Cleveland OH Real Estate - Relocating To Cleveland: The Complete Guide Part 2

Cleveland Oh Real Estate  Cleveland OH Real Estate - Relocating To Cleveland: The Complete Guide Part 2

So, you are relocating to the Cleveland OH area. By now, you have hopefully read the first part of this series. In case you missed it, you can find it below:

Relocating To Cleveland, The Complete Guide Part 1

At this point, you have learned a little bit about Cleveland and have either chosen a real estate agent or are in the process of doing so. Now comes Step 2, choosing where to live in Cleveland.

The first thing you need to decide is if you are going to live on the East Side or West side. You see,  Cleveland is a city somewhat divided into two sides of town. It is a unique phenomenon. Additionally, Clevelanders simply don't like to drive more than 15-20 minutes to get somewhere. Therefore, people typically live and work on the same side of town. Coming from a big city, it took me a while to understand this local mentality, and we are still open to driving from one side of town to the other, but most locals are not. So, you need to keep this in mind if you have friends or family on one side of town and choose to live on the other as you may not see them very often. That is why deciding where to live is a very important decision.

The East and West sides are different yet do share some similar characteristics. For example, both have inner ring suburbs, those bordering the City of Cleveland, that have older housing, yet are fairly affordable. Cleveland Heights, for example, is on the east side and has a lot of homes built in the early 1900's that have a lot of charm and character. Conversely, Lakewood is located on the West side and has similar type of housing. Both areas are popular for those wanting more of a "city" type of lifestyle. The locations of both are ideal as well for those who plan to work downtown.

There are some high-end suburbs as well for those looking for more of a luxury life-style. For those who like the water, there are more suburbs on the West side, such as Bay Village, Rocky River, and Avon Lake that are located in close proximity to Lake Erie than on the East side. However, there are more luxury homes and estates located on the East side. 

People looking for newer upscale housing often choose Solon on the East side and Westlake on the West side. Both have highly ranked school systems and contain a large number of newer homes priced over $500,000.

If you are buying, you will have a lot more options of where to live. Cleveland is not the best "rental" city, especially if you are looking to rent a high-end home in the suburbs. Renting is always a possibility though, but just understand your options will be limited.

Also, if you have children, you may want to look into the different school systems and find one that is the best fit for your family. Then, you can find housing located within that particular school district. You'll be happy to know that some of the best public schools in the state can be found right here in the Cleveland area. There are also a lot of fantastic private schools in Cleveland as well if that is your preference.

Lastly, we must also mention that although Cleveland is an "East" or "West" side town, there are several suburbs that are located South of the city that may be perfect as well.

Overall, there are a lot of great options of where to live in Cleveland. The most important thing is to become educated about the different areas of town so that you can be comfortable with your final decision. As mentioned in Part 1 of this guide, your real estate agent will be a great resource to you during the entire process.

Keep an eye out for Part 3 of The Complete Guide When Relocating To Cleveland where we'll be discussing the final steps of your big move.   

The following articles may be helpful during your move to Cleveland:

Real Estate Agents Are Not Just Door Openers - What A Buyers Agent Really Does

How Much Can I Get That Home Cleveland Home For

Important Contact Information When Relocating To Cleveland

Relocating To Cleveland - Helping Children With A Move

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About The Authors:

Dan and Amy Schuman are Solon OH residents. They specialize in Cleveland luxury homes and have worked with professional athletes and those relocating to the area

For Ohio and Cleveland OH real estate and homes see Cleveland Real Estate.

For a personal consultation or to speak directly to The Schuman Team, call 216-346-3235.

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Cleveland OH Real Estate - Relocating To Cleveland: The Complete Guide Part 2 is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©September2010