Tri-State Real Estate Treasures

 
Believe it or not, there is some good new surrounding the local real estate market. According to the Cincinnati Board of Realtors, sales numbers from the last four months have seen increasing home sale activity, a good indication that the housing market is beginning to recover. As the cherry on top, there’s a secondary metric that shows the overall housing inventory is dropping. Essentially, that means there are more houses being sold than being put on the market.

Now that you know houses are actually moving in this market, we’ll tell you where to look for the hidden treasures to satisfy any taste!

Get in on Up-and-Coming Neighborhoods

Mt. Washington
Located east of Cincinnati near Columbia Parkway and Beechmont Avenue, this growing community is also part of Project Lily Pad. Other than many residents having free access to Wi-Fi, there is shopping, dining and real estate for every budget. Whether you are looking to rent or buy your own home, Mt. Washington has something for you. It also has several architecturally beautiful buildings such as the Athenaeum of Ohio, Mt. Washington Presbyterian Church and Guardian Angels Catholic Church.

Oakley
Neighboring the high-end Hyde Park, Oakley sports restaurants and shops such as Nest, Kona Bistro, Habits Cafe, Denim, Bova Furniture and Aglamesis Brothers, a very close competitor to the one-and-only Graeter’s.

Price Hill
This is another one of those up-and-coming communities. Full of both older Victorian-era and newer homes and situated atop hills overlooking the city, Price Hill is culturally and economically diverse. Many of the older homes are being revitalized and more new homes are being constructed.
 

College Hill
Named after the long-gone Farmer’s College and Ohio Female College, this neighborhood happens to be one of the largest around Cincinnati. Residents range from retirees in stately older homes to young families in cottage-style homes to renters in apartments. College Hill is a close-knit community where neighbors throw community parties on warm summer nights.

Mix It up a Bit

Northside
If you want an urban neighborhood with a community feel, Northside is the place for you! It is both economically and racially diverse and is home to Shake It Records, Shoe-Topia as well as vintage clothing stores, such as Avant Garage and Casablanca Vintage. Restaurants in Northside typically have one-word names, such as Honey, Melt and Slims.

Mt. Adams
A lively night scene and breath-taking views can only be one place: Mt. Adams! Get in an upscale neighborhood with plenty of dining, specialty shops and, of course, clubs and taverns.

Clifton
Still close to the center of town with a convenient commute to Cincinnati’s universities, Clifton offers a location as eclectic as it gets! Students take up many of the local apartments and some houses, but there is still a fair amount of families that call Clifton home. Ludlow, between Clifton Avenue and Whitfield, offers both American and international cuisine such as Ambar India Restaurant, Amol India, Mediterranean Foods. There’s even what some call the best Skyline Chili in Cincinnati and the Proud Rooster.

Northern Kentucky
Newport and Covington are just a short walk from each other and downtown. Covington is home to the eclectic Mainstrasse area, which not only offers a host of cafes and shops, but it also hosts fun events, such as antique walks and car shows. Newport is home to the popular Newport on the Levee, which has an aquarium, bars, restaurants, a bookstore and retail shops under one roof. Many old homes are being refurbished in these two areas as more people realize how nice it is to have a sense of community while being able to walk to the city (and see the city if you’re lucky!). These areas are also home new new high-end condos, so you can opt for those if a fixer-upper isn’t your bag.

High-Class Society

Hyde Park
While this neighborhood may be considered one of the nicest in the ‘Nati, you won’t find it stuffy. If you are looking for a quiet place to settle that is still close to all of the action, check out Hyde Park. In the heart of this peaceful community, you’ll find Hyde Park Square, a one-stop-shop of boutique shops and restaurants including Indigo, Teller’s, Vineyard Cafe and Graeter’s.

Indian Hil
As you drive through this 18.6 square mile neighborhood, you can pretty much smell the old money because there’s so much of it in this affluent community. If local celebrity watching is a hobby, this is the place to be as it’s home to notable residents such as Peter Frampton, Carson Palmer, Marvin Lewis and Carl Lindner. If raising a family is higher on your priority list, look into this area as it was named the “Best Place to Raise a Family” by the magazine Robb Report.

Downtown
With gas prices a premium, one way to reduce your pain at the pump is to live in the middle of the action instead of having to drive to it. If you’re looking for a prime location to get to work and off to play, look into one of these downtown neighborhoods.

Greater Downtown
If you work in the city, especially in the central business district, greater downtown is where you want to be. Great places to live include the Betts-Longworth Historic District and the Gateway Quarter. Another chic spot is Adams Landing, which includes the Captain’s Watch and Foster’s Point developments.

St. Xavier Park
East of Fountain Square lie old buildings converted into chic living space! The Krippendorf-Dittman Shoe Building has become the Sycamore Place lofts and the Power Building is now the Renaissance Apartments. Nearby, Silverglades Grocery is the neighborhood market, and Arnold’s Bar & Grill, the oldest bar in the city, provides residents with a watering hole.

Riverfront
This is the place for the sports fans. Minutes away from Great American Ball Bark and Paul Brown Stadium, apartments like One Lytle Place are just right for you. The views of Mt. Adams and the city at night are just a fringe benefit.

Fourth Street
Get ready to stay busy! Fourth Street is the home of four-star Jean-Robert at Pigall’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and Koch Sporting Goods. Great places to live in the area include Fourth & Plum Apartments, the Biltmore and the recently renovated McAlpin Lofts. And coming soon — Parker Flats!

Lytle Park
On the opposite end of the lively spectrum lies Lytle Park. Near the Taft Museum of Art and some of the largest office buildings in Cincinnati, this is the place for you if you want to be a part of downtown and still be able to get away from all of the hubbub when you need to. You will be just a short walk away from recreational areas along the river. The Edge condominiums and Lytle Tower are two housing options in the area.

Piatt Park
Take up residence near Cincinnati’s first park! On nice summer days you can take your computer outside to finish some work with free Wi-Fi supplied by Project Lily Pad. On your way back to The Lofts at Shillito Place, the Grammercy or Garfield Towers, stop at Cafe de Paris for a cup of joe. Get some fresh produce from the Court Street outdoor market or be entertained by the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. And you’re just about three blocks away from Cincinnati’s shopping core.

The ‘Burbs
If you’re the quiet type that doesn’t want the bustling city life or you’re at the stage when you’re ready to settle down in a quieter, more relaxed neighborhood, the suburbs are the place for you. Here’s a quick breakdown of the best ‘burbs in Cincinnati.

Anderson Township
Just 15 minutes from downtown and about 25 minutes from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Anderson Township is close enough to the action that you won’t ever even realize it. The area’s schools are rated excellent and there are numerous parks and bike trails to help you get outside and enjoy some sunshine. There are several smaller communities that make up Anderson, all of which provide a choice of a stately older home or a newer homeowner’s association that offer all the amenities and conveniences you would expect.

Blue Ash
Twice voted one of the Top 50 Fabulous Places to Raise a Family in America, Blue Ash offers places to live, work and play. The city is part of the Sycamore Community City School District and home to the University of Cincinnati’s Raymond Walters College. Houses range in prices from around $100,000 to more than $1 million. There are many rental options as well.

Mason
Mason has grown from a small farming community to a mini-metropolitan area! This city is home to corporations such as Cintas, Mitsubishi, Proctor and Gamble’s Health Care Research Center and Luxottica Retail and resorts such as the Great Wolf Lodge and Conference Center and the Golf Center at King’s Island, designed by Jack Nicklaus and Jay Morrish.

The Long Cove community in Mason is booming, according to Andrea Lucke, vice president of sales and design for Robert Lucke Homes. “In the last 12 months, 30 new homes [have sold] at an average sale price of $1.5 million for a total of over $50 million in sales,” she says. “This is especially good to hear for builders that have put market homes in this year’s Homearama, like myself!”

“I have lived all over this city and each area has its unique characteristics,” says Amanda Dunaway, a Century 21 Stellar Real Estate agent. “I work a lot with first-time home owners and we typically look into neighborhoods like Montgomery, Sharonville, West Chester or Mason. These areas have reasonable condo’s and occasionally some decent fixer uppers too.” Dunaway says that she’s extremely happy with her home in Mason, “…I love our little neighborhood of ranches, bi-levels and tri-levels.”

 
PHOTO CREDITS:
Photo: Amy Storer 
Model: Andrea Lucke, LuckeHomes.com