Belknap Lookout
Solid value in a growing area
The quick answer
Belknap Lookout is a partly walkable neighborhood, part of Grand Rapids Public Schools and about a mile from downtown Grand Rapids. Homes here typically sell for around $275,000.
31 homes for sale·Median $275K·Walkability 5.0/10·Schools 4.3/10
Climb north out of downtown Grand Rapids and the ground rises fast — Belknap Hill is a 160-foot bluff, and one recontoured slope inside Belknap Park hits a 32% grade at its steepest, steeper than Filbert Street in San Francisco. That elevation is the whole character of the place. The neighborhood sits inside a tight boundary — Leonard Street to the north, College Avenue east, Crescent Street south, and the Grand River west — packed onto a hill that gives Belknap Park some of the best skyline and river views in the city. The streets show their age in a good way. Two of them, Trowbridge Street and North Avenue, still carry 19th-century cobblestone, landmarked in 1975 and worth the detour on foot. Housing runs to older wood-frame homes on small lots, worked into a slope that never quite flattens out, so blocks bend and step with the grade. Coit School, built in 1880, anchors Coit Avenue and is regarded as the oldest operating school building in Michigan. The edges are busy in a way the interior isn't: the Michigan Street corridor along the south rim has grown into the Medical Mile, a dense band of hospitals and research buildings, so the neighborhood sits within walking distance of a major employment and transit spine while its own streets stay residential. Downtown is essentially at the foot of the hill. Belknap Park hosts music festivals in warmer months and draws people up for the overlook year-round. For the association that organizes and advocates for the hill, see the Belknap Lookout association page.
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Why people love it here
$275K median
- 55 sales in last 12mo
City MiddleHigh
- High — 1.1 mi away
- Grand Rapids
- 9 rated schools in district
Park-rich area
- 95 parks within 1 mile
- Coit Park: 3 min walk
- Reservoir Park: 3 min walk
Notable nearby
Explore Belknap Lookout
Same name, different focus — Belknap Lookout is also covered as:
- Belknap Lookout Association — the neighborhood association — community events, meetings, and who represents the area
Conventional Mortgage Calculator
Median home price in Belknap Lookout
Estimated Monthly Payment
$1,867/mo
Property tax and insurance are estimates you can edit — not a quote. Tap either figure to enter your own.
The interest rate shown is not an annual percentage rate (APR). Rate displayed is the current average 30-year fixed rate from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey and is subject to change without notice. Your actual rate, payment, and costs may vary. Contact a loan officer for a personalized quote.
Guild Mortgage NMLS #3274. Equal Housing Opportunity. NMLS Consumer Access. Not a commitment to lend. All loans subject to underwriter approval; terms and conditions may apply. Subject to change without notice. Always consult an accountant or tax advisor for full eligibility requirements on tax deduction.
55 homes sold in Belknap Lookout this year. Thinking of selling?
See what your home is worthMedian Sale · Houses
$258K
24 sales in last 12mo
Median Sale · Condos
$330K
31 sales in last 12mo
Parks Nearby
95
within 1 mile
Nearest Park
Reservoir Park
0.1 mi
Expected Rent
$1,750/mo
$1,625 – $1,900 · estimated range
Based on 29 rated schools nearby
Range: 1/10 to 8/10
School District: Grand Rapids Public Schools
Flood Risk
None
Not in flood zone
Nearest Park
Reservoir Park
0.1 mi
Parks Nearby
95
within 1 mile
Walkability
Fair
Overall walkability score out of 10
Based on actual walk/bike/drive times to nearby amenities via Mapbox
Creston Market
Silva
+1 more
Rowster Coffee
+1 more
Grand Rapids Garage Bar & Grill
+1 more
Coit Park
+1 more
Unnamed playground
Fisk Lake
+1 more
Unnamed beach
Grand Rapids Riverwalk East
Downtown Westside Dog Park
Unnamed bike_path
Comstock Riverside Park Launch
Communitea Wellness
Lafayette/Bradford (NB)
+1 more
Walgreens Pharmacy
Grand Rapids Public Library
+1 more
daycare
Celebration Cinema Studio Park
Crime in Belknap Lookout is reported at the city level, not the neighborhood level. The FBI doesn't publish reliable crime rates for individual neighborhoods, and within any community crime varies street to street. For an accurate, comparable picture, see the jurisdiction-wide figures for Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids crime & safety stats →To buy a median-priced Belknap Lookout home (around $275,000) at today's 6.65% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $49k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $1,852 (principal, interest, property tax est., and insurance).
| Down payment | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $1,852/mo | $49,395 |
| 10% (+PMI) | $2,132/mo | $56,853 |
| 5% (+PMI) | $2,226/mo | $59,360 |
Estimates use a 6.65% 30-year fixed rate (current Freddie Mac average), an aggressive ~45% housing-to-income ratio (roughly what FHA underwriting can allow for a buyer with no other monthly debts — your number depends on your debts and credit), this area's median sale price, plus estimated insurance and PMI below 20% down. Not a commitment to lend, and not an APR — your actual rate and payment will vary.
Multifamily for sale
Listings
3 buildings
Active / pending
Median Price
$320K
Per building
Price Per Unit
$160K
Median
Who actually lends in Belknap Lookout, and how homes here are financed — from 2024 federal mortgage records.
Loans to buy a home
Most active lenders
Homeowners refinancing an existing mortgage
Most active lenders
Source: 2024 HMDA (CFPB/FFIEC). Neighborhood figures are area-weighted estimates from census-tract data; loan amounts are rounded and all-cash purchases are excluded.
Neighborhood Association
Neighbors of Belknap Lookout (NOBL)Association for Belknap Lookout, a hillside neighborhood near the Medical Mile.
Meetings, events, and the area it covers →
Source: nabooklet2020
Association and local-government details are compiled from public records, municipal sites, and state registries, and can change. Confirm directly with the association or municipality before relying on them.
Solar potential
~$868/yr in electricity from a typical rooftop solar system
Produces ~6,334 kWh/yr · offsets ~60% of a typical home's use
Municipal / public water
Based on assessor parcel records
Municipal sewer
Based on assessor parcel records
City of Grand Rapids Refuse & Recycling
City-run refuse/recycling cart program for residents.
Consumers Energy Co · ~13.7¢/kWh
Investor-owned utility serving the region.
Confirm by addressDTE Energy
DTE Gas serves much of Grand Rapids natural gas; verify by address.
Confirm by addressServices for Grand Rapids · Source: grandrapidsmi.gov
Utility, solar, and service details for Belknap Lookout are compiled from public records, municipal sites, and NREL / U.S. data.gov, and can change. Electric/gas can vary by address — confirm with the provider before relying on them.
🛒 Grocery(29)
Grocery Store
Meijer
Grocery Store
Grocery Store
+26 more within 5 miles
🍕 Restaurants(5)
The Chicago Beef Joint
Restaurant
Silva
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
☕ Coffee(15)
White Water Cafe
Café
Rowster Coffee
Café
Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea Monroe North
Café
+12 more within 5 miles
🍺 Bars(9)
+6 more within 5 miles
🏫 Schools(30)
Coit Creative Arts Academy
School
Saint Alphonsus School
Kendall School
Turner School
+25 more within 5 miles
💪 Gyms(14)
Communitea Wellness
Fitness Center
The Loading Dock
Fitness Center
REVfit
Fitness Center
+11 more within 5 miles
🐕 Dog Parks(9)
Downtown Westside Dog Park
Dog Park
Hillcrest Dog Park
Dog Park
Dog Park in Northeast
Dog Park
+6 more within 5 miles
🚴 Trails(5)
Bike Path
Bike Path
Belknap Lookout Trail
Bike Path
Unnamed bike_path
Bike Path
+2 more within 5 miles
⛵ Boat Launches(2)
Boat Launch
Boat Launch
🚌 Transit(30)
Transit Stop
Transit Stop
Transit Stop
+27 more within 5 miles
💊 Pharmacies(13)
Walgreens
Pharmacy
Walgreens Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Walker Street Pharmacy
Pharmacy
+10 more within 5 miles
👶 Childcare(3)
Children's Choice Learning Center at Spectrum Health Child Development Center
Childcare Center
Tutor Time on Grand Ridge Drive
Childcare Center
Childcare Center
📚 Libraries(11)
+8 more within 5 miles
⚡ EV Charging(4)
Unnamed ev_charging
EV Charging
Unnamed ev_charging
EV Charging
EV Charging
Atlas — Grand Rapids Real Estate
Local real estate specialists
Questions about Belknap Lookout? Our team can help with availability, schools, and what it's really like to live here.
Living in Belknap Lookout: the details
Is Belknap Lookout a good place to live?
If you're after a spot close to downtown Grand Rapids, Belknap Lookout is worth a close look — here is what the data shows. When it comes to errands, some shops, cafés and parks are within walking distance, but most errands mean a short drive. This neighborhood is part of Grand Rapids Public Schools. Expect prices centered around $275,000.
What does it cost to live in Belknap Lookout?
The median home value in Belknap Lookout is about $275,000. There are 31 homes for sale here right now and 55 homes sold here in the past year.
Frequently asked about Belknap Lookout
- What do homes cost in Belknap Lookout?
- The median home value in Belknap Lookout is about $275,000. Individual prices vary by street, size, and condition.
- How active is the Belknap Lookout housing market?
- there are 31 homes for sale in Belknap Lookout right now, and 55 homes sold here in the last 12 months. Listings refresh throughout the day from the MichRIC MLS.
- What schools serve Belknap Lookout?
- Belknap Lookout is served by Grand Rapids Public Schools. Its highest-rated assigned school is City MiddleHigh (8/10).
- Is Belknap Lookout walkable?
- Belknap Lookout scores 5.0/10 for walkability — a measure of walking, biking, and driving access to groceries, dining, parks, schools, and transit.
