Cleveland Real Estate News

The real estate planets were aligned today. Two sets of clients with the same available date to see Downtown condos, and exactly the same price range. So I played Bill Murray in Ground Hog Day Cleveland style and took one set of clients to see these condos and then turned around and did it all again! It’s one way to conserve car fuel, yes? (Me, not them!) Okay, in reality, no two showings were alike. I got to see each of the units through four different perspectives.  And that is one of the reasons why I love my job.

 

Did you know there are condo complexes Downtown with units available between $79k and $99,999?  Did you know you can get a 2 bedroom 2 bath condo Downtown for less than $120k? Today’s trek took us to The Grand Arcade, Pointe at Gateway and Water Street. All three complexes have two spectacular things to offer:

 

1. Location. ‘Close enough to spit at’ for transportation. All three are within a ten minute walk (probably less) of Public Square and the RTA. From Pointe at Gateway you will need exactly two minutes to walk to East Fourth Street and all the activity there. Not to mention The Gund. The Grand Arcade and Water Street both sit in the heart of restaurant and club activity, including but not limited to The Warehouse District. 

 

2. Affordability. It’s been a while since I’ve used my mantra of ‘please build condominiums below the $300k price point, Mr. Developer.’  I’m sure I will again, but as you can see, paying $79,900, $95,500, $119,000 with reasonable maintenance fees makes these three buildings a great alternative to renting. Or a great alternative to paying more. You save on your mortgage per month, you probably save on stress because it’s fun to live Downtown, and you can get more work done (or sleep!) while you ride to work on RTA instead of driving. Just saying!

 

I always love being Downtown and today was no exception. There were people everywhere and cars parked all the way to East 9th Street. There were boats in Lake Erie. People watching college football games at The Lizard (this was pointed out to me by one of my clients). And this all occurred before the normal Saturday evening bewitching hour (way before). 

 

I don’t know how it is in other cities, but when you show condos in Cleveland, people who already live there are curious but friendly. And eager to talk when I ask (and I always do) ‘how do you like living here?’  We had positive responses from residents in these buildings.  One told us how he and his wife live in Youngstown but spend weekends in their Downtown condo. They hope to eventually spend Summers in Cleveland and then somewhere warmer in the Winter. (Best of both worlds!) All three buildings are doggie friendly (okay, cats too lol)

 

I have only one comment about condominium floor plans. So developers, listen up! Even if you are designing one bedroom condominiums, unless they are efficiencies, can you figure out a way to put the one bathroom somewhere else besides the interior wall of the bedroom? My second set of clients were not happy with this today and we saw a few with this ’not guest friendly’ lay out. I know it can be done. This is not the first time it’s come up.  Well it makes sense to have suggestions after a hard day’s work, no?  Have you ever looked at a town house or condominium and felt the entire complex was ruled out for you because of an issue like this? My clients haven’t ruled it out, but it certainly is an objection they have to think about. Maybe a NE Ohio developer will be surfing the net and see this article. You never know!  Peace Out - 3C

(I wrote this when I got home yesterday evening but there was a baseball game on! That’s why it’s posting today)