Which is more affordable? (Washington, Penn: to rent, homes, neighborhoods)

[TomJones123]

Which is more affordable for a renter. Passyunk Square or Graduate Hospital area?
(will likely grab a 2 or three bedroom rowhome with basement next spring/summer)

Thanks.

[RightonWalnut]

Passyunk Square is more affordable. The closer you get to Center City the more expensive it will get.

[bryson662001]

Originally Posted by Summersm343

Passyunk Square is more affordable. The closer you get to Center City the more expensive it will get.

Besides anything in Gradho is probably going to be new construction and that is usually more expensive.

[voilalaura]

but grays ferry is just south of g-ho and it can be super cheap.

[TomJones123]

Originally Posted by voilalaura

but grays ferry is just south of g-ho and it can be super cheap.

I can't really say I like the area based on it being separated from Broad Street subway by Point Breeze. Plus it seems not to have very many amenities. Please correct me where I am wrong. Thanks.

[voilalaura]

It depends on where you are in Grays Ferry and your level of comfort with the city/vs price range. Affordable housing there can range from just that: affordable to what I like to call "too affordable to possibly be in an okay place." Passyunk Square is still not a "cheap" place to live even though it is cheaper than g-ho. I was shocked at the price vs size of places I found in south philly east of broad. Maybe you will get lucky though, I did (found a cheap fixer-uper in g-ho). My budget was $900 a month and I had trouble finding a place in passyunk square or many other south philly neighborhoods (although I've been told I was looking to rent at the wrong time of year). Examples: Small one bedroom at 10th and federal: $895 per month not including any utilities. Studio at 11th and wharton: $850 a month not including any utilities.

[TomJones123]

Originally Posted by voilalaura

It depends on where you are in Grays Ferry and your level of comfort with the city/vs price range. Affordable housing there can range from just that: affordable to what I like to call "too affordable to possibly be in an okay place." Passyunk Square is still not a "cheap" place to live even though it is cheaper than g-ho. I was shocked at the price vs size of places I found in south philly east of broad. Maybe you will get lucky though, I did (found a cheap fixer-uper in g-ho). My budget was $900 a month and I had trouble finding a place in passyunk square or many other south philly neighborhoods (although I've been told I was looking to rent at the wrong time of year). Examples: Small one bedroom at 10th and federal: $895 per month not including any utilities. Studio at 11th and wharton: $850 a month not including any utilities.

Thanks for the well thought out post. May I ask the best time to move? I am thinking spring/early summer but am unsure.

[GraysFerryB4]

I grew up in Grays Ferry. I am sorry to say that it may be affordable but it is getting worse and worse with quality of life. It will be a long time before gentrification sets in. If you want to be a pioneer, you can get cheap in the area called "south of graduate" which goes under Washington to maybe Wharton? It is rapidly developing but still has a ways to go. In 3 years you could double the money on a fixxer upper if you choose wisely.

[RightonWalnut]

Originally Posted by GraysFerryB4

I grew up in Grays Ferry. I am sorry to say that it may be affordable but it is getting worse and worse with quality of life. It will be a long time before gentrification sets in. If you want to be a pioneer, you can get cheap in the area called "south of graduate" which goes under Washington to maybe Wharton? It is rapidly developing but still has a ways to go. In 3 years you could double the money on a fixxer upper if you choose wisely.

Long time before gentrification sets in? Think again. Gentrification is already spilling over Washington Ave from G-Ho into Point Breeze, Newbold and Grays Ferry. On top of that, CHOP and UPenn have major redevelopment plans for the old Industrial area behind Toll Brothers new Naval Yard Development in Graduate Hospital along Schuylkill Ave that include three 30-40 story towers which will surely spur development in the area big time. On top of that the city has a long term comprehensive and master plan to turn the old Industrial Yards West of I-76 into a high tech business hub which they are dubbing the Schuylkill Yards. Plus the expansion of the Schuylkill River Trail. This will surely generate renewed interest in the area and will probably bring about new transit options.

[GraysFerryB4]

I hope you are right but Grays Ferry proper shows no signs of that. I am talking the residential areas between Moore to Washington and 25th to 33rd. They are atrocious with drug wars. 27th & Dickinson being about the worst area. They are getting more money for homes on the edge by 26th & Federal and, hopefully, that will creep south.