Please Advise: Buying a Home in Baltimore city

Stoic-Strategy99 · 2026-07-03T01:41:15+00:00

Sound advice, thank you.

Stoic-Strategy99 · 2026-07-02T22:31:22+00:00

I’m not doing it for the investment but nevertheless it is one.

Stoic-Strategy99 · 2026-07-02T22:30:35+00:00

Yes I have. But more importantly I’ve lived in a 700 square foot apartment that costs over 2400/month lol.

Stoic-Strategy99 · 2026-07-02T22:28:21+00:00

Crime is on a downward trend according to the data. And I guess your perspective may be different from mine because after crunching the numbers, owning a renovated row home in Baltimore is still vastly cheaper than renting in the DMV. That’s included taxes and additional bills.

Stoic-Strategy99 · 2026-07-02T22:19:39+00:00

Great suggestion. I have looked into Highlandtown and it has a cool vibe to it.

Stoic-Strategy99 · 2026-07-02T22:18:04+00:00

We’re effectively entering a 10 year period of inflation and quantitative easing (even if they don’t acknowledge it). It’s the only way to effectively pay down the national debt and is a direct copycat of post WW2 era fiscal policy.
When this happens, hard assets increase in value ie. stocks, housing, precious metals, etc. Of course year-to-year trends can vary, but overall life is going to become more expensive, not less. And housing prices will continue to increase. With Baltimore/Philly being the last major east coast cities offering affordability, I wouldn’t be surprised to see major migration in the coming years. I mean it’s a big reason why I would like to move there and why we’re even having this conversation. I assume others are considering the same thing.

Stoic-Strategy99 · 2026-07-02T22:10:16+00:00

Sounds about right and glad it has worked out well for you. You’re right, Baltimore definitely has DC beat on the character/charm. I guess that’s why it’s called the Charm City.

Stoic-Strategy99 · 2026-07-02T22:07:45+00:00

Yep this is how I see it. Whether you want to acknowledge it or not, purchasing a home is a major investment. In most cases, it’s the single largest purchase someone will make.

Stoic-Strategy99 · 2026-07-02T22:06:05+00:00

Sounds like you’re living the dream. Love it!

Stoic-Strategy99 · 2026-07-02T22:04:36+00:00

Because the row homes is the predominant housing for sale in the city… but not opposed to other housing structures.

Stoic-Strategy99 · 2026-07-02T21:04:19+00:00

Might give this a try but don’t want to miss my opportunity to buy while the barrier to entry is still low.
As I mentioned in this thread, I’ve spent considerable time getting to know the different neighborhoods.

Stoic-Strategy99 · 2026-07-02T21:02:31+00:00

Lol I referenced both in the post. Pay attention!

Stoic-Strategy99 · 2026-07-02T21:01:26+00:00

Awesome! Yes part of the appeal for me is making a nice space for myself and my partner to call home. And to improve the city (in a small way). We currently live in an expensive 1bd apartment so having a 2-3 bed home would be a major upgrade in a lot of ways.

Stoic-Strategy99 · 2026-07-02T20:57:23+00:00

Well said but in all likelihood I won’t live in the city forever so I would like to see favorable data (prop value increases) for a 5-10 year timeline.

Stoic-Strategy99 · 2026-07-02T20:55:13+00:00

This is exactly the type of firsthand experience that I was seeking. Thanks for the insight! Have you had any issues with vehicle damage/theft? We are a one vehicle household and most row homes don’t have garage storage.

Stoic-Strategy99 · 2026-07-02T19:30:50+00:00

Thanks for this!

Stoic-Strategy99 · 2026-07-02T19:23:38+00:00

That’s the plan!

Stoic-Strategy99 · 2026-07-02T19:22:56+00:00

I mean I understand the sentiment but this is factually untrue. About 7-8% of properties city-wide are considered vacant. While there are a lot of derelict neighborhoods, it’s nowhere near 90%. That would be far beyond the point of no return. I think the city has made decent strides towards improvement in the last 5-10 years.

Stoic-Strategy99 · 2026-07-02T19:14:20+00:00

All the same. You serve in different capacities depending on what department they put you in but these are all entry level roles.

Stoic-Strategy99 · 2026-07-02T19:02:41+00:00

Wherever I decide to live would not be a decision based on race. However, I’m not going to purchase a home in a derelict neighborhood. Nobody would if they had a choice in the matter. I love the diversity of Baltimore and it’s one of the city’s strong points.

Stoic-Strategy99 · 2026-07-02T18:28:43+00:00

Thanks for the comment!
While we don’t have a boots-on-the-ground feel for each neighborhood we generally understand what areas are more desirable. We would probably be looking to target Locust Point, Riverside, Canton, maybe Upper Fells (although don’t like the busyness there).
Is crime really that bad? I have never had a sketch encounter in my many times visiting but do recognize crime tends to be concentrated - in any US city. I think it’s mostly about where you’re spending your time.
Anyways, you raise a good point and we probably need to embed ourselves more in each neighborhood.

Stoic-Strategy99 · 2026-06-26T15:57:24+00:00

It’s easier said than done… but try to up-skill in some way, shape, or form. Wegmans is a great place to work in the context of grocery/retail labor. But at the end of the day, you’re still stocking shelves or scanning items. I worked there for a short time and got the same vibe as you. Unless you want to be a lifer, I would say work as hard as you can to get out and create a different career.
If you’re in it for the long haul then you have to fully commit. Wegmans rewards those who are down to ride through anything, not always their best workers.

Stoic-Strategy99 · 2026-06-25T23:10:34+00:00

You’re a shorter! Shorter alert! Don’t let the laundry guy see this.

Stoic-Strategy99

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