The oldest inn in Ohio, The Golden Lamb Inn, began lodging folks in Lebanon in 1803. It isn't the most famous aspect of the city, but it certainly is the most enduring. For anyone visiting here, there is no more fitting place to stay.
The moon and Lebanon have a relationship unlike any other town
The oldest inn in Ohio, The Golden Lamb Inn, began lodging folks in Lebanon in 1803. It isn't the most famous aspect of the city, but it certainly is the most enduring. For anyone visiting here, there is no more fitting place to stay.
The moon and Lebanon have a relationship unlike any other town. Neil Armstrong made his home at a farm here following his return on Apollo 11. Woody Harrelson grew up here. Even Charles Cretors, creator of the world's first popcorn machine, hailed from this southwestern Ohio town. For a city of 20,033 within the metropolitan range of Cincinnati, that claim to fame is undoubtedly impressive. When you walk down Broadway Street and look up into the night sky, notice the moon; it shines extra bright on Lebanon.
Lebanon entertained the antics of Woody Harrelson for a number of years. It won't have a problem entertaining yours. Lebanon is a place where people go to build dreams or where people go after they've made their dreams come true. Before you sit down and have ice cream at The Village Ice Cream Parlor, you have to find a home. Hey, you can even eat popcorn while you shop for home rentals in Lebanon. There are no silly rules to stop you.
What's Available?
It's probably good to hear you won't be forced to go with a certain type of housing. You can find houses, apartments and condos for rent quite easily. Even duplexes, which account for over 10% of housing units, are available. Even though the fact that Neil Armstrong once lived here may make you think there are spaceships available for rent or purchase, that hasn't happened yet, but it may. Lebanon also has lots of land, and renting or purchasing a home on several acres or even a farm is feasible. Getting an apartment to rent in the middle of town is also possible. It's all up to what you want.
Getting What You Want
Houses offer the widest range of choices. Detached, one-unit houses make up nearly 63% of homes in Lebanon. There's plenty of other kinds of housing, and choices aren't really limited as rental openings are always available. Nearly 40% of the city rents, which is greater than the state's average. The best time to search for housing for rent in Lebanon is June and July as lots of people move in and out at the beginning and end of the summer. For this reason, August and May see the most house shopping traffic. These are good times to look, but there's more competition; June and July are better because there's less competition and lots of listings. Additionally, December is a good month because some contracts expire on the last day of the year. Typically speaking, you'll find that two weeks is enough time. If you simply want a standard apartment in a community, it may not even take one week as management at complexes like Arbors of Lebanon and American Village Apartments handles contracts quite quickly.
Avoiding Issues
More than 45% of housing is new and was built after 1990, while more than 25% was built before 1970. Regardless of whether you go with an old or new pad, inspect to see if things work well. Most are perfectly fine, but it's best to be safe. Additionally, if you really like a place, but notice minor problems, take pictures and inform the landlord or management staff. This is especially true if you are leasing from a landlord; you don't want to be blamed for a crack in the floor if you didn't do it. Most landlords are nice here, but some may not believe you anyway; having evidence helps prove yourself. Also, be aware that all bills paid apartments are somewhat rare here; understand what's included before agreeing to a lease.
As you take a ride along the iconic Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad and contemplate various homes, there are a few things to have ready for signing day. This is usually easier than city apartments in nearby Cincinnati. It's no walk on the moon; it's almost a walk in the park! You should be ready to give one month's rent, a security deposit and realtor fees. Generally, landlords only want to see that you can pay rent each month; some stricter ones may ask for a credit score and rental history. Managers at complexes usually have applications, perform a credit check and want proof that you can pay rent.
Your neighborhood means everything in Lebanon. You can be close to the center of town and busy streets. You can live on streets that are mostly residential. You can also live in an area with horses, cows and pigs. You get the idea. That's why it's best to get your priorities straight before you look.
City Center: Colonial Park and Harmon Golf Club are two outdoor attractions. Lebanon Commercial Historic District, The Golden Lamb (a restaurant and hotel), and lots of shops and eateries are on and around Main Street. You'll find houses, apartments and condos here.
Turtle Creek/West Main Street: Covering the west portion of town, highlights of this spread-out area include Cedarbrook Campground, Seeger's Meats and Deli, and Lebanon Sports Complex.
Miller Park: The area around this park covers the north and northwest part of town. Armco Park and Lebanon-Warren County Airport are here. Shaker Run Golf Club, one of Ohio's best courses, is also in this neighborhood.
Harts Plaza Shopping Center: Occupying the northeast and eastern part of town, the neighborhood around this shopping complex has houses, apartments, and stores as well as fun spots like Colony 7 Cinemas, Buffalo Wild Wings and Fred Lake.
Interstate-71: The southern part of town is near this freeway. From here, you have easy access to the greater Cincinnati area. You are also close to King's Island Amusement Park.
Cars riding past rolling hills is a common scene in Lebanon. Neil Armstrong and Woody Harrelson used to drive here, and you should too. Biking and walking is okay for short distances, but this is decidedly a driving town. Lebanon loves to get out and seize the day, whether that be going to North Broadway Historic District or having a meal at Skyline Chili. With Cincinnati close, folks still consider themselves a part of the larger metropolitan area and you see that through the support of professional sports teams like baseball's Cincinnati Reds and football's Bengals. Yet you also see Lebanon has its own way of doing things. A trip to The Village Ice Cream Parlor or Warren County Historical Society and Museum illustrates that. The annual Warren County Fair and County Applefest can give you an even greater sense that Lebanon and popcorn have a lot in common: it's all about sitting back and having a good time.
