Hottest 'Hoods

For the greater Baltimore real estate scene, it’s almost a Goldilocks moment: The market’s not too hot and not too cold—it’s just about right. Consider that the economy has strengthened, most regions are near full employment, interest rates are still historically low, and housing inventory is shrinking (pay no mind to that skittish stock market). But for some neighborhoods, the market is even better—if you’re a seller, that is. Those are the communities in the most demand, where the "For Sale" sign often says “Under Contract” in just days, not weeks or months. And the speed at which properties sell in these neighborhoods has substantially increased in the past year. We went looking for those especially hot housing enclaves and found plenty of them, in the city as well as all the surrounding counties. You’ll see some familiar ones here, but also some that may surprise you. Bottom line: The average number of days on market (DOM) for all of these neighborhoods is less than 30 days, versus the metro-area average of 71. Want in? You’ll have to move fast. The good news, though, is if you win the bidding war, you’ll probably have no problem selling it down the road, and for a decent price.

This part of town suffers a (somewhat deserved) reputation for often devilish parking challenges, but there’s a lot going for it, too: abundant restaurants and bars, shopping, walkability, the water taxi, harborfront promenades and parks, and amusing distractions including the American Visionary Art Museum, the Baltimore Museum of Industry, and the Maryland Science Center. And the housing choices couldn’t be greater, from charming, creaky, turn-of-the-last-century row homes with rooftop decks to glassy, multi-story condos and high-end rentals with sweeping water views, indoor pools, and concierge services.

Conceived at the turn of the last century by the Roland Park Co. as a quiet, tree-lined, exclusive refuge from the bustle of Baltimore’s business district, Roland Park has retained that character over the years—but, now, fortunately, without any of the racial and religious housing discrimination that defined the early histories of so many high-end communities. Today, the variety of homes, the walkable neighborhoods with their markets, restaurants and shops, and the Olmsted-designed landscapes—as well as its well-preserved good looks and sense of community—have kept the neighborhood in high demand. It also has one of the city’s highest-rated public schools, as well as a gaggle of exclusive private schools.

Sharon Byrd’s job in finance has landed her in many U.S. cities. In all of her relocations, however, she’s never found a neighborhood quite like Mt. Washington.

“I’ve long had a passion for old home construction and homes with good bones,” says the 52 year old, who moved to Baltimore from Indianapolis with her youngest daughter, who's now in college.

“I loved the neighborhood’s mature trees and that no two homes look the same. Homeowners here really take pride in the historical, natural appeal of the area. There’s a lot of pride in ownership and a tremendous sense of community.”

Byrd bought a circa-1920 traditional home with charming details: a big fireplace, crown molding, and wood floors. She enjoys the natural beauty and wildlife in Mt. Washington, which exists alongside the walkability and ambiance of an urban community in a central location with access to the light rail. “My house is cozy, and I think that word fits many houses in the neighborhood,” she says.

Her home overlooks Mt. Washington Village, and she jokes that going up and down the hill is a great source of exercise. She raves about the bread at Ethel’s Creole Kitchen and the crepes at Le Bistro du Village. La Chic Boutique acccesorized her daughter for prom, and she patronizes Ojas for massages and the occasional yoga class. Many business owners live in the area, and Byrd says there’s a real commitment to support those businesses. She credits an active Listserv for keeping neighbors connected. Residents can use the online community to mobilize the search for a lost dog, to give away items no longer needed—even to organize buses for community mobilization such the Women’s March. And this is definitely not the neighborhood to be caught using bee-killing pesticides on your yard.

“My neighbors are very socially conscious and aware,” she says. “I really love the passion and awareness of my neighbors—it’s affirming, especially in these times.”

Say Woodlawn and you might think of the Social Security Administration. But there is a lot more to this neighborhood, with its streets of charming bungalows and unique neighborhoods such as the historic district of Dickeyville. The Forest Park Golf Course and Gwynn Falls/Leakin Park (one of the country’s largest urban wildernesses) give Woodlawn natives green space within the city’s limits.

When Lindsley Hirsh Yisraeli and her husband, Opher, returned to the U.S. from a stint in Tel Aviv, Israel, they wanted to live close to friends and family—and the water. While Opher was willing to forgo his beloved surfing hobby, the couple and their three children at least wanted accessible maritime recreation. Dismayed by the poor rankings of the public schools in Annapolis, they opted to buy in nearby Arnold.

While they could not find the 19th-century historic charmer of Lindsley’s dreams (the family wanted to avoid new construction), in Arnold they found quaint, established neighborhoods with a variety of home styles, each with unique character. Their choice was a 42-year-old four-bedroom, salt-box-style house in the Ulmstead Estates community.

The couple's older kids, ages 8 and 12, are thriving in the public school system (their 2 year old is in private preschool) and making friends in the kid-friendly neighborhood. Lindsley also underscores how nice it is to have great summer camp opportunities at nearby Anne Arundel Community College.

“A lot of the neighborhood is on the Magothy, and there’s a gorgeous park on the peninsula with swings and a playground for the kids,” she says. “The community has a pool, tennis courts, soccer fields—there’s just a really cute vibe.”

One advantage of Arnold is its close proximity to Annapolis. Lindsley drives her eldest son about 10 minutes to tennis lessons at the Naval Academy, and the family frequents the area for everything from groceries to sushi. But they don’t need to leave home if they don’t want to.

“Arnold has everything we need,” she says. “There’s a grocery store, a drugstore, there’s even an organic dry cleaner. And our favorite restaurant is just two minutes from our house.”