Hyde Park (Cincinnati, Mason, North College Hill: custom home, neighborhood, buyer)

[Linda Pratt]

Originally Posted by wherenext?

We also drove around West Chester, but it seemed a little too cookie cutter.

Then you didn't drive around enough! West Chester does have some "cookie cutter" homes in the newer subdivisions, but there are many subdivisions that required that no two homes are alike. Even when we stained or choose brick, we have to have it approved and it had to be different from ever one around us! Look for a neighborhood with mature trees. Schools would be more important to me when choosing a location, than almost anything. Great schools = great property values. Bad schools = declining property values.

[Linda Pratt]

Originally Posted by familygirl

Hi,
Hidden Valley Lake is in Indiana

SCHOOLS!!! What about the schools??? Stay away from HVL!

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by Linda Pratt

Bad schools = declining property values.

Oh ... so that must be why Hyde Park properties are so expensive!

[Pathwalker]

Originally Posted by Linda Pratt

Then you didn't drive around enough! West Chester does have some "cookie cutter" homes in the newer subdivisions, but there are many subdivisions that required that no two homes are alike.

THANK YOU!! I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks there is more to West Chester than so-called "cookie cutter" homes. I mean, come on, people - I LIVE here in West Chester, and I KNOW that people are misinformed about what it's like here. Stop paying attention to everything you read in the papers, and stop listening to everyone who is "anti-suburb". There are great things about living out here, if only people would check them out for themselves.

[familygirl]

To the original post,
Don't trust all of our opinions more than good honest research. Every area will have its advantages and disadvantages. Hidden Valley is a very peaceful area and Sunman Dearbborn schools are good schools.Where we live is not Lawrenceburg schools. Believe me with a family of educators, I have been careful where I choose to live. There are also private schools as I mentioned before. HiddenValley is not a place where you can turn the corner and have a shopping mall, if thats what you are looking for. It is a community that provides parks and fun for only those who live here. There are HOA fees though. The Tristate region is convenient. Mariemont is great! Madeira is good for schools but smaller homes are to be expected in both those areas in that price range.Anderson is wonderful but taxes are a bit higher.We chose this area to avoid certain traffic prone areas of the highway. Certain parts of 75 and 275 are horrible during rush hour. We actually moved from a region a bit shorter distance away than now, but it took 45 minutes to get to work instead of 25 now because of traffic flow. The drive is less stressful. Be sure to do a crime rate check and of course an offender check before purchasing. Check income tax rates because every neighborhood is different and the Dept.of Ed. provides school report cards. Good Luck.

[CincyJim]

Originally Posted by wherenext?

... ... I am looking for some more insider information on Hyde Park. ... ...

Hyde Park=nice!

In the city, with a SAFE, desirable neighborhood. Better than anything but Indian Hill (IM,NSH,O). Shopping all around, good schools both public & private, one big shopping center *(Hyde Park Plaza) with lots of neighborhood shopping. Great, fantastic parks (Alms & Ault) and your own private airport, Cincinnati's first, Lunken Municipal. Hyde Park, Mt. Lookout, Oakley, & some parts of Obrienville would be my ONLY choice.

I may well move from Clifton to Hyde Park soon.

*I forgot the 'new' center Rookwood Pavilion and Rookwood Commons (after the pottery factory that was there).

[Ohiogirl81]

CincyJim, just so you know ... Rookwood Pavilion, etc. was built on the site of the LeBlond manufacturing company, not Rookwood Pottery, which was in Mt. Adams. Next time you're there, check out the writing on that big ol' smokestack.

Oh, and it's in Norwood.

[cincyUK]

It's tough to compare hyde park / mt. lookout and mt. adams to glendale, which isn't really in cincy. The areas are totally different. If you want the cincy experience, move near in the river valley on the east side (HP/ MTL/ Maybe Oakley/ Obrienville)... you will find something in your range in these areas. Also, don't be afraid to check out the other side of the river, which offers better value real estate wise and closer access to the best parts of what the city has to offer (Newport, Wilder, Ft Thomas, Villa Hills, Bellvue, etc.)

[wouldlovetosellNOW]

Hello, I just read your post and my husband and I just moved (November 2006) from Cincinnati to Denver. We were very lucky and sold our home in Wyoming, OH (a suburb of Cincinnati) within 90 days. However, my father is trying to sell his home and is having a very DIFFICULT time, it has been on the market since April 2007. Cincinnati is a market where you need to be very careful. We (both my husband and myself) grew up in Cincinnati and lived there for 42 years. My advice, this is a city where it's all about school districts. People who live in Hyde Park all educate privately. It's very competitive and the BEST all boys private school is definitely St. Xavier High school. I would suggest the following areas if you plan on having children, and if you would ever need to sell fast these areas do well: (they are not listed in any particular order)

1. Wyoming
2. Indian Hill
3. Sycamore
4. Anderson Township

Hyde Park would actually be my fifth choice, but only if I was childless or planned on spending a lot of money to send my children to either parochial or private schools in Cincinnati. Best of luck!

[wouldlovetosellNOW]

What in the world is wrong with North College Hill - you can't give a property away here - any suggestions on how I can see property here?