Old West Side · Buying a Home
Buying a home on the Old West Side
A search built around what you need, a clear read on every home, and a checklist from first showing to closing.
Buying a home on the Old West Side
Buying a home on the Old West Side gives you character and an easy walk to downtown Ann Arbor. Most homes here are two-story houses from the early 1900s, some around 100 years old, on walkable streets. It's one of the neighborhoods I know best.
Some homes have been completely redone. Others keep their original character. Knowing which one fits you is the first step.
Before you fall for a house here, we'll check whether it's inside the local historic district. The district covers the neighborhood's older core, and homes inside it come with city rules about exterior changes. Some blocks to the west and south, mostly from the 1920s, are part of the neighborhood but outside the district.
What to know before you buy
Homes here tend to have smaller square footage unless they've been added onto, so if you need space, we'll look closely at any addition and how it was done. Not every house has a garage, so if parking or storage matters, we check that first.
With an older home, the inspection matters more than ever. Before it happens, I explain what to focus on: safety, structural issues, and foundation issues. We focus on the big items, not the small ones every older home has.
How buying works with me
You get pre-approved, and I set up your search for Old West Side homes. Watching it shows you how quickly homes here go under contract, which helps you be ready to act.
When you find the right home, I pull recent sales and call the listing agent to learn about competition and what matters to the seller. Read more in how I help you from offer to keys.
Start looking
If you're thinking about buying on the Old West Side, call me or send a note. You can also read my guide to the Old West Side, compare buying in Water Hill, or see buying a house in Ann Arbor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Old West Side homes have garages?
Not every one does, so if it matters to you, we check it first.
Are Old West Side homes small?
They tend to have smaller square footage unless they've been added onto.
Can I walk downtown from the Old West Side?
Yes. Downtown Ann Arbor is an easy walk.
Old West Side
What buying a home looks like in Old West Side
Early-1900s two-story homes with character, on walkable streets an easy walk from downtown Ann Arbor.
- The homes
- Mostly two-story homes from the early 1900s, some around 100 years old. Some have been completely redone, and others keep their original character.
- Why people choose it
- Character homes on walkable streets, close to downtown Ann Arbor.
- Getting around
- Walkable streets, and an easy walk to downtown Ann Arbor.
- Nearby
- Downtown Ann Arbor. Murray and Mulholland streets, lined with early-1900s front-gabled houses and front porches. The older core is a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
- The trade-off
- Homes tend to have smaller square footage unless they've been added onto, and not every house has a garage.
The method
How we do it in Old West Side
Buying a Home: keep exploring
Ready to make your move with Nancy Arnold?