From KY to Baltimore (Mount Vernon: best neighborhood, real estate, apartment)

[collegegradsara]

To put it lightly, I need help. I have only been to Baltimore once and I am moving there to take a job in 5 months, and I am beginining to get a little bit psyched out. What I need help with; where to live? apartment or a house? where to work out? how to adjust myself? any advice at all?

So here is a little bit about me:

I will be a recent college graduate, 23 years old, moving alone, female..your typical female college graduate with a little more ambition. I don't want to live anywhere "ghetto" and don't mind paying not to live in those areas. I would like somewhere where I do not have to use my car, and I can walk to the gym or grocery stores, nightlife, etc. Any advice will be appreciated even if it is not being list here!! Thank you!

[kmacd]

What is your price range? In what area will you be working? Canton is a good neighborhood for recent college graduates. It can get pricey, but you can walk to restaurants, the gym, and the grocery store. It's a pretty popular neighborhood

[collegegradsara]

I will be working downtown and commuting to DC 3 days a week (buts it's quite pricey to live in DC) I would like to stay between 800-1000 on rent, and I don't mind to live in a studio.

[End-User]

You might need to adjust that budget upwards, but some of the real estate agents that post here can advise you on that. If you plan to be in DC that often I would suggest taking the MARC train, you should be able to find a place in walking distance of the station but I suspect it will be closer to 1200 if you want a decent size.

[davecj]

Originally Posted by collegegradsara

To put it lightly, I need help. I have only been to Baltimore once and I am moving there to take a job in 5 months, and I am beginining to get a little bit psyched out. What I need help with; where to live? apartment or a house? where to work out? how to adjust myself? any advice at all?

So here is a little bit about me:

I will be a recent college graduate, 23 years old, moving alone, female..your typical female college graduate with a little more ambition. I don't want to live anywhere "ghetto" and don't mind paying not to live in those areas. I would like somewhere where I do not have to use my car, and I can walk to the gym or grocery stores, nightlife, etc. Any advice will be appreciated even if it is not being list here!! Thank you!

I recently helped a young gentleman in his move from KY to Baltimore. I'll be frank, you really won't find much of anything in that price range in the areas that you're probably looking at. If your goal is to stay in that range, I'd really suggest looking for rooms on Craigslist. Generally $500/mo will get you into a 3br apartment in the younger areas of town (Federal Hill, Canton, Fells Point among others) and you'll meet more people that way.

Most out of towners end up quite sticker shocked when they see rental prices in Baltimore. If you'd like I can see what I can dig up in your price ranges and email it to you.

[remstone]

Look at Mount Vernon. It will have your best selection of 1BRs and studios. If you look on Craigslist there are lots in that price range though maybe not the best locations:
baltimore apts/housing for rent classifieds "vernon" - craigslist

It's convenient to downtown and Penn Station (to get you to DC). It has the restaurants and nightlife, along with gyms, and two smaller grocery stores. It's probably the best neighborhood in the city if you're going to try getting along without a car (which is never that easy here).

If you're more comfortable with a house share and looking for the more generic early-20s drunken experience then you might also consider Federal Hill (or Fells Point or Canton if you desire longer commutes). But you can have roommates in Mount Vernon too, if you want.

[collegegradsara]

I would be willing to adjust my budget upwards, I guess I am just use to they KY cost of living. I'll get use to it. I don't really want room mates, due to the fact that my job will consume most of my time for the first 6 months I am there and need to focus on that. I don't want to be in a house with louder, "drinking" younger people.

[collegegradsara]

Oh & I will have my car, I just enjoy being able to have the freedom to be able to walk to places, I have heard the parking is bad.

[Bong477]

I'd look at Federal Hill first... it meets the vast majority of your criteria except price. It's as safe as basically anywhere in Baltimore, very walkable (although depending on where you live the supermarket is a little far to be hauling back groceries), etc. You'll be close to 95 or Camden MARC depending on how you want to get to DC and you'll be walking distance from downtown. $1k/month may get you a 1 bedroom, but it will be close. Try to find something with parking included if at all possible. Street parking is doable especially if you aren't driving at night and get home before like 6pm. We have 1 spot and 2 cars, I've never had to park more than 3-4 blocks away and I'm usually within 1-2 blocks. Its most congested around the cross st market area (where cross st intersects with light and charles). There are not a ton of (relatively upscale) managed apartment buildings in Baltimore except around UMB which is not where I'd recommend living so you are most likely looking at independent type places via craigslist and similar.

[sl0622]

Originally Posted by remstone

Look at Mount Vernon. It will have your best selection of 1BRs and studios. If you look on Craigslist there are lots in that price range though maybe not the best locations:
baltimore apts/housing for rent classifieds "vernon" - craigslist

It's convenient to downtown and Penn Station (to get you to DC). It has the restaurants and nightlife, along with gyms, and two smaller grocery stores. It's probably the best neighborhood in the city if you're going to try getting along without a car (which is never that easy here).

If you're more comfortable with a house share and looking for the more generic early-20s drunken experience then you might also consider Federal Hill (or Fells Point or Canton if you desire longer commutes). But you can have roommates in Mount Vernon too, if you want.

I second Remstone... Lots of spacious one-bedrooms for under a grand in Mt. Vernon, and studios in the $600-700 range. It's proximity to Penn Station will be VERY helpful. Lots of restaurants, bars (although a good many are gay - which I love - but as a young single female you might not find that helpful!)... But an easy cab or Circulator bus will get you downtown to Fed Hill, or over to Canton for the nightlife you'll probably like. My only complaint would be the lack of a walkable grocery store. There are smaller places, but nothing like the Whole Foods in Fells or the Safeway in Canton... Mt. Vernon has it's edgier sides (i.e., particularly as you move from the center out farther east, west, and north) - - but it's certainly not "ghetto" and I feel very safe there as a woman. Don't get me wrong - you need to take common precautions (be aware of your surroundings, try to avoid walking in unlit areas at night, don't leave ANYTHING in your car - - most of the crime in Mt. Vernon is confined to car break ins) - - but honestly, you need to do that anywhere in Baltimore. That's just the nature of this city. (Yes - some neighborhoods are certainly MUCH worse than just using common sense - and I'm sure everyone on here can help steer you away from those places!)

Anyway - good luck! Canton and Fed Hill would be good places to check out, too - - but rents will be higher there. You might be able to get a studio for a $1000??