Royal Oak Real Estate Market

Centrally located between the northern suburbs and downtown Detroit, the Royal Oak real estate market offers the buzz of city life plus the added benefit of conveniences typically found only in a suburban setting. You can't talk about the city of Royal Oak without mentioning the downtown Royal Oak neighborhood. Royal Oak is known for its nightlife with live music, concerts, comedy shows, outdoor restaurants, and bars. When the weather is nice, the downtown area is busy with foot traffic, comparable to a miniature downtown Chicago-style environment. Visitors to Downtown Royal Oak spend their days strolling on Main Street, Washington Street, and other downtown streets because of the unique features, including brick paving, street furniture, and an abundance of tree and flower plantings.

More than 2,400 individuals and organizations have established their businesses in Royal Oak. Home to an enormous amount of restaurants in Metro Detroit, Downtown Royal Oak's menu of eateries offers laid-back cafes, chic bistros, traditional breweries, and upscale dining. Name it and you will probably find it; from subs to sushi, burgers to bisque, pizza to prime rib, cakes to creme brulee, the Downtown Royal Oak community can satisfy the most discriminating tastes.

The friendly atmosphere is felt among patrons of the four theaters, upscale restaurants, coffeehouses, art galleries, and one-of-a kind boutique shops. The Downtown neighborhood district has created a diverse, one-stop shopping district where customers can visit specialty retail shops. Later, visit one of the many restaurants featuring outdoor patios, and socialize over Starbucks coffee, or just have fun people watching. There is never a boring moment on Main Street.

In 2003 construction began on a number of high-rise condo developments. These were the first of its kind. Some of the hottest developments have been Skylofts Royal Oak located on the corner of 5th and Main Street, Skylofts Market Square located on 11 Mile Road, just two blocks east of Main Street, and Main North Lofts located on the east side of Main Street, just north of 11 Mile Road. The majority are condo lofts with retail and office space on the lower levels. They range in price from $200,000 to upwards of $900,000. The addition of these condos brought more of an upscale environment to the Downtown Royal Oak real estate market.

Royal Oak's population hovers around 60,000 people, with just under 29,000 families, according to the latest census conducted on the community.

The Royal Oak neighborhood's architecture styles range from sprawling brick ranches, bungalows, old world Victorian charmers, high-rise condos, and loft-style condos overlooking Downtown. On the north side of town many houses are newer traditional colonials, and there are even some unique custom-designed homes.

The past couple years there have been more foreclosures in Royal Oak. Investors are starting to buy distressed bank owned homes for very reasonable prices as more homeowners go through the foreclosure process in the Royal Oak community.

Residents from Royal Oak and surrounding communities can receive top quality health care from William Beaumont Hospital, the primary health care facility and largest employer in the Royal Oak real estate area with over 7,500 employees. Other large employers in Royal Oak include Metaldyne, Consumers Energy and DTE.

Royal Oak, Michigan is one of the main cultural attractions of Southeast Michigan. Whether you're on Woodward Avenue or Main Street, come check out the 85 boutiques, salons and retail shops as well as its over 70 restaurants. Enjoy a show at the theater or a day trip at the zoo.

Bring the kids to the Detroit Zoo located conveniently near the I-696 freeway on the south end of town or have a thrilling date night checking out a big name comedian at the Royal Oak Music Theater or Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle. If you want fresh produce or want to buy from local artists, the Farmers Market is a weekly place to shop for all things local.

With 5.3 miles of walkable downtown sidewalks, you'll have your choice of restaurants and activities all throughout the city that are easy to get to. If you want to check out the other neighborhoods, Royal Oak is situated right next to both Ferndale and Birmingham.

The median home value in Royal Oak is at $177,300 and 85% of its homeowners remain in the same home year-after-year.

Royal Oak Community Amenities

Downtown Royal Oak features a wide assortment of community amenities, nightlife, and venues, including The Royal Oak Music Theatre and The Landmark Main Art Theatre. The many restaurants range in fare from take-out sandwiches to high-end establishments specializing in cuisines like Italian, Belgian, Nepali, and others. Varieties of pubs are also available and include dance clubs, upscale breweries, sports bars, and rooftop bars.

The focal point of the year is the Woodward Dream Cruise. Cars cruise Woodward Avenue for an entire weekend showing off the best of the best for auto enthusiasts. During the summer, the Downtown Royal Oak neighborhood is host to hordes of motorcycle enthusiasts from around the Metro Detroit area. On Wednesday nights Main Street is often lined with Harley-Davidsons, whereas Thursday night the streets are filled with sport bikes.

Children and adults of all ages enjoy an excursion to the Detroit Zoo, conveniently located in the Royal Oak neighborhood at the intersections of Interstate 696, Woodward Avenue, and Ten Mile Road.

The freshest in-season produce can be found at the Royal Oak Farmers Market, located at 316 E 11 Mile Road (just two blocks east of Main Street). A legacy since 1927, the neighborhood market sells only food products that Michigan farmers grow themselves.

Royal Oak Neighborhood Highlights

If you're looking for a place to spend a day with the kids, then Royal Oak is a great choice. From movie theaters to the Detroit Zoo and outdoor activities in the summertime, this city is ideal for families to enjoy a day out together. If you're looking for a fun night out with friends or a loved one, then Royal Oak is your meeting place. You'll find the trendiest bars, the most laid-back breweries, the best restaurants and the hottest shows all within the downtown Royal Oak area. Royal Oak, Michigan is a great place to shop, dine, play and reside.

Royal Oak School Information

The Royal Oak School District serves the students of Royal Oak as well as the eastern portion of nearby Berkley. Students in the district consistently score well in the MEAP, and the high school students' ACT Score Composites are higher than both the state and national averages. Royal Oak Neighborhood Schools is a designated Schools-of-Choice district.

There are six elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.

Those seeking a higher education have the option of attending Oakland Community College, located in the heart of Downtown Royal Oak on Lincoln Avenue. Approximately 6,000 students attend day, evening, and weekend classes to upgrade job skills, complete associate degrees, earn transfer credits to universities, and for personal enrichment. Students from Royal Oak and surrounding school systems also have the option of attending the Oakland Technical Center in Royal Oak for advanced technical training and career exploration.

Students may also attend one of several parochial schools in the community including St. Dennis, St. Mary Elementary, and St. Paul Lutheran (preschool through eighth grade). Shrine of the Little Flower provides instruction for preschool through sixth grade, and Shrine High School and Academy for grades 7-12.

Royal Oak Historical Facts

In 1819, Michigan Governor Lewis Cass and several companions set out on an exploration of Michigan territory. They wanted to disprove land surveyors' claims that the territory was swampy and uninhabitable. The beginning of their journey seemed to support those claims, until they reached a desirable area of higher ground near the intersections of Main, Rochester, and Crooks roads. Here they encountered a stately oak tree with a trunk considerably wider than most other oaks. Its large branches reminded Territorial Governor Lewis Cass of the royal oak tree within which King Charles II of England hid to escape the Roundheads following the Battle of Worcester. Cass and his companions christened the tree the "Royal Oak," and so the Royal Oak neighborhood received its name.

Accounts by early residents describe the area as covered with enormous oak, beech, maple, basswood, linden, elm, hickory, tulip, black and white ash, black walnut and butternut trees. The Royal Oak community is often called the "City of Trees."

Early settlers to this region were mainly farmers that cleared the land in order to build their homes and plant crops. Many of the early Royal Oak settlers came from New York. One in particular, known as the first manufacturer of the city, made cowbells, and his home, which he built in 1845, still stands on Main Street.

In 1895, when the Royal Oak neighborhood was incorporated as a small village, there were only a few hundred residents. From 1900 to 1910 the population grew to over 1,000. By the time Royal Oak was incorporated as a city in 1921, the population had exploded to over 6,000. This was due mainly to new jobs created by the booming auto industry. The development of the super highway, Woodward Avenue, led to even greater population expansion.

The image of Royal Oak has changed in the last ten years. Originally thought of as a party town catering to just a young lifestyle, now residents of all ages are enjoying the benefits the city has to offer. Today Royal Oak brings statewide entertainment appealing to all with the Detroit Zoo, the renowned Royal Oak Music Theatre, the Main Art Theatre, Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle, and the many unique shops, community cafes, and neighborhood restaurants which line the streets of the downtown real estate market.

Royal Oak Geographical Location

Within Royal Oak:

• Emagine Theatres and Royal Oak Main Art Theatre - Two theatres in one parking lot. You can see the latest big blockbuster or indie hit. Emagine also offers a full bar and bowling alley if you plan on hanging out after your show.

• Oakland Community College - This city campus has a full-service library and four buildings to accommodate its students.

• Beaumont Hospital - Over 1000 beds make this the 20th largest hospital in the country. With over 90 specialties, Beaumont is a top-notch hospital.

• 3 Major Golf Courses - Red Run Golf Club, Royal Oak Golf Course, and the Normandy Oaks Golf Club are within the city limits but, with many more in the surrounding areas, you'll always have a place to tee off on those summer weekends.

Further Out:

Woodward Avenue, I-75 and I-696 run through or near Royal Oak, making it a great jumping off point when you're headed downtown for a ball game, to the airport, or out of town for the weekend.

• Detroit Metropolitan Airport - 32 mins away

• Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park, Detroit Red Wings at the Joe Louis, or Detroit Lions at Ford Field - 20 minutes away

• Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills - 22 minutes away

• The University of Michigan Ann Arbor - 45 minutes away

• Michigan State University East Lansing - 1 hour 10 minutes away

• Mackinac Island - 4 hours away

Royal Oak City Information

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