Downtown Bloomington and the area around Indiana University have condos, older houses and small multi-unit buildings within walking distance of campus and the square. Living downtown means everything Bloomington has to offer is within walking distance, and if you want to be close to IU, it’s hard to beat.
For the bigger picture, read about buying a home near Indiana University.
Living near the square and campus
Downtown centers around the courthouse square, which is filled with restaurants and shops and leads toward Kirkwood Avenue, 4th Street and, ultimately, IU’s Sample Gates. It’s buzzing with incredible restaurants and local nightlife, with bars, clubs and live music. And downtown hosts festivals all year long: Taste of Bloomington in June, the Fourth of July parade, the 4th Street Festival of the Arts & Crafts and the Lotus World Music & Arts Festival in September, and the Canopy of Lights on the square in November, plus the Saturday farmers market and First Friday gallery walks.
The courthouse square, the heart of downtown Bloomington.
Dave Martin, David Martin Design
Buying a downtown condo
Before you buy a downtown condo, ask the HOA for its budget, reserves, rules and recent meeting minutes, and find out about any special assessments, rental limits, pet rules and parking. And ask whether it’s really a condo; many in Bloomington are set up as PUDs, which changes what you own and what insurance you need. See my Bloomington condos page for the full list of questions.
Older houses and small multi-unit buildings
Many homes near campus are older, so a thorough inspection matters. If you’re looking at a rental or a building with more than one unit, the City of Bloomington requires rentals to be registered and inspected, and occupancy is limited by zoning. Confirm the permitted occupancy for that address before you make an offer. See my investment property page for what to check.
Parking and getting around
Bloomington is a very bike-friendly town, with bike lanes and trails like the B-Line to help you get where you need to go safely. For drivers, there’s street parking throughout downtown, surface lots you can pay for with the ParkMobile app, and four public parking garages: Morton Street, Walnut Street, 4th Street and Trades District. Many downtown and near-campus streets are residential permit parking only, so be sure to check the signs.
Living with the IU calendar
The IU calendar sets the rhythm of the city, and our local schools run on a similar calendar. Summer can be quiet: townie time! Fall brings new students to town, full of optimism and still figuring out our one-way streets. If you’re coming to town to look at homes, check the IU calendar first. Hotels can be hard to find around game days, move-in, graduation and other big weekends.
Curious about living downtown?
Ask me about condos, older houses and what to check near campus.