Where to live with convenient travel to HUP/Penn and Hahneman Hospital? (Philadelphia: for sale)

[Sacerdotalist]

Hi everyone!

My significant other and I are considering moving to Philly, and would like some local insight into our potential housing situation.

We are late 20s, with no kids in the immediate future.

We'd like a place with 2+ bedrooms, 1000+ sq ft.

Proximity to both Penn/HUP and Hahneman University Hospital would be a major determinant of location. We'd like to be able to get to both in <30 min on foot, by public transportation, or by car (though the expense of parking would cut into the rest of the budget). Is SEPTA safe/efficient at all times of day?

We could rent (budget ~$1500/mo) or buy (<$200,000).

We currently have 2 cars, but would be happy to be car-less if our location allowed.

Does anyone have any suggestions of places that might fit this criteria? Are there safe and relatively quiet neighborhoods might fit this description for renting and/or buying?

Thanks in advance for any advice! It's greatly appreciated.

[bryson662001]

You know both places are in the heart of the city and parking is expensive so although your budget is marginal it would be ideal for you to live downtown (we call it Center City) Try Philadelphia Apartments for Rent | Philadelphia PA Apartments | Philadelphia Pennsylvania Rentals to get an idea of Center City neighborhoods or Trulia - Real Estate, Homes for Sale, Apartments for Rent, Local data with the rent option and zips 19103, 19102, 19107 and just outside the core 19130. Obviously the transit system slows down at night but there are still some buses running 24/7 and you can uually hail a cab on the street at 3AM.

[SJCPHL]

I'd say University City. You can rent a nice two bedroom for $1,500 a month, but probably even less. The HUP employee can walk to work or take a short bus ride. The Hahnemann employee can take the MFL. You could probably cut down to one car. Be aware that Penn employee parking is very expensive and I can't imagine Hahnemann is any better. Also, Philly car insurance is some of the highest in the country.

Penn has an employee mortgage assistance program. They give you a subsidy on your mortgage if you buy a house within University City. I'm not sure if health system employees are eligible, but some hospital employees are actually university paid. Ask an HR rep, they have materials available that detail it.

SEPTA sucks in the sense that it's very outdated technology wise, dirty and, during commuter hours, very crowded. But it's pretty reliable and also pretty cheap. After a certain hour (midnight?), the MFL turns into a bus line that runs pretty frequently.

Good luck!

[mullligan150]

Center city or university city would be ideal for your situation. The market-frankford el can get you as close as 34 or 40th and market, and the trolley an get you as close as 33rd and baltimore.

[RightonWalnut]

Originally Posted by SJCPHL

SEPTA sucks in the sense that it's very outdated technology wise, dirty and, during commuter hours, very crowded. But it's pretty reliable and also pretty cheap. After a certain hour (midnight?), the MFL turns into a bus line that runs pretty frequently.

Good luck!

I get that you can have your own opinion, but aside from the fair system, how is it outdated exactly? They have fairly new subway cars and just rolled out an entire fleet of new commuter trains for the regional rail. Aside from some subway stations, I find SEPTA to be extremely clean and up to date (save the fair system). Certainly cleaner than a lot of NJ Transit trains I've ridden in my day.

[2e1m5a]

A 2br for $1,500 may be hard to find in Fitler Square/Rittenhouse Square but that would be ideal. Also University City along the trolley lines would be great.

If you want to buy for less than $200,000 South Philly still has some affordable options yet is very hot right now. You could take the subway to Hahneman and walk/bike across the South Street Bridge to HUP.