Real Estate Blog

Many people are moving away from pricey coastal cities, but the ones that remain are searching for homes in high-priced pockets of already-expensive areas.

The majority of Redfin’s 10 hottest neighborhoods of 2019 have a median sale price of more than $1,000,000—and the others aren’t far from the seven-figure mark.

Redfin’s annual hottest neighborhoods report makes predictions for the coming year using a combination of agent insights and data that shows which areas are seeing rising interest from homebuyers. Somewhat surprisingly, considering competition for homes has recently been slowing in Seattle and the Bay Area, this year’s most desired neighborhoods in the country are all in expensive coastal parts of California and the Seattle and Washington D.C. metro areas. Another trend tying together this year’s neighborhoods is that they’re located away from urban cores, but still close enough for easy commutes into job centers.

Hottest neighborhoods

Although the hottest neighborhoods are all either on the West Coast or the East Coast, the list is more geographically diverse than it was last year. We released last year’s report in January 2018, and at that time nine of the 10 hottest neighborhoods were in the San Jose metro area—and the other one was in San Francisco. This year, just three of the neighborhoods are in the Bay Area, with two in Oakland, which has a median sale price of $718,613. That’s well above the national median, but significantly lower than the $1,085,000 median in San Jose.

“Oakland isn’t cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but compared to San Jose, you’re going to get more house and an easier commute into San Francisco,” said Kalena Masching, a Redfin agent who works in the Bay Area. “The theme right now seems to be that traffic is terrible in the South Bay; it can take people an hour and a half to get from San Jose to San Francisco. People are starting to place more emphasis on a work-life balance and Oakland has highly rated schools and homes that are close to BART stations, which is exactly what our clients tell us they are looking for.”

The absence of San Jose on this year’s list is consistent with the results of Redfin’s most recent migration report, which shows that people are looking to move away from costly coastal areas in favor of less expensive inland areas. But high-priced pockets of coastal cities are still popular for those who can afford to live in them.

“Neighborhoods in and around cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C. are still very desirable places to live if you can afford their high housing costs. They have access to high-paying jobs and amenities like the arts, gourmet restaurants and nightlife,” said Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather. “But as the cost of living increases in these metro areas, low earners are increasingly looking to move out, and the wealthy residents are left competing for homes in the most desirable neighborhoods.”

Below is the complete list of Redfin’s hottest neighborhoods of the year. We’ve also compiled a ranking of this year’s hottest affordable neighborhoods, which uses a modified methodology to identify neighborhoods that are rising in popularity and are also more affordable for the typical homebuyer. Scroll to the bottom of this report for the three hottest neighborhoods in each of 41 major metro areas. All statistics on median sale price, average sale-to-list price ratio and percent of homes that sold above list price is from November 2018.

1. Bridle Trails, Bellevue, WA (Seattle metro)

Median sale price: $1,300,000
Median sale price for metro area: $545,950
Average sale-to-list price ratio: 98.4%
Percent of homes that sold above list price: 15.4%

“Located in a suburb of Seattle, Bridle Trails is an extremely desirable neighborhood, largely due to its highly rated schools and quick and easy access to Bellevue, Redmond and Kirkland, which are home to major employers including Microsoft,” said Redfin agent Debbie Barbara. “The neighborhood is known for its large lot sizes and equestrian properties, and a lot of homebuyers also like the fact that a lot of parks in the area welcome horses.”

2. Merriewood/Montclair, Oakland, CA

Median sale price: $1,180,000
Median sale price for metro area: $718,613
Average sale-to-list price ratio: 115.8%
Percent of homes that sold above list price: 79%

“This area is popular for many people because it has its own charming downtown. It’s also known for highly rated schools,” said Kate Norton, a Redfin agent who works in the Oakland area. “The homes themselves are located up small winding roads, and because they’re in the hills, many homes offer views of the Bay Bridge and San Francisco. The lots are often sloped, so many homes are built into the hillside with upper-level decks.”

3. Mission Terrace, San Francisco, CA

Median sale price: $1,260,000
Median sale price for metro area: $1,340,000
Average sale-to-list price ratio: 116.5%
Percent of homes that sold above list price: 81.8%

“Mission Terrace is composed of picturesque homes, flat lots and quiet streets. It has plenty of commuter options and it’s close to several big grocery stores,” said Redfin agent Carlos Barrientos. “It’s become more desirable in the last year for a very simple reason: improvements to Balboa Park, an adjacent city park.”

4. AU Park/Tenleytown, Washington, D.C.

Median sale price: $975,000
Median sale price for metro area: $393,000
Average sale-to-list price ratio: 100%
Percent of homes that sold above list price: 37.2%

“Traveling through the quiet, shaded residential streets in the upper northwest corner of D.C., you might not know you’re just a short metro ride to downtown and everything the nation’s capital has to offer,” said Redfin agent Michael Alderfer. “The neighborhood has mostly older single family homes on slightly larger lots than you’ll find in other parts of the city, as well as condo buildings near the metro and commercial corridor on Wisconsin Ave. New retail development in the Tenleytown area have added to the appeal.”

5. San Rafael Hills, Pasadena, CA (Los Angeles metro)

Median sale price: $1,210,000
Median sale price for metro area: $620,000
Average sale-to-list price ratio: 105.6%
Percent of homes that sold above list price: 73.3%

“San Rafael Hills is a little pocket south of the 134 freeway. It has a woodsy, secluded feel and it’s a little outside the traditional Pasadena real estate market, but in terms of greater Los Angeles, it’s centrally located,” said Sam Najarian, a Redfin agent who works in the area. “People who buy homes in San Rafael Hills can easily access downtown LA, either by using the freeway or taking surface streets. And if you get a property at elevation, you’ll have a view of Old Town Pasadena.”

6. Woodridge, Bellevue, WA (Seattle metro)

Median sale price: $1,087,500
Median sale price for metro area: $545,950
Average sale-to-list price ratio: 100.3%
Percent of homes that sold above list price: 50%

“Woodridge has long been a popular neighborhood for homebuyers. Last year, a lot of homes in Woodridge were going for more than $100,000 over asking price,” said Redfin agent Debbie Barbara. “It’s just minutes from downtown Bellevue and it’s close to major interstates, including I-405 and I-90, which makes for an easy commute. It also has highly rated schools, a neighborhood swimming pool and proximity to great restaurants and shops.”

7. South Pasadena, Pasadena, CA (Los Angeles metro)

Median sale price: $977,500
Median sale price for metro area: $620,000
Average sale-to-list price ratio: 100.9%
Percent of homes that sold above list price: 53.6%

“In South Pasadena, you’ll find homes that are smaller in square footage and higher in price. But homebuyers love the neighborhood because it has highly rated schools from elementary all the way through high school,” said Redfin agent Sam Najarian. “Another attractive part of South Pasadena is the community feel. It’s close to Mission Street, which is really popular for shopping, and the neighborhood puts on events during holidays and over the summer.”

8. Chevy Chase, Washington, D.C.

Median sale price: $1,060,000
Median sale price for metro area: $393,000
Average sale-to-list price ratio: 101.3%
Percent of homes that sold above list price: 53.7%

“Chevy Chase offers stately historic homes with room to spread out. The neighborhood is primarily residential, but shopping and dining options abound in nearby Friendship Heights and Bethesda,” said Redfin agent Michael Alderfer. “While it’s been a highly desirable neighborhood for decades, its appearance on the hottest neighborhoods list shows that homebuyers with large budgets want to be in the District. A buyer with the budget to afford Chevy Chase could explore a number of high-end neighborhoods further outside the city in Maryland or Virginia, but we’re finding many buyers want to be closer in.”

9. Berkeley Hills, Berkeley, CA (Oakland metro)

Median sale price: $1,380,000
Median sale price for metro area: $718,613
Average sale-to-list price ratio: 118.2%
Percent of homes that sold above list price: 81.8%

“Berkeley has a long history of being a desirable city within the Bay Area,” said Redfin agent Kate Norton. “Berkeley Hills has beautifully maintained homes known for their historical touches, and it’s close to great restaurants, shops and parks. And did I mention the views from up there?”

10. Mount Washington, Los Angeles, CA

Median sale price: $981,500
Median sale price for metro area: $620,000
Average sale-to-list price ratio: 105.7%
Percent of homes that sold above list price: 79%

“Mount Washington, in the northeastern part of Los Angeles, has become a hotbed for a few reasons. La Canada has historically been popular due to highly rated schools, and when prices got too high, many people moved south to Eagle Rock. And when people got priced out of Eagle Rock, they started looking further south in Mount Washington,” said Redfin agent Sam Najarian. “Most of the homes for sale are fixer-uppers on the hillside, so it’s been really popular for developers, who are buying properties and building new homes. The whole community has tremendous views because it’s built on a hill, so homebuyers purchasing a south-facing home will get views of downtown and Century City, and buyers facing north will see Pasadena and Glendale.”

The Hottest Neighborhoods of 2019 by Metro Area

Take a look at the list below to see the hottest neighborhoods in your region. The rankings feature three neighborhoods each in many of the largest metro areas in the US, compiled with Redfin user data and agent insights. The neighborhoods below are poised to become some of the most desirable places in the country in the coming year. All data is from November 2018.

Metro area Neighborhood Median sale price Median sale price of metro Average sale-to-list price ratio % of homes that sold above list price Median days on market
Atlanta, GA Brookhaven Fields $392,000 $230,000 97.8% 6.9% 15
Edgewood $395,450 $230,000 98.8% 18% 18
Old Fourth Ward $310,000 $230,000 98.7% 27.7% 24
Austin, TX Rosedale $675,000 $304,004.50 96.7% 8.3% 35
Riverside $406,500 $304,004.50 96.4% 7.1% 43
Northwest Austin $325,550 $304,004.50 98.3% 21.9% 29
Baltimore, MD River Hill $669,100 $270,000 98.6% 6.5% 29
Parkville $204,900 $270,000 98.2% 24% 41
Owen Brown $310,950 $270,000 98.6% 21.2% 17
Birmingham, AL Five Points South $181,000 $195,500 93.7% 14.3% 100
Huffman $109,250 $195,500 98.9% 33.3% 46
Forest Park $329,000 $195,500 98.9% 33.3% 58
Boston, MA West Lynn $370,000 $470,000 96.4% 26.3% 47
Hyde Park $455,000 $470,000 96.9% 33.3% 46
North Woburn $429,000 $470,000 98.9% 33.3% 58
Charlotte, NC Sunset Road $201,500 $240,000 97.4% 41.7% 37
Madison Park $303,000 $240,000 97.7% 13.5% 60
Mallard Creek-Withrow Downs $255,000 $240,000 99.1% 24.1% 45
Chicago, IL McKinley Park $270,000 $230,000 97.9% 35.1% 49
East Garfield Park $170,000 $230,000 99.4% 22.9% 44
Norwood Park $300,000 $230,000 96.9% 15.2% 55
Cincinnati, OH Bond Hill $81,450 $175,000 95.9% 23.1% 89
Roselawn $104,700 $175,000 96.9% 16.7% 75
Wyoming $320,000 $175,000 95.1% 3.6% 81
Cleveland, OH Edgewater $140,000 $145,000 89.8% 9.5% 53
Old Brooklyn $91,000 $145,000 96.1% 19.7% 44
Jefferson $80,650 $145,000 98% 24.1% 41
Colorado Springs, CO Old Colorado City $258,750 $289,026.50 98% 42.1% 38
Wolf Ranch $392,000 $289,026.50 99.6% 29.1% 127
Garden Ranch $285,000 $289,026.50 99.5% 36.59% 41
Columbus, OH The Preserve $330,000 $195,000 99.5% 41.2% 52
Polaris $238,000 $195,000 98.7% 20% 43
Little Turtle $195,000 $195,000 98.3% 13.3% 55
DallasFort Worth, TX Grand Peninsula $304,900 $289,900 n/a n/a 42
Southgate Estates $184,500 $289,900 n/a n/a 39
Westchester $257,400 $289,900 n/a n/a 26
Denver, CO Appleridge Estates $515,000 $393,500 98.9% 13.3% 21
Platt Park $606,250 $393,500 99.1% 19.4% 13
Washington Park West $593,750 $393,500 98% 14.7% 34
Detroit, MI Rosa Parks $46,000 $126,000 89.4% 4.4% 40
Bagley $74,000 $126,000 96.9% 31.9% 16
Grandmont Rosedale $41,250 $126,000 90.7% 18.2% 45
Fort Lauderdale, FL Melrose Park $265,000 $260,000 98.5% 9.1% 54
Pine Ridge $493,125 $260,000 98.2% 16.7% 50
Coral Heights $392,500 $260,000 96.5% 11.1% 63
Hampton Roads, VA Bayview $188,950 $225,000 97.9% 19.6% 48
Ghent $309,900 $225,000 98.2% 18.2% 111
Estabrook $160,000 $225,000 99.6% 21.1% 59
Houston, TX MacGregor $310,000 $235,000 94% 10.3% 64
South Acres-Crestmont Park $150,000 $235,000 97.4% 22.4% 22
Second Ward $299,900 $235,000 97% 16% 59
Jacksonville, FL Tiger Hole-Secret Woods $213,000 $225,000 97.1% 18.2% 60
Settlers Landing $167,000 $225,000 98.6% 23.8% 39
Arlington Hills $170,000 $225,000 96.9% 11.8% 20
Kansas City, MO Olathe $260,000 $210,000 n/a n/a 31
Richfield $199,750 $210,000 n/a n/a 28
New Mark $239,500 $210,000 n/a n/a 58
Las Vegas, NV Downtown Las Vegas $226,812.50 $277,870 98.9% 19.2% 39
Painted Desert $280,000 $277,870 99.4% 21.2% 28
Spanish Trail $429,000 $277,870 96.4% 0% 68
Long Island, NY Bay Shore $330,000 $445,000 98.4% 32.2% 46
East Patchogue $343,000 $445,000 97.3% 16.9% 47
Holbrook $405,000 $445,000 99.1% 36.1% 33
Los Angeles, CA San Rafael Hills $1,210,000 $620,000 105.6% 73.3% 26
South Pasadena $977,500 $620,000 100.1% 53.6% 40
Mount Washington $981,5000 $620,000 $105.7% 79% 24
Miami, FL Norwood $255,000 $290,000 99.8% 37% 38
Coral Gables Section $775,000 $290,000 96.6% 6.1% 96
South Miami $420,000 $290,000 95.5% 3.6% 53
MinneapolisSt. Paul, MN South Uptown $299,900 $265,000 97.4% 12.5% 60
Victory $211,000 $265,000 101% 45.2% 31
Southern Hayden Heights $176,015 $265,000 100.2% 44% 25
Oakland, CA Merriewood/Montclair $1,180,000 $718,613.50 115.8% 79% 14
Berkeley Hills $1,380,000 $718,613.50 118.2% 81.8% 15
Glenview $1,045,000 $718,613.50 121.7% 79% 17
Orange County, CA Tustin Legacy $763,800 $700,000 97.7% 20% 40
South Huntington Beach $462,500 $700,000 99% 27.8% 44
Rossmoor $1,116,000 $700,000 98.8% 25% 48
Orlando, FL Cypress Springs $257,750 $245,000 98.6% 33.3% 16
Lake Como $308,450 $245,000 98.7% 17.9% 19
Bryn Mawr $237,000 $245,000 97.2% 16.1% 15
Philadelphia, PA East Mount Airy $200,000 $199,000 98% 28.1% 27
West Mount Airy $308,760 $199,000 98.3% 25% 35
Bustleton $248,250 $199,000 98.1% 29.4% 11
Phoenix, AZ Willow District $296,000 $264,900 96.6% 0% 59
Tradition East $270,000 $264,900 98.3% 33.3% 34
The Springs $285,120 $264,900 99.5% 11.1% 48
Portland, OR Sabin $576,500 $385,000 102.1% 36.4% 14
Alameda $775,000 $385,000 99% 47.1% 20
West Linn $494,500 $385,000 99.2% 41.7% 19
Riverside, CA Corona $600,000 $360,000 98.8% 23.8% 63
Downtown Riverside $386,750 $360,000 98% 22.2% 45
Dos Lagos $414,500 $360,000 98.8% 0% 51
Sacramento, CA West Roseville $606,000 $388,000 99.3% 25% 45
East Roseville $499,000 $388,000 100.1% 60% 7
Central Davis $677,500 $388,000 98.9% 16.7% 18
San Antonio, TX Beacon Hill $213,264 $220,000 98.5% 46.2% 42
Creekside $170,000 $220,000 98.2% 36.4% 26
Canyon Lake $286,000 $220,000 94.1% 11.1% 80
San Diego, CA Fire Mountain $810,000 $562,250 97.9% 20% 26
Oak Park $421,000 $562,250 99.9% 28.1% 13
Golden Hill $383,500 $562,250 98.8% 28.6% 39
San Francisco, CA Mission Terrace $1,260,000 $1,340,000 116.5% 81.8% 14
Potrero Hill $1,487,500 $1,340,000 106.8% 61.3% 22
Silver Terrace $889,000 $1,340,000 115.1% 100% 15
San Jose, CA Los Altos $2,975,000 $1,085,000 103.7% 62.5% 12
Milpitas 1,023,888 $1,085,000 103% 65.1% 20
Mountain View $1,864,500 $1,085,000 105.3% 72% 13
Seattle, WA Bridle Trails $1,300,000 $545,950 98.4% 15.4% 20
Woodridge $1,087,500 $545,950 100.3% 50% 11
Leschi $770,000 $545,950 98.7% 17.7% 21
St. Louis, MO Benton Park $202,500 $175,000 99.8% 25% 45
Carondelet $67,941 $175,000 94.4% 13.2% 42
The Hill $192,500 $175,000 95.8% 12.5% 43
Tampa, FL Riverside Heights $315,000 $228,000 98% 10.5% 26
Lowry Park North $155,450 $228,000 98.7% 40% 30
Euclid Place-St. Paul $301,000 $228,000 102.5% 26.7% 17
Washington, DC AU Park/Tenleytown $975,000 $393,000 100% 37.2% 10
Chevy Chase $1,060,000 $393,000 101.3% 53.7% 8
Takoma Park $544,500 $393,000 99.2% 37% 22
West Palm Beach, FL Northwest Boca Raton $527,500 $269,000 93.8% 6% 114
Mission Bay $405,000 $269,000 94.4% 5.6% 53
Rainberry Bay $185,000 $269,000 95.6% 5.3% 70

Want even more hot neighborhoods? Here’s a look at Redfin’s ranking of this year’s hottest affordable neighborhoods, which uses a modified methodology to identify areas that are rising in popularity and are also within reach for the typical homebuyer.

Methodology

Redfin’s Hottest Neighborhoods algorithm is a prediction based on year-over-year growth in pageviews of listings and favorites on Redfin.com from June 1, 2017 through November 30, 2017 to June 1, 2018 through November 30, 2018 and on agent insights.

Redfin receives neighborhood data from a third party. Names of some neighborhoods have been changed to reflect local parlance. For instance, we changed the name of Annandale in Los Angeles to San Rafael Hills.

This post first appeared on Redfin.com. To see the original, click here.