Fairview Park
This West Side suburb is the kind of place Clevelanders turn to for starter homes and end up staying to raise their families. Residents can stroll through historic Bain Park or the nearby lush Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Reservation and see the local baker or parents from their children’s school. The townie allure coupled with accessibility draws new homeowners hunting for that cozy, affordable bungalow near a thoroughfare or those ready to invest in a grand colonial overlooking the valley. “A lot of streets have charming, quaint homes on them,” says Joan Cannon, a Howard Hanna real estate agent. Singles or young couples can stay in the mix with close proximity to Westgate Shopping Center, downtown Cleveland and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
University Heights
It may seem easy to overlook University Heights with trendy Cleveland Heights and stately Shaker Heights as neighbors. But what it lacks in buzz, it makes up for in opportunity. With an abundance of homes built in the 1950s, the housing stock mixes features such as central air conditioning with craftsmanship in brick-and-stone colonials. “Many people underestimate the size of these homes,” says Howard Hanna real estate agent Geoffrey Hoffman. John Carroll University brings that college town vibe and the artistic University Circle is just a brushstroke away. Plus, buyers will love that homes can have up to four bedrooms and three bathrooms for under $200,000.
