The Observation Deck

Hi all, I've been browsing this forum and you all seem like a very helpful group, so I thought I might ask for advice.

I recently landed a job in downtown Cleveland and am currently looking for a place to live. As I am more of an Akron native, I don't know a lot about the Cleveland area but I did some touring over the weekend and it seems like Lakewood would be the best fit for me.

While I have a very good job, I'm still a pretty recent college graduate and I don't make a ton of money, so I can probably afford rent around $550 to $650. I am looking for a 1BR in a safe neighborhood, preferably in a small duplex/house on one of the quieter side streets. I am a 24-year-old guy, but I'm pretty calm. I'm not interested in hosting big parties or any other wild stuff.

I know Lakewood has quite a bit of rental properties, which is why I came to you all in search of advice. Do you know of any realtors, Web sites or other resources that can be of any help? Is what I'm looking for doable? I'd love to pay as little rent as possible, but I'm willing to fork over the money for a nice place. Thanks for any help!

I have moved several times within Lakewood the last several years, so I am pretty familiar with the rental market in Lakewood.

Some good sources online are www.rent.com, cleveland.craigslist.com, and www.cleveland.com.

If you end up near the northeast corner of Lakewood, you can zip down Lake Avenue (takes longer if you go down Clifton) and then onto the west shoreway along the Lake to downtown Cleveland. The west shoreway is the only major highway into downtown that does not get tied up during rush hour. Unlike the west shoreway...90 east, 90 west, 77 north, 71 north, 480 west, etc. all have their problems, although some are better than others.

I don't think you have any chance of finding a house all to yourself in that price range. You do have a chance of finding half of a double in that price range, although I personally have had a better experience in large apartment buildings compared to doubles. Doubles I have seen usually are around $650 a half and up. Generally speaking, anything north of Clifton tends to be more expensive. Anything in the Bird Town neighborhood (look for street names like Dowd, Lark, Robin, Quayle) are usually less, but they tend to be not as nice based on my firsthand experience living there. Also, prices tend to be higher the further west you go. If you look hard, you may find a good deal, but there obviously is usually a trade off between price and quality or price and size--you have to pay more for larger or nicer places. You may find a double in the price you want along side streets between Detroit and Clifton, e.g. Fry, Idlewood, Hird, Cove, etc. Stay away from being directly on Detroit or Madison unless you like to hear truck traffic. Clifton has a lot of traffic, too (altho no trucks).

There are a lot of amateur landlords in Lakewood, with little experience and/or only a handful of properties. Based on my experience, these types of landlords are not as good at fixing things and following rules. However, these types of landlords sometimes get desperate, so do not be afraid to try to negotiate the rent price, amount of security deposit, pet policies, etc. Don't be timid just because you are young.

Another site I have found helpful is www.zillow.com. This shows you estimated home valuations. Based on the values, you can make an educated guess as to what kind of rent to expect to pay. You can also click on the "property information" link on cuyahogacounty.us. I had landlords in the past tell me they have to raise my rent a lot because they paid $x for the double and they can't afford to rent it to me so cheap. I then look at the county website and find that they are lying to me, so I tell them well I'm not paying that much and I know you actually paid $y for this property, etc.

Another suggestion would be to ask the landlord for references. This throws them off, as they think they are the only ones who are supposed to ask for references. A good landlord will not be bothered by such a request, though.

Good luck and please feel free to ask any more questions on this forum or send me a private message (pm), if you want. The only other thing I would suggest is that you add your last name, as they get bent out of shape on this forum if you do not use both a first and a last name.

Doug

Jamie-

There are lots of places that would probably fit your needs and I hope if anyone on the Deck is a landlord, perhaps they'll speak up.

Meanwhile, if you have any questions about specific places, I'm sure people here won't be shy giving you advice.

How much time do you have to look for a place before you must relocate?

Do you cook or eat out (a consideration if you want to walk to an area with a variety of choices). Would you prefer to be close to the library and its many free programs? Do you enjoy being near the MetroPark? The Lake?

If you must have a coffee shop within four blocks, that will also narrow your search area...

Wow, such great responses. Thank you.

Fortunately, I don't have to rush into anything as I am able to commute from my folks' house for a little while.

It would be nice being reasonably close to the park. I enjoy cycling, and that looks like a great place to get some miles in, especially during the work week.

I also would be nice to be within walking distance of a deli or small market. I tend to do most of my own cooking, but I do like to get a bite to eat when I'm too lazy/tired. I would probably like to walk to as many places as possible, honestly. If I could walk/bike on random errands, that would be perfect for me.

Are there any particular apartment buildings that you all would suggest? I do like the idea that many of those include the heat in the cost of rent. I did check out the Edgewater area buildings, and those were a little out of the way. I like being close to nightlife, but I don't have to be right on top of it. I can take a taxi or something.

Jamie--- Welcome to Lakewood! We'll all chip in and give you a FREE subscription to the Lakewood Observer!

I read over your various requirements as to what you would like to have withing walking distance. Fortunately, most locations in Lakewood meet that criteria.

I think that due to the competiveness of the rental market that 90% of the offerings will be in the $500-$600 range.

Probably the biggest distinction for you will be whether you want to rent in a building or a double. That would be personal to your tastes and once again both are oferred all over Lakewood.

I would suggest picking out an area then bringing it back to the Deck, here, and we'll react.

Stan Austin

The apartments in the West End are great. You are near nightlife and can easily walk to many bars in the area.

While not close to the Park, you are right on the Metroparks, with lots of good biking trails.

There are lots of little places to eat from breakfast to dinner, casual to fine within walking distance.

Thanks again for all the advice.

I visited some places down on the Gold Coast, and some of the units I saw looked very nice. They are just rooms, but they were in my budget and had the sort of stuff I need. What do you all think of the Cove Ave./Edgewater Drive neighborhood? It looks like a very nice area.

Thanks!

-Jamie

That can be a very nice area.

Good public transportation to downtown Cleveland and near the lake. You aren't terribly close to downtown Lakewood, but there are plenty of places to eat nearby.

That's probably the farthest point away from the Metroparks entrance (where the good bike trail is). It's still nice to bike along Edgewater or Lake.

Keep in mind that distance is relative. Lakewood is a very small city.

There's going to be a new grocery store and Target on 117th by the I-90 exit and that will be an easy trip on a bus.

Cabs are available to get to nightlife, but are more frequently used in departure rather than arrival...

There is also nightlife available nearby.

I like that area a lot, compared to several other places I have lived in Lakewood. I think it gives you the best bang for the buck. It is also a great area for commuting to downtown Cleveland, plus you are still close to everything Lakewood has to offer. I do not like the far west end apartments mentioned by Ms. Farris. I considered them at one point, but I changed my mind after talking to friends and after hanging out in that area most of a Saturday afternoon watching the tenants. The prices are hard to beat, though.

I am on Edgewater now and am looking to relocate in the same area in May. Some of the buildings are actually condos--this just means that the apartment units are individually owned rather than one entity owning the entire building. Most if not all of the condo buildings permit the individual condo owners to rent out the units, if they want. If you are looking at a condo building, a lot of times you can get a list of all the units for rent if you call or if you walk in to the office.

The buildings that are either on Cove or the southern side of Edgewater seem to have younger and noisier people. Those apartments tend to be bigger, though, than the ones on the northern side of Edgewater. It depends on the building, though.

Lake Avenue sometimes has a lot of traffic, compared to Edgewater, so if you are on Lake you may want to be on the back side of the building. Also, street parking in the area is often very hard to come by, so I would recommend you pay for a parking space if you have to. Many of the buildings have underground garages. A lot or all of the buildings on the northern side of Edgewater have pools, etc.

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Unofficial guide to Edgewater/Cove area (if anyone has any corrections/rebuttals/additions, please feel free to respond):

Viktoria (not Victoria)
Cove Avenue
Nice-looking older building with large units and young residents

Edgewater-Cove Apartments
12065 Edgewater (corner of Cove)
I know someone who lives in this building. She says there are some noisy people there, but she is good at sleeping through noise. She said the landlords are good at fixing anything that breaks. She likes it.

The Adriana
117xx Edgewater (south side of Edgewater)
I would stay far away from this building. They seem to have lots of parties and like to make a lot of noise. It smelled terrible once when I walked in the lobby when I first looked for a place down here. Recently someone busted out two windows on the 4th floor.

The Georgian Manor
117xx Edgewater next to the Adriana
looks nice on the outside
lots of cute college-aged girls live here

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NORTH SIDE OF EDGEWATER DRIVE

Edgewater Towers
117xx Edgewater Drive
aka the gateway to the gold coast
This building is condos. This building has a strict pet policy, and only recently allowed cats. They have ample parking in the back, since they paved over the tennis court. I have never been inside. The only bad thing I have to say is that I have heard a lot of noisy cars idling in front of their building at night, and they do not shovel their sidewalk very well in the winter.

The Shoreham
11800 Edgewater Drive
Apartments
I live here now. Physically, the building and grounds are well-maintained, for the most part. It has been a good building overall, but more troublemakers have been moving in as of late. The good thing is that the manager is receptive to trying to resolve any problems you bring to her. They used to include 100% of utilities in the rent, but they are moving to a proportional utility system where you pay your unmetered "fair share." I never like it when someone tells me they want me to pay what they think is my "fair share." One bedrooms rent for around $600. Like some of the other buildings, they have a rooftop patio.

The Berkshire
11820 Edgewater Drive
Condos
I have toured 4 of the units in this building and was very impressed. It looks boring on the outside but nicer on the inside. They have nice double-pane windows that block out a lot of noise. The units have one wall air conditioner in the bedroom and one in the living room. They strictly enforce their dog policy, which requires dog owners to carry the pet while inside the building. The panoramic rooftop deck faces the lake and is spectacular. One bedrooms rent for around $700, but I was told that this includes ALL utilities.

The Lake House
118xx Edgewater Drive
condos
They have a little restaurant in the back, so if you are low on food and the weather is terrible, you may be able to get a bite to eat without leaving. They also have a barber shop or hair salon. This building seems to have a lot of younger people. I looked at one unit in this building, and it seemed okay.

12000 Edgewater
12000 Edgewater Drive, Lakewood
apartments
nice but more expensive--one bedrooms $800 and up

The Imperial House
12xxx
I know little about this building

Marine Towers East
12xxx Lake
I know little about this building.

Marine Towers West
12xxx Edgewater
apartments
same owner as The Shoreham

The Meridian
12xxx Edgewater
condos
Nice but expensive--don't even think they have one bedrooms
I saw a 2-level penthouse condo listed at $995,000.

Winton Place
12700 Lake Ave
condos
expensive (I have seen united listed over $1,000,000)
Dick Jacobs (Jacobs Field, etc.) owns a lot of condos in this building.

The Carlyle
12900 Lake Ave
not as flashy on the outside, but it has a lot of amenities (two pools, hot tub, ping pong, etc.)
expensive

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As dl meckes mentioned, if you are anywhere in Lakewood, anything else in Lakewood is going to be relatively close. No matter where you are in Lakewood, you are always going to be close to various restaurants, bars, grocers, pharmacies, etc. Lakewood is only about 5 square miles, but it has about 10,000 people per square mile. Public transit is also very good. In fact, I sold my car years ago. Even if you have a car, it is nice to have good public transit available if your car is in the shop or if you are going somewhere downtown Cleveland where parking is expensive, etc. Westlake Cab (they should call it Lakewood Cab) is also very good. They have the maroon cabs that you always see crawling around Lakewood like a bunch of ants.

Doug

Jamie and Doug--

There was a notorious murder in the Viktoria during the 1930's. I don't know if it was solved or not. Better make sure

Stan

It may also help to pick up a Scene or a Free Times and look in the Rental section in the back. There's always a wealth of rentals in the Lakewood area in there.

I've recruited several ppl to Lakewood, and in my humble opinion..the best way to find a place is to take some of the above ...go in a car ..rent one if you need to ...and just cruise the areas....Its the old "you'll know it when you see it" thing...

Its a great way to get to know how great a place Lakewood would be to live in ...

get on the circulator at w117 & madison (costs $0.75 I think) and ride it the whole way around - takes about 45-60 mins - this way you can pay attention to the buildings and not the road

Doug

Jamie

If you want come spend a couple nights with some Observers as we walk the neighborhoods. It will give you a real feel for what is going on and give you a chance to meet other residents.

Half houses are plentiful, house for rent are around, gold coast is always nice, though each building has it's own personality. If you want we have a mortgage broker that can write the loan if you are looking to buy.

You are going to like it here.


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Jim O'Bryan wrote:You are going to like it here.

I agree-I moved here from my hometown of Elyria in 2004, and I wonder why I didn't do it sooner. I love it here!