Homes/Ohio/Cincinnati/5209 Rolston Avenue
CompCasa Property Analysis · single_family

5209 Rolston Avenue

Classic 1918 Norwood Home with Renovation Potential and Garage

1,980 SF, 2 beds, 1.5 baths in established Norwood neighborhood

2 beds1.5 baths1,980 sq ftBuilt 19180.086 acres1-car detached
CompCasa valuation analysis
Estimated market value
$197,285
Low $165,000 · Midpoint $197,285 · High $229,570
Confidence80%Sales comparison approach
Last recorded sale$55,000Nov 18, 1994
Assessed value$52,7492025 assessment
CompCasa estimate$197,285Sep 4, 2026
Estimate vs. last recorded sale+$142,285 / +258.7%
$165,000$197,285 midpoint$229,570
Price / sq ft$99.64
Median sale price$220,000
Avg days on market93 days
Inventory3.5 months

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.

About the property

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.

Comparable evidence

See the properties helping shape the valuation.

Comparable sales

01Sold price$220,100
Property address5208 Rolston Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45212
3 bed2 bath1,400 sq ftBuilt 19200.1 mi4,000 sq ft lot$157/SF
Sold Jun 15, 2025
Subject difference
  • 580 SF smaller
  • 1 additional bedroom
  • 0.5 additional bathrooms
  • Similar lot size
  • 2 years newer
Research comparison noteSimilar age and location; updated interior
02Sold price$185,000
Property address5229 Rolston Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45212
2 bed1 bath1,230 sq ftBuilt 19240.2 mi5,000 sq ft lot$150/SF
Sold Nov 7, 2023
Subject difference
  • 750 SF smaller
  • 0.5 fewer bathrooms
  • 1,254 SF larger lot
  • 6 years newer
Research comparison noteSmaller size; well-maintained
03Sold price$135,000
Property address5409 Rolston Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45212
2 bed1 bath1,170 sq ftBuilt 19260.3 mi4,500 sq ft lot$115/SF
Sold Jan 7, 2025
Subject difference
  • 810 SF smaller
  • 0.5 fewer bathrooms
  • 754 SF larger lot
  • 8 years newer
Research comparison noteSmaller size; needs updates
Comp methodology: Focused on properties within 0.3 miles in Norwood sold or leased in the last 3 years for maximum relevance
Property details

A 1918 conventional on 0.09 acres.

Building

Year built1918
ConstructionFrame
RoofShingle
Heatingforced air gas
Coolingcentral AC

Site & utilities

Lot size0.086 acres
Garage1-car detached
Stories1.5
ConditionAverage
BasementUnfinished
FireplaceNo
Improvement notes2 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, unfinished basement, new gutters installed in fall 2025, 50-year shingle roof approximately 8 years old
Lot area3,746 sq ft
TopographyLevel
FrontageStandard residential frontage on Rolston Avenue
ParkingDetached Garage
Parking spaces1
Parking notesSingle-car detached garage
AccessStandard residential driveway from Rolston Avenue
WaterMunicipal
SewerMunicipal
ElectricDuke Energy
GasDuke Energy
Location & nearby

Norwood

Researched nearby locations

Rookwood Commons & Pavilion (1.2 mi)
Xavier University (1.5 mi)
Norwood Plaza Shopping Center (0.8 mi)
Norwood Recreation Center (0.7 mi)
Drake Park (0.9 mi)

Location

5209 Rolston Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45212

View in Google Maps
Editorial neighborhood context

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.

Nearby access summary

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.

ElementaryNorwood View Elementary School (5/10)
Middle schoolNorwood Middle School (6/10)
High schoolNorwood High School (5/10)
School districtNorwood City School District
Market context

A factual market snapshot around 5209 Rolston Avenue.

Median sale price$220,000
Avg days on market93 days
Inventory3.5 months
1-year appreciation5.0%
5-year appreciation25.0%
Zoning & land use

Single Family Residential

Zoning

Zoning codeR-1
DescriptionSingle Family Residential
JurisdictionCity of Norwood
Assessor useSingle Family Residential
Current useResidential
SetbacksFront 30', side 5', rear 20'

Research-indicated uses

  • Single Family
  • Home Occupation
Verify with the jurisdiction: Zoning, setbacks, and allowed-use summaries are research indicators—not legal advice or a determination that a specific use is permitted.
Tax & sale history

Assessment data and recorded transactions.

Assessed value is kept visually separate from the CompCasa market-value estimate.

Tax assessment

Assessed land$10,091
Assessed improvements$42,658
Total assessed$52,749
Assessment year2025
Annual property tax$2,210
Tax year2025

Sale history

1994-11-18$55,000 · $39/SF
1989-10-11$49,000 · $35/SF
Rental market context

Rental references from the research record.

Context only—not an investment recommendation or guarantee of achievable rent.

Supporting lease references

01Monthly rent$2,000/mo
Property address5208 Rolston Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45212
3 bed2 bath1,400 sq ft$1.43/SF
Leased Aug 1, 2025
Subject difference
  • 580 SF smaller
  • 1 additional bedroom
  • 0.5 additional bathrooms
Research comparison noteUpdated interior; similar location
02Monthly rent$1,800/mo
Property address5229 Rolston Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45212
2 bed1 bath1,230 sq ft$1.46/SF
Leased Dec 15, 2024
Subject difference
  • 750 SF smaller
  • 0.5 fewer bathrooms
Research comparison noteWell-maintained; smaller size
Research findings & due diligence

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
Highlights & features

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
Research transparency

Sources & research confidence.

See where the property research came from and how confidence varies by field.

View sources & confidence
1
Realtor.com property listingView source
2
Zillow property listingView source
3
Homes.com property detailsView source
Important: This analysis is AI-assisted and may contain inaccuracies. It is not a formal appraisal. Verify all critical facts with primary records, licensed professionals, and on-site inspection before making purchase decisions.