Slideshows

Best-Kept Secret Neighborhoods

Where the Locals Want to Live

The real estate website Trulia recently released its Winter 2012 Metro Movers report, which examines all property searches made by homebuyers and renters to see where they hope to buy and rent next.  Topping the list of the most popular places for online house hunters is the Palm Bay- Melbourne – Titusville metropolitan area of Florida. The Sunshine State makes six more appearances in the top 10 most popular metro areas for house hunters.  Despite the foreclosure backlog, more people want to mov
Christian Kober | Getty Images

The real estate website Trulia recently released its Winter 2012 Metro Movers report, which examines all property searches made by homebuyers and renters to see where they hope to buy and rent next. 

Topping the list of the most popular places for online house hunters is the Palm Bay-Melbourne –Titusville metropolitan area of Florida. The Sunshine State makes six more appearances in the top 10 most popular metro areas for house hunters.  Despite the foreclosure backlog, more people want to move to Florida than leave. Of them, the majority of long-distance seekers of central and east coast Florida properties are from New York City. Meanwhile, Chicagoans dominate long distance searches for properties on the Gulf Coast of Florida, the report says.

More than one-third of property searches nationwide originate from more than 100 miles away. Out-of-towners tend to search in well-known neighborhoods such as TriBeCa in New York, Beverly Hills in Los Angeles, and Georgetown in Washington, DC.

“Finding the best place to live in a new and unfamiliar place can be tough. House hunters naturally start their search in a city’s famous neighborhoods but don’t know to look in the neighborhoods that are favored by locals,” said Jed Kolko, Trulia’s Chief Economist. To help prospective homebuyers and renters, Trulia is offering the  “inside scoop” on where locals want to live — places that are often overlooked by out-of-towners. According to Kolko, some of these best kept secret neighborhoods have seen recent gentrification or redevelopment; others have been quietly upscale neighborhoods for decades.

What follows are 10 desirable neighborhoods that tend to fly under the radar in their major American cities.

By Colleen Kane
Posted 6 March 2012

New York

Most Searched-for Neighborhood: Upper East SideSecret Neighborhood: Hunters Point, Long Island City, QueensSecret Neighborhood’s Median Sales Price (from Nov. ’11 – Jan. ’12): $628,203This sub-section of Long Island City is located one subway stop across the East River from Manhattan, so it’s only about a five-minute ride from Grand Central Station. As such, while the borough of Queens might sound remote to those unfamiliar with  New York, the once-industrial and working class ‘hood of Hunter’s
Google Maps

Most Searched-for Neighborhood: Upper East Side

Secret Neighborhood: Hunters Point, Long Island City, Queens

Secret Neighborhood’s Median Sales Price (from Nov. ’11 – Jan. ’12): $628,203

This sub-section of Long Island City is located one subway stop across the East River from Manhattan, so it’s only about a five-minute ride from Grand Central Station. As such, while the borough of Queens might sound remote to those unfamiliar with New York, the once-industrial and working class ‘hood of Hunter’s Point has been gentrifying for years now.

Los Angeles

Most Searched-for Neighborhood: Hollywood HillsSecret Neighborhood: La Brea / Hancock ParkSecret Neighborhood’s Median Sales Price: $847,625Out-of-towners might not know the area names, but they recognize this scene: the palm tree-lined Windsor Boulevard in Hancock Park is nearly as familiar a sight as the Hollywood sign is visible as you drive the road. Definitely not a bad location—Beverly Hills is just to the west and Silver Lake is situated not far off to the east.
Joseph Plotz | Creative Commons

Most Searched-for Neighborhood: Hollywood Hills

Secret Neighborhood: La Brea/Hancock Park

Secret Neighborhood’s Median Sales Price: $847,625

Out-of-towners might not know the area names, but they recognize this scene: The palm tree-lined Windsor Boulevard in Hancock Park is nearly as familiar a sight as the Hollywood sign visible as you drive the road. Definitely not a bad location — Beverly Hills is just to the west and Silver Lake is situated not far off to the east.

Chicago

Most Searched-for Neighborhood: Near North SideSecret Neighborhood: West Town / Wicker ParkSecret Neighborhood’s Median Sales Price: $315,500Wicker Park, a neighborhood of the West Town community area, was Chicago’s Polish Downtown but is now a center of hipster culture, dining, and nightlife. Adding to the Wicker Park appeal is a park with a different name: Humboldt Park.
Google Maps

Most Searched-for Neighborhood: Near North Side

Secret Neighborhood: West Town/Wicker Park

Secret Neighborhood’s Median Sales Price: $315,500

Wicker Park, a neighborhood of the West Town community area, was Chicago’s Polish Downtown but is now a center of hipster culture, dining, and nightlife. Adding to the Wicker Park appeal is a park with a different name: Humboldt Park.

San Francisco

Most Searched-for Neighborhood: Pacific HeightsSecret Neighborhood: Diamond Heights / Glen ParkSecret Neighborhood’s Median Sales Price: $817,000These two neighboring and less-heralded ‘hoods are the mountain with the views (Diamond Heights) and the quaint valley village (Glen Park). The latter has charming independent shops and saloons as well as a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station. 
Google Maps

Most Searched-for Neighborhood: Pacific Heights

Secret Neighborhood: Diamond Heights/Glen Park

Secret Neighborhood’s Median Sales Price: $817,000

These two neighboring and less-heralded ‘hoods are the mountain with the views (Diamond Heights) and the quaint valley village (Glen Park). The latter has charming independent shops and saloons as well as a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station. 

Miami

Most Searched-for Neighborhood: Coral WaySecret Neighborhood:  Key BiscayneSecret Neighborhood’s Median Sales Price: $885,000The village of Key Biscayne is located on its own island south of Miami Beach and across Biscayne Bay from Miami. The island was better known as the country’s largest coconut plantation for the first half of the last century, and it wasn’t developed for residential use until 1951. But as the population has boomed in recent years with the addition of condominium complexes,
Google Maps

Most Searched-for Neighborhood: Coral Way

Secret Neighborhood:  Key Biscayne

Secret Neighborhood’s Median Sales Price: $885,000


The village of Key Biscayne is located on its own island south of Miami Beach and across Biscayne Bay from Miami. The island was better known as the country’s largest coconut plantation for the first half of the last century, and it wasn’t developed for residential use until 1951. But the population has boomed in recent years with the addition of condominium complexes, and after concerns about population density arose a charter was approved in 2007 to allow voters to approve of future land use.  It’s now a tropical residential and resort community.

Washington, DC

Most Searched-for Neighborhood: GeorgetownSecret Neighborhood: Logan CircleSecret Neighborhood’s Median Sales Price: $438,500This residential neighborhood is centered around the Logan traffic circle. Its stately Victorians survived low times in the 1980s and 1990s when the area was on the skids, marked by troubles with drugs and prostitution. But during the 2000s, gentrification swept through and the neighborhood became the site of one of the country’s Whole Foods.
Google Maps

Most Searched-for Neighborhood: Georgetown

Secret Neighborhood: Logan Circle

Secret Neighborhood’s Median Sales Price: $438,500

This residential neighborhood is centered around the Logan traffic circle. Its stately Victorians survived low times in the 1980s and 1990s when the area was on the skids, marked by troubles with drugs and prostitution. But during the 2000s, gentrification swept through and the neighborhood became the site of an enormous Whole Foods.

Boston

Most Searched-for Neighborhood: Back BaySecret Neighborhood: Fort Point / Seaport DistrictSecret Neighborhood’s Median Sales Price: $749,500Fort Point and the Seaport District are located on the waterfront, across Boston Harbor from Logan Airport. The area was also known as the South Boston Seaport District, or Southie, hearkening to the time when it was mostly abandoned mills and warehouses.  

Most Searched-for Neighborhood: Back Bay

Secret Neighborhood: Fort Point/Seaport District

Secret Neighborhood’s Median Sales Price: $749,500

Fort Point and the Seaport District are located on the waterfront, across Boston Harbor from Logan Airport. The area was also known as the South Boston Seaport District, or Southie, hearkening to the time when it was mostly abandoned mills and warehouses. But that time has passed and the prices and rents have climbed — in fact, the local median sales price is up 6.3% over last year.

Houston

Most Searched-for Neighborhood: Great UptownSecret Neighborhood: Spring Branch EastSecret Neighborhood’s Median Sales Price: $ N/A (A recent Average Listing Price was $424,149)Spring Branch East is a wedge-shaped neighborhood located to the northwest of downtown Houston. It has numerous ethnic eateries, access to Interstate 10, the 610 Loop, and other highways
Google Maps

Most Searched-for Neighborhood: Great Uptown

Secret Neighborhood: Spring Branch East

Secret Neighborhood’s Median Sales Price: $ N/A (A recent Average Listing Price was $424,149)

Spring Branch East is a wedge-shaped neighborhood located to the northwest of downtown Houston. It has numerous ethnic eateries, access to Interstate 10, the 610 Loop, and other highways.

Dallas

Most Searched-for Neighborhood: Preston HollowSecret Neighborhood: Greenway ParksSecret Neighborhood’s Median Sales Price: $80,931 is a 150-acre neighborhood located in North Dallas, 3 miles from downtown. I t was designed in 1927 to be pedestrian-oriented, with homes surrounding open private parkways. It features homes designed by numerous architects such as O’Neal Ford and Howard Meyer.
Google Maps

Most Searched-for Neighborhood: Preston Hollow

Secret Neighborhood: Greenway Parks

Secret Neighborhood’s Median Sales Price: $80,931

Greenway Parks is a 150-acre neighborhood located in North Dallas, 3 miles from downtown. It was designed in 1927 to be pedestrian-oriented, with homes surrounding open private parkways. It features homes designed by numerous architects including O’Neal Ford and Howard Meyer.

Seattle

Most Searched-for Neighborhood:  GreenwoodSecret Neighborhood: Sunset Hill / North BeachSecret Neighborhood’s Median Sales Price: $365,000This peaceful and verdant area, located on the Puget Sound with views of Shilshole and Elliot Bays  is a haven for hikers, photographers, and  lovers of the outdoors.
Google Maps

Most Searched-for Neighborhood:  Greenwood

Secret Neighborhood: Sunset Hill/North Beach

Secret Neighborhood’s Median Sales Price: $365,000

This peaceful and verdant area, located on the Puget Sound with views of Shilshole and Elliot Bays, is a haven for hikers, photographers, and  lovers of the outdoors.