Empty Nesters relocating to Philadelphia from Toronto (Ardmore, Bryn Mawr: sale, sublet)

[mcguirk]

The inner main line towns will suit you wonderfully. Plenty of older, relatively affluent couples. Walkable with plenty of things to do. Ardmore would be a great fit. A porch? Sure thing. Valley Forge is very easy to get to. Plenty of back roads will take you there (those are great to beat traffic but can be a little iffy in the winter). Don't forget: you'd be able to walk to the train that will have you in Center City within 20 minutes. And the line even runs late on weekends so you can enjoy a restaurant, pub, show, etc. without being in a hurry.

[Elizabeth924]

oooh, I like Fairmount!

[mcguirk]

That's still a bear to get to Valley Forge though.

[Elizabeth924]

Thanks Mcquirk.
Ardmore sounds great too... I love the fact that it's walking distance to the train, gives me the best of both worlds.

[BR Valentine]

Ardmore is a good option as well. One thing to note since I mentioned Bala Cynwyd, train service to Ardmore and Narberth is much more frequent than to Bala Cynwyd. Chestnut Hill was mentioned in this thread. Defintitely take a look there. There is more that you can walk to than the inner Main Line towns. It's demograpically similar to them and it has good rail service to Center City. It's a little further from Valley Forge, but it's not an unbearable commute. As for Fairmount, it really comes down to how long a commute your husband can tolerate. It's the best location for commuting to Valley Forge if you really want to be in the heart of the city, but it's not what I would consider an easy commute.

[Elizabeth924]

Between Chestnut Hill and Fairmount, which is the worse commute?

[BR Valentine]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth924

Between Chestnut Hill and Fairmount, which is the worse commute?

Fairmount. Chestnut Hill is closer to Valley Forge and there are more alternate routes that allow you to avoid getting on the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76). Congestion on that road and the lack of good alternate routes is what makes getting from Center City to Valley Forge such a challenge. Bear in mind that there are many people who reverse commute from Center City to the suburbs including Valley Forge. It's really a question of how much value does one place on living in the city vs spending time commuting.

[Elizabeth924]

Ah ok, thanks

[ETH215]

Hi Elizabeth, I am a realtor here in center city, and have lived in many of the neighborhoods mentioned above. I also work for a company that owns and operates short term, furnished suites, so we would be happy to have you stay at one of the properties over your visit to Philadelphia. They are a nice alternatives to a hotel.

Feel free to get in touch with me by email. I would be so happy to help you and your husband with your relocation to the city - which has so many great options to offer.

Emily
emily@myphillycondo.com

Best of luck!

[mcguirk]

And don't forget that Fairmount is a parking nightmare. I don't live there, so keep me honest, but your hubby could spend another half hour finding on-street parking. Private parking isn't totally unreasonable but it's just another expense. There are some really cute places closer to the Art Museum that have smartly-designed private parking spots but they aren't houses with porches -- more like low-rise walk-ups.

Also research the Philadelphia City Wage Tax that your husband will pay even though he works in the burbs. That can be a bummer. Living in the city is great fun but it's tough when both partners don't work there, or at least can't get to their job on a one-seat train ride. It's no big deal to put in an extra hour at the office when you can walk home in 20 minutes but it's a big stinker when you're stuck waiting for the next train, or are stuck on 76 at the huge King of Prussia interchange and you're not in till 7:30.