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traceyropper-blog · 6 years ago

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America's Safest Affordable Cities … That Won't Put You to Sleep

mihailomilovanovic/iStock

Buying a home these days is a high-stakes, need-to-have/nice-to-have equation. You need a home within an hour's drive of work; it would be nice to have one that's in walkable distance. You need a full-size kitchen with room for your five-person brood; it would be nice to have a chef's kitchen with La Cornue Grand Palais range, Meneghini Arredamenti fridge, and, heck, a Mugnaini wood-fired pizza oven. You need at least 2.5 bathrooms; it would be nice to have a master en suite spa with a touchscreen-controlled smart bidet. Dream the dream, my friends!

So what's the neediest of all need-to-haves? You need to find a safe place to live where you can still afford a great home. And wouldn't it be nice if there were even fun stuff to do after work and on weekends? Yes, indeed.

Realtor.com set out to find these seductive strongholds where you can have it all. And we're not talking about the boonies: We zeroed in on metropolitan areas, which include cities and the surrounding suburbs. (Note: Cities often have higher crime rates than their less-populated surroundings.)

Research-and common sense-indicates that when crime goes up, property values go down. Meanwhile, home buyers will pay more to live in locations with lower rates of violent crime, according to a 2015 Auburn University study. It doesn't hurt that these areas typically also have top public schools.

“When homeowners think about the biggest investment of their life, top of mind is how safe an area would be to live in and raise a family,” says Rick Palacios Jr., director of research at John Burns Real Estate Consulting.

They also want to make sure that their investment appreciates over time, which it typically won't do as much in areas with growing crime. “High crime rates unnerve potential home buyers,” he says. Um, yeah.

The good news: Crime has declined sharply since the early '90s. Violent offenses, which include homicide, assault, and robbery, plummeted 49% from 1993 to 2017, according to FBI data. This explains why some of our safest places were once known for riots and rampant car thefts before they rebounded. (The downside: Gentrification is leading to some longtime residents being priced out.)

The places that made our affordable safe harbor ranking are a mix of smaller metros that never really struggled with high crime, and cities once riddled with problems that have successfully pulled off a turnaround. Our list is concentrated on resurgent Midwest, Southern, and Rust Belt cities. No Western metros were included because home prices are simply too high.

We analyzed crime data provided by NeighborhoodScout, a website that tracks community data, focusing on America's 150 largest metros. We eliminated those with high rates of violent or property crime, and with home prices above the (roughly) $300,000 national median. Next, we zeroed in on cities with great extracurriculars-running the gamut from nightlife, to kayaking, to great indie bookstores-as tracked on Yelp.com.**

Safety, affordability, and fun! Yep, they can coexist. Let's take a tour.

Safest affordable metros

Tony Frenzel

1. Grand Rapids, MI

Median home list rice: $280,000 Total crime rate: 18.38%

Luxury condo building in Grand Rapids, MI

realtor.com

As some Michigan cities, including Flint and Detroit, continue to face hard times, Grand Rapids is booming. The very low 2.5% metro unemployment rate is reason No. 1 for the upswing.

“The economy is strong here, with lots of jobs at different levels,” says Trisha Cornelius, a local real estate agent with Keller Williams. “The neighborhoods are affordable and clean. There isn't much in the way of urban blight.”

Indeed, only 2.2% of homes here are vacant, compared with 9.6% in Flint and 6.5% in Detroit, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Meanwhile, the metro has been attracting younger residents lured by those plentiful gigs, the affordable housing, and the influx of craft breweries in the area.

“A 25-year-old can actually afford to buy a home here,” Cornelius says. They're snagging luxury, one-bedroom condos priced at around $200,000 like this converted, historic school building spanning two city blocks.

But bargain prices won't last forever. While the national housing market is starting to slow, realtor.com projects Grand Rapids will be the second-hottest market in 2019, with a 8.2% projected sales price growth.

Local R&R: Buckle your blades on for ice-skating in Rosa Parks Circle.

---

2. Pittsburgh, PA

Median home list price: $173,000 Total crime rate: 18.44%

Home in Brighton Heights neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA

realtor.com

As Pittsburgh's steel mills shuttered and residents pulled up stakes, many neighborhoods fell into a crime-ridden, downward spiral. But that feels like ancient history these days, as the city continues to reinvent itself as a thriving corporate center for startups and tech biggies like Uber and Google alike. Now those once-hurting neighborhoods, like Brighton Heights, are seeing their fortunes rise and rise, with an influx of new workers moving in.

Brighton Heights “is a neighborhood in transition. … When I was growing up in the '90s, it was certainly not a place for a first-time home buyer; but that's changed,” says local restate agent Bobby West of Coldwell Banker.

Young professionals and home flippers are buying up many of the community's Craftsman-style homes built in the early 1900s for under $150,000.

The number of violent crimes plummeted 24.8% from 2000 to 2014, according to the most recent FBI data. While crime is low in the metro, there are still some problem areas within the city limits. And residents are still hurting from last October's tragic shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue, a hate crime that left 11 dead.

Local R&R: Fixate on flora fantasies at the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.

---

3. Port St. Lucie, FL

Median home list price: $285,100 Total crime rate: 19.16%

Four-bedroom home in Port St. Lucie, FL

realtor.com

About two hours north of Miami, Port St. Lucie is a quiet Atlantic beach town, long a magnet for retirees.

“Here, it's just a really calm mix of people, mostly families and retirees,” says Richard L. McKinney, a real estate agent at Atlantic Shores Realty Expertise. “People are just coming here to live and commute to work, so we don't get all that ruckus that comes with tourism” in other Florida ocean areas.

This beach town is made up of lots of new single-home and condo communities. And prices are still reasonable, leading realtor.com to name Port St. Lucie one of the most affordable beach towns in June. Buyers can find condos just minutes from the beach for $150,000, says McKinney.

Local R&R: Gaze or gape at gators at the Savannas Preserve State Park.

---

4. El Paso, TX

Median home list price: $175,800 Total crime rate: 20.48%

El Paso, TX, ranch house

realtor.com

A combination of tougher police action and changing demographics has led to substantial decline in violent crime in this once-dicey metro on the U.S.-Mexico border. In the early '90s, El Paso often had more than 50 homicides a year. But from 2012 to 2016, the city averaged fewer than 18 homicides, according to the city's police department. That's good news for locals, and for long-term property values.

Finding a single-story, brick ranch under $200,000 in El Paso is a breeze. In fact, last year realtor.com named El Paso one of the best markets for middle-class home buyers. Developer-friendly zoning laws and low land costs make building homes here cheaper than in other parts of the country.

Local R&R: Manage your mountain mania! Start climbing at Franklin Mountains State Park.

---

5. Syracuse, NY

Median home list price: $160,000 Total crime rate: 21.4%

Condos in Syracuse, NY

realtor.com

In the early 2000s, former industrial center Syracuse began pumping millions into renovating crime-ridden communities near downtown to entice college students to live there after graduation, instead of scramming as soon as possible. Crime dropped so much that everyone from young professionals to empty nesters bought up remodeled condos there.

“Over a decade, downtown Syracuse went from being unsafe to the hottest spot to live” in the area, says Amber Spain-Mosher, a real estate agent at Re/Max in Syracuse. “The residential growth downtown is unlike anything we've seen before. And it shows no sign of slowing down.”

Homes in nearby urban neighborhoods have also received a boost. As the city became safer, more people swooped in and bought up fixer-uppers just above the $100,000 price range. That's played a role in home prices rising 9.6% over the past year.

Local R&R: The 13-day Great New York State Fair attracts nearly a million visitors annually.

---

6. Hartford, CT

Median home list price: $260,000 Total crime rate: 21.97%

Three-bedroom home in Parkville in Hartford, CT

realtor.com

Hartford is a charming town with stately, older homes and rich history dating to Colonial America. And it's packed with affluent and highly educated homeowners who live in the burbs.

But that's not the only reason crime is low here. Several neighborhoods in the city proper, which has a higher crime rate than the metro, have seen an increase in development. Investors are setting their sights on areas such as Parkville, a once-dicey neighborhood that now has a burgeoning startup and art scene. They're flipping 100-year-old multifamily homes, then selling or renting them out to Connecticut College grads.

“All the work to make downtown safer is paying dividends: Standard old office buildings are being converted into nice apartments,” says David Griggs, president and CEO of the MetroHartford Alliance, Hartford's economic development arm

Local R&R: Huckleberry hysteria! Go nuts visiting the Mark Twain House, where the American Master lived from 1874 to 1891.

---

7. Fayetteville, AR

Median home list price: $272,600 Total crime rate: 23.21%

Two-bedroom home in Fayetteville, AR

realtor.com

Retail giant Walmart has its headquarters in Bentonville, in the Fayetteville metro, and that's long ensured high property values and low crime. And as the company continues to expand, so does the real estate market here.

“We don't have the wrong side of the tracks here,” says Jill Bell, a local real estate agent at Crye-Leike. “[Even neighborhoods like] far south Fayetteville that had a bad reputation in the past has been revitalized.”

Local R&R: Get your theater on! See nationally acclaimed productions in an intimate setting at TheatreSquared.

---

8. Springfield, MA

Median home list price: $244,950 Total crime rate: 26.14%

This four-bedroom Cape Cod in Springfield, MA, is listed for $249,900.

realtor.com

Massachusetts has the top public schools in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report. It's no wonder buying a home in the state isn't cheap-the median list price is $450,000. That's where the Springfield metro sets itself apart: Folks can score reasonably priced homes, enroll their children in high-performing schools, and live in a low-crime area.

Communities such as East Longmeadow, home to East Longmeadow High School, which boasts a 98% graduation rate, are highly sought-after. And buyers can find many four-bedroom, Cape Cod–style homes priced around $250,000.

But crime within the Springfield city limits is higher, with neighborhoods such as McKnight and Forest Park all having some issues. In Forest Park, the vehicle theft rate is three times higher than the statewide rate-so be cautious.

Local R&R: Ramp up your roller-coaster love with a trip to Six Flags New England.

---

9. Cincinnati, OH

Median home list price: $233,600 Total crime rate: 26.26%

Renovated condos in Over-the-Rhine in Cincinnati, OH

realtor.com

Cincinnati doesn't exactly spring to mind when most folks think about low crime. In 2001, the city burst onto the national consciousness when riots broke out after the police shooting of an unarmed 19-year-old black man. In the years that followed, many avoided the city.

But in recent years, things have improved. The Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, where much of the rioting took place, might be the city's biggest success story. Many of the three-story brick buildings, built 150 years ago by German immigrants, have been remodeled and turned into condos that sometimes sell for over $500,000. And OTR, as it's known by the locals, is among the region's top spots to be on a Saturday night with bars and nightclubs.

The Cincinnati metro is packed with booming, low-crime suburbs with good schools and new, sprawling subdivisions, including some just across the Ohio River and in Warren County, one of the state's fastest-growing counties.

Local R&R: Chow down on Cincinnati-style chili-with spaghetti and copious amounts of cheese, natch.

---

10. Fort Wayne, IN

Median home list price: $180,000 Total crime rate: 26.62%

Buyers can snag four-bedroom homes in Fort Wayne, IN, for $150,000.

realtor.com

These days, the streets of downtown Fort Wayne are lined with new businesses, restaurants, and moving trucks. But this Midwestern destination for young professionals wasn't always like this.

“A decade ago, Fort Wayne's downtown wasn't the best place after dark,” says Ryan Dollens, a real estate agent and appraiser with Keller Williams Realty in Fort Wayne. “There was nothing going on-it was eerie.”

Things started to change in 2010, when the city spent $30 million on Parkview Field, now home to Fort Wayne's popular minor-league team, the TinCaps. Then the city started to renovate Harrison Square in downtown, which included building new apartment complexes, a hotel, and a park with amphitheater. The efforts paid off.

“By adding all these businesses, restaurants, and apartments, they've really been able to clean up the streets,” Dollens says.

Buyers have responded, with prices soaring 11.1% over the past 12 months. Last July, it was ranked second on realtor.com's hottest markets list. But despite the hype, buyers can still snag three- to four-bedroom, two-story homes just outside downtown for under $200,000.

Local R&R: Soar with the butterflies and other wildlife at the Eagle Marsh Nature Preserve.

* A metropolitan statistical area is a designation that includes the urban core of a city and the surrounding smaller towns and cities. We limited our rankings to just one metro per state to ensure some geographic diversity.

** We used Yelp.com for the number of per capita nightlife venues, highly rated restaurants, kayaking/rafting/scuba diving opportunities, gyms, libraries, bookstores, and campgrounds.

Allison Underhill contributed to this report.

The post America's Safest Affordable Cities … That Won't Put You to Sleep appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

0 notes

davidoespailla · 6 years ago

Text

America’s Safest Affordable Cities … That Won’t Put You to Sleep

mihailomilovanovic/iStock

Buying a home these days is a high-stakes, need-to-have/nice-to-have equation. You need a home within an hour’s drive of work; it would be nice to have one that’s in walkable distance. You need a full-size kitchen with room for your five-person brood; it would be nice to have a chef’s kitchen with La Cornue Grand Palais range, Meneghini Arredamenti fridge, and, heck, a Mugnaini wood-fired pizza oven. You need at least 2.5 bathrooms; it would be nice to have a master en suite spa with a touchscreen-controlled smart bidet. Dream the dream, my friends!

So what’s the neediest of all need-to-haves? You need to find a safe place to live where you can still afford a great home. And wouldn’t it be nice if there were even fun stuff to do after work and on weekends? Yes, indeed.

Realtor.com set out to find these seductive strongholds where you can have it all. And we’re not talking about the boonies: We zeroed in on metropolitan areas, which include cities and the surrounding suburbs. (Note: Cities often have higher crime rates than their less-populated surroundings.)

Research—and common sense—indicates that when crime goes up, property values go down. Meanwhile, home buyers will pay more to live in locations with lower rates of violent crime, according to a 2015 Auburn University study. It doesn’t hurt that these areas typically also have top public schools.

They also want to make sure that their investment appreciates over time, which it typically won’t do as much in areas with growing crime. “High crime rates unnerve potential home buyers,” he says. Um, yeah.

The good news: Crime has declined sharply since the early ’90s. Violent offenses, which include homicide, assault, and robbery, plummeted 49% from 1993 to 2017, according to FBI data. This explains why some of our safest places were once known for riots and rampant car thefts before they rebounded. (The downside: Gentrification is leading to some longtime residents being priced out.)

We analyzed crime data provided by NeighborhoodScout, a website that tracks community data, focusing on America’s 150 largest metros. We eliminated those with high rates of violent or property crime, and with home prices above the (roughly) $300,000 national median. Next, we zeroed in on cities with great extracurriculars—running the gamut from nightlife, to kayaking, to great indie bookstores—as tracked on Yelp.com.**

Safety, affordability, and fun! Yep, they can coexist. Let’s take a tour.

Safest affordable metros

Tony Frenzel

1. Grand Rapids, MI

Median home list rice: $280,000 Total crime rate: 18.38%

Luxury condo building in Grand Rapids, MI

realtor.com

As some Michigan cities, including Flint and Detroit, continue to face hard times, Grand Rapids is booming. The very low 2.5% metro unemployment rate is reason No. 1 for the upswing.

Indeed, only 2.2% of homes here are vacant, compared with 9.6% in Flint and 6.5% in Detroit, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Meanwhile, the metro has been attracting younger residents lured by those plentiful gigs, the affordable housing, and the influx of craft breweries in the area.

“A 25-year-old can actually afford to buy a home here,” Cornelius says. They’re snagging luxury, one-bedroom condos priced at around $200,000 like this converted, historic school building spanning two city blocks.

But bargain prices won’t last forever. While the national housing market is starting to slow, realtor.com projects Grand Rapids will be the second-hottest market in 2019, with a 8.2% projected sales price growth.

Local R&R: Buckle your blades on for ice-skating in Rosa Parks Circle.

———

2. Pittsburgh, PA

Median home list price: $173,000 Total crime rate: 18.44%

Home in Brighton Heights neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA

realtor.com

As Pittsburgh’s steel mills shuttered and residents pulled up stakes, many neighborhoods fell into a crime-ridden, downward spiral. But that feels like ancient history these days, as the city continues to reinvent itself as a thriving corporate center for startups and tech biggies like Uber and Google alike. Now those once-hurting neighborhoods, like Brighton Heights, are seeing their fortunes rise and rise, with an influx of new workers moving in.

Brighton Heights “is a neighborhood in transition. … When I was growing up in the ’90s, it was certainly not a place for a first-time home buyer; but that’s changed,” says local restate agent Bobby West of Coldwell Banker.

Young professionals and home flippers are buying up many of the community’s Craftsman-style homes built in the early 1900s for under $150,000.

The number of violent crimes plummeted 24.8% from 2000 to 2014, according to the most recent FBI data. While crime is low in the metro, there are still some problem areas within the city limits. And residents are still hurting from last October’s tragic shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue, a hate crime that left 11 dead.

Local R&R: Fixate on flora fantasies at the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.

———

3. Port St. Lucie, FL

Median home list price: $285,100 Total crime rate: 19.16%

Four-bedroom home in Port St. Lucie, FL

realtor.com

About two hours north of Miami, Port St. Lucie is a quiet Atlantic beach town, long a magnet for retirees.

“Here, it’s just a really calm mix of people, mostly families and retirees,” says Richard L. McKinney, a real estate agent at Atlantic Shores Realty Expertise. “People are just coming here to live and commute to work, so we don’t get all that ruckus that comes with tourism” in other Florida ocean areas.

Local R&R: Gaze or gape at gators at the Savannas Preserve State Park.

———

4. El Paso, TX

Median home list price: $175,800 Total crime rate: 20.48%

El Paso, TX, ranch house

realtor.com

A combination of tougher police action and changing demographics has led to substantial decline in violent crime in this once-dicey metro on the U.S.-Mexico border. In the early ’90s, El Paso often had more than 50 homicides a year. But from 2012 to 2016, the city averaged fewer than 18 homicides, according to the city’s police department. That’s good news for locals, and for long-term property values.

Local R&R: Manage your mountain mania! Start climbing at Franklin Mountains State Park.

———

5. Syracuse, NY

Median home list price: $160,000 Total crime rate: 21.4%

Condos in Syracuse, NY

realtor.com

“Over a decade, downtown Syracuse went from being unsafe to the hottest spot to live” in the area, says Amber Spain-Mosher, a real estate agent at Re/Max in Syracuse. “The residential growth downtown is unlike anything we’ve seen before. And it shows no sign of slowing down.”

Homes in nearby urban neighborhoods have also received a boost. As the city became safer, more people swooped in and bought up fixer-uppers just above the $100,000 price range. That’s played a role in home prices rising 9.6% over the past year.

Local R&R: The 13-day Great New York State Fair attracts nearly a million visitors annually.

———

6. Hartford, CT

Median home list price: $260,000 Total crime rate: 21.97%

Three-bedroom home in Parkville in Hartford, CT

realtor.com

Hartford is a charming town with stately, older homes and rich history dating to Colonial America. And it’s packed with affluent and highly educated homeowners who live in the burbs.

But that’s not the only reason crime is low here. Several neighborhoods in the city proper, which has a higher crime rate than the metro, have seen an increase in development. Investors are setting their sights on areas such as Parkville, a once-dicey neighborhood that now has a burgeoning startup and art scene. They’re flipping 100-year-old multifamily homes, then selling or renting them out to Connecticut College grads.

Local R&R: Huckleberry hysteria! Go nuts visiting the Mark Twain House, where the American Master lived from 1874 to 1891.

———

7. Fayetteville, AR

Median home list price: $272,600 Total crime rate: 23.21%

Two-bedroom home in Fayetteville, AR

realtor.com

Retail giant Walmart has its headquarters in Bentonville, in the Fayetteville metro, and that’s long ensured high property values and low crime. And as the company continues to expand, so does the real estate market here.

“We don’t have the wrong side of the tracks here,” says Jill Bell, a local real estate agent at Crye-Leike. “[Even neighborhoods like] far south Fayetteville that had a bad reputation in the past has been revitalized.”

Local R&R: Get your theater on! See nationally acclaimed productions in an intimate setting at TheatreSquared.

———

8. Springfield, MA

Median home list price: $244,950 Total crime rate: 26.14%

This four-bedroom Cape Cod in Springfield, MA, is listed for $249,900.

realtor.com

Massachusetts has the top public schools in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report. It’s no wonder buying a home in the state isn’t cheap—the median list price is $450,000. That’s where the Springfield metro sets itself apart: Folks can score reasonably priced homes, enroll their children in high-performing schools, and live in a low-crime area.

Local R&R: Ramp up your roller-coaster love with a trip to Six Flags New England.

———

9. Cincinnati, OH

Median home list price: $233,600 Total crime rate: 26.26%

Renovated condos in Over-the-Rhine in Cincinnati, OH

realtor.com

Cincinnati doesn’t exactly spring to mind when most folks think about low crime. In 2001, the city burst onto the national consciousness when riots broke out after the police shooting of an unarmed 19-year-old black man. In the years that followed, many avoided the city.

But in recent years, things have improved. The Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, where much of the rioting took place, might be the city’s biggest success story. Many of the three-story brick buildings, built 150 years ago by German immigrants, have been remodeled and turned into condos that sometimes sell for over $500,000. And OTR, as it’s known by the locals, is among the region’s top spots to be on a Saturday night with bars and nightclubs.

Local R&R: Chow down on Cincinnati-style chili—with spaghetti and copious amounts of cheese, natch.

———

10. Fort Wayne, IN

Median home list price: $180,000 Total crime rate: 26.62%

Buyers can snag four-bedroom homes in Fort Wayne, IN, for $150,000.

realtor.com

These days, the streets of downtown Fort Wayne are lined with new businesses, restaurants, and moving trucks. But this Midwestern destination for young professionals wasn’t always like this.

“A decade ago, Fort Wayne’s downtown wasn’t the best place after dark,” says Ryan Dollens, a real estate agent and appraiser with Keller Williams Realty in Fort Wayne. “There was nothing going on—it was eerie.”

Things started to change in 2010, when the city spent $30 million on Parkview Field, now home to Fort Wayne’s popular minor-league team, the TinCaps. Then the city started to renovate Harrison Square in downtown, which included building new apartment complexes, a hotel, and a park with amphitheater. The efforts paid off.

“By adding all these businesses, restaurants, and apartments, they’ve really been able to clean up the streets,” Dollens says.

Buyers have responded, with prices soaring 11.1% over the past 12 months. Last July, it was ranked second on realtor.com’s hottest markets list. But despite the hype, buyers can still snag three- to four-bedroom, two-story homes just outside downtown for under $200,000.

Local R&R: Soar with the butterflies and other wildlife at the Eagle Marsh Nature Preserve.

** We used Yelp.com for the number of per capita nightlife venues, highly rated restaurants, kayaking/rafting/scuba diving opportunities, gyms, libraries, bookstores, and campgrounds.

Allison Underhill contributed to this report.

The post America’s Safest Affordable Cities … That Won’t Put You to Sleep appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

America’s Safest Affordable Cities … That Won’t Put You to Sleep

#TRUSTED LOCAL REALTOR #America’s Safest Affordable Cities … That Won’t Put You to Sleep

0 notes

gillespialfredoe01806ld · 6 years ago

Text

America’s Safest Affordable Cities … That Won’t Put You to Sleep

mihailomilovanovic/iStock

Safety, affordability, and fun! Yep, they can coexist. Let’s take a tour.

Safest affordable metros

Tony Frenzel

1. Grand Rapids, MI

Median home list rice: $280,000 Total crime rate: 18.38%

Luxury condo building in Grand Rapids, MI

realtor.com

As some Michigan cities, including Flint and Detroit, continue to face hard times, Grand Rapids is booming. The very low 2.5% metro unemployment rate is reason No. 1 for the upswing.

Indeed, only 2.2% of homes here are vacant, compared with 9.6% in Flint and 6.5% in Detroit, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Meanwhile, the metro has been attracting younger residents lured by those plentiful gigs, the affordable housing, and the influx of craft breweries in the area.

Local R&R: Buckle your blades on for ice-skating in Rosa Parks Circle.

———

2. Pittsburgh, PA

Median home list price: $173,000 Total crime rate: 18.44%

Home in Brighton Heights neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA

realtor.com

Young professionals and home flippers are buying up many of the community’s Craftsman-style homes built in the early 1900s for under $150,000.

The number of violent crimes plummeted 24.8% from 2000 to 2014, according to the most recent FBI data. While crime is low in the metro, there are still some problem areas within the city limits. And residents are still hurting from last October’s tragic shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue, a hate crime that left 11 dead.

Local R&R: Fixate on flora fantasies at the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.

———

3. Port St. Lucie, FL

Median home list price: $285,100 Total crime rate: 19.16%

Four-bedroom home in Port St. Lucie, FL

realtor.com

About two hours north of Miami, Port St. Lucie is a quiet Atlantic beach town, long a magnet for retirees.

Local R&R: Gaze or gape at gators at the Savannas Preserve State Park.

———

4. El Paso, TX

Median home list price: $175,800 Total crime rate: 20.48%

El Paso, TX, ranch house

realtor.com

A combination of tougher police action and changing demographics has led to substantial decline in violent crime in this once-dicey metro on the U.S.-Mexico border. In the early ’90s, El Paso often had more than 50 homicides a year. But from 2012 to 2016, the city averaged fewer than 18 homicides, according to the city’s police department. That’s good news for locals, and for long-term property values.

Local R&R: Manage your mountain mania! Start climbing at Franklin Mountains State Park.

———

5. Syracuse, NY

Median home list price: $160,000 Total crime rate: 21.4%

Condos in Syracuse, NY

realtor.com

“Over a decade, downtown Syracuse went from being unsafe to the hottest spot to live” in the area, says Amber Spain-Mosher, a real estate agent at Re/Max in Syracuse. “The residential growth downtown is unlike anything we’ve seen before. And it shows no sign of slowing down.”

Homes in nearby urban neighborhoods have also received a boost. As the city became safer, more people swooped in and bought up fixer-uppers just above the $100,000 price range. That’s played a role in home prices rising 9.6% over the past year.

Local R&R: The 13-day Great New York State Fair attracts nearly a million visitors annually.

———

6. Hartford, CT

Median home list price: $260,000 Total crime rate: 21.97%

Three-bedroom home in Parkville in Hartford, CT

realtor.com

Hartford is a charming town with stately, older homes and rich history dating to Colonial America. And it’s packed with affluent and highly educated homeowners who live in the burbs.

Local R&R: Huckleberry hysteria! Go nuts visiting the Mark Twain House, where the American Master lived from 1874 to 1891.

———

7. Fayetteville, AR

Median home list price: $272,600 Total crime rate: 23.21%

Two-bedroom home in Fayetteville, AR

realtor.com

Local R&R: Get your theater on! See nationally acclaimed productions in an intimate setting at TheatreSquared.

———

8. Springfield, MA

Median home list price: $244,950 Total crime rate: 26.14%

This four-bedroom Cape Cod in Springfield, MA, is listed for $249,900.

realtor.com

Local R&R: Ramp up your roller-coaster love with a trip to Six Flags New England.

———

9. Cincinnati, OH

Median home list price: $233,600 Total crime rate: 26.26%

Renovated condos in Over-the-Rhine in Cincinnati, OH

realtor.com

Local R&R: Chow down on Cincinnati-style chili—with spaghetti and copious amounts of cheese, natch.

———

10. Fort Wayne, IN

Median home list price: $180,000 Total crime rate: 26.62%

Buyers can snag four-bedroom homes in Fort Wayne, IN, for $150,000.

realtor.com

These days, the streets of downtown Fort Wayne are lined with new businesses, restaurants, and moving trucks. But this Midwestern destination for young professionals wasn’t always like this.

“By adding all these businesses, restaurants, and apartments, they’ve really been able to clean up the streets,” Dollens says.

Local R&R: Soar with the butterflies and other wildlife at the Eagle Marsh Nature Preserve.

** We used Yelp.com for the number of per capita nightlife venues, highly rated restaurants, kayaking/rafting/scuba diving opportunities, gyms, libraries, bookstores, and campgrounds.

Allison Underhill contributed to this report.

The post America’s Safest Affordable Cities … That Won’t Put You to Sleep appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

from DIYS http://bit.ly/2AGVSOA

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restate30201 · 6 years ago

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America’s Safest Affordable Cities … That Won’t Put You to Sleep

mihailomilovanovic/iStock

Safety, affordability, and fun! Yep, they can coexist. Let’s take a tour.

Safest affordable metros

Tony Frenzel

1. Grand Rapids, MI

Median home list rice: $280,000 Total crime rate: 18.38%

Luxury condo building in Grand Rapids, MI

realtor.com

As some Michigan cities, including Flint and Detroit, continue to face hard times, Grand Rapids is booming. The very low 2.5% metro unemployment rate is reason No. 1 for the upswing.

Indeed, only 2.2% of homes here are vacant, compared with 9.6% in Flint and 6.5% in Detroit, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Meanwhile, the metro has been attracting younger residents lured by those plentiful gigs, the affordable housing, and the influx of craft breweries in the area.

Local R&R: Buckle your blades on for ice-skating in Rosa Parks Circle.

———

2. Pittsburgh, PA

Median home list price: $173,000 Total crime rate: 18.44%

Home in Brighton Heights neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA

realtor.com

Young professionals and home flippers are buying up many of the community’s Craftsman-style homes built in the early 1900s for under $150,000.

The number of violent crimes plummeted 24.8% from 2000 to 2014, according to the most recent FBI data. While crime is low in the metro, there are still some problem areas within the city limits. And residents are still hurting from last October’s tragic shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue, a hate crime that left 11 dead.

Local R&R: Fixate on flora fantasies at the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.

———

3. Port St. Lucie, FL

Median home list price: $285,100 Total crime rate: 19.16%

Four-bedroom home in Port St. Lucie, FL

realtor.com

About two hours north of Miami, Port St. Lucie is a quiet Atlantic beach town, long a magnet for retirees.

Local R&R: Gaze or gape at gators at the Savannas Preserve State Park.

———

4. El Paso, TX

Median home list price: $175,800 Total crime rate: 20.48%

El Paso, TX, ranch house

realtor.com

A combination of tougher police action and changing demographics has led to substantial decline in violent crime in this once-dicey metro on the U.S.-Mexico border. In the early ’90s, El Paso often had more than 50 homicides a year. But from 2012 to 2016, the city averaged fewer than 18 homicides, according to the city’s police department. That’s good news for locals, and for long-term property values.

Local R&R: Manage your mountain mania! Start climbing at Franklin Mountains State Park.

———

5. Syracuse, NY

Median home list price: $160,000 Total crime rate: 21.4%

Condos in Syracuse, NY

realtor.com

“Over a decade, downtown Syracuse went from being unsafe to the hottest spot to live” in the area, says Amber Spain-Mosher, a real estate agent at Re/Max in Syracuse. “The residential growth downtown is unlike anything we’ve seen before. And it shows no sign of slowing down.”

Homes in nearby urban neighborhoods have also received a boost. As the city became safer, more people swooped in and bought up fixer-uppers just above the $100,000 price range. That’s played a role in home prices rising 9.6% over the past year.

Local R&R: The 13-day Great New York State Fair attracts nearly a million visitors annually.

———

6. Hartford, CT

Median home list price: $260,000 Total crime rate: 21.97%

Three-bedroom home in Parkville in Hartford, CT

realtor.com

Hartford is a charming town with stately, older homes and rich history dating to Colonial America. And it’s packed with affluent and highly educated homeowners who live in the burbs.

Local R&R: Huckleberry hysteria! Go nuts visiting the Mark Twain House, where the American Master lived from 1874 to 1891.

———

7. Fayetteville, AR

Median home list price: $272,600 Total crime rate: 23.21%

Two-bedroom home in Fayetteville, AR

realtor.com

Local R&R: Get your theater on! See nationally acclaimed productions in an intimate setting at TheatreSquared.

———

8. Springfield, MA

Median home list price: $244,950 Total crime rate: 26.14%

This four-bedroom Cape Cod in Springfield, MA, is listed for $249,900.

realtor.com

Local R&R: Ramp up your roller-coaster love with a trip to Six Flags New England.

———

9. Cincinnati, OH

Median home list price: $233,600 Total crime rate: 26.26%

Renovated condos in Over-the-Rhine in Cincinnati, OH

realtor.com

Local R&R: Chow down on Cincinnati-style chili—with spaghetti and copious amounts of cheese, natch.

———

10. Fort Wayne, IN

Median home list price: $180,000 Total crime rate: 26.62%

Buyers can snag four-bedroom homes in Fort Wayne, IN, for $150,000.

realtor.com

These days, the streets of downtown Fort Wayne are lined with new businesses, restaurants, and moving trucks. But this Midwestern destination for young professionals wasn’t always like this.

“By adding all these businesses, restaurants, and apartments, they’ve really been able to clean up the streets,” Dollens says.

Local R&R: Soar with the butterflies and other wildlife at the Eagle Marsh Nature Preserve.

** We used Yelp.com for the number of per capita nightlife venues, highly rated restaurants, kayaking/rafting/scuba diving opportunities, gyms, libraries, bookstores, and campgrounds.

Allison Underhill contributed to this report.

The post America’s Safest Affordable Cities … That Won’t Put You to Sleep appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

from DIYS http://bit.ly/2AGVSOA

#DIYS

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problemshealth-blog · 7 years ago

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Obesity Determinants Of Health

Obesity Determinants Of Health, How many people in the United States are overweight or obese? Among U.S. women twenty years and older, over sixty-four million are overweight and over thirty-four million are obese.

How do I know if I 9 m overweight or obese?

Obesity is measured with a body mass index (BMI), a measure of body fat based on height and weight. Individuals with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 are considered overweight, while individuals with a BMI of 30 or more are considered obese.

What causes someone to become overweight or obese?

An unhealthy diet and physical inactivity are contributing factors to becoming overweight or obese. Overweight and obesity are problems that continue to get worse in the United States. Bigger portion sizes, little time to exercise or cook healthy meals, and relying on cars to get around are just a few reasons for this increase.

What are the health effects of being overweight or obese?

An unhealthy diet and physical inactivity can increase your chances of getting heart disease, cancer, stroke, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, breathing problems, arthritis, gallbladder disease, and osteoarthritis. But body weight isn’t the only problem. The places where you store your body fat also affect your health. Women with a “pear” shape tend to store fat in their hips and buttocks. Women with an “apple” shape store fat around their waists.

Obesity Determinants Of Health

For most women, carrying extra weight around their waists (larger than 35 inches) raises health risks like heart disease, diabetes, or cancer more than carrying extra weight around the hips or thighs. Obesity can also affect medical care. Too much fat can obscure imaging tests, like x-rays, computed tomography (CT) seans, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). For example, in an ultrasound, the beam may not be able to get through layers of fat to get an image ofa person’s appendix, gallbladder, or kidneys. Too much body fat can make it harder for a doctor to make a medical diagnosis and treat a patient.

How do I find out what the best way is for me to lose weight?

Experts agree that the best way to lose weight is to follow a sensible eating plan and engage in regular physical activity. If you’re interested in a weight-loss program, it should encourage healthy behaviors that help you lose weight that you can maintain over time. Before you start a weight-loss program, talk to your doctor. Safe and effective weight-loss programs should include these components:

Healthy eating plans that reduce calories but do not nıle out specific foods or food groups

Regular physical activity and/or exercise instruction

Tips on healthy behavior changes that also consider your cultural needs

Slow and steady weight loss of about 0.75 to 2 pounds per week and not more than 3 pounds per week (weight loss may be faster at the start ofa program)

Medical care if you are planning to lose weight by following a special form ula diet, such as a very-low-calorie diet

A plan to keep the weight off after you have lost it

What steps can I take to have a healthier diet?

Follow these tips on healthy eating.

Focus on fruits: Eat a variety of fruits-whether fresh, frozen, canned, or dried-rather than fruit juice for most of

Obesity Determinants Of Health

your fruit choices. For a 2,000-calorie diet, you will need two cups of fruit each day- like one small banana, one large orange, and one-quarter cup of dried apricots or peaches.

Vary your veggies: Eat more dark green veggies, such as broccoli, kale, and other dark leafy greens; orange veggies, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and winter squash; and beans and peas, such as pinto beans, kidney beans, black beans, garbanzo beans, split peas, and lentils.

Get your calcium-rich foods: Get three cups of low-fat or fat-free milk-or an equivalent amount of low-fat yogurt and/or low-fat cheese (1.5 ounces of cheese equals 1 cup of milk)-every day. If you don’t or can’t consume milk, choose lactose-free milk products and/or calcium-fortified foods and drinks.

Obesity Determinants Of Health

Make half your grains whole: Eat at least three ounces of whole-grain cereals, breads, crackers, rice, or pasta everyday. One ounce is about one slice of bread, one cup of breakfast cereal, or one-half cup of cooked rice or pasta. Look to see that grains such as wheat, rice, oats, or corn are referred to as “whole” in the list of ingredients.

Go lean with protein: Choose lean meats and poultry. Bake it, broil it, or gril! it. Vary your protein choices with more fish, beans, peas, nuts, and seeds.

Limit saturated fats: Get less than 10 percent of calories from saturated fatty acids. Most fats should come from sources of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, such as fish, nuts, and vegetable oils. When selecting and preparing meat, poultry, dry beans, and milk or milk products, make choices that are lean, low-fat, or fat-free.

Ok. Limit salt: Get less than 2,300 mg of sodium (approximately i teaspoon of salt) each day.

How can physical activity help?

An active lifestyle can help every woman. You don’t have to be as fit asa professional athlete to benefit from physical activity. in fact, thirty minutes of moderate physical activity on most days of the week can greatly improve your health. Most people can get greater health benefits by engaging in physical activity of more vigorous intensity or longer duration.

To help manage body weight and prevent gradual, unhealthy body weight gain, get about sixty minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity activity on most days of the week, while not exceeding caloric intake requirements. To keep weight loss off, get at least sixty to ninety minutes of daily moderate-intensity physical activity while not exceeding caloric intake requirements.

Obesity Determinants Of Health

Some people may need to consult with their doctor before participating in this !eve! of activity. Achieve physical fitness by including cardiovascular conditioning, stretching exercises for flexibility, and resistance exercises or calisthenics for muscle strength and endurance. Physical activity has these benefits:

Reduces your risk of dying from heart disease or stroke

Lowers your risk of getting heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, colon cancer, and diabetes

Obesity Determinants Of Health

So lowers high blood pressure

Helps keep your bones, muscles, and joints healthy

Reduces anxiety and depression and improves your mood

Helps you handle stress and helps control your weight

Protects against falling and bone fractures in older adults

May help protect against breast cancer

Helps control joint swelling and pain from arthritis

Ten. Helps you feel more energetic and helps you sleep betler

What drugs approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are available for long-term treatment of obesity?

Sibutramine: Also called Meridia, it is used together with a reduced-calorie diet to help you lose weight and keep the lost weight from returning. This medicine is approved for people whose initial body mass index (BM!) is at least 30. Patients with other risk factors, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, can be treated with the drug

Increase your physical change what you do everyday!

If you normally …

park as close as possible to the store

let the dog out back

take the elevator

have lunch delivered

relax while the kids play

activity by taking small steps to

Then try this instead!

park farther away

you take the dog for a walk

and take the stairs

walk to pick up lunch

get involved in their activity

if their BM! is 27 or higher. it can cause an increase in pulse and blood pressure. While you are taking sibutramine, your doctor will check your blood pressure and heart rate at regular visits.

People with uncontrolled high blood pressure should not take sibutramine. Other side effects include dry mouth, headache, constipation, insomnia, anxiety, irritability or unusual impatience, nervousness, stuffy or runny nose, or trouble in sleeping.

Orlistat: Also called Xenical, it prevents the body from absorbing some of the fat in food. it also prevents the body from absorbing some vitamins and beta carotene. Patients should take a vitamin supplement that contains fat-soluble (A, D, E, and K) vitamins and beta carotene. The most common side effects of orlistat are gas with discharge, fecal urgency, fatty/oily stools, and frequent bowel movements.

What surgical options are available for weight loss?

Vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG): Surgical staples are used to divitle the stomach into two parts. The upper part is sınan, which limits space for food. Food empties from the upper pouch into the lower pouch through a sınan opening. A band is put around this opening so it doesn’t stretch. Risks of VBG include wearing away of the band and breakdown of the staple line. in a sınan number of cases, stomach juices may leak into the abdomen or infection or death from complications may occur.

Laparoscopic gastric banding (Lap-Band): An inflatable band is placed around the upper stomach to create a sınan pouch and narrow passage into the remainder of the stomach. This limits food consumption and creates an earlier feeling of fullness. Once the band is in place, it is inflated with saline. The band is adjusted over time by increasing or decreasing the amount of salt solution to change the size of the passage.

Obesity Determinants Of Health

The band is intended for severely obese people-those at least one hundred pounds overweight or who are at least twice their ideal body weight-who have failed to lose weight by other methods such asa supervised diet and exercise. The band is intended to remain in place permanently, but it can be removed if necessary. People who get the band will need to diet and exercise in order to maintain their weight loss. Complications may include nausea and vomiting, heartburn, abdominal pain, band slippage, or pouch enlargement.

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RGB): The surgeon makes the stomach smaller by using surgical staples to create a small stomach pouch.

The pouch is attached to the middle part of the small intestine. Food bypasses the upper part of the small intestine and stomach and goes into the middle part of the small intestine through a small opening. Bypassing the stomach limits the amount of food a person can eat. By bypassing part of the intestine, the amount of calories and nutrients the body absorbs is reduced.

Obesity Determinants Of Health

The small opening slows down the rate food leaves the pouch. One risk for patients is “dumping syndrome:’ This happens when the stomach contents move too rapidly through the small intestine. Symptoms may include nausea, weakness, sweating, faintness, and diarrhea after eating. Side effects include infection, leaking, pulmonary embolism (sudden blockage in a lung artery), gallstones, and nutritional deficiency.

Biliopancreatic diversion (BPD): This procedure is not commonly used in the United States. A large part of the stomach is removed. The amount of food is restricted, in addition to stomach acid production. The small pouch that remains is connected directly to the final segment of the small intestine, completely bypassing other parts of the small intestine. A common channel remains in which bile and pancreatic digestive juices mix prior to entering the colon.

Obesity Determinants Of Health

Weight loss occurs since most of the calories and nutrients are routed into the colon, where they are not absorbed. This procedure is less frequently used than other types of surgery because of the high risk for nutritional deficiencies. A variation of BPD includes a “duodenal switch;’ which eaves a larger portion of the stomach intacı, including the pyloric valve that regulates the release of stomach contents into the small intestine. it also keeps a small part of the duodenum.

Is liposuction a treatment for weight loss?

Liposuction is a procedure for shaping the body and is not recommended for weight loss. it is a surgical procedure in which fat is removed from under the skin with the use ofa vacuum-suction cannula (a hollow pen-like instrument) or using an ultrasonic probe that breaks up the fat into small pieces and then removes it with suction.

Persons with localized fat may decide to have liposuction to remove fat from that area. it doesn’t guarantee permanent weight loss. To avoid weight gain after liposuction, people need to eat right and be physically active.

Complications from liposuction may include infection, embolism (fat gets trapped in the blood vessels, gathers in the lungs, or travels to the brain), puncturing of organs, seroma, pain or numbness, swelling, burns, skin problems, and reactions to the anesthesia.

Fix Health Problems to follow Pinterest

Obesity Determinants Of Health

#fix health problems #how do ı find out what the best way is for me to lose weight #how many people in the united states are overweight or obese #is liposuction a treatment for weight loss #what are the health effects of being overweight or obese #what causes someone to become overweight or obese #what steps can ı take to have a healthier diet how can physical activity help #what surgical options are available for weight loss

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restate30201 · 7 years ago

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It’s a Match! The 10 Best Cities for Singles to Live, Play—and Buy a Home

iStock; realtor.com

For the past five years, Paige Tacey has dutifully made her rent payments, most recently $795 a month. But in April, the 27-year-old was able to kiss renting goodbye, maybe for good. She purchased a $126,000 two-bedroom row home in Pittsburgh’s Greenfield neighborhood—a nice place with a lower monthly nut than she was forking over to her landlord.

And here’s the thing: She did it solo.

“I decided I was going to be in Pittsburgh for the foreseeable future. So it seemed like a good time to buy a home,” says Tacey, who works in adoption recruitment. “Rent just keeps going up. This just felt like the right decision.”

Tacey isn’t alone. As more Americans are waiting longer to couple up, finding themselves divorced or widowed, or just skipping the prospect of connubial bliss altogether, the number of single home buyers is on the rise.

The numbers help tell the tale: In 1960, one-person households made up 13% of U.S. households; by 1990 that figure was 24.6%, and hit 27.9% as of last year. (The actual number of singles is higher, since these figures don’t include single parents with kids.)

Americans are simply putting off tying the knot later. In 2017, women were a median 27.4 years old when they said “I do,” according to recent U.S. Census Bureau data; those ages have gone up 2 years over the past decade.

But beware, singletons: Buying a home on your own is easier said than done. Lofty down payments and list prices make it a challenge on one income. So realtor.com® figured out the best places for the unattached to become homeowners, calculating the markets with high rates of solo buyers and single populations—and that have plenty of fun things going on.

“Homeownership isn’t just for couples,” insists Roger Ma, a certified financial planner at lifelaidout and New York City–based real estate agent.

We analyzed a variety of data in the 100 largest metropolitan areas,* measuring the following:

The share of mortgages taken out by home buyers who aren’t married over the past 12 months, according to mortgage processor Ellie Mae.

The share of one-person (single) households, according to Nielsen.

And fun stuff: The number of social clubs, dance clubs, sports bars, gay clubs, karaoke bars, nightlife venues, adult sports teams, hiking businesses, and gyms per capita, according to Yelp.com.

OK? So ditch the married friends (for now), and let’s take a grand tour of the best places for going at it alone!

Best Metros for Singles

Claire Widman

1. Springfield, MA

Median list price: $265,100 Share of mortgages taken out by singles: 52.4%

Springfield

DenisTangneyJr/iStock

The streets of Springfield are lined with colorful Victorian and Colonial-style homes dating back more than 100 years, earning it the nickname of “The City of Homes.”

But after the downturn of a decade ago, a number of these places were left vacant due to foreclosures. To keep the market from spiraling down, down, down, the city introduced programs to help both married and single home buyers.

Buy Springfield Now lowers closing costs for home buyers in the region. And the City of Springfield Office of Housing has a down payment assistance program for first-time buyers. Solo buyers can qualify if their income is below��$45,200.

That’s a boon for single, 20-somethings who move to Springfield to work at big companies such as Mass Mutual and Baystate Health.

These folks often wind up buying three-bedroom Colonial and Cape Cod homes in the suburbs once they realize they can get them for between $150,000 and $180,000, says Tracy Viola, a broker at Thompson Real Estate Group. Some employers in the region even offer employees 0% interest loans for down payment and closing costs.

“You can get a good-sized house with some land for an amazing price in Springfield,” Viola says.

Singles scoop: Those looking for some adrenalized thrills along with their ardor can take their dates to Six Flags New England. And if you hit up Nathan Bill’s Bar & Restaurant’s trivia night, remember that children’s book author Dr. Seuss was born and raised in Springfield. (It’ll come up, trust us.)

2. Cleveland, OH

Median list price: $181,600 Share of mortgages taken out by singles: 48.8%

Cleveland park

benedek/iStock

The family-oriented Midwest isn’t the first place that comes to mind for singles. But Cleveland bucks the trend, with nearly 50% of mortgages going to the unattached. And the city responds in kind, offering everything from gay happy hours to an array of speed dating options.

When it comes to real estate, buyers can qualify for a home with even a modest salary. Home prices are far below the national median of $299,000, according to recent realtor.com data. One-bedroom condos in prime downtown areas are in the $150,000 ballpark. Just check out this one-bedroom condo in the Stonebridge Plaza priced at $164,900.

Singles scoop: If your date is a music lover, you can’t go wrong with a trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (unless you’re a Radiohead fan—still not inducted!). Or take in a show at the Agora Theatre & Ballroom, where recent headliners include The Flaming Lips and Cat Power.

3. New Haven, CT

Median list price: $279,100 Share of mortgages taken out by singles: 52.4%

New Haven, CT

Kayzure Cox/iStock

As the home of Yale University, New Haven has a mix of college students, research fellows, and academic types who contribute to the ever-shifting population. And it explains why there are so many bars, restaurants, and nightlife options in this small city.

It also helps clarify why so many folks here are unattached. When it comes to home buying, these folks have plenty of options, including Colonials for under $150,000 right in the city, and 1,000-square-foot condos for around $100,000.

“The great thing about New Haven is that it’s centrally located along the shoreline. You can get anywhere in the state in an hour and half,” says Ronnie Ann Ryan, dating coach at Never Too Late for Love. And “there’s an endless variety of things you can do for dates.”

Singles scoop: Still, those looking for a cheap date may want to head to the New Haven Ninth Square District. The historic part of downtown is great for a scenic stroll through buildings and top-notch people watching.

4. Buffalo, NY

Median list price: $190,000 Share of mortgages taken out by singles: 46.2%

Bustling downtown Buffalo

Jacek_Sopotnicki/iStock

Buffalo has seen a resurgence of sorts after decades of manufacturing job and population losses. But that spate of recent development, which includes $24 million in planned improvements by the waterfront, haven’t resulted in pricey homes.

At least not yet.

“The main reason people are [buying] solo is they realize it’s a good economic move,” says Ryan Connolly, an associate broker with Re/Max North in the Buffalo region. Perennial NFL woes aside, Buffalo believers contend that there’s a big future for their city.

Many of these buyers are getting older homes that need a bit of work in walkable neighborhoods like Elmwood Village and North Buffalo, which boast lots of restaurants and shops. Savvy buyers are scoring abodes in these communities in the $200,000 to $300,000 range and then renting out bedrooms to friends to help cover their mortgages. If they get hitched, they sell the homes for a profit or use it as a rental home, Connolly says.

Singles scoop: Bars don’t close until 4 a.m. So. Get. The. Party. Started.

5. Albuquerque, NM

Median list price: $252,100 Share of mortgages taken out by singles: 51.3%

Balloon ride for one please…

carterdayne/iStock

There aren’t just a lot of millennial buyers in Albuquerque. There are also quite a few members of Generation Z, born in 1997 or later, who are snapping up homes. (Feel old yet?) About 10% of real estate agent John Lopez‘s clients are under the age of 25. Those are some real estate–savvy whipper snappers!

“Albuquerque is so affordable you can buy a three-bedroom, two-bathroom [home] with a two-car garage and large backyard in the middle of town for $185,000,” says Lopez, who’s with Coldwell Banker Legacy. “And the house will be less than 15 years old.”

Lopez also works with a lot of folks in their mid-30s who have been recently divorced. They typically want homes in master-planned communities that come with their own schools and parks. These homes tend to go for between $180,000 and $230,000.

Singles scoop: Could anything be more romantic than a “Breaking Bad” tour? Check out some of the Albuquerque-based show’s more distinctive locales, from Jesse Pinkham’s house to the original Los Pollos Hermanos (it’s actually a fast-food joint called Twisters—sorry).

6. Detroit, MI

Median list price: $255,000 Share of mortgages taken out by singles: 49.5%

Detroit! It’s nice!

Davel5957/iStock

A revitalized downtown and a host of new employers moving in have encouraged lots of folks who grew up in Detroit to move back. Their return has added a spark to the singles scene—and housing market—of Motor City.

Many of these one-income buyers are interested in the former industrial buildings that are being converted into surprisingly chic condos and lofts. They typically run around $300,000 and often boast features like high ceilings and granite countertops.

This increase in demand has led to a number of new condos popping up in downtown. For example, the Selden is a 12-unit condo building that opened last year. It offers two-bedroom units costing around $450,000.

Singles scoop: The culinary-inclined can impress their dates with a cooking class at the Cornwall Bakery, where you can learn to make pastries and pizza, or the Mirepoix Cooking School where you can go nuts with heirloom tomatoes.

7. Providence, RI

Median list price: $350,000 Share of mortgages taken out by singles: 49.6%

Downtown Providence

DenisTangneyJr/iStock

Many of the single buyers in Rhode Island’s capital are graduate and medical students at local institutions like Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design. They’ve found that, in some cases, homeowning just makes more financial sense.

“They [plan to] sell afterward,” once they have their degrees, says local real estate agent Robert Rutley of Mott & Chace Sotheby’s International Realty. “But some become so enthralled with Providence they end up staying.”

He has other buyers who buy in Providence and commute to work during the week in much-pricier Boston. An Acela train between the cities is only about a half-hour. The median list price in the Boston metro area is $519,950—about $170,000 more than in Providence!

Condos are particularly high in demand for single buyers in their 20s and 30s. A slew of historic buildings have been transformed and subdivided into the popular units.

Singles scoop: Altruistic singles can sign up for dog-walking volunteer shifts at the Providence Animal Rescue League. You’ll be guaranteed some smooches—even if your puppy love comes from an actual puppy.

8. Pittsburgh, PA

Median list price: $180,100 Share of mortgages taken out by singles: 43.8%

Pittsburgh

SeanPavonePhoto/iStock

An influx of tech jobs from companies such as Uber and Amazon have brought lots of singles to the region from exorbitant places like San Francisco and Washington, DC. Once they arrive, they are met with sticker shock (the good type), spurring many to buy homes in historic neighborhoods on the upswing.

Brighton Heights, which is around 15 minutes from downtown, has a number of inexpensive three- and four-bedroom homes, which have been remodeled in recent years, says Bobby West, a real estate agent at Coldwell Banker in Pittsburgh.

“A lot of people in the tech industry and students who finished up graduate school at colleges in Pittsburgh are buying up homes here,” West says. “Many are shocked when I tell them their monthly [mortgage] payment will be lower than their rent.”

Singles scoop: This has become a seriously hip place. One-of-a-kind craft cocktails? Debauched party scenes? Cool used-vinyl stores? Check, check, and check.

9. Louisville, KY

Median list price: $250,000 Share of mortgages taken out by singles: 48%

Go get ’em, slugger.

Thomas Kelley/iStock

In the Bluegrass State, nothing says romance more than taking your date to the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, and watching horses race while donning your most obnoxious floppy hat. And regardless of what you may have heard, mint juleps are delicious.

But Louisville singles don’t have to win a trifecta to afford a roof over their heads. The market here is packed with homes priced between $150,000 to $250,000. There are even down payment assistance programs for those making under $40,050 a year.

Singles can nab three-bedroom, two-bath homes in subdivisions or historic homes in walkable neighborhoods like Germantown.

Singles scoop: Watch what you say—the fastest way to end a date here is finding out your would-be love connection is on the wrong side of the fevered University of Kentucky versus University of Louisville basketball rivalry. (Go, Wildcats!)

10. Milwaukee, WI

Median list price: $259,100 Share of mortgages taken out by singles: 44.9%

Milwaukee, “the good land”

Davel5957/iStock

Social worker Ann Bausch, 36, was tired of being at the mercy of her landlord’s rent hikes. So in July she bought a one-bedroom, loft-style condo in a renovated former shoe factory for $146,500. Located in the Riverwest neighborhood, the condo is also within walking distance of great breweries and brunch spots.

“If you want a home, you don’t have to wait on a man,” says Bausch. “Don’t worry about the next thing on your list.”

Local real estate agent Beth Jaworski sees more solo women than single male buyers. They’re a mix of lawyers, doctors, and sales professionals.

“A lot of single women I work with are buying in the city,” says Jaworski, who’s with Shorewest Realtors. “They want to be near downtown where the action is. Or [they’re] buying in the nearby suburbs where they can have a yard for their dog.”

Singles scoop: Milwaukee is home to the Miller Brewing Co. and the birthplace of Pabst Blue Ribbon. So bottoms up!

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

Clare Trapasso contributed to this report.

The post It’s a Match! The 10 Best Cities for Singles to Live, Play—and Buy a Home appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

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gillespialfredoe01806ld · 7 years ago

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It’s a Match! The 10 Best Cities for Singles to Live, Play—and Buy a Home

iStock; realtor.com

And here’s the thing: She did it solo.

“Homeownership isn’t just for couples,” insists Roger Ma, a certified financial planner at lifelaidout and New York City–based real estate agent.

We analyzed a variety of data in the 100 largest metropolitan areas,* measuring the following:

The share of mortgages taken out by home buyers who aren’t married over the past 12 months, according to mortgage processor Ellie Mae.

The share of one-person (single) households, according to Nielsen.

And fun stuff: The number of social clubs, dance clubs, sports bars, gay clubs, karaoke bars, nightlife venues, adult sports teams, hiking businesses, and gyms per capita, according to Yelp.com.

OK? So ditch the married friends (for now), and let’s take a grand tour of the best places for going at it alone!

Best Metros for Singles

Claire Widman

1. Springfield, MA

Median list price: $265,100 Share of mortgages taken out by singles: 52.4%

Springfield

DenisTangneyJr/iStock

The streets of Springfield are lined with colorful Victorian and Colonial-style homes dating back more than 100 years, earning it the nickname of “The City of Homes.”

That’s a boon for single, 20-somethings who move to Springfield to work at big companies such as Mass Mutual and Baystate Health.

“You can get a good-sized house with some land for an amazing price in Springfield,” Viola says.

2. Cleveland, OH

Median list price: $181,600 Share of mortgages taken out by singles: 48.8%

Cleveland park

benedek/iStock

3. New Haven, CT

Median list price: $279,100 Share of mortgages taken out by singles: 52.4%

New Haven, CT

Kayzure Cox/iStock

4. Buffalo, NY

Median list price: $190,000 Share of mortgages taken out by singles: 46.2%

Bustling downtown Buffalo

Jacek_Sopotnicki/iStock

At least not yet.

Singles scoop: Bars don’t close until 4 a.m. So. Get. The. Party. Started.

5. Albuquerque, NM

Median list price: $252,100 Share of mortgages taken out by singles: 51.3%

Balloon ride for one please…

carterdayne/iStock

6. Detroit, MI

Median list price: $255,000 Share of mortgages taken out by singles: 49.5%

Detroit! It’s nice!

Davel5957/iStock

7. Providence, RI

Median list price: $350,000 Share of mortgages taken out by singles: 49.6%

Downtown Providence

DenisTangneyJr/iStock

Condos are particularly high in demand for single buyers in their 20s and 30s. A slew of historic buildings have been transformed and subdivided into the popular units.

8. Pittsburgh, PA

Median list price: $180,100 Share of mortgages taken out by singles: 43.8%

Pittsburgh

SeanPavonePhoto/iStock

Singles scoop: This has become a seriously hip place. One-of-a-kind craft cocktails? Debauched party scenes? Cool used-vinyl stores? Check, check, and check.

9. Louisville, KY

Median list price: $250,000 Share of mortgages taken out by singles: 48%

Go get ’em, slugger.

Thomas Kelley/iStock

Singles can nab three-bedroom, two-bath homes in subdivisions or historic homes in walkable neighborhoods like Germantown.

10. Milwaukee, WI

Median list price: $259,100 Share of mortgages taken out by singles: 44.9%

Milwaukee, “the good land”

Davel5957/iStock

“If you want a home, you don’t have to wait on a man,” says Bausch. “Don’t worry about the next thing on your list.”

Local real estate agent Beth Jaworski sees more solo women than single male buyers. They’re a mix of lawyers, doctors, and sales professionals.

Singles scoop: Milwaukee is home to the Miller Brewing Co. and the birthplace of Pabst Blue Ribbon. So bottoms up!

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

Clare Trapasso contributed to this report.

The post It’s a Match! The 10 Best Cities for Singles to Live, Play—and Buy a Home appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

from DIYS https://ift.tt/2PmtMxV

#DIYS

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problemshealth-blog · 7 years ago

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Obesity Determinants Of Health

How do I know if I 9 m overweight or obese?

What causes someone to become overweight or obese?

What are the health effects of being overweight or obese?

Obesity Determinants Of Health

How do I find out what the best way is for me to lose weight?

Healthy eating plans that reduce calories but do not nıle out specific foods or food groups

Regular physical activity and/or exercise instruction

Tips on healthy behavior changes that also consider your cultural needs

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Medical care if you are planning to lose weight by following a special form ula diet, such as a very-low-calorie diet

A plan to keep the weight off after you have lost it

What steps can I take to have a healthier diet?

Follow these tips on healthy eating.

Focus on fruits: Eat a variety of fruits-whether fresh, frozen, canned, or dried-rather than fruit juice for most of

Obesity Determinants Of Health

your fruit choices. For a 2,000-calorie diet, you will need two cups of fruit each day- like one small banana, one large orange, and one-quarter cup of dried apricots or peaches.

Obesity Determinants Of Health

Go lean with protein: Choose lean meats and poultry. Bake it, broil it, or gril! it. Vary your protein choices with more fish, beans, peas, nuts, and seeds.

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How can physical activity help?

Obesity Determinants Of Health

Reduces your risk of dying from heart disease or stroke

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Obesity Determinants Of Health

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What drugs approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are available for long-term treatment of obesity?

Increase your physical change what you do everyday!

If you normally …

park as close as possible to the store

let the dog out back

take the elevator

have lunch delivered

relax while the kids play

activity by taking small steps to

Then try this instead!

park farther away

you take the dog for a walk

and take the stairs

walk to pick up lunch

get involved in their activity

if their BM! is 27 or higher. it can cause an increase in pulse and blood pressure. While you are taking sibutramine, your doctor will check your blood pressure and heart rate at regular visits.

What surgical options are available for weight loss?

Obesity Determinants Of Health

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RGB): The surgeon makes the stomach smaller by using surgical staples to create a small stomach pouch.

Obesity Determinants Of Health

Is liposuction a treatment for weight loss?

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Obesity Determinants Of Health

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