Baltimore's Seton Hill is a well kept secret.

 Baltimore's Seton Hill is a well kept secret.

 Hello Baltimore real estate enthusiast, recognize this park?

It's Saint Mary's Park in Seton Hill and if you're like a lot of people in Baltimore it might be a park that you've never encountered. Seton Hill is one of the oldest neighborhoods in downtown Baltimore, spared from the damage of the great Baltimore fire of 1904.  Located between Paca and St. Mary Street, this park is adjacent to the Saint Mary's Spiritual Center and Historic Site. 

Another view of Saint Mary's Park in Seton Hill. Every year the Seton Hill Association hosts an annual French Fair and Flea Market in the park to celebrate the history of Seton Hill being Baltimore's "Old French Quarter". Notice how the lamp posts give a Parisian ambiance? 

Walking along Jasper Street feels like you've entered a bygone era, but not just in terms of the architecture.  In the past year fixer-upper properties on Jasper Street have sold between $30,000 and $65,000. Savvy buyer's who elect to renovate these properties can take advantage of the Commission of Historic and Architectural Preservation (CHAP) tax credit program. These tax credits last ten years and are transferable to the new owner. 

An antebellum Federal style residence on George Street in Baltimore's Seton Hill neighborhood. Larger scale fully renovated properties in Seton Hill often trade between $250,000 and $275,000. There is a stable rental market in the neighborhood making this a good community for investors. 

Some of the Seton Hill neighborhood falls within the boundaries of The Bromo Arts & Entertainment District. The nearby H & H building on Franklin Street has long been a building of loft spaces where emerging artists and galleries put on (at times) ferociously good shows. 

This property on the corner of Franklin and Paca Streets is being renovated by an artist-developer as a live / work space. My colleague David Tomasko and I sold it to him in 2014. It operated for decades as a family-owned retail business. Over the past two years David and I have sold four live / work spaces to artists in the Bromo Arts District. If you're in the market for this type of property, we'd love to assist.

Walking distance from Seton Hill you'll find the world famous Lexington Market.  

Over the past two years there has been a quiet buzz about the location as the city has announced plans to undertake a $26 million dollar renovation.  In the meanwhile, should you be contemplating Seton Hill real estate, lunch at Faidley's is a great place to think it over. 

Another Seton Hill neighborhood gem is Trinacria, an old fashioned Italian grocery store.

Its a charming place to pick up olive oil, fresh pasta, and made-to-order sandwiches.

We'll end our brief Seton Hill neighborhood tour at the historic St. Mary's Seminary, which was the first Roman Catholic Seminary in the United States. With a wide range of cool residences to be acquired at prices no higher than $350,000 (and many below $100,000!) Seton Hill gets my vote for Baltimore's best real estate secret. Be sure to explore this off-the-beaten-path westside neighborhood carefully,  for first time buyers and investors alike it's a real estate goldmine.