A gem for first-time homebuyers, college students and investors
Located just north of downtown Lansing and west of Old Town, Old Forest offers competitive home prices, walkable streets and convenient access to essentials. With 60% of the population being renters, and home prices starting as low as $40,000, this neighborhood is especially popular amongst investors, college students looking for off-campus living and first-time homebuyers. “It’s good for short-term and mid-term investment properties since it’s close to downtown and a straight shot from the airport,” says Cabus Dewey, a Realtor with Exit Realty Home Partners and East Lansing resident. “It’s also a straight shot to Michigan State University.”
The Old Forest neighborhood is located close to downtown Lansing and exciting Old Town.
The Old Forest neighborhood is lined with traditional style homes along tree-lined streets.
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Accessibly priced, established homes
Older bungalows and Craftsman-style homes give the neighborhood a timeless feel, with a few head-turning, freshly remodeled American Foursquares standing proud along residential roads. Prices range from $40,000 for a 3-bed that needs remodeling to $175,000 for an updated 3-bed. Most homes feature stretching driveways, some of which lead to detached garages, providing off-street parking options.
American Foursquare homes are plentiful in the Old Forest neighborhood.
Cozy bungalow-style homes are quite common in the Old Forest neighborhood of Lansing.
Dutch Colonial, American Foursquare, and gablefront homes are common in Old Forest.
A typical American Foursquare home located in the Old Forest neighborhood of Lansing.
Unique two-story bungalow-style home in the Old Forest neighborhood of Lansing.
Newly-built Craftsman-style inspired home in the Old Forest neighborhood.
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Convenient transportation options
This neighborhood is very walkable, bikeable and offers ample public transit options. Residents have access to bus route 3 to their north, and route 12 to their south. Capital Region International Airport is just 3 miles northwest of this neighborhood, and I-69 borders it to the south. To reach Michigan State University’s Lansing campus, residents can take Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard south to I-495 and make it to the campus in just 10 minutes.
The quiet streets of Old Forest are perfect for an afternoon bike ride.
Lansing's CATA bus line can take you virtually anywhere from the Old Forest neighborhood.
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Shopping and dining in downtown and Old Town
One of the main draws to Old Forest is that, as Dewey explains, “You’re close to downtown, several businesses and restaurants.” Lunch at Capital City BBQ is a capital idea thanks to the generous selection of barbecue, Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches and flavorful pho. Across the street, residents enjoy Margaritas and authentic tacos on the patio of El Azteco. By crossing the Grand River, residents can experience everything Old Town has to offer. A former runner-up in the selection process for Michigan’s Capitol Complex site, Old Town has had new life breathed into it thanks to local businesses like Blue Owl Coffee. “Literally the last 10 or 15 years have seen people and businesses revitalizing the Old Town area,” says Brian Ozbun, a Realtor with Bellabay Realty, LLC. Residents head to go to Gorman’s Food Market, north of the Grand River, or to Capital City Market, in Lansing’s Stadium District, for groceries. By driving 4 miles west to Waverly, they can visit Lansing Mall and the abundant number of shops in the surrounding area including Target, Aldi and Meijer.
Stop in to taste the Vietnamese cuisine of Capital City BBQ in Old Forest.
Friends gather to enjoy the nightlife in Old Town, located adjacent to Old Forest.
Get a coffee or a non-alcoholic coffee cocktail at Blue Owl Coffee in Old Town, near Old Forest.
Grab a hot cup of coffee while shopping at Capital City Market, close to Old Forest.
The Capital City Market is an urban grocery store operated by Meijer, near Old Forest.
Delicious Mexican food can be found at El Azteco, located in the Old Forest neighborhood.
Meet up with friends at El Azteco, which has both indoor and outdoor dining options.
Target can take care of all your needs, but grocery and homegoods, located near Old Forest.
Aldi is cost conscious, full-service grocery store, located near Old Forest.
Located near Old Forest, Aldi offers lower cost grocery items and fresh produce.
Bananas and other fresh produce can be found at Target, located near Old Forest.
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Comstock Park and the Lansing River Trail
Old Forest’s Comstock Park features a small but well-loved playground in a sea of green space. Residents use the park to play soccer, have picnics and walk four-legged friends. In Old Town, they enjoy walking or cycling along the Lansing River Trail. The 20-mile pathway curves through the heart of Lansing, connecting highlights from Old Town to REO Town, the Lansing Lugnuts minor league baseball stadium, and the Impression 5 Science Center.
A mother an daughter walk across the spacious Comstock Park.
While living in Old Forest, you can attend a Lansing Lugnut game at Jackson Field.
While with the kids, be sure to visit Impression 5 Science Center in The Stadium District.
Walk your dog along the Lansing River Trail, located just outside the Old Forest neighborhood.
A mother and child walk towards the Comstock Park playground in Old Forest.
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Schools in walking distance
Kids attend Mid-Michigan Leadership Academy from kindergarten through 8th grade. The tuition-free, public charter school holds a D-plus rating on Niche and is within walking distance for most. Also nearby is Willow School, which has a C rating on Niche and served Pre-K through 4th grade. The next and final step is usually J.W. Sexton High which has a C-plus and serves 7th through 12th graders. Lansing Community College is just south of this neighborhood in downtown Lansing, and MSU is just 5 miles southeast. The community college has a B-minus on Niche and is a top choice for nursing students, while MSU holds an A rating and is ranked the 2nd best college in Michigan.
Lansing Community College is located in downtown Lansing, minutes from Old Forest.
J.W. Sexton High School provides a STEM-based curriculum for Lansing youth.
Lansing's Mid-Michigan Leadership Academy holds a D+ rating on Niche.com.
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Crime, noise and flooding
Old Forest experiences slightly more crimes, with a crime index score of 6. For comparison, the US average is 4, with 1 being the least amount of crime and 10 being the most. Furthermore, although Old Forest experiences less flooding than neighborhoods closer to the Grand River, there are a few flood-prone areas to be aware of. And while airport access is an amenity, residents sometimes have to deal with the noise pollution from aircrafts.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Are you familiar with the Old Forest neighborhood?
to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Old Forest
US
Homicide
5
4
Sexual Assault
6
4
Assault with Weapon
6
4
Robbery
6
4
Burglary
5
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
5
4
Larceny
5
4
Crime Score
6
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Old Forest Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Old Forest, Lansing sell after 27 days on the market compared to the national average of 56 days. The median sale price for homes in Old Forest, Lansing over the last 12 months is $114,250, up 14% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Local Logic measures the walkability, access to public transit and bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
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