Cleveland neighborhood grading and recommendation

[Jacob Wells]

Hello,

I am looking to start investing in Cleveland in the next month and trying to determine what areas and neighborhoods to look at. I am looking to rent to section 8 and hope that that will help with some of the neighborhoods and make then less "rough" for me. I also don't want to have a hard time finding a PM based on the area that I look into though. 

I have read the Ultimate Guide to Grading Cleveland Neighborhoods and was curious if people think that it has improved or changed in the last 5 years. With how the market has been the last couple years I am thinking that maybe some of the D areas could be creeping into C and C into B. I have read lots about the Mt Pleasant and Slavic Village neighborhoods and curious if those are now considered C and are less rough or if I should stay away. 

Any advise and recommendation are welcome!

Thanks,

Jacob

[Andrew Weiner]

Welcome to the Cleveland market.  There are those that are more ready to jump in the deep end but Mt. Pleasant and Slavic Village are still areas that I am not ready to buy in or manage properties in.  North Collinwood and Lee Harvard might be closer to what your looking for on the east side.  Clark Fulton closer to W 25th could also be an area to check out.

If you have not been to Cleveland or haven’t been around town before I would recommend coming in and walking around these neighborhoods.  Everyone has a slightly different idea of what each property is on the letter grading system.  Also public crime stats are a good objective measure that could help in your evaluation.