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Elizabeth R.
housing
First time home buyer in Roanoke
Hey everyone, Any advice would be great. Appreciate any input. The parks and outdoor areas are a huge plus.
14 upvotes
18 Replies
Henry L.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem solid.
I've been here 8 years and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The West side vs the Greenfield side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
I've been here 8 years and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The thing nobody mentions is food scene. It's developing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is tough.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The West side vs the Greenfield side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
37 upvotes
Ezekiel
Weather-wise, the summers are surprisingly good and winters are pricey. You get used to it after the first year.
32 upvotes
Everett R.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Hope this helps!.
29 upvotes
Gabriella Brooks
Moved here from Salt Lake City about 4 years ago. it was the best decision I ever made. Still getting used to public transit but Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
29 upvotes
Michael Roberts
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value school system, you'll love it. The public transit is genuinely challenging and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Springfield) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Dallas, be prepared for the culture shock. public transit is completely different here. And Nightlife is limited.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
If you value school system, you'll love it. The public transit is genuinely challenging and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Springfield) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Dallas, be prepared for the culture shock. public transit is completely different here. And Nightlife is limited.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
26 upvotes
cincylocal2025
As someone who grew up here, I have mixed feelings honestly. A lot has changed in the past few years though. outdoor recreation used to be much wild but now it's solid.
26 upvotes
Nicholas Anderson
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Chicago and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Downtown. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in finance. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Downtown. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is developing right now, especially in finance. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 5 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like BBQ.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
26 upvotes
Isabella Anderson
The food scene here is decent. Tons of great Southern places. it exceeded my expectations.
19 upvotes
Ryan Thomas
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's not perfect but it works for me. Happy to answer more specific questions..
14 upvotes
Mateo Perez
exactly what I was thinking
13 upvotes
Naomi M.
Bought a house here in 2022 and I love the pace of life here. Property values have gone down slightly since then.
13 upvotes
Everett
The food scene here is improving. Tons of great Asian places. it's been a really good experience overall.
13 upvotes
Jayden Jackson
I've lived in Greenfield for about 7 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
I have mixed feelings honestly. When I first moved here from Tampa, I was surprised by safety. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- The school system scene is challenging
The downsides:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Property taxes are high
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for couples. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
I have mixed feelings honestly. When I first moved here from Tampa, I was surprised by safety. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- The school system scene is challenging
The downsides:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Property taxes are high
Overall I'd rate it 7/10 for couples. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
9 upvotes
raleigh_ruby
I've lived in Sunset for about 9 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from Salt Lake City, I was surprised by outdoor recreation. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Four distinct seasons
- The cultural scene scene is solid
The downsides:
- Winters are long and cold
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for singles. Happy to answer more specific questions..
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from Salt Lake City, I was surprised by outdoor recreation. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Four distinct seasons
- The cultural scene scene is solid
The downsides:
- Winters are long and cold
- Homeless population growing downtown
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for singles. Happy to answer more specific questions..
8 upvotes
Matthew R.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in The Heights for 1 years. Moved from Atlanta for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
engineering is strong here. legal is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is better than expected - we have state parks within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. The Heights schools are hit or miss. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Dating scene is rough. Homeless population growing downtown. And cost of living can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 6/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in The Heights for 1 years. Moved from Atlanta for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is surprisingly good. We bought in 2015 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts.
**Employment:**
engineering is strong here. legal is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I'm still on the fence after all this time. The outdoor scene is better than expected - we have state parks within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. The Heights schools are hit or miss. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Dating scene is rough. Homeless population growing downtown. And cost of living can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For couples, I'd say this is a 6/10. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
7 upvotes
Nolan Walker
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem improving.
I've been here 10 years and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the nightlife is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Cedar Grove side vs the Greenfield side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
I've been here 10 years and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the nightlife is legit. And if you're into golfing, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Cedar Grove side vs the Greenfield side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
7 upvotes
Serenity Cooper
My experience has been mostly positive. it was the best decision I ever made. The only thing I'd watch out for is safety. Other than that, Feel free to reach out with questions..
3 upvotes
Xavier Turner
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, it's not perfect but it works for me. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
1 upvotes