Sales comparison approach using comparable sales within the Norwood neighborhood. Adjusted for size, condition, and recent updates. Assessed value of $52,749 appears below market.
Classic 1918 Norwood Home with Renovation Potential and Garage
This 1918-built residence at 5209 Rolston Avenue delivers a substantial footprint—approximately 1,980 square feet—on a modest 3,746-square-foot lot in Norwood. The house presents a familiar early-20th-century frame form with 1.5 stories, a one-car detached garage, and an unfinished basement, offering buyers room to adapt the plan to current needs. Exterior maintenance has been addressed in recent years: new gutters were installed in fall 2025 and the property has a 50-year shingle roof installed roughly eight years ago.
Interior configuration documented in public records lists two bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms, served by central air and forced-air gas heat. The basement is unfinished, which may appeal to buyers looking to add finished square footage or create storage and mechanical space. The property condition is described as average, suggesting some interior updates could help align the home with contemporary standards and preferences.
Location is one of this property’s practical advantages. 5209 Rolston Avenue sits in an area that mixes residential streets with nearby retail corridors and community services—within about a mile of Rookwood Commons & Pavilion and about 1.5 miles from Xavier University. Local municipal amenities include the Norwood Recreation Center and Drake Park, and Montgomery Road is roughly half a mile away as a primary route for regional access. The address has been owner-occupied for multiple decades, which may influence maintenance history and renovation planning.
From an investment and acquisition perspective, the property has been evaluated in the context of recent nearby sales and leases within a 0.3-mile radius in Norwood. The neighborhood market has shown steady appreciation over recent years, and the local market is characterized as balanced with moderate demand and an average sales cadence. Key due-diligence items flagged in the research include confirming interior condition, assessing the unfinished basement for finish potential, verifying zoning restrictions for planned modifications, and completing a professional home inspection and roof assessment.
Overall, 5209 Rolston Avenue is positioned as a substantial older home with exterior updates already completed and clear opportunities for interior modernization. It will likely suit buyers seeking a character home they can adapt, owner-occupants evaluating renovation scope, or investors analyzing value-add potential in a stable Norwood neighborhood.
See the properties helping shape the valuation.
Comparable sales
- 580 SF smaller
- 1 additional bedroom
- 0.5 additional bathrooms
- Similar lot size
- 2 years newer
- 750 SF smaller
- 0.5 fewer bathrooms
- 1,254 SF larger lot
- 6 years newer
- 810 SF smaller
- 0.5 fewer bathrooms
- 754 SF larger lot
- 8 years newer
A 1918 conventional on 0.09 acres.
Building
Site & utilities
Norwood
Researched nearby locations
Location
5209 Rolston Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45212
Norwood is an established inner-ring community with a mix of residential streets and nearby retail corridors. The area offers easy access to shopping and services—Rookwood Commons & Pavilion is about 1.2 miles away and Norwood Plaza is within a short drive—while parks and recreation are close by. The neighborhood is served by the Norwood City School District, and families sometimes explore private school options depending on preferences. Typical lifestyle cues include walkable residential blocks, convenient commuter access via nearby Montgomery Road, and a blend of long-term homeowners and new buyers renovating older houses.
Parks and recreation are within walking distance—Norwood Recreation Center is about 0.7 miles away and Drake Park is roughly 0.9 miles—providing nearby outdoor and community facilities.
A factual market snapshot around 5209 Rolston Avenue.
Single Family Residential
Zoning
Research-indicated uses
- Single Family
- Home Occupation
Assessment data and recorded transactions.
Assessed value is kept visually separate from the CompCasa market-value estimate.
Tax assessment
Sale history
Rental references from the research record.
Context only—not an investment recommendation or guarantee of achievable rent.
Supporting lease references
- 580 SF smaller
- 1 additional bedroom
- 0.5 additional bathrooms
- 750 SF smaller
- 0.5 fewer bathrooms
What the research supports — and what is still worth verifying.
Key findings
- Last sold in 1994 for $55,000; current estimated value between $165,000 and $229,570
- Assessed value of $52,749; annual property taxes of $2,210
- Built in 1918 with 1,980 SF of living space on a 3,746 SF lot
- Zoned R-1 for single-family residential use
- Nearby amenities include Rookwood Commons & Pavilion (1.2 mi) and Xavier University (1.5 mi)
Still worth verifying
Routine buyer due diligence items; these are not known defects.
- Confirm interior condition and need for updates
- Assess potential for finishing basement
- Verify zoning restrictions for future modifications
- Professional home inspection
- Roof condition assessment
What stands out about this property.
Interior Features
- 2 bedrooms
- 1.5 bathrooms
- Central air conditioning
- Forced-air gas heating
- Unfinished basement
- 1.5 stories
- Average overall condition
Sources & research confidence.
See where the property research came from and how confidence varies by field.