Hudson are especially nice communities with top notch school districts that have their own quaint commecial districts, and perfect for families. Beachwood Place, Legacy Village, and Eton Chagrin Boulevard are the major shopping centers on the East Side.

There are other considerations, although they wouldn't be my top picks like the communities mentioned above; simply because I think they are too far, their schools aren't quite as good as some of the others and they lack some of the charming qualities of others. You would be in a "development", and do a lot of driving considerable distances for more sophisticated goods/amenities. The are however, extremely high growth, have low taxes, very new affordable new housing. Avon and Avon Lake are off I-90 west of downtown. Strongsville and North Royalton are located off I-71 south west of downtown. Solon is located near I-480 and I-271 and located south east of downtown. Practically all the communities in Medina County are booming with new construction and young families and it is located between Cuyahoga County (Cleveland) and Summit County (Akron).

The major realtors in the area are Realty One and Howard Hanna Smythe Cramer. Progressive Urban Real Estate has a special niche in the city of Cleveland itself and its inner-ring suburbs. Good luck and enjoy Greater Cleveland!

Answer 2

There is a huge variety of housing here in my hometown, and it is very affordable compared to other cities. We have one of the finest cultural atmospheres in the world for a small city. You should look in Cleveland Hts - my town - lots of parks and good schools. Beachwood is more expensive but has low taxes and excellent schools and city services. Lakewood is good and right on the LOVELY lake!
South Euclid is safe , affordable, and a bit sleepy. There are parks all over this area, including a National Park , the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area. http://www.nps.gov/cuva/
The southern part of Cleveland Hts has an area we call Kingston/Queenston that is very nice and surrounds a local school with a green corridor walkway between the houses. We also have Cain Park, Cumberland park, pools, tennis courts, a performing arts amphitheater, and so on. Try www.clevelandheights.com, www.cainpark.com, www.beachwood.org, etc.
Also Shaker Hts, which has VERY rich people in it, but don't let that put you off. There are a lot of middle class houses there as well. It's very nice and has the Shaker Lakes - about four of them.
See www.shakerlakes.org - As you can see from this overview, the greater Cleveland area is a wonderful, four season affordable place to live and a great place to raise kids. The schools in Cleveland proper ARE awful, it is true. That said, the endless stereotypes and jokes about our area are vicious and unfounded. We're glad if less people come here because of them, more for us to enjoy.
And don't forget the acknowledged greatest Orchestra in the world - see for yourself at www.clevelandorchestra.com - and hey why not check out one of the best museums, www.cma.org. playhouses, www.clevelandplayhouse.com , www.cmnh.org, and on and on and on - WELCOME to our town ! You are soon to find you are lucky.

Answer 3

Well, I don't know too much about Cleveland, but Lakewood is a great city. (It's right next to Cleveland.) The school system is tops, and everything you need is in walking distance. The recreation department is great, and we have three public pools, two public libraries, and a couple of parks. If you think about coming to Lakewood, I wouldn't really reccomend Bird Town, but the rest of the city is very safe & nice. Lakewood is a very diverse place. Good luck with your move!<3.

Answer 4

Move to the country-I live in Geauga county and it's great out here! Only about 30 minutes from downtown.

Answer 5

Move to e'185th and kinsmen great area your kids will do well

Answer 6

go cedar estates e. 30th or long wood very good neighborhood