Great Neighborhoods: Clifton

"Clifton-Cincinnati-map" by Wholtone - http://www.openstreetmap.org/

Back to the list helpfully compiled by Cincinnati USA! Today's featured 'hood is Clifton, home to the University of Cincinnati, a few hospitals, the fantastic Cincinnati Zoo, and some of the most popular night life in the city. From concerts at Bogarts on Short Vine to ethnic food and specialty shops on Ludlow, Clifton has plenty to see and do. Thanks to the high population of university students, this area is also very walkable -- making a property in this area great to live in OR to rent out for nearly guaranteed income! While there are several subsections of what many of us know as Clifton, including Clifton Heights, University Heights, Corryville, and Avondale, for the purposes of our home search we'll use the MLS-defined area of Clifton.

• CRAFTSMAN BUNGALOW: This 3 bedroom, 1.5 bathroom single family home on Foulke Street has gorgeous details and a back deck. The front porch has been enclosed to add more usable space for a total of 1,393 square feet, and the roof was replaced this year! $103,900
• 2.5 STORIES, 100 YEARS OF HISTORY: This 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom single family home on Southview Avenue boasts an updated kitchen, newer roof, and a large open room on the 3rd floor that could be used as a fourth bedroom. With just over 2,000 square feet of living space, you could live here yourself or rent it out! $124,900
• DOUBLE LOT WITH A VIEW: Buy it now and rent it out when you upsize -- this 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom home on Klotter Avenue has great views from the 2nd floor deck and a private backyard. Plenty of updates in this 1,200 square foot home, including the kitchen and bathroom. $125,000
• MOVE-IN READY CONDO: This 2 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom condo is in the basement of a 120 year old former single family, but there's plenty of light and open space! There is a private entrance, but the HOA takes care of the big stuff (including hazard insurance). Definitely worth looking at the 1,290 square foot unit, created only 5 years ago with great finishes. $129,000
• UPDATED GEM OVERLOOKING PARK: This 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom home has been completely renovated -- and qualified for tax abatement! This one features a master suite and a rear deck that overlooks Fairview Park. For 1,536 square feet this close to downtown, $199,000 doesn't seem too bad!

Hope you enjoyed the tour! There's plenty more on the market in Clifton, but move-in ready homes in the Gaslight district are definitely selling more quickly than anything else. For investors considering buying in Clifton, be sure you consider carefully how many bathrooms you have for all the bedrooms -- even college students need some privacy!

Historic Homes Available NOW in Cincinnati!

Wikipedia

Does the thought of owning a historic home give your heart a little flutter? Do you wish your home had character to spare? Being a lover of historic architecture myself, I took a peek in the Cincinnati MLS to find some great historic homes that have been updated to accommodate modern life. Before you buy an older home -- especially one older than 125 years like these -- it's a good idea to check out this article from Realtor.com. 

Did I mention that all of the homes below have garages that fit at least 2 cars? This is not an exhaustive list, just a sampling of my favorites! 

• 344 Poplar Street, Miami Township, OH 45147: 5 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 3,088 square feet, $200,000
• 199 Spring Street, Batavia, OH 45103: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2,808 square feet, $149,000
• 905 Greenville Avenue, Glendale, OH 45246: 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 3,222 square feet, $399,000
• 3475 Boudinot Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45211 (Westwood): 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 3,668 square feet, $224,900
• 4515 Park Place, St. Bernard, OH 45217: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2,446 square feet, $129,900
• 244 North 7th Street, Hamilton, OH 45011: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2,600 square feet, $107,000

There are also plenty of homes on the market in the greater Cincinnati area older than 100 years that need work (some more than others, of course). Whether you're looking to buy something move-in ready or you'd like to oversee your own renovations, I can help you find the right home and the right lender for your needs. Happy house hunting!

How Do I Change Utilities?

There's so much going on when you're buying or selling a home -- even more if you're doing both at the same time -- that it's easy to forget the details. Changing over the utilities is a fairly important detail, though: can you imagine moving into your new home, only to realize that the power has been turned off?  The general rule of thumb in Cincinnati is that the seller should contact the utility companies at least one week before closing to allow time for final readings to be scheduled. The buyer should also contact the utility companies during this time to set up their accounts; if you haven't had a previous account in good standing with any of these companies, you may need to provide additional information which can take a few more days.

You can also ask some utility companies about the average bill for an address when you're deciding whether to make an offer on a property. Usage is different for everyone, but chances are a very high number means that there is room for improvement in the efficiency of the home. Finally, television and internet service can vary by street rather than municipality, so you'll need to Google those options!

Great Neighborhoods: Blue Ash

There are some pretty awesome neighborhoods in Cincinnati, so choosing which one to feature is difficult! To take the pressure off me (and to comply with laws that prevent me from telling any potential client about my preferences for or against certain neighborhoods) I've decided to follow the list provided by Cincinnati USA, our local convention and visitors' bureau. First up is Blue Ash, which had the first municipal airport in Cincinnati and has been incorporated since 1955.

2 BEDROOM CONDO: Even though it needs some updating, the 2 bedroom 2 bathroom condo at 9348 Hunters Creek Drive is a steal at just $117,000 for over 1500 square feet of living space.

3 BEDROOM DETACHED: One day I'll sit down and find out whether my impression that there are more Cape Cods than any other home style in Cincinnati is true. In the meantime, take a gander at the well-maintained 4701 Belleview Avenue, complete with updated kitchen and 2 full bathrooms for $237,000.

ONE FLOOR LIVING: For those buyers looking for a home large enough to entertain, but with all the necessities on one floor, 5492 Kenridge Drive has it covered. The home is also handicap accessible and boasts two kitchens -- one on each custom designed level -- for $899,000.

SUBURBAN SPECIAL (4 BED 2.5 BATH): For your average family, this 2800+ square foot home at 32 Carpenter's Run Court with a half acre lot and plenty of parking should do the trick, if you've got $550,000.