daugther moving to Milwaukee

shelly123

My daughter is moving to Milwaukee and would like to live in the 3rd Ward or on the East Side  (something under $130,000). (She would like a 2 bedroom condo)   She just graduated and can not afford a lot.  Please advise, ANY suggestions since we do not know the area.  Also any suggestions on nightlife, getting to know people, areas to avoid, or your best tips!!  Thanks!

Brewtowngrl

$130,000 is very low for anywhere in the city and especially in the more desirable areas like 3rd ward.  Most condos start in the 200-230K range. 

For night life Water St in the 3rd ward is fun as well as Brady St on the east side and Milwaukee St downtown.  She may check out the Milwaukee Young Professionals.  They are a social networking club. 

UWKim&Matt

I agree with everything the above poster said.  She may want to look into renting until she gets used to the area.  She could also look into the Riverwest area.

jessicaclare

Ditto everything Brewtowngrl said. If she'd like to live in the city, she might want to look into renting.

I would stay away from Riverwest since she doesn't know Milwaukee very well. Its an up and coming neighborhood, but its still not that great. JMO. 

FoxinFiji

I agree she should stay away from Riverwest for now.  I used to rent a flat there and had to make an emergency move because of the high amount of crime.  There were 10 shootings within 10 blocks of my apartment that summer and the last straw was when the person who lived below me got beat up and robbed at gun point.  It was just too unsafe for a female living by herself. 

NicoleWI

My friend lives in Riverwest and loves it, but I probably wouldn't want to live there alone. I agree with others that your daughter may want to rent first and get a sense of the areas/what she can get for different prices. It's very common to rent. She would be best off renting on the East Side where there is a lot of activity (near the lake/near downtown). She could also consider Shorewood, Whitefish Bay, Bay View and Wauwatosa if she doesn't mind being further out.

Third Ward condos are very expensive. There are some condo deals on the East Side but I think they are higher than $130K.

Mrs.Sully

A 2-bedroom condo for <$130,000 in the downtown/3rd Ward/East Side area will be tight. She should rent for a while and get a feel for the neighborhoods and then decide where she wants to be.

We live in Shorewood and love it. It's just north of the East Side. It takes me less than 10 minutes to get to work downtown, but it's not right in the city. The taxes are insane though, so if she's buying here, that's something to consider.

shelly123

Has anyone heard of the London Place (condos geared for first time buyers) which is on Farway (?) or Farwell (?)?  Is that a good location?

Brewtowngrl

That is a nice area, but check it out before you get your hopes up.  They tiny condos.  from 350-670 sq. ft.  If she decides to sell in the future it might be hard to get rid of.  With the mortgage payment and condo dues (about $200 a month) she still might be better off renting for a bit and get the feel of the area before she jumps right in. 

shelly123

Thanks  for all your help. This is such an exciting time for her!

JerseyCityJen

I recently relocated to Milwaukee from the NY metro area with my husband. We rent on the East Side, near Brady Street.  Before moving here we did a lot of research and came up with four or five neighborhoods we were interested in seeing with a realtor who took us around for a day.  I was torn between the East Side and the Third Ward, but we chose the East Side because it felt a lot like a mini city to me- everything is in walking distance, including Starbucks, the gym, local bars and cafes, thrift shops and even the lake- and i wasn't quite ready for a more suburban feel.  We chose to rent right now because we want to get to know Milwaukee and the surrounding area better before we make a larger commitment.

The Third Ward was great but there was something unique and cool about the Brady Street area that pulled us in.  We love it so far!  If your daughter likes live music venues, nightlife, and an eclectic mix of people she'd like it here.  And I drive by the London House apts and they seem quite small and my guess would be they are a tad overpriced for the area?  Seem a bit gimmicky on the outside.  IMO.

CarrieB.

you may be able to find a condo on th east side for $130,000 but it will be basically a small apartment with no parking. you will find nothing in the 3rd ward at that price point.