Grands Rapids & Livonia make Realtor.com's Hottest Neighborhoods
Affordable, suburban metros are the most desirable places to live in 2019
Realtor.com featured its list of America's 10 Hottest Neighborhoods, with Grand Rapids holding down the top spot for the second year in a row. Livonia also made the list, taking the #6 spot. Here's what the article has to say about our Top 10 Michigan cities:
Grand Rapids, MI
ZIP code: 49505 (Creston)
Median price: $178,050
Median days on market: 10
Grand Rapids is reigning supreme for the second year in a row thanks to an influx of new residents, particularly younger ones. They've transformed the former industrial town into something of a hipster mecca, filled with craft breweries and cool brew pubs. (Hey, it isn't called Beer City USA for nothing.)The Creston area is in high demand due to its location just above downtown, plethora of parks, Kent Country Club, and good public schools. The inexpensive real estate is also a big draw for cost-conscious, first-time home buyers.The area mainly offers suburban-style, single-family houses with backyards starting around $120,000. But prices are rising fast. They're up 11.3% year over year.
Livonia, MI
ZIP code: 48154
Median price: $254,950
Median days on market: 17
Those who enjoy the cultural amenities of Detroit, but don't want to live in the city as it continues to undergo a resurgence, are opting for suburbs like Livonia. The oasis of single-family homes with green lawns is just 20 minutes from the Detroit Institute of Art and the historic Eastern Market. It's also near many of the area's employment hubs such as the Ford Motor Co. headquarters in Dearborn.But with more buyers discovering the area and more newly constructed homes going onto the market, there's been a bump in prices. They shot up 6.2% year over year, according to realtor.com data.However, there are still plenty of bargains in the area. Folks can snag ranches starting in the low $100,000 range.