$779,000
4 bd · 3.5 ba · 3,543 sqft
2156 Palomar Trace Drive, Lexington, KY 40513
Courtesy of Deborah Ball Realty
Listing data updated July 26, 2026
About the Neighborhood
Living in Palomar
Palomar attracts a particular type of buyer, and the profile is consistent: families who have done their research and landed on the Tates Creek school zone as a priority, then worked backward to find the best value within it.
You will find:
Young families who are making their first "forever home" purchase. These are buyers moving up from a starter home or apartment who want a three- or four-bedroom house in a good school district. They may not be able to afford Beaumont or Hartland, but they want the same school pipeline — and Palomar delivers it
Second-time buyers who sold a smaller home elsewhere in Lexington and are upgrading to more space while staying within a sensible budget. The $250,000 to $300,000 price point is the sweet spot for dual-income households in their 30s and 40s
Long-term residents who bought when the neighborhood was new in the 1980s and have stayed for decades. Many of these homeowners raised their children in the Tates Creek school system and remain in the neighborhood through retirement. Their presence creates stability and continuity
Teachers and UK employees who want to live near work in a neighborhood they can afford on a public-sector salary
Downsizers who are coming from larger, more expensive homes in the Tates Creek corridor and want to reduce their housing costs while staying in the same community and school zone (for grandchildren)
The overall character is middle-class, family-oriented, and stable. This is not a transient neighborhood — people come to Palomar and stay.
Young families who are making their first "forever home" purchase. These are buyers moving up from a starter home or apartment who want a three- or four-bedroom house in a good school district. They may not be able to afford Beaumont or Hartland, but they want the same school pipeline — and Palomar delivers it
Second-time buyers who sold a smaller home elsewhere in Lexington and are upgrading to more space while staying within a sensible budget. The $250,000 to $300,000 price point is the sweet spot for dual-income households in their 30s and 40s
Long-term residents who bought when the neighborhood was new in the 1980s and have stayed for decades. Many of these homeowners raised their children in the Tates Creek school system and remain in the neighborhood through retirement. Their presence creates stability and continuity
Teachers and UK employees who want to live near work in a neighborhood they can afford on a public-sector salary
Downsizers who are coming from larger, more expensive homes in the Tates Creek corridor and want to reduce their housing costs while staying in the same community and school zone (for grandchildren)
The overall character is middle-class, family-oriented, and stable. This is not a transient neighborhood — people come to Palomar and stay.
On the market now
Homes for Sale in Palomar
$475,000
4 bd · 2.5 ba · 2,020 sqft
2276 Stone Garden Lane, Lexington, KY 40513
Courtesy of Firefly Realty & Investments
$459,900
3 bd · 2.5 ba · 2,192 sqft
2316 Valencia Drive, Lexington, KY 40513
Courtesy of Louie Su Realty LLC
$424,900
3 bd · 2.5 ba · 2,238 sqft
2208 Stone Garden Lane, Lexington, KY 40513
Courtesy of Coldwell Banker McMahan
$342,000
2 bd · 2 ba · 1,137 sqft
2060 Glade Lane, Lexington, KY 40513
Courtesy of Emmerich Muzic Realty
$329,900
2 bd · 2 ba · 1,442 sqft
3563 Cave Hill Place, Lexington, KY 40513
Courtesy of Calumet Realty
Neighborhood guide
Inside Palomar
- Palomar's housing stock reflects the era when it was built — the late 1970s through the 1980s. This was a period when Lexington builders were constructing larger homes on bigger lots than what you find in the post-2000 developments farther south, and the quality of construction was generally high. Brick was standard, not optional. Lots were planned with space between homes, not squeezed to maximize density.
- Architectural styles: Split-levels, colonials, and ranch homes dominate the neighborhood. Split-levels are the most common — the classic two-story-with-a-twist design that gives you a living area on the main floor, bedrooms above, and a finished lower level that functions as a family room or rec space. Colonials with formal living and dining rooms are also well represented, along with single-story ranches for buyers who prefer everything on one floor
Construction era: Late 1970s through the 1980s. The build quality from this period is generally very good — real brick exteriors, hardwood under carpet in many homes, and solid framing that holds up well
Size range: 1,400 to 2,400 square feet. This is meaningfully larger than what you find in Lexington's older neighborhoods (where 1,000 to 1,400 square feet is typical) and competitive with newer construction that often charges a premium for the same square footage
Lot sizes: 0.20 to 0.40 acres. This is one of Palomar's quiet advantages. These lots were platted before builders started shrinking footprints to increase margins, so you get real side yards, backyards with room for a swing set or a garden, and enough separation between homes to feel like you have privacy
Construction materials: Primarily brick and vinyl siding. Full-brick homes are common and age beautifully with minimal maintenance. Homes with vinyl siding have typically been updated at least once since original construction
Price range: $200,000 to $350,000+, with most transactions falling in the $240,000 to $310,000 range. Updated homes with new kitchens and baths command the top of this range. Original-condition homes in good structural shape can be found at the lower end - The split-level design that dominates Palomar has a loyal following and a few critics. If you have never lived in a split-level, here is what to expect: you enter at a mid-level landing, go up half a flight to the main living area, or down half a flight to a lower-level family room. It creates distinct zones within a relatively compact footprint. Some buyers love the separation — the lower level becomes a kids' playroom or a home office that feels truly separate from the kitchen and living room. Other buyers want an open-concept main floor, and that is harder to achieve in a split-level without significant renovation.
Many Palomar homes still have their original kitchens and bathrooms from the 1970s and 1980s. This is not necessarily a problem — the cabinets from this era were often solid wood, and the layouts are functional. But aesthetically, these kitchens will feel dated. A kitchen renovation in a Palomar home typically runs $25,000 to $50,000 depending on scope, and it will bring your home to the top of the comparable sale range for the neighborhood.
The mature landscaping in Palomar is worth noting. These lots have had 40+ years to develop, and many feature large shade trees, established shrubs, and privacy hedges that would take decades to grow in a new subdivision. This is not just aesthetics — mature tree canopy reduces summer cooling costs and creates a neighborhood feel that money alone cannot buy in a newly built community. - Veterans Park is the major recreational anchor near Palomar and one of the best public parks in Lexington. Located nearby, Veterans Park offers:
Sports facilities: Multiple baseball and softball diamonds, soccer fields, basketball courts, and a regulation running track
Splash pad: A family favorite during Lexington's humid summers — free, no membership required, and well-maintained by the city
Trails: Paved walking and jogging paths that loop through the park, suitable for strollers, bikes, and casual exercise
Playgrounds: Multiple playground areas for different age groups
Open green space: Large open fields for pickup games, kite flying, or just letting kids run
Veterans Park fills the role that a private community pool and recreation center would fill in a master-planned neighborhood — except it is free, city-maintained, and open to everyone. For families with young kids, having a park of this caliber within easy reach of home is a daily-life amenity that matters more than granite countertops.
Palomar's location in the Tates Creek corridor also provides relatively easy access to Jacobson Park (about 10 minutes south), which adds 216 acres of lake access, fishing, disc golf, and trails to your recreational options. - Palomar sits in one of the more convenient commercial corridors in Lexington:
Tates Creek Centre is the closest retail hub, offering grocery stores, restaurants, and everyday services within a short drive. This is your routine errand run — pharmacy, dry cleaner, takeout dinner.
Fayette Mall corridor is accessible within 10 to 15 minutes and provides major retail, dining, and entertainment options. The Mall area and the surrounding Nicholasville Road commercial strip have the highest concentration of restaurants in Lexington, from national chains to locally owned spots.
Man o' War Boulevard restaurants are within easy reach, adding another layer of dining options. The Man o' War corridor has exploded with new restaurant openings over the past decade, and Palomar's south-central location puts you within quick striking distance of the best of it.
For grocery shopping, you have multiple Kroger locations, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe's all within a reasonable drive. You are never far from what you need. - Palomar's commute profile is solid for a south-side neighborhood:
Downtown Lexington: 12 to 18 minutes via Tates Creek Road or Nicholasville Road. Both routes are well-maintained four-lane roads with predictable traffic patterns
University of Kentucky: 12 to 15 minutes. UK Medical Center, the main campus, and Commonwealth Stadium are all accessible without highway driving
Man o' War Boulevard: Quick access to this cross-town connector, which links the east and west sides of Lexington and provides access to I-75
Fayette Mall / Nicholasville Road: 10 to 15 minutes
The commute from Palomar is not the shortest in Lexington, but it is consistent and predictable. You are not fighting highway on-ramps or construction zones — just well-established city roads that handle traffic flow reasonably well. - Palomar has a mixed HOA situation. Some sections of the neighborhood have a homeowners association with modest dues and basic maintenance standards, while other sections have no HOA at all. This is common in neighborhoods built over a 10- to 15-year period by different builders — each section may have its own covenants or none.
Before making an offer on a Palomar home, confirm whether the specific property is subject to an HOA. If it is, review the covenants and current dues. If it is not, understand that you have full autonomy but also no collective enforcement of neighbor property maintenance. - Palomar homes from the late 1970s and 1980s are in a renovation sweet spot. The structures are sound — brick exteriors, solid framing, properly sized lots — but the interiors often have not been updated in 20 to 30 years. This creates an opportunity:
A $30,000 to $50,000 kitchen and bathroom renovation on a $250,000 home can push the resale value to $300,000 or higher
The bones are good enough that you are renovating for aesthetics and function, not structural repair
The neighborhood supports the investment — comparable updated homes sell at the top of the range, so you will recapture your renovation costs - Do not underestimate the value of 40-year-old trees. Palomar's mature landscaping provides shade coverage that reduces cooling costs, creates privacy between homes, and gives the neighborhood a settled, established character that new construction cannot match. Many buyers specifically seek out neighborhoods with mature tree canopy — it is an amenity that money cannot fast-forward.
- Since split-levels dominate Palomar, it is worth spending a moment on whether this design works for your family. The split-level layout has real advantages that are easy to overlook if you have been browsing open-concept new builds:
Noise separation: The half-level offset between the main living area and the lower-level family room creates natural sound isolation. Kids watching television downstairs do not compete with adult conversation upstairs. This is something open-concept homes cannot deliver without closing doors
Zoning for work-from-home: The lower level of a Palomar split-level makes an excellent home office — separated from the kitchen and living areas by half a flight, quiet, and typically large enough for a desk, bookshelves, and video call setup
Entertaining flow: The main-level kitchen, dining, and living areas handle adult entertaining while the lower level absorbs kids and casual family use. You get distinct zones without the square footage premium of a larger home
The honest downside: if someone in your household has mobility limitations or you plan to age in place long-term, the half-flights of stairs in a split-level can become a challenge. Ranch homes are available in Palomar for buyers who need single-floor living, but they are less common. - Palomar's brick construction and established infrastructure translate to relatively low ongoing costs. Brick exteriors do not need painting or replacing. The neighborhood's connection to city water and sewer means no well or septic maintenance. Mature trees provide natural shade that reduces summer cooling costs. Insurance rates for Palomar homes are typical for Fayette County — the construction era and materials do not carry the premium that very old homes (pre-1950) sometimes attract from insurers.
Schools
Schools in Palomar
The Tates Creek School Zone Without the Tates Creek Price Tag
When families start their home search in Lexington and put "good schools" at the top of the list, the Tates Creek corridor is almost always where they land. Tates Creek High School is one of the most respected public high schools in Fayette County, and the feeder pipeline — from elementary through middle school — consistently ranks among the strongest in the district. The problem is that everybody knows this, and it shows up in the prices.
Palomar is the neighborhood that lets you buy into the Tates Creek school pipeline without overpaying for the privilege. Located in the south-central part of the city along the Tates Creek corridor, Palomar offers 1970s and 1980s construction on generous lots, in the $200,000 to $350,000+ range. That puts it well below neighboring communities like Andover and Beaumont while delivering the same school zone, similar lot sizes, and a mature, settled neighborhood character that newer developments cannot replicate.
This is not a compromise. Palomar is an established family neighborhood with solid bones, big trees, and a track record. The homes were built during Lexington's southward expansion in the late 1970s and 1980s, and many have been owned by the same families for decades. The result is a neighborhood that feels rooted in a way that subdivisions built five years ago simply do not.
If the Tates Creek school district is non-negotiable for your family and you want value in this corridor, Palomar should be on your short list.
Palomar is the neighborhood that lets you buy into the Tates Creek school pipeline without overpaying for the privilege. Located in the south-central part of the city along the Tates Creek corridor, Palomar offers 1970s and 1980s construction on generous lots, in the $200,000 to $350,000+ range. That puts it well below neighboring communities like Andover and Beaumont while delivering the same school zone, similar lot sizes, and a mature, settled neighborhood character that newer developments cannot replicate.
This is not a compromise. Palomar is an established family neighborhood with solid bones, big trees, and a track record. The homes were built during Lexington's southward expansion in the late 1970s and 1980s, and many have been owned by the same families for decades. The result is a neighborhood that feels rooted in a way that subdivisions built five years ago simply do not.
If the Tates Creek school district is non-negotiable for your family and you want value in this corridor, Palomar should be on your short list.
The school pipeline is Palomar's number one selling point, and it is the primary reason families choose this neighborhood over comparable options in other parts of town.
Elementary School
Zone: Clays Mill Elementary serves portions of the Palomar area. Families should confirm their specific elementary assignment via the [FCPS SchoolSite Locator](https://www.fcps.net/zones) using their Palomar address, as boundary lines can vary by street
Notable: Fayette County elementary schools in the Tates Creek feeder pattern are well-regarded, and the transition from elementary into the Tates Creek middle and high schools is smooth because the community of families moving through the pipeline together tends to be consistent
Notable: Fayette County elementary schools in the Tates Creek feeder pattern are well-regarded, and the transition from elementary into the Tates Creek middle and high schools is smooth because the community of families moving through the pipeline together tends to be consistent
Tates Creek Middle School
Notable: Strong academic programs and a full slate of extracurricular activities. Tates Creek Middle feeds directly into Tates Creek High School, so the social and academic transition between schools is natural. Students build friendships and peer networks in middle school that carry through high school — a benefit that parents of middle schoolers consistently cite as one of the most important factors in their child's school experience
Tates Creek High School
Founded: 1965, with a major renovation in 1993
Notable: Consistently rated as one of the top public high schools in Fayette County and a primary reason buyers pay a premium to live in this school zone. Strong AP and honors course offerings, competitive athletics (particularly soccer, tennis, and cross country), and a diverse student body that reflects Lexington's increasingly international population
The Tates Creek cluster also serves Andover , Beaumont , Hartland , and surrounding areas. It is the most sought-after public school pipeline in the south side of Lexington, and Palomar puts you in it at the most accessible price point
Notable: Consistently rated as one of the top public high schools in Fayette County and a primary reason buyers pay a premium to live in this school zone. Strong AP and honors course offerings, competitive athletics (particularly soccer, tennis, and cross country), and a diverse student body that reflects Lexington's increasingly international population
The Tates Creek cluster also serves Andover , Beaumont , Hartland , and surrounding areas. It is the most sought-after public school pipeline in the south side of Lexington, and Palomar puts you in it at the most accessible price point
The School Zone Premium
Here is the honest math: if the Tates Creek school zone were not a factor, Palomar homes would likely be priced 10 to 15 percent lower. The school premium is real, but it is also an investment. When you sell a Palomar home, the next buyer will be paying for that same school zone, which supports resale values over time. School zone demand does not follow the same cycles as the general housing market — families need good schools in every economic environment.
Explore nearby
Neighborhoods Near Palomar
Questions
Palomar Home-Buying FAQ
Palomar feeds into the Tates Creek school cluster — one of the most sought-after public school pipelines in Lexington. Tates Creek Middle School and Tates Creek High School serve the area. Confirm your elementary school assignment via the FCPS SchoolSite Locator using your specific address.
Most homes sell between $200,000 and $350,000+, with the majority of transactions in the $240,000 to $310,000 range. This makes Palomar the most affordable entry point into the Tates Creek school zone.
It depends on the specific section. Some parts of Palomar have a homeowners association with modest dues, while other sections have no HOA. Confirm the status for any specific property before making an offer.
Approximately 6 to 8 miles, or 12 to 18 minutes by car via Tates Creek Road or Nicholasville Road.
Primarily 1970s and 1980s split-levels, colonials, and ranch homes. Most are brick or vinyl construction, ranging from 1,400 to 2,400 square feet on lots of 0.20 to 0.40 acres. The homes are well-built and many feature original hardwood floors under carpet.
Yes. Veterans Park is nearby and offers sports facilities, a splash pad, walking trails, playgrounds, and open green space. It is one of the best public parks in Lexington and a major daily-life amenity for Palomar families.
Palomar offers solid long-term value thanks to the Tates Creek school zone premium and its position as the most affordable neighborhood in the corridor. Homes here tend to hold their value well, and renovated properties sell quickly at the top of the comparable range.
All three neighborhoods are in the Tates Creek school zone. Palomar is the most affordable option ($200K-$350K+), with slightly older construction (1970s-1980s) but larger lots and mature landscaping. Andover offers 1980s-1990s homes at $275K-$450K+ with proximity to Jacobson Park. Beaumont is a master-planned community at $400K-$1M+ with on-site schools and an amphitheater.
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