#Wildwood Manor Apartments

[korporxie]

about isolde grey - lfrp

THE VITALS ——–

NAME: Isolde Juliette Antoinette Josephine de Haillenarte-Grey... or just Isolde. 

AGE: Twenty two.

NATIONALITY: Ishgardian.

CITIZENSHIP: Ishgardian. 

GENDER: Female.

OTHER INFORMATION ——–

RACE & CLAN: Wildwood Elezen. 

NAMEDAY:  13th Sun of the 5th Umbral Moon. (October 13th.) 

ORIENTATION: Heterosexual.

MARITAL STATUS: Single.

RESIDENCE: Residing in her family’s manor in Ishgard primarily, with various small apartments or homes belonging to the Grey family scattered throughout Eorzea and the Far East. 

OCCUPATION: Prima ballerina, soprano opera singer.

PATRON DEITY: Halone.

ALIGNMENT: Neutral/chaotic good.

APPEARANCE ——–

HAIR: Isolde’s hair is of a deep auburn hue, reaching the center of her back in thick, shining waves and loose curls. It’s clearly well-cared for, though it has the tendency to grow a bit wild if windswept or if she locks herself away to composing. When performing, it is either braided like a crown atop her head, or pulled into a tidy bun. 

EYES: A pale but vibrant blue, framed by long, thick lashes, and generally sparkling with intelligence and mischief. 

HEIGHT: Five fulms and eight ilms - a short Elezen! 

BUILD: A shapely and classically feminine hourglass figure, though toned due to her extensive ballet training. 

COMMON ACCESSORIES: Isolde is rarely seen without a pale blue wristlet that contains lipstick, a handkerchief, a comb, and a small knife, along with a small notebook and pencil. She also commonly wears a simple and delicate black velvet choker with a small sapphire pendant hanging from it. 

FAMILY TIES ——–

SPOUSE: N/A

CHILDREN: N/A

PARENTS: Matthieu Grey (a very wealthy mortician, father, alive) and Josephine de Haillenarte-Grey (a former opera singer, distant heir to the Haillenarte line, alive) 

SIBLINGS: Tristan (27), Lisette (24), Tempeste (20) , Felicity (16), and Simone (16), all alive. Isolde is the second eldest daughter. 

OTHER RELATIVES: Two sets of grandparents, a dozen or so aunts and uncles by blood and marriage, and more cousins than one could hope to count in a day.

PETS: A small, scruffy mutt that she has affectionately named Mon Chou that she found, shivering and starving, in a box in the Brume. 

OTHER: N/A

QUICK INFO ——–

extroverted / introverted / in between

disorganized / organized / in between

close minded / open-minded / in between

calm / anxious / in between / good at pretending to be calm

disagreeable / agreeable / in between

cautious / reckless / in between

patient / impatient / in between / situational

outspoken / reserved / in between

leader / follower / in between

empathetic / unemphatic / in between

optimistic / pessimistic / in between / realistic

traditional / modern / in between

hard-working / lazy / in between

cultured / un-cultured / in between

loyal / disloyal / in between

faithful / unfaithful / in between

SMOKING HABIT: never / sometimes / frequently / to excess.

DRUGS: never / sometimes / frequently / to excess.

ALCOHOL: never / sometimes / frequently / to excess

OOC INFORMATION AND HOOKS ——–

Patron of the theater - This is one of the easiest hooks with Isolde! Since a very tender age, she has been performing in plays, musicals, operas, and ballets, and hit the fast track to stardom for her beautiful, crystalline vocals and ethereal movements. Should your character be a patron of the arts, then it’s a near guarantee that they know of the young star.

Fellow Ishgardians - Isolde’s family is known for being eccentric and extremely wealthy, her mother an heiress to a large fortune while her father runs a family funeral business that has been booming for generations. Rich or poor Ishgardians alike may well know of the Haillenarte-Grey family, whether through social occasions or through the many acts of charity they do for the less fortunate. 

Runaway noble... - Isolde, in particular, likes to escape her elevated status as much as possible. Perhaps you’ve been one of the ones to spot the young woman dressed down and consorting with folk in the poorer areas of Ishgard, full of empathy and a listening ear to their plights. 

...in need of a bodyguard - In that same vein, Matthieu and Jospehine - both doting parents - have some concern over their second eldest’s penchant towards running off, especially considering her personal fame. Though they have several bodyguards to keep track of her, she’s very slippery. Think you can keep up? 

Any other thoughts you may have! - Despite being a character heavily focused in Ishgard, Isolde is wont to travel for either business or pleasure. She is not locked in the Holy See! If you have any hooks you have in mind, please don’t be shy to throw them my way. I’m sure that we can figure something out! 

OOC, I AM…

Open to most all forms of RP! Slice of life, adventure, romance, mature themes such as violence, gore, horror, stalking, torture, obsession, etc. are all fine with me. Just please ask before we get into any plots or RP that are darker themed!

Not willing to do permanent injury, disfigurement, or death for my characters, as well as romance plots that result in cheating unless previously agreed upon before the ship starts! 

Over the age of 21.

Pretty friendly! My preferred method of contact is here on Tumblr or in-game. I do have Discord, but it’s something where I have to be comfortable with you to give it out. :)

On EST and available most evenings!

My preferred method of RP is in-game. Google Docs are easy for me to lose track of and threads on Tumblr aren’t usually my jam. I will agree to Discord RP if neither of us are able to log in at the same time and have a plot going, or just really wanna RP together! 

On the Mateus server/Crystal Data Center!

The best way to contact me is through Tumblr DM!

[upperpeninsulabreakingnews]

Ironwood Township apartment fire threatens entire building

URGENT – U.P. Breaking News Bulletin: 12-29-17 9:45 p.m. CT – Ironwood Township apartment fire threatened entire building

By Greg Peterson U.P. Breaking News Owner, News Director 906-273-2433

(Ironwood, MI) – Firefighters and police are at an apartment fire that threatens the entire building in the Western Upper Peninsula.

An additional fire department was called for mutual aid minutes ago.

The…

[thegenteelblackhole]

Looking for RP - Iona Sondraix (Mateus)

NAME: Iona de Sondraix

AGE: 27

RACE: Elezen, Wildwood

GENDER: Female

SEXUALITY: Bisexual

MARITAL STATUS: Single

SERVER: Mateus

physical appearance ––––

HAIR: A mousy, medium brown in colour, with lighter highlights particularly framing her face. Iona’s hair is typically long and parted in the centre. She likes to change it up every now and then with different hairstyles, but this is how she prefers it. She has often thought about artificially colouring it, particularly red. She adores red hair, but has been too afraid to try it herself.

EYES: Frosty blue. 

HEIGHT: 6′0 ish

BUILD: Slender, but with a little body fat she is working to be rid of. She’s not particularly muscular, being a more scholarly sort. 

DISTINGUISHING MARKS: Bears an odd birthmark on her left shoulder, it somewhat resembles flames but is more akin to a tattoo (which many take it to be) than a birthmark. Iona has no clue how she came to bear it, but it doesn’t bother her. 

COMMON ACCESSORIES: She will seldom be seen without her heirloom necklace; a silver chain with a blue pendant. 

personal –––-

PROFESSION: Strategist, scholar, specialist on ancient civilisations; particularly Mhach and Amdapor.

HOBBIES: Iona loves gardening, and maintains an assortment of plants in her apartment. Subsequently she also enjoys alchemy as a hobby, though one day she hopes to make it a business of her own. 

LANGUAGES: Common, Hingan (not fluent, but conversational).

RESIDENCE: She spends most of her time in The Twelveswood, and resides in Lavender Beds. She does also have access to her family’s manor house in Ishgard, though prefers the more temperate climate of the shroud. 

FEARS: Being alone, spiders, undead.

relationships –––-

SPOUSE: None.

CHILDREN: None.

PARENTS: Mother, step-father ~ Both alive and well. Biological father ~ Absent, possibly deceased.

SIBLINGS: Twin brother ~ Adrien de Sondraix.

OTHER RELATIVES: Plenty of extended family on her father’s side. Her mother doesn;t talk about it much. 

traits –––-

extroverted / introverted / in between

disorganized / organized / in between

close minded / open-minded / in between

calm / anxious / in between

disagreeable / agreeable / in between

cautious / reckless / in between

patient / impatient / in between

outspoken / reserved / in between

leader / follower / in between

empathetic / unempathetic / in between

optimistic / pessimistic / in between

traditional / modern / in between

hard-working / lazy / in between

cultured / un-cultured / in between

loyal / disloyal / in between

faithful / unfaithful / in between

additional information –––-

SMOKING HABIT: never / sometimes / frequently / to excess.

DRUGS: never / sometimes / frequently / to excess.

ALCOHOL: never / sometimes / frequently / to excess

possible hooks –––-

She’s a noble and has brushed elbows with many of the upper echelons of Ishgardian society. 

Ishgardian military men and women might know her through her brother, who has served since he was a boy. 

Her research into Amdapori and Mhachi ruins has often brought her into contact with adventurers and even mercenaries.

Recently championed the cause of the Ala Mhigan resistance, and fought alongside them in retaking Ala Mhigo.

I’m pretty much open to anything, really. Just reach out and we can plot something together!

what I’m looking for ––––

Everything! Friends, family, rivals, long term romance, short term romance, even enemies. Iona is a big softy with a heart of gold, and I’m happy to try and make anything work.

oocly, I am ––––

Very chill and I will never push people for replies or plots. I like to think I’m easy to talk to. 

I’m in GMT (UK) but I’m often awake at all hours, and since I’m on my summer break I’ll have even more time to devote to RP.

I do play other games though, so I might not be 100% devoted to XIV. 

Happy with RP on any medium- IG, Discord, and Tumblr. I often prefer writing IG rp, but I want to push myself to write better replies so I’m more open to Tumblr and Discord. 

you can contact me via ––

Discord ( Swanmay#4079 )

Tumblr DM

In Game ( Iona Sondraix )

[isoldegreyffxiv]

LF RP/LF Contacts - Mateus

the basics ––––

NAME: Isabelle Antoinette Margaux Juliette de Haillenarte... or just Belle.

AGE: 19

RACE: Elezen (Wildwood)

GENDER: Female

SEXUALITY: Heterosexual

MARITAL STATUS: Single

SERVER: Mateus

physical appearance ––––

HAIR: Waist-length chestnut brown hair kept in loose curls.

EYES: Pale blue.

HEIGHT: 5′10″. 

BUILD: Curvy and defined hourglass. Not quite overweight, but with some flattering softness of her tummy and thighs.

DISTINGUISHING MARKS: A little beauty mark by her eye. 

COMMON ACCESSORIES: Belle can often be seen wearing a simple and delicate silver locket in the shape of a heart, one passed down through generations in her family. This is only while in more casual settings; she leaves it at home when attending parties.

personal ––––

PROFESSION: Heiress of the Haillenarte family; seventeenth in line to the house. Daughter to a viscount of House Haillenarte.

HOBBIES: Flower arranging and the language of flowers is a passion of Belle’s. In another life, she would have been a florist. Apart from that, she enjoys dabbling in making medicines with herbs and flowers, poetry, music, reading, and playing with her small dog and canary. She’s known to have a lovely singing voice and to be rather skilled at the piano, as well as being a big bookworm.

LANGUAGES: Common tongue.

RESIDENCE: A manor belonging to her viscount father in Ishgard. Belle’s parents are known for being rather paranoid about their daughter being taken advantage of, and as such, the girl is rarely allowed to leave the family home for any reason other than arranged social engagements, such as balls or dinner parties. She toils away much of her time in her tower bedroom, fussing over her music, embroidery, pets, or flowers.

BIRTHPLACE: Ishgard.

PATRON DEITY: Halone.

FEARS: Being stuck in her tower forever, arranged marriages, airships. 

relationships –––-

SPOUSE: None, though her mother has been threatening an arranged marriage since she turned eighteen.

CHILDREN: None.

PARENTS: Her mother, Juliette, and her father, Victor. 

SIBLINGS: Only child.

OTHER RELATIVES: A multitude of cousins, aunts, and uncles, and two sets of living grandparents.

PETS: Her dog, Valentin, and her canary, Cherie.

traits ––––

extroverted / introverted / in between

disorganized / organized / in between

close minded / open-minded / in between

calm / anxious / in between

disagreeable / agreeable / in between

cautious / reckless / in between

patient / impatient / in between

outspoken / reserved / in between

leader / follower / in between

empathetic / unemphatic / in between

optimistic / pessimistic / in between

traditional / modern / in between

hard-working / lazy / in between

cultured / un-cultured / in between

loyal / disloyal / in between

faithful / unfaithful / in between

additional information ––––

SMOKING HABIT: never / sometimes / frequently / to excess.

DRUGS: never / sometimes / frequently / to excess.

ALCOHOL: never / sometimes / frequently / to excess

possible hooks ––––

Ishgardian nobles and courtiers from all houses - It would be nice to establish some friends, rivals, etc. in that particular territory. Though she is rather restricted to her ivory tower, Belle does frequent balls. Maybe your character has noticed the beautiful Haillenarte girl with a constantly full dance card and stunning gowns, or she’s offered a smile or kind word to the help at the parties, even lingering for some polite conversation.

Poets, writers, musicians, publishers, bards, literary enthusiasts - Belle is a lover of all of the arts. Though she has lead a rather sheltered life, her parents have allowed her to frequently go to the ballet, opera, and general theatre to see plays. She’s a bleeding heart romantic and will devour any romantic poetry or novels that come her way. It’s kind of set some unrealistic expectations for actual romance in her life. Real boys aren’t usually like book boys.

Ishgardian bachelors - Juliette de Haillenarte has been hellbent on marrying off her only child to an eligible and wealthy bachelor from a friendly house. Belle couldn’t be less enchanted by this notion. Maybe you’ve heard of the string of suitors chased off by the young lady and your character has a mind to try their hand at charming the uncharmable. 

Florists, apothecaries, hired help at the estate - Maybe you’ve a stablehand who has heard the sweet voice of the daughter of Viscount Hallenarte’s floating down from the tower while you work. Maybe you’re a florist she’s placed a large flower order to, or an apothecary she’s snuck letters to to ask questions regarding medicinal herbs and flowers. Even though most of Belle’s interactions would have been with other nobles, I, by no means, want to bar her from common folk! If you have any ideas of how your commoner character knows her, or at least knows of her, I’d love to hear them! 

Teachers and nannies - Belle has had an expensive education. If you play a character who may have been a tutor in Ishgard while she was growing up, then they would know she’s a very clever curious, and intelligent girl with a thirst for knowledge. 

what I’m looking for ––––

I don’t need a free company as I am already in one! However, I am definitely looking for a fun pool of RP contacts for this character. She can easily jump from comic relief to more serious plots, and I’d love to do both and everything in between. Belle is in need of friends, rivals, confidantes, and new experiences. Help her sneak out, dance with her at a party, be a jealous fellow highborn, a jilted suitor - I’m willing to explore most hooks with Belle.

A sidenote: For comic relief alone, I’d be kind of tickled to have a Gaston from Beauty and the Beast type character hounding Belle.I did draw some character inspiration from that movie (can you tell?) and it’s a trope I think would be a lot of fun to explore. We could take it to dark places if you wanted, too! Like I said, I’m pretty open to ideas and few things are off limits.

oocly, I am ––––

In a relationship! Despite Belle’s mother wanting an arranged marriage, she is not a character that is available for romance RP. She will be shipped with my boyfriend’s noble Elezen character. :) That’s not to say that I’m not totally cool with silly suitor RP or even genuine crushes on her being developed. Just please understand that they can’t go anywhere!

Excited to play this type of character and eager to meet people who will fit in with my character and my boyfriend’s character. 

Open to darker themes within reason. (No RPing out of rape or harming children in any way, but everything else should be fair game. If you have any questions or concerns, just ask!)

Sort of a night owl (as far as NA times go)

Friendly and happy to answer questions and plot! Throw all the plots at me. Pre-established relationships are totally cool with me, too!

you can contact me via ––––

Tumblr IM - this is my preferred method of communication and my most reliable one! 

In Game: Belle Haillenarte 

She’ll be getting her own sideblog ASAP!

[matthewhorton]

Why yes, I did go to Glastonbury again

And it went like this.

Heavenly Jukebox Everything Everything Stood outside both for a bit.

The Pretenders All the hits, minus a chance for a festive 2000 Miles singalong. Chrissie Hynde tried to insist we only wanted rock music with guitars and didn’t listen to me saying I quite liked synths too.

Charli XCX I’ve never seen anyone bounce for 45 minutes solid.

Dua Lipa Huge John Peel crowd for an entirely perfunctory show. Good fight behind me, though. Fifty-year-old bloke who’d had enough of people walking past him so offered out two buff twentysomethings. Was broken up before it got too messy.

Kris Kristofferson Time stood still.

Martha Wainwright There was no Bleeding All Over You, but it was all warm and enjoyable. Extra props to the two women lying prostrate in the middle of the crowd for the whole set.

Royal Blood I was walking past. Another massive crowd for not very much.

Ride Only caught the last three songs because I bumped into John and then Jane while cutting through the woods. Still, they (Ride) sounded fantastic and Taste was glorious. Good to see Mark Gardener’s dispensed with the stupid hat.

George Ezra Walking past again. All deep-voiced and charming as per.

Little Dragon I think I said “This is the song I like” three times. Yukimi owned the stage in a Can’t Get You Out Of My Head veil.

Lorde Yet another fly-by. Saw half an hour before zipping round to Radiohead and was sad to leave. I think we were going to get the full ‘proper pop star’ thing.

Radiohead They played Creep. Which I’ve never really liked. There There, Weird Fishes and 2+2=5 were the ones that got me dancing like Thom fighting off a wasp.

The Brass Funkeys Accidental cheesy fun while convalescing in the Field of Avalon, wondering how my sister could possibly stomach a Dark & Stormy at this hour. I saw them again at the Bandstand as I avoided the Corbyn crush.

Wildwood Kin Still at Avalon, now nursing a Butcombe ale. Our mum had told us to watch out for this lot doing their harmonic folk. It was ok.

The Moonlandingz Lias Fat White and mad friends. This was awesome, crazed glam.

Sigrid She looked like she should’ve been walking to school with my 11-year-old, but so confident, amiable and (vocally) powerful. A bit of a highlight, really.

Run The Jewels LOLs and beats. Must’ve been pretty disheartening to see the post-Corbyn exodus, mind.

Katy Perry Somewhat Sally Field at the Oscars cringe. Still, I got Chained To The Rhythm, Teenage Dream and Firework before haring off to

The Avalanches Now, I was worried about this, seeing as I’m, like, their dad or something – and I thought they started off a leeeetle shaky before really finding their groove. In the end it was joyous and the singing of samples/replacement of rappers was deftly done.

Solange Mesmerising and gorgeous; a heavily drilled modern Earth, Wind & Fire. Or maybe Rotary Connection. Or The Stylistics. No room for Sandcastle Disco (best song ever), but it probably would’ve scuffed up the sleek flow.

Phoenix The last three Phoenix albums are essentially the same song 30 times over, and thank goodness for that – it’s a brilliant song. This might’ve been my favourite show, even if Thomas Mars thought it was beset with barely perceptible technical issues, and when he jumped into the crowd at the end he brushed it all away like dust off the shoulder.

Ryley Walker Man, was I dazed. Man.

Laura Marling Another one resolutely refusing to play any of my favourite songs while staying absolutely captivating. So maybe she knows better than me.

Barry Gibb A dream come true, for both of us.

Haim They were so Haim. Este bossed us around for a full hour.

Goldfrapp There are two principal Goldfrapps – electroglam Goldfrapp and flowerchild owl costume Goldfrapp. I’m more about the latter, but we got the full synth dominatrix version which does almost as nicely.

Metronomy After four manic, tuneless songs I had a total nervo and retired to the woods to play a giant light-up xylophone. Came back when they played That Metronomy One.

Otherwise It might be the hangover but I’m still laughing about the barman at the Tolpuddle who looked entirely bewildered when I asked for three ales, stared at the table of pints for 30 seconds then went off and served someone else.

I mainly subsisted on full vegan breakfasts and vegetarian curries, apart from that one gobsmackingly expensive hotdog when I was too baked to bargain them down.

Ten years ago we went to Glastonbury as part two of our honeymoon, camping next to the brand new Park which became our manor. Ended every night at the Silent Disco like a couple of saps, so decided to repeat that this year (a couple of nights, anyway). Long story short, that’s the most I’ve sung Toto’s Africa since 1983.

What a festival. We had a ball. Best place on Earth etc. No way am I ever going again.

[davidoespailla]

Launching Pads: America’s 10 Best Starter Cities for New College Grads

iStock; realtor.com

A near-record number of college graduates are set to walk across that long stage to pick up their degrees and kick off their lives in earnest. But this first wave of Gen Z grads—most born after (gulp) 1996—face some unprecedented challenges on their hops, skips, and jumps to adulthood. It’s a classic good news, bad news story. The good: a supercharged economy with low unemployment. The bad: boundary-breaking levels of student debt, monthly rents, and real estate prices. Yikes!

Choices, choices. Where to start out? Many of the places with the brightest career trajectories, highest-paying jobs, and liveliest social scenes are the same exact places where struggling 20-somethings are going to have to scrape together a small fortune for rent—let alone buying a home. That doesn’t leave much for, um, life. Meanwhile, many cities offering cheap housing also have some of the grimmest professional (and romantic) prospects.

So what’s a new newly minted college grad to do? Realtor.com®’s studious data team found the best cities for new degree-holders that offer just the right mixture of housing affordability, career opportunities, and great dating scenes. Hey, success is lonely without someone to share it with.

“As graduates consider where they should move for that first job, they need to consider if that place has a good level of real affordability,” says Ali Wolf, director of economic research for Meyers Research, a real estate and construction data firm. And more and more, that may well mean passing on ultrapricey cities like New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco in favor of smaller cities that offer a primo combination of diversified career growth and achievable lifestyles.

Certainly there is no shortage of folks about to make these decisions. At 3.9 million strong, the 2019 class will be the second-largest ever, according to the U.S. Department of Education. For those keeping track, that’s about 1 million associate’s degrees, 1.9 million bachelor’s degrees, 780,000 master’s degrees, and 182,000 doctorate, medical, and law degrees. Phew! The number of undergrads has risen 17.5% in the past decade.

To find out where they should all go, we looked at the following metrics for the 100 largest metropolitan areas* in the country:

Unemployment rates

Median income for households aged 25 to 34; incomes for residents with a bachelor’s degree

Five-year wage growth

Percentage of college grads, percentage of singles

Median one-bedroom apartment rents

Median home prices

Housing affordability (median mortgage vs. take-home pay, for 25- to 34-year-olds)**

Number of venues for nightlife, bars, gyms, karaoke, sports bars, and social clubs on Yelp

So, before all those caps get thrown in the air, let’s look at these best markets for those with brand-new diplomas. It’s our graduation gift!

Best places for new college grads

Tony Frenzel

1. Madison, WI

Median list price: $330,000 Unemployment rate: 2.4% 5-year wage growth: 21.1%

Madison, WI

reelwavemedia/iStock

Home to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and its more than 40,000 students, Madison has a thriving nightlife and music scene, a surprisingly strong job market, and a reasonable cost of living.

“If you look at a lot of Midwestern industrial cities, their companies aren’t growing much,” says Wisconsin-based career coach Bill McGinnis of Exponential Careers. But in Madison, there are “a lot of start-ups and older companies growing very fast.”

Indeed, SwanLeap, a Madison-based business bringing artificial intelligence to logistics, was named the fastest-growing company in the nation last year by Inc. Magazine.

While Madison’s home prices are a bit above the $300,000 national median, bargains abound. Twenty-somethings with good jobs can score a condo for around $200,000 near downtown.

And it’s not too hard to meet a mate in the city known for its brewhouses.

“Madison has a lot of young residents, which makes finding friends and relationships much easier,” McGinnis says.

2. Austin, TX

Median list price: $360,000 Unemployment rate: 3% 5-year wage growth: 24.2%

Austin, TX

galinast/iStock

It’s not surprising that new grads are flocking en masse to the capital of Texas—it’s an infinitely more affordable tech hub than Silicon Valley, and has way better music and tacos to boot.

Prices within the city limits are high, at a median $545,100. So younger buyers typically head to the surrounding suburbs or nearby, smaller cities. One hot spot is Manor, 20 minutes from downtown. A recently built three-bedroom, one-story home is going for $230,000. The lower price point explains why realtor.com named Manor one of the fastest-growing suburbs.

It’s worth noting, though, that the recent building boom in the area has helped bring down prices. Median home prices in the metro dropped 2.4% year over year.

“Austin is a very outdoor-friendly destination, and I think that’s a huge driver for recent grads,” says Brad Pauly, a local broker with Pauly Presley Realty. “All those green spaces, trails, lakes, and natural pools are very appealing.”

But what makes it a truly kick-ass place for singles? There’s “culture here as well as fantastic beer and food scenes. It’s very easy to mingle,” Pauly says.

3. Columbus, OH

Median list price: $250,000 Unemployment rate: 3.8% 5-year wage growth: 18.7%

Columbus, OH

aceshot/iStock

The hottest housing market in the nation isn’t on the East or West Coast—it’s the capital of Ohio. And thanks to a surge in young professionals moving to the city in America’s heartland, the popularity of walkable neighborhoods near downtown has exploded. These include German Village, known for its brick cottages, or Grandview Heights, with charming homes built in the ’30s and ’40s.

“Microbreweries are popping up everywhere in these neighborhoods—they’ve become cool places to eat and grab a drink,” says Lee Ritchie, a real estate agent at Re/Max Metro Plus.

Columbus sees a lot of grads from Ohio State University who decide to stick around. But it also attracts professionals who work at Fortune 500 companies such as Nationwide Mutual Insurance, and L Brands (Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works).

4. Harrisburg, PA

Median list price: $219,100 Unemployment rate: 3.5% 5-year wage growth: 18.9%

Harrisburg, PA

Sean Pavone/iStock

It’s common for Philadelphia and Pittsburgh students to head to Pennsylvania’s state capital after graduation. Harrisburg has tons of good government, political, and lobbying jobs.

But Harrisburg’s biggest draw is affordability. With rent and home prices so low, the median $68,500 household income of millennials here can stretch a great deal. Buyers can easily find older homes in need of some work for under $150,000. Those looking for new construction can try Mayberry, a growing subdivision where new Craftsman-style homes start around $300,000.

Extracurriculars? Try joining the popular running groups that jog through the 229-acre Wildwood Park near downtown.

5. Grand Rapids, MI

Median list price: $295,100 Unemployment rate: 2.9% 5-year wage growth: 21%

Grand Rapids, MI

csfotoimages/iStock

Grand Rapids’ rep as Beer City USA has helped it to attract millennials who might have otherwise headed to larger Midwestern cities.

“A lot of kids may think Chicago or New York are the best places for them, but when they start drilling down the numbers, they realize they won’t be able to afford much,” says Trisha Cornelius, a real estate agent with Keller Williams. “Grand Rapids is a hidden gem where they can get a good job, pay little rent, and have all those big-city amenities.”

For weekend fun, folks head to the Pyramid Scheme, a pub and music venue in the Heartside Neighborhood which hosts bands and events like Yoga Mondays. Another great place to meet people is the Watersview Rooftop Bar—offering, as the name suggests, a sweet combo of awesome views of the river and tasty cocktails.

Many younger residents rent lofts in converted warehouses or new apartment buildings near downtown which go for $800 to $1,400. When they’re ready to buy, they can get find deals such as this remodeled, four-bedroom home with a front porch for just $175,000. But they had better not wait too long: Earlier this year realtor.com named Grand Rapids the top market poised to skyrocket in 2019.

6. Nashville, TN

Median list price: $355,100 Unemployment rate: 2.4% 5-year wage growth: 24.2%

Downtown Nashville, TN

DenisTangneyJr/iStock

These days, it’s not just country music fans heading to the trendy Music City. Younger newbies are going to places like East Nashville, an up-and-coming neighborhood known for its farm-to-table restaurants, underground music shows, and vintage clothing shops. Rent for a one-bedroom in a new, swanky apartment building start above $1,500—but there are some smaller, older homes for around $1,100.

After years of huge price appreciation, Nashville home list prices are beginning to fall, dropping 1.5% year over year. That’s music to the ears of buyers. Condos with balconies can go for under $250,000. Plus, there are still a few single-family homes around $300,000 on the market.

The city also has plenty of good-paying jobs. Amazon announced in November it would bring 5,000 corporate jobs averaging $150,000 salaries to Nashville.

And folks who tie the knot here don’t have to travel far for the festivities: Nashville has become a mecca for bachelorette parties.

7. Pittsburgh, PA

Median list price: $180,000 Unemployment rate: 4.3% 5-year wage growth: 15.9%

Market Square in Pittsburgh, PA

peeterv/iStock

The tech companies that have moved into the old factories and warehouses lining the Alle­gheny River are attracting young engineers to the Steel City. Pittsburgh has offices for big companies like Uber, Facebook, and Google—as well as fast-growing start-ups like Duolingo, an online language learning service.

“We have a big influx of people from Long Island and the rest of the New York City area,” says Bobby West, a real estate agent at Coldwell Banker. “They can no longer afford to buy homes around their friends and family there.”

Young grads often get apartments in Lawrenceville, a former working-class neighborhood that’s been transformed into a hipster enclave full of new breweries and cafes. Once they get sick of shelling out around $1,500 per month on an apartment there, they might head to a community like Brighton Heights, around 15 minutes from downtown, where they can find three-bedroom, ’50s ranches for under $150,000.

“Pittsburgh is not a McMansion city. Our homes are usually [built] pre-1950s,” says West. “They are popular with first-time home buyers who want something charming.”

8. St. Louis, MO

Median list price: $210,300 Unemployment rate: 3.8% 5-year wage growth: 17.9%

Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals

Philip Rozenski/iStock

St. Louis is hard at work revitalizing its downtown, a project it’s dubbed the Downtown Next 2020 plan. It includes deep dives into the renovation of historic neighborhoods (Garment District, you’re next) and even improving landscaping across the area. And it’s already paying off as more local grads from schools like Washington University and Webster University are putting down roots.

Grads in the Gateway to the West can skip renting altogether if they so choose. This one-bedroom condo in a converted historic building in the Lafayette Square neighborhood can be had for $152,000.

Ands there’s plenty of fun things to do here. A great way to meet locals is through the communal love of the St. Louis Cardinals—expressed either in Busch Stadium or one of the many, many beer bars that’ll be showing the game. What else would you expect from the hometown of sudsy juggernaut Anheuser-Busch?

9. Denver, CO

Median list price: $475,100 Unemployment rate: 3.3% 5-year wage growth: 24.7%

16th Street pedestrian mall in Denver, CO

AlbertPego/iStock

Between the many hiking, kayaking, and skiing opportunities in the mountains, the legal recreational weed, and the high-flying start-up scene, the Mile High City is an aspirational landing spot for many recent grads. But its popularity has also driven up real estate prices.

“The starter home range is the minimum of $300,000 to $500,000. You can’t find anything under that right now,” Ryan Penn, associate broker at 360dwellings Real Estate in Denver, tells realtor.com.

Someone aged 25 to 34 would need to plunk down one-third of their income on a median-priced home on the market. That’s higher than the other places on the ranking and a little more than the rule of thumb advising folks not to spend more than 28% of their monthly income before taxes on housing. But it’s still lower than Seattle, San Francisco, and many other big cities in the West. And this market is still seeing some of the biggest pay increases in the nation.

10. Portland, ME

Median list price: $359,600 Unemployment rate: 2.9% 5-year wage growth: 27.7%

Portland, ME

DenisTangneyJr/iStock

This town has a great food scene that punches way above its weight. Bon Appétit named Portland—the one in Maine, not Oregon—the Restaurant City of the Year. Give some of the credit to the Roman (thin crust) pizza, Jewish-style delis, seafood joints, and excellent craft breweries.

The city also has a strong job market that keeps getting stronger. In fact, incomes grew more here over the past five years than any other market on our ranking.

“There’s a lot going on in Portland, a lot of energy and a lot of buzz. We see a lot of people moving in from other cities and bringing ideas with them,” says Jeremy Lock, a broker with Portside Real Estate Group.

That cool factor makes for a good dating scene. A local favorite is Flask Lounge, a bar that has karaoke, DJs, and comedy nights.

Most new grads are renting near downtown Portland. When they start looking to buy, they’ll head 15 to 20 minutes out to small cities like Westbrook or South Portland, where four-bedroom, Cape Cod–style homes are listed for $250,000.

“They’ve grown up in Maine, moved somewhere for school, and end up coming back,” Lock says. “Recent graduates seem to want their money to last.”

* A metropolitan statistical area is a designation that includes the urban core of a city and the surrounding smaller towns and cities.

** Fixed, 30-year mortgage payment calculated on that metro’s realtor.com median list price in March, given a 20% down payment and 5% interest rate on the loan

Data sources: realtor.com, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nielsen, Yelp.com, and Zumper.com

Allison Underhill contributed to this report.

The post Launching Pads: America’s 10 Best Starter Cities for New College Grads appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

Launching Pads: America’s 10 Best Starter Cities for New College Grads

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Hernando Bloodmobile Schedule July 6-19, 2018

Help save lives by Donating Blood at a Mobile Location

LifeSouth Community Blood Centers, Inc. has been the sole supplier of blood products to all 5 of the hospitals in Citrus and Hernando Counties for over 30 years.  We are also the sole blood supplier to the UF at Shands and the VA Hospital in Gainesville, FL. As one donation can potentially save 3 lives, the blood donors of Citrus and Hernando Counties literally “give the gift of life”.  Our centers and bloodmobiles are open 363 days a year and it only takes about a half hour of your time to donate. Anyone 17, or 16 with parental permission, weighing a minimum of 110 pounds and in good health is eligible to donate. A photo ID is also required.

July 6-19 Bloodmobile Schedule for Hernando County:

  Friday, July 6 Walmart 13300 Cortez Blvd. Brooksville 10:00a.m. to 6:00p.m.   Dickey’s BBQ 19390 Cortez Blvd. Brooksville 10:30a.m. to 6:00p.m.   Saturday, July 7 Hobby Lobby 12950 Cortez Blvd. Brooksville 9:30a.m. to 5:30p.m.   Sunrise Plaza 31100 Cortez Blvd. Ridge Manor 11:00a.m. to 6:00p.m.   Sunday, July 8 Publix Markets – 7 Hills 160 Mariner Blvd. Spring Hill 8:00a.m. to 11:00a.m.   St. Lawrence Catholic Church 320 Dade Ave. Bushnell 9:30a.m. to 3:30p.m.   Deep South BBQ 7247 Cedar Ln. Brooksville 12:00p.m. to 4:00p.m.   Monday, July 9 Walmart 1485 Commercial Way Spring Hill 10:00a.m. to 6:00p.m.   Heron Pointe Health Care 1445 Howell Ave. Brooksville 11:00a.m. to 2:00p.m.   Walmart 7305 Broad St. Brooksville 3:00p.m. to 6:00p.m.   Tuesday, July 10 Breakfast Station 1242 S. Broad St. Brooksville 9:00a.m. to 12:30p.m.   Walmart 13300 Cortez Blvd. Brooksville 10:00a.m. to 6:00p.m.   Brooksville Health Care Center 1114 Chatman Blvd. Brooksville 1:00p.m. to 5:00p.m.   Wednesday, July 11 Walmart 7305 Broad St. Brooksville 10:00a.m. to 6:00p.m.   Winn-Dixie Market 11092 Spring Hill Dr. Spring Hill 10:00a.m. to 6:00p.m.   Brookridge Community Club House 8150 Hampton St. Brooksville 10:00a.m. to 2:00p.m.   Thursday, July 12 ICTC 16090 Flight Path Blvd. Brooksville 8:00a.m. to 5:00p.m.   Hernando County Northwest Waste 14450 Landfill Rd. Brooksville 9:00a.m. to 12:00p.m.   Cricket / Planet Fitness 11170 Spring Hill Dr. Spring Hill 10:00a.m. to 6:00p.m.   Sam’s Club 13360 Cortez Blvd. Brooksville 1:00p.m. to 5:00p.m.   Friday, July 13 Oak Hill Hospital 11375 Cortez Blvd. Brooksville 9:00a.m. to 7:00p.m.                    Winn-Dixie Markets 12120 Moon Lake Rd. New Port Richey 12:00p.m. to 7:00p.m.   Saturday, July 14 Walmart 2163 W. CR 48 Bushnell 10:00a.m. to 5:00p.m.   Hammock Ridge Apartments 8274 Omega Cir. Spring Hill 10:00a.m. to 2:00p.m.   Walmart 13300 Cortez Blvd. Brooksville 3:00p.m. to 6:00p.m.   Sunday, July 15 Christian Church in the Wildwood 10051 Country Rd. Weeki Wachee 8:00a.m. to 1:00p.m.   Suncoast Brotherhood Bikers Group 11551 Osceola Dr. New Port Richey 11:30a.m. to 5:00p.m.   Sam’s Club 13360 Cortez Blvd. Brooksville 2:00p.m. to 5:00p.m.   Monday, July 16 Walmart 1485 Commercial Way Spring Hill 10:00a.m. to 5:30p.m.   Hernando County Library 6335 Blackbird Ave. Spring Hill 11:00a.m. to 4:00p.m.   Sam’s Club 13360 Cortez Blvd. Brooksville 4:30p.m. to 6:30p.m.   Tuesday, July 17 Walmart 13300 Cortez Blvd. Brooksville 2:00p.m. to 6:00p.m.   Walmart 7303 Broad St. Brooksville 10:00a.m. to 6:00p.m. Premio 16170 Aviation Loop Dr. Brooksville 8:00a.m. to 1:00p.m.   Wednesday, July 18 Sumter Correctional 9544 CR  476B Bushnell 7:00a.m. to 4:00p.m.   Nature Coast Technical High School 4057 California St. Brooksville 4:30p.m. to 9:00p.m.   Walmart 1485 Commercial Way Spring Hill 10:00a.m. to 3:30p.m. Thursday, July 19 Subway Restaurant 19438 Cortez Blvd. Brooksville 10:00a.m. to 6:00p.m. Spring Hill Health & Rehab Center 12170 Cortez Blvd. Spring Hill 12:30p.m. to 5:00p.m.

LifeSouth Main Office is Available Seven days a week

Also, you can donate at the LifeSouth Community Blood Center, 12395 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville, FL 34613 from Monday thru Friday ~ 9 am to 5 pm, Saturday ~ 8 am to 2 pm, or Sunday ~ 10 am to 4 pm. You can visit www.lifesouth.org and click on the “Find a Drive” tab. Enter your zip code to find any donor center or blood drive near you. Read the full article

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