Tell me about Downingtown/Pottstown area (Lancaster, Chester: for sale, home builders, new construction)

[Jenni5]

We live in Bucks county and are in the process of looking for a house in another area. My husband wants to find something that will keep him in touch with the SEPTA line so he can still get into the city relatively easy.

I saw a lot of houses in the Downingtown, Pottstown, Coatesville area but know nothing about it. We'd like to find a house that is at least 4br, 2bath with a good size yard. I'd like to live in a somewhat newer area meaning newer shopping centers, etc.

Plus a good school district is a must. My boys are in a catholic school now and we'd like to continue that so if there are any suggestions for that, too, I would greatly appreciate it.

It's so hard to choose an area to look for houses when you know nothing about it.

Thanks in advance to any help and suggestions.

[Pilot1]

Pottstown is iffy, although there are nice areas around it. Look down Rt. 100 a bit to communities closer to Exton/Lionville. Septa has an Exton and a Downintown station.

[Jenni5]

Yeah, I keep seeing houses in our price range ($200-$350) for sale like crazy in Pottstown, Coatesville, Phoenixville, Honey Brook, etc. I just don't know the area and wonder why there are so many for sale.

Now is the Brandywine or Fallowfield areas on a Septa line do you know?

Do you know if houses in the Exton area or down the route 100 that you mentioned in the price range that we are looking to stay in?

Thanks for all your help.

[rainrock]

Downingtown area would fit your needs the best of the 3 towns you listed, especially the area E of Downingtown towards Exton,Chester Springs,West Chester.

[twinmma]

We lived in East COventry, which is a Pottstown zip. There really isn't much to do...kind of out of the way. There is the Coventry Mall, but not a lot of the shops I liked. We paid $306 for a brand new carriage home in Coventry Glen and sold it less than a year later (this past Jan) for $284K. There are some very nice new construction singles for the low $300's.
But, if I were you, I would look in Collegeville or Royersford. The new outlets would be within 10 minutes, you get a great school district, and you would get a decent home for that price. If you want, I used a FABULOUS realtor out of Oaks and I could private message you her name and info if you want it.
Good luck

[Jenni5]

Thanks for all the info. I'm not sure what do to do. It really frustrates me on how expensive housing is up here. I've been looking at home builders in Chester county and Montgomery county and there is just nothing in our price range. I'm looking for a single family home that has enough sq footage for us and a decent amount of property.

Is anyone familiar with the Sinking Springs area or Lancaster county?

[KristyLiz]

Originally Posted by rainrock

Downingtown area would fit your needs the best of the 3 towns you listed, especially the area E of Downingtown towards Exton,Chester Springs,West Chester.

I agree.

Stay clear of Coatesville - we had no idea what the area was like and thought it had to be too good to be true with all the new beautiful homes for such reasonable prices - we were right!

I lived in Royersford which is not too far from Pottstown, and as far as I could see, all Pottstown had going for it was the coolest McDonald's I've ever seen!

[EmmausRocks]

Originally Posted by KristyLiz

I agree.

Stay clear of Coatesville - we had no idea what the area was like and thought it had to be too good to be true with all the new beautiful homes for such reasonable prices - we were right!

I lived in Royersford which is not too far from Pottstown, and as far as I could see, all Pottstown had going for it was the coolest McDonald's I've ever seen!

This coming from someone who overpaid by probably 60-70% in lehigh county, lol!!!!!!!

[Icy Tea]

Sinking Spring in Berks covers a large area. Shopping is abundant, between Wyomissing and there. There is also ALOT of sprawl with new homes all over along with older residential areas. You have new and very expensive big homes to older more modest homes to townhouses. Wilson, Wyomissing, both very good schools.

[orrmobl]

You don't want the city of Coatesville, but the post office or school district will be fine.

Its a beautiful area out here in Thorndale, Caln Township, East Fallowfield, whatever the heck they call the areas around there.

New homes abound, prices are great, taxes a tad high. I have 2 supermarkets within 10 minutes of my home and another 5 or so minutes down the road gets you Wegman's, BJs, and a new Best Buy.

Pretty much all the chain restaurants are here or in close proximity and lancaster is a 15 minute drive down 30 West.

The location is great for all but getting to the city and airport, but if you don't do either of those things often, its a great place to live and raise kids - everyone is extremely friendly and there is a country flavor without the smell of fertilizer...

Brand new Catholic school Pope John Paul II and then the kids would go on to Bishop Shanahan. Again this is about a 20 minute drive from my home in Thorndale (Coatesville post office)

If you definitely private schooling the kids, there is no need to pay to live in Downingtown as Coatesville SD is much cheaper and presumably will improve over time as people flock to the areas for low priced chomes and a great lifestyle...