A new report from RealtyTrac revealed that overall foreclosure activity was down a sharp 23% year-to-date through October, but it’s a different story for the priciest properties nationwide.
For homes worth $5 million and above, the foreclosure rate was actually up 61% during the same time period.
Of course, the volume is nowhere close to that of more modest homes. In fact, less than 200 properties with price tags north of $5 million have received a foreclosure notice so far this year.
That compares to 1.2 million properties in all value ranges through October.
Miami Mansions Finally Getting Foreclosed On
The biggest surge was seen in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale metropolitan area, where 47 properties valued at more than $5 million received foreclosure notices, a 488% increase from a year ago.
The Los Angeles metro had the second highest number of super jumbo foreclosures with a total of 35, but the foreclosure rate was up only 3% from a year earlier.
Third was the Atlanta metro, where a total of 18 $5 million plus foreclosures translated to a 260% year-over-year increase.
The Orlando metro was the fourth most active with 12 high-end foreclosures representing a 500% increase in activity. Put another way, just two $5 million homes got notices last year.
Rounding out the top five was the New York-Northern New Jersey metro area, which saw a 29% year-over-year increase thanks to its nine $5 million+ foreclosures.
[How Long After Foreclosure Can I Purchase a Home?]
What the Increase Could Signal
So clearly the volume isn’t that large, which makes the percentage increases less significant, but it does mean banks are changing their tune somewhat.
RealtyTrac VP Daren Blomquist noted that it could mean lenders are more financially stable to handle these large losses now. And that a stronger housing market comes with more prospective buyers, which translates to higher prices for these expensive properties.
A few years ago, foreclosing on these behemoths may have meant multi-million dollar losses.
Today, the damage may be a lot less substantial thanks to renewed demand and a lack of supply relative to the buyer pool.
This new analysis reminded me of a post I wrote two and a half years ago, in which ForeclosureRadar founder Sean O’Toole argued that larger loan balances equated to longer foreclosure timelines.
In other words, borrowers with enormous loan balances, such as those with $5 million properties, were more likely to be severely underwater, which would cost the banks big if they foreclosed.
It’s one thing for a homeowner to be $20,000 underwater on a $200,000 property. But when a homeowner is $1 million deep, the lender might pause before pursuing that loss.
Another possibility is that most of the states that saw major percentage increases are judicial states, meaning foreclosures are handled through the courts and take a lot longer to process, so starting with the smaller ones might make more sense.
It could also be that these states are finally seeing a turnaround, whereas other states have already scored major appreciation since hitting bottom.
For the record, Florida and California accounted for more than 60% of all “ultra high-end foreclosures” so far this year, though activity is actually down in the Golden State compared to a year ago.
In the world of sports, only a handful of names can rival the legendary status of Lionel Messi.
Known as the Messi-ah of soccer, the Argentinian athlete has racked up countless achievements and awards, including the elusive World Cup in 2022, which took him 16 years to finally win.
When he’s not busy scoring goals and making defenders question their life choices, Leo Messi is living it up in his seriously swanky mansions and condos. He has a net worth of around $600 million, so it comes as no surprise that Messi would splurge on his homes.
With properties in different parts of the world, many fans wonder – “Where does Leo Messi live now?”
The star athlete has been busy growing his real estate portfolio since 2017, so it can be hard to keep up with his whereabouts. But, as he is currently playing for Inter Miami, he has now settled in Vice City.
And while he’s still keeping things under wraps — until he finds the right mansion to put down roots in Miami — we’ve put together a list of Lionel Messi’s houses and condos in recent years, to give you an idea of the soccer star’s options when it comes to housing.
Lionel Messi bought a couple of million-dollar condos in Miami
Back in 2019, before his MLS move to Inter Miami, Messi dropped $5 million to buy an oceanfront condo unit at Porsche Design Tower in Sunny Isles Beach.
His unit totals 3,555 square feet and has three bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms (swipe for pics).
The 60-story luxury condominium offers ultra-luxurious amenities, including a car elevator that allows residents to drive their cars straight to their apartments, providing privacy for high-profile celebrities and billionaires. Messi reportedly sold his unit for $7 million in 2021.
Later, he purchased another luxe Miami penthouse at the Regalia Residences, just 10 blocks away from his first condo.
Messi decided to go big on the upgrade and purchased the whole ninth floor for $7.3 million.
The four-bedroom penthouse has lots of living space, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows that framed the scenic beach views perfectly. Seven months after he closed the deal, Lionel Messi’s condo was relisted and ended up back on the market.
He lived in a lavish mansion in Barcelona
Prior to his move to the States, Messi’s primary residence was a lavish mansion in Barcelona.
He built the property in the upscale Bellamar neighborhood in Castelldefels. According to reports, he bought the house in 2009 for $2 million and spent millions more on renovations. It is rumored that he bought the adjacent lot as well, just because the neighbors were too noisy and he wanted some privacy.
The mansion features modern architecture and Mediterranean-themed indoors, with hardwood floors and spacious living areas.
Outdoors, there’s a large garden, a barbeque pit, a pool, and a small playground for Messi’s kids. To keep himself in good shape, Messi also had a small football field installed on the side of his house.
Messi, along with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their three sons, stayed in this mansion for over a decade while he was still playing for Barcelona. It remains unclear if he still owns this property or if he sold it after he switched teams.
Reports say that Lionel Messi also purchased a property near his childhood home in Rosario, Argentina, so he can visit his hometown whenever he wants. Details of this home have been kept secret to protect his family’s privacy.
Leo Messi also has a growing hotel portfolio
Messi doesn’t hold back in his pursuits and this extends to his ventures in the realm of real estate.
He entered the hotel business in 2017 and acquired MIM Hotels, managed by Majestic Hotel Group, run by his brother Rodrigo.
Over the past years, the footballer-turned-hotelier has been adding more properties to his hotel chain. Now, the group owns six hotels with locations in Sitges, Ibiza, Majorca, Baqueira, Sotogrande, and Andorra.
Many football fans can’t help but compare Messi to his rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who also runs a chain of hotels. The two superstar athletes can’t seem to shake off the competition even off the field. Messi, however, leads the business game with his expanding luxury hotel chain.
Loving life in Miami
While there have been no reports on where Leonardo Messi lives in Miami, it looks like he and his family have settled into their new life in the US. They were spotted shopping for groceries in the local supermarket, all in casual clothing, looking cheerful and perfectly at ease.
In an interview, Messi shared how happy he is with his decision to move to the States.
“I came here to play and to keep enjoying soccer which is what I loved my whole life and I choose this place because of all those things,” he said.
“I can tell you that I am very happy with the decision I made and for how my family and I live our day-to-day lives and how we enjoy the city and this new experience and how the people received us from the first day, from the people of Miami and the people of the US in general.”
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Nestled along the coastline of South Carolina, Charleston is renowned for its cobblestone streets, centuries-old architecture, and vibrant culinary scene. This city is timeless and dynamic with a legacy shaped by its pivotal role in American history, its alluring waterfront, and a unique blend of Southern hospitality. But you may be wondering, what is Charleston known for? Whether you are looking to rent an apartment in Charleston or purchase a home in the area, in this Redfin article, we look at 6 things that make Charleston the city as it’s known today.
1. Distinct churches
Charleston boasts several churches that reflect the city’s rich history and cultural heritage. The city’s religious landscape encompasses many denominations and architectural styles. Historic churches such as St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, dating back to the 18th century, showcase exquisite Gothic Revival architecture. The Circular Congregational Church, known for its unique circular shape, is a testament to Charleston’s nonconformist roots. The French Huguenot Church is a tribute to the city’s early French Protestant settlers. At the same time, the Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim synagogue, one of the oldest in the United States, highlights Charleston’s Jewish community. With over 400 places of worship, it’s no wonder Charleston is nicknamed, “The Holy City.”
2. Exquisite Southern cuisine
From soul-warming comfort foods to innovative reinterpretations of classic dishes, Charleston’s food scene offers a journey through Southern cuisine. At the heart of Charleston’s culinary identity are iconic Lowcountry staples such as shrimp and grits, which blend fresh local seafood and creamy grits. Reflecting its agricultural roots, Charleston also focuses on farm-to-table dining, where restaurants showcase produce from local farms. Classic Southern ingredients like okra, collard greens, and cornbread are lovingly prepared and given modern twists in upscale eateries and down-home diners. And, of course, you can always dive into the delicious barbecue delights Charleston is known for.
3. Historical buildings
Known for its preservation efforts, Charleston showcases several centuries of diverse architectural styles. The city’s Historic District features antebellum mansions with intricate wrought ironwork, showcasing the pre-Civil War era. Some notable examples include The Nathaniel Russell House and the Aiken-Rhett House. The Four Corners of Law, a convergence of governmental and religious buildings, showcase the city’s legal, religious, and civic heritage. As one of the oldest cities in the United States, Charleston boasts many colonial-era buildings, such as the Pink House and the Heyward-Washington House. The preservation efforts extend to historic churches like St. Philip’s Episcopal Church and the Circular Congregational Church. Not to mention, the city is connected by beautiful, well-preserved cobblestone streets.
4. Beautiful sandy beaches
From the bustling shores of Folly Beach to the tranquil expanses of Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island, Charleston’s beaches offer diverse experiences. Some notable beaches include Folly Beach, frequented for its laid-back atmosphere which draws surfers and sunbathers alike. In addition, Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island provide a more serene escape with their pristine stretches of sand and relaxed ambiance.
5. Rainbow Row
Rainbow Row is one of Charleston’s most iconic and picturesque landmarks, showcasing vibrant historic houses along East Bay Street. The thirteen colorful Georgian and Federal-style houses are a visual delight and hold a historical significance dating back to the 18th century, as they represent Charleston’s resilience and revival after a devastating fire in 1776. Once facing neglect, these homes were restored in the 20th century, breathing new life into the neighborhood and sparking a preservation movement that continues to shape Charleston’s identity.
6. Watersports and activities
Charleston’s waterfront offers engaging activities that capitalize on the city’s coastal allure. The Charleston Harbor is the perfect location for boat tours and charters providing opportunities to sail its tranquil waters while taking in panoramic views of the city’s skyline and historic landmarks. Waterfront parks like Waterfront Park and White Point Garden offer spots for picnics and leisurely strolls, inviting visitors to savor the cool ocean breeze and revel in the lush green spaces. For those seeking more active pursuits, kayaking and paddleboarding allow for an up-close encounter with the harbor’s natural beauty, with chances to spot dolphins and diverse marine life.
Malcolm in the Middle star Frankie Muniz just put his Phoenix mansion on the market for $3.5 million. This isn’t the first time the former child star, who originally moved to the Phoenix area when he was pursuing a career as a race car driver, has bought and sold property in the region.
His 5,300 square foot mansion with four bedrooms and five baths has a lush garden paradise vibe going on, which is quite the contrast to the surrounding desert climate.
The property is known as Il Segreto (The Secret)–a fitting name for an Arizona oasis. If you’re into homey, bungalow styled mansions, then this place just might be your dream home. Don’t take my word for it, though, check out the pictures below.
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Photos via Realtor.com
Carter Wessman
Carter Wessman is originally from the charming town of Norfolk, Massachusetts. When he isn’t busy writing about mortgage related topics, you can find him playing table tennis, or jamming on his bass guitar.
A landslide struck Laguna Beach’s Bluebird Canyon in 1978 — smashing cars, buckling streets and destroying 24 homes. An adjacent swath of earth broke loose in 2005, wiping out 12 more homes.
That wasn’t enough to keep Scott Tenney away. In 2010, Tenney and his wife, Mariella Simon, bought a 15-acre hillside ranch near the disaster area despite the listing warning that the property was on the site of an ancient landslide.
“We knew we’d have to do a bit of terracing and retaining, but California is what it is,” Tenney said. “It’s a dynamic place not just culturally, but geologically.”
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From an outside perspective, his might seem a confounding decision. But in Southern California it’s an extremely common one, because that geological diversity, as Tenney calls it, is not just the danger. It’s the allure.
Elevation has long been aspirational here — an escape from the urban flats.
Since settlers first started pouring in from the relative flatness of the East Coast and Midwest, they were captivated by California’s vertiginous landscape. Plein air painters flocked to capture the light of the arroyos. Health seekers sought the clean air of the San Gabriel foothills. Folk rockers found inspiration in Laurel and Topanga canyons. And the moneyed elite started building their houses higher and higher above the basin, forever seeking the trophy perch with the show-off view.
But that perch has always come at the risk of catastrophe. Homes slide into a gulch in Palos Verdes. Fires roar over the Malibu hills. A debris flow kills 23 people and destroys 130 homes in Montecito. Heavy snow traps thousands in the San Bernardino Mountains. And winter storms pull fragile bluffs into a rising sea.
These natural disasters so often occur where the tectonic plates collided and folded into beautiful vistas.
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While other regions may face only one main disaster threat — tornadoes in the Midwest, hurricanes on the Gulf and East coasts — California’s extreme topography brings siege from all sides: the ocean, the trees and brush, the sky above and the ground below. And oftentimes, the most attractive areas are some of the most dangerous.
A land of disasters
More and more people are crowding into the Wildland Urban Interface — the zone of transition between unoccupied land and human development. It’s where properties mingle with undeveloped (and often steep) land, and it’s uniquely susceptible to natural disasters.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, this area grows by 2 million acres a year as people fan out to the edges of wilderness in search of affordable houses, more space or simply a break from life in the city. And California holds more homes in this dangerous zone than any other state in the country.
And prices keep soaring. It doesn’t matter if a house sits on stilts on the side of a cliff, if it’s a landslide complex slowly sliding toward the sea, or if it’s predicted to be knee-deep in water in a couple of generations — there will always be a buyer.
As Californians flock to risky areas, disasters take a greater toll. Over the last decade, the state has experienced 20 disasters that each cost at least $1 billion in damage from flooding, wildfire and extreme heat. Those 20 alone combined for 783 deaths, according to National Centers for Environmental Information.
According to the real estate listing database Redfin, the trend is nationwide. Last year, the country’s most flood-prone, heat-prone and fire-prone counties all saw more people move in than out. Redfin researcher Sheharyar Bokhari blames one primary factor: the housing affordability crisis.
“L.A. and most other coastal cities are expensive. With remote work becoming more of an option, people are finding they can have more space and finally afford a home if they move to riskier areas,” he said.
Bokhari said another L.A.-specific factor is development — mainly that there’s not as much being built in the city compared to the more rural areas surrounding it.
He points to the Inland Empire, which is typically more affordable than L.A. County. In Riverside County, roughly 600,000 homes face a high risk of wildfire, the most of any of the 306 high-fire-risk counties in the country. Despite that, the county’s population grew by 40,000 over the last two years.
Even if experts — and common sense — say to stay away from certain areas, Bokhari said that won’t likely happen because local governments aren’t incentivized to push people out.
“These disaster-prone cities need revenue and people paying taxes,” he said. “They just claim that they’ll be more resilient and take more safety measures going forward,” he said.
Where else would I go?
Since moving onto the ancient landslide zone, Tenney and his wife founded Bluebird Canyon Farms, which offers workshops and grows food for local markets. His time is split between that and taming the erosion-prone land beneath the farm.
To combat sliding land, Tenney installed a gravity wall, 200 feet long and 9 feet tall, to retain the hillside. In addition to grading the terrain to make the slopes gentler, he added powerful drainage systems and timber-and-concrete cribbing to keep structures in place.
The work never stops, and Tenney keeps a monthly schedule to keep up with tasks. Clear brush in spring. Clean storm drains in September. Inspect terracing every few months.
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“You can run but you can’t hide,” he said, adding that urban centers such as L.A. have their own laundry lists of things to worry about: crime, homelessness, etc. “You won’t experience a wildfire in downtown L.A., but there are plenty of other things to be concerned with.”
Cribbing systems used by Tenney have become commonplace in Portuguese Bend, a small coastal community on the Palos Verdes Peninsula situated on a slow-moving landslide complex. Land moves up to 8 feet a year, and at that rate residents would rather ride the sliding earth toward the sea than sell and move somewhere else.
“I’ll be here until I can’t be here anymore. I’ll slide away with the land,” Claudia Gutierrez told The Times in July after a nearby landslide in Rolling Hills Estates sent a handful of homes careening down a canyon.
You’d think the real estate market in disaster-prone areas would eventually slow down, but there are no deals to be found for house hunters. Longtime residents often stay put post-disaster, and incoming residents consistently pay a premium to live in a scenic, though potentially dangerous, area.
In cities tucked among the foothills of the Verdugo and San Gabriel mountains such as Altadena and La Cañada Flintridge, buying in a high-fire-risk zone might be ever-so-slightly cheaper than buying in a safer place. And buyers pounce.
“My clients try to choose low-fire-risk zones, but if the house in the fire zone is the right price, that is more important,” said Brent Chang of Compass.
When Lisa and Michael McKean got home to Malibu Park from their honeymoon on Nov. 8, 2018, they were so exhausted that they went straight to sleep. The newlyweds didn’t even bother unpacking their suitcases of swimsuits still wet with Caribbean saltwater.
When they woke up, Lisa looked out her back window and saw a 10,000-foot cloud of billowing black smoke.
The Woolsey fire was ravaging the Malibu hills.
The pair grabbed their still-packed suitcases and fled to the Zuma Beach parking lot, where they spent the day surrounded by horses, dogs, cats and neighbors all wondering if their homes would survive.
Theirs, built a year earlier, did not.
“The entire neighborhood burned,” Lisa said. “Everything was black, scorched earth.”
Devastated, the pair spent six months crunching numbers on the cost of rebuilding versus moving. The home that was destroyed had taken four years to approve and three years to build. Their next one could take even longer.
Despite the damage, and despite the ceaseless, inescapable risk of a future fire, they ultimately decided to stay and rebuild.
Cheryl Calvert has lived in Malibu since 1985 and has adapted to a life of fire. To her, the flames are nearly routine.
“Once you make it through your first one, you realize it’s manageable. But you have to plan ahead,” Calvert said.
She keeps two bags packed at all times: one full of goggles and N95 masks and one with dog supplies.
Calvert has experienced plenty of fires during her time in the coastal community, but the worst was the Corral fire in 2007. She was in the driveway as the flames arrived, and she sprayed the corner of her wooden home with a hose as it ignited. Her guesthouse and garage burned down, but the house was saved.
She never considered leaving. Instead, she became more prepared, installing an extra water tank and leaving a pair of shoes by the front door at all times for quick escapes.
“We have to do crazy things, but it’s only crazy for an hour or two every five or 10 years,” she said.
She ran down the usual list of reasons why people move to Malibu: the beautiful landscape, the ocean breeze, the sweeping views. But she said the main reason her and so many of her neighbors stay is because of the community.
“We’re all living near like-minded people who are willing to risk themselves for each other,” she said. “It’s a bunch of hippies. Rich hippies.”
The psychology of staying
A life among the trees, coasts and cliffs is often what lures Californians to disaster-prone communities, but according to experts, the factors that make them stay after a disaster strikes are much more complicated.
Age, race and class can all indicate whether someone is more or less likely to move after experiencing a disaster. For example, Zhen Cong, professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, found that in the wake of tornados, the middle class might be the most inclined to move since the upper class has the resources to stay and rebuild, while the lower class is often trapped and has no other choice but to stay.
Other relocation factors include the level of damage to the home and whether the person owns the place or rents. But often the most important factor is one that can’t be easily quantified: “People who have a strong sense of place and a strong sense of community are less likely to move,” Cong said.
Ironically, some disasters can even encourage people who otherwise would have left to stay.
In studying post-tornado relocation decisions across the country, Cong found that after a disaster, people increase their disaster preparedness. Part of that includes gathering supplies, but it also includes social engagement: talking to neighbors, sharing information on social media and attending meetings. That engagement, which might not happen if a tornado doesn’t strike, brings a greater sense of community, leading people to stay in that community.
Anamaria Bukvic, an assistant professor at Virginia Tech who studies coastal hazards and population displacement, found that after Hurricane Sandy struck the East Coast in 2012, non-geophysical factors mattered the most in deciding whether to stay or leave. For example, confidence in adapting to future disasters was a more relevant indicator if someone would stay than how close they lived to the ocean.
“The experience of flooding can be emotionally disturbing and traumatic,” Bukvic said. “When facing problems, some people try to avoid them. Others try to resolve them.”
She added that confidence in government plays a major role as well. If a person believes the government responded well to the disaster and will keep them safe during the next disaster, they’re more likely to stay.
That’s something that Malibu Mayor Bruce Silverstein thinks about when overseeing the city’s disaster response plan. Although L.A. County is responsible for physically fighting the fires that plague the area, Malibu has instituted a free service in which residents can request a fire-hardening expert to inspect their property to better prepare them for the next blaze.
The city also outlaws certain types of vegetation susceptible to fire and tries to prevent excessive population growth in order to make evacuation from hills and canyons easier during emergencies. It’s the main reason accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are harder to build in Malibu than L.A.
“Unlike L.A., we don’t have standards that encourage growth,” Silverstein said. “We maintain the status quo and try to keep space between properties so if one catches on fire, it doesn’t extend to the neighbors.”
Michael Dyer, a former Santa Barbara County fire chief who now serves as public safety director for Calabasas, said safety became a top priority for the city after Woolsey, energizing the community into forming multiple volunteer commissions that plan for disaster preparedness.
“We have to provide that service as a government,” Dyer said while monitoring a brush fire in Topanga from his front porch. “No one has forgotten Woolsey yet. And as long as I’m here, we won’t.”
No simple fix
As the climate crisis worsens and the Wildland Urban Interface grows in size, experts are eyeing ways to mitigate the effects of natural disasters to save both the environment and human lives.
L.A. is currently considering an ordinance that would limit development in the Santa Monica Mountains. Using recent wildfires and the Rolling Hills Estates landslide as examples, supporters said the measure would make it harder to build mansions and large hillside homes as a way to limit damage caused by disasters, as well as protect open space and wildlife.
In addition, national insurers such as State Farm and Allstate are no longer selling insurance policies in wildfire-prone areas after a series of catastrophic fires raised premiums. Without insurance, people might be disincentivized from buying and building homes in risky areas.
Redfin is also tinkering with a way to warn people of a home’s potential dangers. The company conducted an experiment in which it showed a listing’s flood risk score to certain users but not others and found that those who were shown the scores were less likely to bid on the home.
The scores have since expanded to show risk for fire, heat, drought and storms.
In the meantime, Californians continue to build, and rebuild, in disaster-prone areas. Lisa and Michael McKean, whose home burned down in 2018, moved back into Malibu Park in 2021.
As neighbors slowly filter back into the neighborhood, they walk around to measure progress and congratulate those who have returned.
“We used to hate cement trucks and jackhammers, but now we celebrate them,” Michael said. “The cheery sound of construction.”
From stately mansions adorned with exquisite details to modern marvels designed for seamless contemporary living, Westchester County, NY, stands as a haven for potential homebuyers seeking luxury living. If you’re already on the hunt for a home in the area, or just starting to think about living in White Plains, NY or another city in Westchester County, you’ll find yourself surrounded by an array of exquisite features and amenities.
As you embark on a journey to explore the finest homes this area has to offer, this Redfin article will guide you through the realm of exquisite features that define luxury living in Westchester County. From elegant architectural details to cutting-edge amenities, we unveil the luxury home features that await you.
Top neighborhoods with luxury home features in Westchester County
While Westchester already has a lofty median sale price of $745K, surpassing the national median by over $300,000, Scarsdale, Rye, Irvington, Bronxville, and Larchmont stand as renowned enclaves, synonymous with luxury real estate. Each exudes its distinct charm, where homebuyers are willing to pay premium prices.
Bronxville tops the list for most expensive area, with a median sale price of two million as of June 2023. Known for its vibrant community, Bronxville boasts timeless Tudor-style homes, Mediterranean villas, and proximity to Manhattan – it’s no wonder homebuyers are willing to pay top dollar.
Scarsdale, which saw a median sale price of nearly $1.83 million in June 2023, is known for its majestic Colonial-style residences set against lush backdrops grace the landscape, often featuring sprawling lawns and grand facades. Rye, on the other hand, boasts an exquisite mix of architectural styles, from classic Colonials to elegant Tudors, many accompanied by breathtaking waterfront vistas and with a median sale price of nearly $1.8 million.
Meanwhile, Larchmont charms with its coastal allure, characterized by elegant shingle-style homes and captivating waterfront panoramas that sold at a median sale price of $1.63 million.
With a median sale price of nearly one million, Irvington presents a blend of historic elegance and modern grandeur, showcasing stately Victorian mansions and contemporary estates, harmoniously coexisting amidst tree-lined streets.
Recent trends highlight the remarkable demand for these luxury areas, with competitive homes selling up to 500K over their asking prices. Limited supply and high demand lead to bidding wars, while unique features, location, and investment potential can justify the premium.
1. Three-to-four car garage
Luxury homebuyers value 3-4 car garages for their practicality and versatility. These spacious garages offer secure parking for multiple vehicles, protecting vehicles from the elements to preserve value and ensure their condition. Beyond car storage, the extra space allows for organized storage, maintaining a clutter-free living environment. The additional space can also be repurposed as a workshop, providing a creative space for hobbies or projects.
2. Large walkout basements
In Nashville, upscale residences commonly feature expansive finished basements boasting notably high ceilings. These spaces not only increase overall living space, allowing homeowners to adapt the space to their liking. Whether it’s a bonus room, home theaters, fitness centers, home bar, or game room, this space transforms into an extension of the main living areas, amplifying the overall lifestyle experience while offering dedicated spaces for leisure and hobbies.
3. New kitchen
Another popular luxury home feature in Nashville is a new open and bright kitchen with high-end appliances that enhance cooking efficiency and convenience. Quality materials, from countertops to cabinetry, create an ambiance of enduring sophistication. With ample space for preparation and gathering, thoughtful design to ensure effortless organization, seamlessly integrated seating areas and counters, elegant finishes and intricate details render the kitchen a true centerpiece—the epitome of the phrase “heart of the home.”
Luxury kitchens are commonly equipped with an extra-large fridge and multiple dishwashers. This offers homeowners a spectrum of advantages, combining practicality, convenience, and elevated living. The ample space of an extra-large fridge accommodates groceries, fresh produce, and culinary essentials, reducing shopping frequency and preserving food quality. Multiple dishwashers streamline post-meal cleanup, particularly during large gatherings, ensuring continuous efficiency and a well-maintained kitchen.
If you’re buying a luxury home in Westchester County, NY, your Redfin Premier Agent is equipped to offer valuable insights into the local market, including insight into the neighborhoods, highly sought-after amenities, pricing trends, and available luxury properties.
In the glittering landscape of Las Vegas, NV, luxury homes define exceptional living. From guard gates that provide exclusivity and security to high-end appliances that blend style with advanced functionality, this Redfin article will explore five unique luxury home features that encapsulate the essence of lavish living in “Sin City.” So whether you’re looking to rent a house in Las Vegas or purchase a home in the area, keep reading to see what home features should make your list.
What neighborhoods in Las Vegas are known for their luxury home features?
Las Vegas has a number of distinct neighborhoods known for luxury homes. Summerlin offers elegant designs, spacious layouts, and top-notch amenities. Canyon Gate features luxurious estates with expansive interiors and lush landscaping. Whereas The Ridges stand out for exclusivity, featuring custom mansions, a private golf course, and meticulous community services. These neighborhoods epitomize Las Vegas luxury real estate, offering refined living, top-tier comforts, and unmatched extravagance.
5 luxury home features in Las Vegas
1. An entertainment kitchen
In a city known for its world-class entertainment and hospitality, an entertainment kitchen is an extension of the luxurious experiences that define Las Vegas. From hosting extravagant dinner parties to crafting artisanal cocktails, an entertainment kitchen is the perfect place for homeowners to host gatherings, cook delicious meals, or bake treats.
An entertainment kitchen usually consists of an expansive island or countertop with seating, high-end appliances like wine coolers and smart ovens, open shelving, and ambient lighting.
2. High-end appliances
High-end appliances are a key home feature for luxury homes in Las Vegas. The city’s reputation for extravagance is reflected in the careful selection of professional-grade appliances for upscale homes. Beyond their stylish appearance, these appliances offer advanced technology, superior performance, and lasting durability, catering to the refined preferences of homeowners who expect the best. Some examples include Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Gaggenau appliances.
3. Resort backyard with pool and built-in kitchens
When temperatures can reach over 100 degrees F°, a private pool and built-in kitchen are a must. The desert oasis setting amplifies their appeal, offering a refreshing escape and a statement of indulgence. Built-in kitchens provide entertainment options and facilitate a seamless transition from poolside relaxation to alfresco dining, allowing people to cool off while enjoying a nice meal.
4. Guard gate
A guard gate is a luxury home feature that combines exclusivity and security. Amid the city’s bustling energy, a guard gate offers enhanced privacy and a beautiful aesthetic to one’s house.
5. Recreational rooms
Mirroring Las Vegas’s renowned entertainment scene, recreational rooms offer dedicated spaces for relaxation and fun, often equipped with advanced gaming consoles, high-end home theaters, arcade games, an in-home bar, or pool and table tennis. Rec rooms provide an immersive retreat for homeowners and guests to unwind, enjoy their favorite activities, and make lasting memories.
Just down the street from my family’s Venice home, workers are smoothing plaster inside a 6,000-square-foot new house whose owners, a young couple from the Bay Area, will soon have a property worth $7 million.
Across from that mansion-to-be is an 11-unit apartment building whose cracked stucco could use a new coat of its mustard-colored paint. The families that live there come mostly from Oaxaca, Mexico, and many of the adults work as employees at restaurants in Venice and Marina del Rey.
Los Angeles is a city historically segregated by race and class. But in our slice of the city, multimillionaires in newly built villas live side by side with the affordable apartments of the people who clean their pools, watch their children and cook their El Pollo Loco orders.
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My family’s neighborhood may be an outlier — or moving inexorably toward full gentrification — but at least for the last three decades, it has also served as vibrant proof that the notion that affordable housing lowers property values is overblown, if not flat-out wrong.
That enduring belief has contributed to widespread not-in-my-backyard opposition that makes building affordable housing in higher-income areas so difficult.
“It is total NIMBYism,” said Adlai Wertman of USC’s Marshall School of Business. “It’s ‘I want to help poor people, just not in my neighborhood.’”
Our neighborhood provides plenty of anecdotal evidence that mixing housing and income levels doesn’t sink property values. In a four-block area, low- and moderate-income apartment buildings and multifamily units are sprinkled among six mega-mansions and older, middle-class single-family homes like ours, which was built in 1924. The lower-income units are not government-subsidized.
In the mustard-colored building, Marin Ceja, a self-employed pool technician, pays $2,000 per month for his two-bedroom apartment, more than $3,000 less than the average for a two-bedroom rental in Venice. Assuming Ceja’s across-the-street new neighbors financed their home with 20% down, they’ll be paying $20,000 per month.
The presence of lower-cost multiunit buildings hasn’t driven down the resale value of homes. The average sale price of homes in Venice has increased by a million dollars in the last 10 years. In the last year, while home prices have declined by 7% countywide, in our neighborhood they rose over 4%.
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Numerous studies show our corner of Venice, east of Lincoln Boulevard and north of Venice Boulevard, is not unique. Low-income housing has a positive impact, or no impact, on neighborhood house values, according to a majority of studies reviewed by A-Mark Foundation, the research and policy nonprofit I lead. Two studies concluded that low-income housing had negative effects on property values in some specific cases.
One 10-year study that looked at property values in the least affordable housing markets in the U.S. — 45% of which were in California — found that newly built low-income housing had no effect on state property values.
That’s been the experience of affordable housing builders too. Loren Bloch, who spent decades developing affordable housing in Southern California, told me that when he insisted on building 22 low-income housing units along with 37 market-rate units in Oxnard in 2001, other developers thought he was crazy.
“But people sucked them up,” he said, “and they lived side by side together.”
Oxnard real estate prices around Bloch’s development have risen by double digits since then.
Tom Safran spent four decades convincing wary, lawyered-up residents that mixed neighborhoods work for everyone, so long as the building quality is high.
After finally winning city approval for 154 affordable units in Del Rey on Culver Boulevard, Safran faced off against a handful of neighbors whose lawsuits delayed construction two and a half years, before they settled on 124 units — which more than 1,800 people applied for in 2013.
His company faced similar opposition to his Thatcher Yard development in Venice, despite bringing in Steve Giannetti, who designed Lady Gaga’s Malibu spread, as architect. Residents fought to scale back the project from 160 units to 98, overruling Safran’s contention that as long as valuable Venice land was available, it should house the most diverse kinds of units, and the largest number of them, that was reasonable.
“Communities work best when they have a range of incomes,” Safran told me. “When people who teach school or do policing or work behind the counter in the dry cleaners don’t have to drive an hour and a half, it creates a more successful society.”
In Los Angeles County, home prices have risen twice as much as wages in the last decade, and the lack of affordable housing drives homelessness, poverty, population loss and glaring income inequality. That’s why Gov. Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass have both called for every neighborhood, rich, poor or in-between, to accept affordable housing.
But the more upscale the neighborhood, the more resistance there is. Upper-income residents who stand in opposition wield a variety of excuses — increased traffic (Manhattan Beach), overcrowding (Redondo Beach), or potential harm to migrating mountain lions (Woodside, really?).
“We’ll never get affordable housing in the Palisades,” Wertman said of the upscale Democratic-voting neighborhood. “The world will end first.”
Former President Trump, as he often does, said the quiet part out loud in 2020 when he blocked an Obama-era rule intended to reduce racial segregation in communities. “I am happy to inform all of the people living their Suburban Lifestyle Dream that you will no longer be bothered or financially hurt by having low income housing built in your neighborhood,” Trump tweeted at the time.
But even studies looking specifically at “more affluent” neighborhoods have found the fears of affordable housing tanking housing prices and increasing crime are unfounded. A 2022 UC Irvine study found that on average in such areas in Orange County, home values increased following the opening of affordable housing.
“Overall, the data on actual home sales do not support the claim that affordable housing depresses local home values,” the authors concluded.
A 2019 Stanford University study showed that housing built using low-income housing tax credits led to a decrease in crime in lower-income neighborhoods and “does not increase crime in high-income areas.”
The Stanford study, unlike several others, did find that low-income housing built in higher-income neighborhoods decreased property values by 2.5%. That could be a result of increased housing supply, said Gary Painter, professor of social innovation at USC, or of residents preferring not to live near multifamily buildings. No studies have disentangled the impact of these two possibilities, he said.
Back to my neighborhood, where below-market rents mix with high-dollar mortgages and taqueros live beside techies. The diversity is not the product of planning so much as timing and evolution. It would be hard to replicate now, not least because land costs combined with beachside NIMBYism have made Venice a notoriously difficult place to build new housing of any kind. (The total number of housing units permitted now in Venice is half the number permitted in the late 1950s, according to an analysis by Dario Alvarez, president of community planning firm Pacific Urbanism.)
When I described the neighborhood to Painter, he said there’s a term for the older multiunit buildings around single-family homes like mine: naturally occurring affordable housing. As a building reaches the end of its useful life, it has fewer amenities and is less valued in the marketplace and therefore is more affordable.
But the result, at least for as long as we’ve been living here, is a vision of what L.A. neighborhoods could and should be: economically and racially mixed.
Painter said that to get that ideal citywide, “we need to build units in all areas of the city.” And not just more affordable housing, but more housing of all kinds.
“The reason that’s fair is that if we have more units, they are a lot easier to be made affordable. We need housing everywhere,” he said.
The more we build in every neighborhood, the more we’ll open up opportunities for people of all incomes to live together. Contrary to popular belief, if we do that, the world won’t end — your property values won’t even go down.
Rob Eshman is chief executive of the A-Mark Foundation.
The growth of megamansions in Bel-Air and other hillside L.A. neighborhoods sparked new city rules over the last decade aimed at stopping overdevelopment.
Now, the city is poised to crack down again on home-building in the hills, this time in the name of preserving wildlife habitats.
A proposed ordinance targets the Santa Monica Mountains between the 405 and 101 freeways, an iconic area crowded with celebrity compounds, modest ranches, public parks and curving roads.
The rules would make it harder to build mansions and additions, as well as bigger homes on steep hillsides. It would add regulations to limit development near open space, protect soil and trees, and consider the pathways of wildlife, such as deer, bobcats or mountain lions.
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Supporters include Councilmembers Nithya Raman and Katy Yaroslavsky, who represent hillside areas; several neighborhood groups and environmental advocates.
Backers cite changing climate, the loss of animal species and the degradation of the hillsides. Wildfires and the recent landslide in Rolling Hills Estates are examples of why the city needs more scrutiny of hillside development, supporters say.
Opponents, who include real estate agents and some homeowners, predict the rules will hurt property values and argue that the hillsides are already built out. Actor and wellness executive Gwyneth Paltrow signed a form letter to the planning department last fall that said the ordinance “burdens homeowners with unnecessary development regulations.”
At the same time, some environmental advocates say the final version of the ordinance was watered down. An earlier requirement for wildlife-friendly fencing so deer could move between lots was scrapped, for instance, after homeowners complained about security.
The proposed law —called the wildlife ordinance — would apply to new homes, additions and major remodels. It passed a key City Hall committee last month and could be taken up by the full City Council before the end of the year.
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Paul Edelman, deputy director of natural resources and planning at the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, described the ordinance as a compromise between the competing interests of homeowners, environmentalists and politicians. The conservancy consulted on the law.
It’s significant that wildlife and habitat would be considered by the planning department, Edelman said. “Before, the city had a blind eye to all of this,” he said.
Then-Councilmember Paul Koretz proposed the ordinance in 2014, envisioning rules that would allow a stretch of land on the side of a home for animals to pass.
The number of deer, in particular, has diminished in some hillside areas, pushed out by construction and traffic, according to environmental groups. A video showing L.A. firefighters helping a deer wedged in a fence illustrates the hazards faced by wildlife.
Other recent high-profile wildlife initiatives include a bridge for animals on the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills and wildlife corridor rules in Ventura County that seek to concentrate development away from the habitat areas.
As Koretz’s ordinance evolved — it is now in its third version — the proposal incorporated other hillside construction elements being debated at the city’s planning department.
Under the proposed law, a new residence that is 6,000 square feet or larger would require additional review by the city’s planning department. Today, homes that are 17,500 square feet or larger spark such a review.
Planned development within 25 of open space would also need additional review.
The goal is for builders to work with city planners to site their homes, pools and garages in a way that is less harmful to the environment and animals.
The ordinance would also close loopholes in existing hillside construction regulations for single-family homes passed in recent years. It would no longer exempt, for instance, basement space toward the square footage of a property as part of an effort to limit hillside grading. The exemption prompted some homeowners to build massive basements, according to the city.
The proposed ordinance also states that no more than 50% of a lot can be covered by a building or other type of structure. The law counts tennis courts, pools and patios towards lot coverage. Exempt from that rule are R1- or R2-zoned lots.
In Laurel Canyon, the noise of machinery scraping the earth could be heard on a recent afternoon near Woodstock Road, where nightclub mogul and film producer Victor Drai is putting up a mansion.
Larger homes are now commonplace: The median new primary structure size in 2020 in the proposed wildlife ordinance area was 8,854 square feet, according to the city.
“We’re getting gigantic homes that displace habitat for wildlife,” said Jamie Hall, president of the Laurel Canyon Land Trust, who supports the ordinance. “There is really no regulation on the books that comprehensibly addresses wildlife and habitat.”
The area targeted for the wildlife ordinance totals about 23,000 acres. About 98% of the land parcels in the area are zoned for low-density residential uses, making up 21,000 acres of residential land, according to the planning department.
Environmentalists failed to win some protections for habitat in the ordinance. They wanted smaller homes — of 3,000 square foot or more — to trigger the planning review. Also, a provision to ban development near rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands was scrapped in the final version.
At a hearing last year on the ordinance, city environmental affairs officer Amanda Amaral urged city planning commissioners to add back in some of the wildlife-friendly provisions.
She told the commissioners that scientists estimate that 1 million species will go extinct in the next few decades.
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The city’s “biodiversity team believes that the revised ordinance has been diluted from its original draft as a result of the weakened requirements,” Amaral said.
At another hearing, an opponent of the proposal called council members “communists” and accused them of penalizing taxpayers. “Go work in Russia!” he said.
Alison MacCracken, a real estate agent, said the ordinance would hurt the property values of even modest-sized homes. She owns such a home in upper Bel-Air, she said, but the ordinance would limit how big an addition she could add because her lot is on a slope.
“These are very constrictive regulations on top of other development regulations,” said MacCracken.
Attorney Ben Reznik, who represents some opponents, including MacCracken, sent a letter last month to Planning, Land Use and Management Committee chair Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson and other city representatives that asked for a formal environmental analysis of the wildlife ordinance.
“The reality is, the city has been using wildlife as a mascot for a stricter hillside regulation ordinance, doing so by making it seem as if the ordinance regulates wildlife, when it does not,” Reznik wrote. “This is both misleading to the public, and a clear due process violation.”
Meanwhile, the ordinance is being closely watched in other parts of the city by those who see it as a tool to regulate hillside development.
Elva Yañez,board president of the preservation group Save Elephant Hill on the city’s Eastside, wants the ordinance expanded to all wildlife-rich areas.
“Given where we are at with the climate emergency,” Yañez said, “we should expand these types of policies when we can.”
Ohio pulses with vibrant cities, quaint small towns, robust industry and natural wonders.
Each corner of Ohio echoes a different rhythm and a unique character, painting a picture of diversity that’s as intriguing as it is inviting. Finding the best places to live in Ohio is not just a matter of preference, but an exploration, an adventure into the heartland of America’s Midwest.
Let’s explore seven of the best places to live in Ohio and the specific attributes that make these cities such special places to call home in the Buckeye State.
When it comes to the best places to live in Ohio, Columbus emerges as an undeniable beacon of culture and character.
Columbus teems with life. German Village (pictured above), is a study in preservation, where meticulously refurbished brick houses whisper tales of a German past, and the aroma of freshly baked pretzels wafts in the air. Contrast this with the urban fabric of Short North, where art galleries jostle for space with trendy boutiques and eclectic eateries on every corner.
Ensconced in the city’s heart is The Ohio State University, a gargantuan center of education that attracts young minds from around the globe. The Buckeye spirit, more than just collegiate loyalty, permeates throughout the city, crafting a sense of community and camaraderie that ignites on football Saturdays.
What truly anchors Columbus among the best places to live in Ohio, however, is its diversity. Columbus is a city where multiple cultures coalesce yet maintain their distinct identities. It is here where an annual celebration of Asian culture thrives within the same city that hosts one of the largest Pride parades in the Midwest.
Columbus is a city where histories are preserved, cultures are celebrated and futures are crafted. It is undeniably a city that promises not just a place to live, but a place to truly belong. It is the reflection of the American spirit, an emblem of the state of Ohio and indisputably one of the best places in the state to call home.
There is an undercurrent of vibrancy and a spirit of resurgence that permeates Cincinnati. It’s a city where tradition entwines seamlessly with innovation, where century-old buildings host start-ups, microbreweries and gourmet coffee roasters. There is a renaissance unfolding in Cincinnati. Its heart is beating at a different pace than ever before and it’s no wonder that this city is quickly rising the ranks among the best places to live in Ohio and the country.
Cincinnati is a city of neighborhoods, each with its distinct character, charm and flavor. The historic Over-the-Rhine district, once a 19th-century German enclave, hums with craft breweries, artisan shops and music venues set in Italianate architecture. The newly revitalized Cincinnati riverfront, now home to Smale Riverfront Park, provides an open space where families and friends gather for picnics, concerts and to take in views of the sparkling river.
Despite being Ohio’s third-largest city, Cincinnati retains a small-town charm. This is a city where people pause to greet their neighbors, and where community festivals and farmers markets serve as social gathering spots. Among the bustle of city life, there’s a deep sense of community. That sense of connection is Cincinnati’s lifeblood and most admirable attribute.
And the city’s strengths extend beyond cultural richness and community spirit. A growing economy, with a strong presence in finance, healthcare and education, provides an abundance of job opportunities. The city is home to more than ten Fortune 500 companies, a testament to its thriving business climate. Moreover, Cincinnati’s education system is robust, boasting well-regarded public and private schools and esteemed universities like the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University.
The cost of living in Cincinnati is another compelling factor. Housing is notably affordable compared to other major U.S. cities, making homeownership attainable for many. The city’s mix of grand, old-world mansions, stylish downtown condos and family-friendly suburban neighborhoods offers something for everyone.
When you dive deep into Cincinnati’s heart, you understand why it is a contender in the list of the best places to live in Ohio. It is a city that embraces its rich history while looking forward to its promising future. A city that provides a bounty of life, work and play opportunities for its residents. Cincinnati is a city that has carved a unique identity and married its Midwest charm with a broader urban appeal. Cincinnati is not merely a city—it’s a thriving community offering an enviable lifestyle.
An undercurrent of tenacious vitality courses through the arteries of Cleveland. It’s one of those places that finds its way into the contours of your memory and as such, should be a prime contender in any discussion regarding the best places to live in Ohio.
The city’s history is as diverse as its population. It has always been a city of industry, with roots embedded deeply in the steel and healthcare industries. And, with NASA’s Glenn Research Center right at its doorstep, Cleveland also actively writing its own legacy of space exploration.
Yet, it would be misleading to suggest that life in Cleveland is purely an industrious affair. The city boasts a culture that could rival cities twice its size. The Cleveland Orchestra is recognized as one of the finest in the world, gracing the beautiful Severance Hall with symphonic melodies that reverberate in the hearts of its listeners. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is here too, a modern-day shrine to music legends, offering a tangible connection to the pulse and rhythm of America’s musical heart.
The city’s green spaces provide a welcome respite from the urban sprawl. The Cleveland Metroparks system, known as the ‘Emerald Necklace,’ encircles the city with a chain of beautiful parks, gardens and hiking trails. These spaces provide a welcome sanctuary for those seeking tranquility in nature’s beauty away from the bustle.
Community is the lifeblood of Cleveland. It is a city built on neighborhoods, each with its unique personality and charm. From the edgy and artsy aura of Tremont to the multicultural haven that is Ohio City, the city pulses with a profound sense of camaraderie.
With a quiet charm that takes its time to reveal itself, Akron stakes its claim as one of the best places to live in Ohio. Nestled within the heartland of the Buckeye State, this once-industrial powerhouse has gracefully evolved into a vibrant hub of culture, innovation and greenery.
The allure of Akron is not just in the present but deeply rooted in its past. It sprang to life during the height of the American Industrial Revolution, earning the moniker “Rubber Capital of the World”. That history has left a legacy in Akron’s architectural cityscape, with the old factories repurposed into lofts, art studios and breweries, painting a picture of the city’s resiliency and innovative spirit.
It’s impossible to overlook the city’s commitment to green spaces. The jewel in this emerald crown is the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, straddling the edges of Akron. With 125 miles of hiking trails and ample opportunities for outdoor exploration, it presents a picture of Ohio at its natural best.
The city’s culinary landscape is a kaleidoscope of flavors. Authentic Polish and Italian establishments rub shoulders with trendy farm-to-table restaurants and vegan bistros, a true testament to Akron’s forward-thinking ethos. The city even has a growing craft beer scene, where old rubber factories are now home to innovative breweries.
Yet, beneath the wealth of amenities, the real charm of Akron lies in the warmth of its people. Students, artists, entrepreneurs and families—all residents of Akron—unify with a deep-seated sense of community and pride in their city. Neighbors greet each other by name, support local businesses and celebrate community events together, creating a strong sense of connection. Sounds like one of the best places to live in Ohio if you ask us.
Dayton is deeply rooted in innovation and invention. It’s a town where two humble bicycle mechanics dared to dream of humans taking flight. Here, in this unassuming spot, the Wright brothers leaped into history. The echoes of this ingenuity and perseverance still resonate in Dayton’s spirit today, cultivating a culture that values creativity and technological advancement equally.
The pulse of life in Dayton beats strongly, fueled by its robust economy. A significant hub for aerospace and defense industries, healthcare and education, Dayton offers a wide range of career opportunities, contributing to its relatively low unemployment rates. Its cost of living, significantly below the national average, adds to its allure, making a higher quality of life attainable even for young families.
Dayton is home to various museums, art galleries, theaters and music festivals. The Dayton Art Institute showcases exhibitions that crisscross time, geography and genre.
In Dayton, you’ll find more than just a place to live. You’ll find a living, breathing community that hums with the rhythms of work and play, tradition and innovation, solitude and camaraderie. Indeed, in the understated charm of Dayton, Ohio, the extraordinary often resides in the ordinary.
There’s something about Toledo that simply captures the heart. Ranked among the best places to live in Ohio, its charm is undeniable. In Toledo, industry and nature dance an unexpected waltz, and you’ll find a distinctive Midwestern magic humming along its streets, in its people and within its nooks and crannies.
Known as “Glass City,” Toledo is a city where centuries-old artistry coexists with the cutting-edge innovations of tomorrow. Its glass industry, a beacon of technological prowess, offers a counterpoint to the rugged industrial atmosphere of the town. Yet, in the same breath, it acts as a mirror, reflecting Toledo’s shimmering skyline over the Maumee and subtly underscoring the city’s synergy of innovation and tradition.
Toledo, in its modest Midwestern way, is a cultural titan. The Toledo Museum of Art, with its wide-ranging collection, attracts admirers from across the globe. Meanwhile, the city offers an ongoing feast, each dish a testament to the community’s diversity, and local favorites like Tony Packo’s Cafe give residents and visitors alike a taste of Toledo’s unique flavor.
Toledo holds the promise of comfortable living at an affordable cost. Its real estate market offers options that suit every budget and lifestyle, while the presence of strong educational institutions like the University of Toledo provides excellent opportunities for personal growth and professional development.
Toledo doesn’t need to boast its merits. Its strength lies in its quiet confidence, its symbiosis of contrasts and the unassuming charm that makes it not just a great city in Ohio, but a reflection of the heartland itself. For anyone seeking the best places to live in Ohio, Toledo is a city that sings a compelling song.
Bathed in the pastel hues of the setting sun, Youngstown emerges like a silent symphony playing on the strings of rustic charm and urban pulse. Tucked away from the frantic pace of larger cities, this quaint corner of the Buckeye State cradles within its city limits a melting pot of culture, history and a refreshing sense of community spirit. The city, once dubbed the ‘City of Homes’, stands as an unsung anthem in the list of best places to live in Ohio.
What’s most fascinating about Youngstown, is its simultaneous nod to its robust history and its thrust into a promising future. The city bears the mementos of its industrious past with dignity. Mahoning Avenue, once the nerve center of a bustling steel economy, now blossoms with local businesses, boutiques and restaurants that act as a living representation of the city’s ongoing rebirth.
Adding to Youngstown’s appeal is its cost of living, significantly lower than the national average. This affordability coupled with the city’s excellent education system, epitomized by Youngstown State University, makes the city attractive to families and recent graduates alike.
In its quietude, Youngstown murmurs an enchanting tale of resilience, renewal and community. Whether it’s the history lover, the culture enthusiast, the nature aficionado or those yearning for the close-knit community spirit, the city welcomes all with open arms. That’s why, in the landscape of the best places to live in Ohio, Youngstown firmly defends its place on the list.
Find the best place to live in Ohio
Hopefully, this expedition through the best places to live in Ohio has painted a vivid picture of a state rich in history, laden with opportunities, blessed by nature and enriched by community spirit. These chosen locales, each with its unique rhythm, create an enchanting symphony that is Ohio. Explore Ohio apartments today!