Bedford Stuyvesant

Bedford-Stuyvesant has come a long way since its days of crime and crack when its unofficial motto used to be, "Bed-Stuy. Do or Die."

The cleaned-up neighborhood has become one of the last frontiers for those being priced out of more gentrified Brooklyn areas.

Bed-Stuy has some of the most well-preserved brownstones in all of Brooklyn. The details, including moldings and fireplaces, are similar to what you would see elsewhere, but at a fraction of the price. Other architectural assets of the neighborhood include the Center for Art and Culture designed by I.M. Pei.

The Lofts on DeKalb, which began construction in 2006, feature 32 modestly-built lofts with 14-foot ceilings. Many of the properties hit sales records in the area, with the average price coming in at $390,000.

As you walk down the main drag of Nostrand, you can see that the neighborhood still has a bit of growing to do. Beauty salons, tiny ethnic restaurants, dollar stores and local markets are spaced between fast-food chains.