Old School Forest
Great schools with outdoor access
Median $580K·Walkability 1.6/10·Schools 7.0/10
Late afternoon light hits these condos best—when the sun angles low through the pines and the whole 36-acre property stops feeling like a development and starts feeling like something you actually chose. You're about 27 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids if you need the city, which is close enough to matter and far enough to stay out of it. Homes here run around $580K, the kind of number that buys real land and real quiet instead of a postage stamp in someone else's density experiment. Sparta Area Schools serves the community, and if you want water, Camp Lake is just under a mile away—boat launch included—with an actual park a short walk from your door. The nearest restaurant is 1.4 miles out, grocery another mile past that, so you're not living in isolation, just in the kind of place where you have to mean it when you go somewhere.
Why people love it here
Sparta Senior High School
- High — 2.5 mi away
- Sparta
- 3 rated schools in district
Near the water
- Camp Lake — 0.8 mi
- 5 parks within 1 mile
- Camp Lake: 8 min bike
- Camp Lake Park: 8 min bike
$580K median
- Based on 3yr sales
Conventional Mortgage Calculator
Median home price in Old School Forest
Estimated Monthly Payment
$3,937/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.
Based on 3 rated schools nearby
Range: 5/10 to 9/10
School District: Sparta Area Schools
Flood Risk
None
Not in flood zone
Nearest Park
Camp Lake Park
0.7 mi
Parks Nearby
5
within 1 mile
Nearest Lake
Camp Lake
0.8 mi
Walkability
Car-dependent
Overall walkability score out of 10
Based on actual walk/bike/drive times to nearby amenities via Mapbox
Family Fare
Chase N Dogs
+1 more
Koffee Haus
GR/Sparta Moose Lodge #50
+1 more
Camp Lake Park
+1 more
Camp Lake Park Playground
Camp Lake
Unnamed beach
North Country National Scenic Trail
dog_park
Camp Lake Launch
Rite Aid
Sparta Township Library and Community Enrichment Center
Northstar Cinema
Crime in Old School Forest 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 Kent County.
Kent County crime & safety stats →To buy a median-priced Old School Forest home (around $580,000) at today's 6.49% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $103k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $3,858 (principal, interest, property tax est., and insurance).
| Down payment | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $3,858/mo | $102,873 |
| 10% (+PMI) | $4,441/mo | $118,439 |
| 5% (+PMI) | $4,637/mo | $123,644 |
Estimates use a 6.49% 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.
Solar potential
~$859/yr in electricity from a typical rooftop solar system
Produces ~6,267 kWh/yr · offsets ~60% of a typical home's use
Utility, solar, and service details for Old School Forest 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.
🍕 Restaurants(18)
Chase N Dogs
Restaurant
Palermo Pizza Sparta
Restaurant
Maxine's Family Restaurant
Restaurant
Angela's Pizza
Restaurant
Brick Haus Brews
Restaurant
+13 more within 5 miles
☕ Coffee(5)
+2 more within 5 miles
🍺 Bars(7)
GR/Sparta Moose Lodge #50
Bar
Angela's Italian Restaurant
Bar
Cellar Brewing Company
Pub
+4 more within 5 miles
🏫 Schools(15)
Myers School
Holy Family School
White School
Sparta Senior High School
School
+10 more within 5 miles
🌳 Parks(4)
+1 more within 5 miles
⛵ Boat Launches(3)
Boat Launch
Boat Launch
Boat Launch
💊 Pharmacies(1)
Rite Aid
Pharmacy
📚 Libraries(1)
Sparta Township Library and Community Enrichment Center
Frequently asked about Old School Forest
- What do homes cost in Old School Forest?
- The median home value in Old School Forest is about $580,000. Individual prices vary by street, size, and condition.
- What schools serve Old School Forest?
- Old School Forest is served by Sparta Area Schools. Its highest-rated assigned school is Sparta Senior High School (9/10).
- Is Old School Forest walkable?
- Old School Forest scores 1.6/10 for walkability — a measure of walking, biking, and driving access to groceries, dining, parks, schools, and transit.