Ideal Cincy location for empty-nesters? (Kent, Oxford: appointed, real estate market, condos)

[MyRedSandals]

We currently live in Oxford. We REALLY love the small town life, but the kids are long since grown and gone, leaving us with a house that's way too big. Besides, Hubby drives ~75 miles (round trip) each day to Xavier University, making for a very long day. Since there seems to be a slight uptick in the real estate market, we're now thinking more seriously about relocating much closer to XU, as well as to our church in Oakley.

Ideally, we're looking for neighborhoods that are:

(1) Friendly to empty-nesters but still offering a good mix of singles, young families, etc.
(2) Safe
(3) Well-maintained, owner-occupied properties (where pride in home ownership is evident)
(4) Relatively close to theatre and good eats
(6) Conducive to walking
(7) Welcoming to unobstrusive home-based businesses (we have 2)
(8) Strong schools (we're big believers in education)

With that said, we hope to find some 1-level, nicely appointed (read: updated) bungalows in the $200,000-$225,000 price range.

Just on location alone, living in Oakley or Hyde Park seems appealing, but we're not sure it's possible to find anything there in our price range. Is it?

If not, some of the other neighborhoods on our radar screen include Pleasant Ridge, Golf Manor, Fairfax, Mt. Lookout, and East Walnut Hills. Please tell us if any of these would support our target price range AND meet at least some of our other criteria.

To divert just a bit, we've also considered liquidating our home-based businesses, which would free us up to include much smaller homes and/or condos/townhomes with lower maintenance requirements. Overall, completely reinventing our living accomodations would not be scary for us; in fact, it would be a welcomed change.

We are open to any and all suggestions!!

[cincyohguy]

Originally Posted by MyRedSandals

We currently live in Oxford. We REALLY love the small town life, but the kids are long since grown and gone, leaving us with a house that's way too big. Besides, Hubby drives ~75 miles (round trip) each day to Xavier University, making for a very long day. Since there seems to be a slight uptick in the real estate market, we're now thinking more seriously about relocating much closer to XU, as well as to our church in Oakley.

Ideally, we're looking for neighborhoods that are:

(1) Friendly to empty-nesters but still offering a good mix of singles, young families, etc.
(2) Safe
(3) Well-maintained, owner-occupied properties (where pride in home ownership is evident)
(4) Relatively close to theatre and good eats
(6) Conducive to walking
(7) Welcoming to unobstrusive home-based businesses (we have 2)
(8) Strong schools (we're big believers in education)

With that said, we hope to find some 1-level, nicely appointed (read: updated) bungalows in the $200,000-$225,000 price range.

Just on location alone, living in Oakley or Hyde Park seems appealing, but we're not sure it's possible to find anything there in our price range. Is it?

If not, some of the other neighborhoods on our radar screen include Pleasant Ridge, Golf Manor, Fairfax, Mt. Lookout, and East Walnut Hills. Please tell us if any of these would support our target price range AND meet at least some of our other criteria.

To divert just a bit, we've also considered liquidating our home-based businesses, which would free us up to include much smaller homes and/or condos/townhomes with lower maintenance requirements. Overall, completely reinventing our living accomodations would not be scary for us; in fact, it would be a welcomed change.

We are open to any and all suggestions!!

I think you would really like Mariemont, Madeira, Terrace Park, Montgomery, or Wyoming. All are great communities!

[aquila]

I think Oakley might be doable, but I have my doubts that you'd find anything in your price range in Hyde Park.

Have you thought about Kentucky? Maybe Ft. Thomas...?

[MyRedSandals]

Yes, we've thought about KY... we have no biases about "which side of the river" to live on. But Hubby really doesn't relish the idea of fighting traffic across the bridge to get to/from XU. KY's not entirely off the table, but it is further down the list as an option until we eliminate some of the suitable places in Cincy.

[MyRedSandals]

Thanks for the suggestions! If possible, we'd try to stay within 15-20 minutes drive time of XU. Otherwise, the incentive to move from Oxford diminishes. I guess Mariemont would be the closest of all the communities on your list - we will check it out!

[Hartwell Girl]

wyoming would be closest...their neighborhood is right next to ours and it takes me 10 minutes to get to the dist4 police station for monthly meetings and dist 4 is right by XU.
Good luck on your search!

[goyguy]

Nobody's mentioned Norwood??? Well, now I have.

[Cincy-Rise]

Downtown!

[aquila]

Originally Posted by Cincy-Rise

Downtown!

Believe it or not, that was another thought I had.

[lakefront]

Originally Posted by cincyohguy

I think you would really like Mariemont, Madeira, Terrace Park, Montgomery, or Wyoming. All are great communities!

*nods*

yep!

Do look at Mariemont and Sycamore Township (Montgomery & Blue Ash) - you will probably love these areas if you like Oxford. Wyoming IMO is less ideal for empty nesters than the other places listed... it's very family w/ kids oriented and many bail when they become empty nesters due to the high school district taxes. Its location also makes it a bit of a bubble. Wyoming professional couples in their 50s+ tend to own second homes in other states and don't plan on staying around for their retirement years.