WAYNE COUNTY

dents in nearby hospitals. The draw is multifaceted, she says: “It’s close to water and close to Detroit, where there are tons of new restaurants. Here you get that lake-life luxury, with the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club [Grosse Pointe Shores] and Bayview [Detroit], and you’re also close to Belle Isle.”

In 2022, Grosse Pointe Park was named the No. 1 best place to live in Wayne County by Niche, which cited its highly rated public schools, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks along Lake St. Clair. A popular spot in Grosse Pointe Farms is the Pier Park Pool and Beach, which has a swimming area on Lake St. Clair, a pool, a marina, and pickleball courts. Grosse Pointe also has a lively nightlife with numerous bars that regularly host live music, including the

This modest and appealing bungalow was built in 1950. It’s located in the Dearborn School District.

Northville, ranking at No 4. and 5 in the Wayne County luxury market, has a charming downtown that features great eats like 160 Main, Lucy & the Wolf, and Browndog Barlor & Restaurant.

Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe and Cabbage Patch Cafe and Catering.

Public School Review ranks the Grosse Pointe Public School System in the top 5 percent in the state. U.S. News ranks Grosse Pointe South High School as the No. 5 high school in Michigan.

The 48236 ZIP code encompasses part of Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Woods, Grosse Pointe Shores, and part of Detroit.

Washington Township

(48094 and 48095)

No. 1 and No. 2 in Macomb County

Realtor Emer Kenny, of the Emerald Property Team at Keller-Williams Paint Creek & Somerset, says the historic village of Romeo, with its walkable downtown and annual festivals, has drawn homebuyers to this part of Macomb County. “Romeo has made an impact on the whole area — people love the charm, the schools, the cafes.” She says Washington Township also features much larger lots and lower taxes than nearby Rochester and Rochester Hills, and thus newer and larger homes.

“You can even have a pool, with more privacy and space.” Kenny’s sales associate Jackie Bewick says the wide-open area offers residents both suburban and rural living at the same time. “Plus good schools, parks [Stony Creek Metropark], and great restaurants like Bar Verona and the Brown Iron Brewhouse, both on Van Dyke Road.”

Some popular events in Romeo include Terror on Tillson Street — which earned the town the honors of being named one of the best “Halloween towns” in the country (along with Dearborn) by Country Living — and the

Romeo Peach Festival on Labor Day weekend. Fall is also a great time to check out the nearby cider mills: Westview Orchards & Winery and Blake’s Orchard & Cider Mill. Romeo Community School District, which is ranked by Public School Review among the top 30 percent in Michigan, serves Washington and Washington Township.

Highlights

Heights a specialist

Detroit residential properties, says, “Investor activity has slowed within the city of Detroit — now is a great time for buyers to get out there and negotiate a deal with favorable terms.”

Northwest (48221)

No. 3 on Hottest ZIP Codes in Detroit

The most popular ZIP code in Detroit for single-family residential homebuyers is 48221, which comprises Tudor and other architecturally stunning neighborhoods built between the 1920s and ’50s, such as University District, Sherwood Forest, Green Acres, Palmer Woods, and, as Kain notes, the strong-selling Bagley community. “Overall, this market has held fairly steady in terms of number of sales,” Kain says.

Last June, 22-year-old Riley Peters moved from Washington state to a two-story, threebed/1.5-bath brick house built in 1939 near Mumford High School on Wyoming Avenue. He paid $135,000, besting three other offers on the house, which listed for $120,000, and he is delighted with his new home. “I love my neighbors — most people on my street have been there a long time.” Peters, who works as a behavioral therapist for autistic children in Livonia, fell in love with Detroit after his sister moved to Ann Arbor, then Royal Oak, five years ago. “After looking at other towns, Detroit was the place I liked and could see myself living,” he says, adding that his sister now lives with him. Peters bought his home from Kain, who highly recommends the upscalecasual Petty Cash on Livernois as a don’tmiss eatery. Peters has discovered his favorite mom-and-pop burger joint, O’s Burger Bar, on State Fair Avenue, “a create-yourown-burger place.”

This ZIP code puts you close to Palmer Park, which has hiking trails, gardens, a farmers market, and many festivals — plus it’s less than 3 miles from downtown Ferndale.

Indian Village/ East Village (48214)

No. 7 on Hottest Luxury ZIP Codes in Wayne County

This historic area, which includes Indian Village, East Village, West Village, Islandview, and the Joseph Berry community, features many mansions built between 1885 and the 1920s and architectural styles that range from Tudor revival to Romanesque. The Detroit riverfront, which runs along East Jefferson Avenue, features a long row of beautiful high-rise apartment buildings, many built 100 years ago and many with views of Windsor, Ontario, and the 982-acre Belle Isle Park.

“There are many larger homes (2,000-plus square feet) that sit within an active historic district that seeks to retain the character of the area — but that can lead to higher rehabilitation costs,” Kain says, adding that “the Parker Durand, a new-build apartment building, was recently completed in Islandview on Kercheval Avenue.” Residents have their pick of exciting eateries, like the Rattlesnake Club in River Place or Ivy Kitchen + Cocktails on Jefferson, and for coffee and breakfast, try Le Petit Dejeuner, also on Jefferson. As far as nightlife, it is close to Spot Lite and the newly opened Big Pink, which both regularly feature live DJs and dancing.

U.S. News ranks Renaissance High School, Cass Technical High School, and Benjamin Carson High School of Science and Medicine as the top three in the Detroit Public Schools Community District. Popular private schools on the east side are Gesu Catholic, U of D Jesuit High in Detroit, and University Liggett in Grosse Pointe.

A home in Detroit’s East Village, a historic neighborhood with tree-lined streets close to the Detroit riverfront and Belle Isle.

$118,687 $77,520