Help single woman over 50 pick a place! (Philadelphia, Chester: fit in, condos)

[j9j9]

When are you moving?
Within 6 months

Where are you coming from?
Cheltenham Township

Why are you moving?
Divorce and downsizing

Where will you be working?
Not working now. Will be self-employed and/or working part-time

Have you been here yet?
Yes, for 30 years

Will you buy or rent?
Buy

If buying, are you looking for a house or a condo?
Would prefer a no maintenance condo/townhouse, but would consider small charming home with a porch or deck if everything else fits. Want a 3 br/2.5 bath, large kitchen and garage.

How much can you spend?
up to $500,000

Do you have a preference of living in a NJ or PA suburb?
Equally torn between PA suburbs and Center City

Are you married or single? Do you have children?
Divorced after lengthy marriage, 5 adult children, ages 18 -26

Do you have pets?
Yes, 2 dogs

Do you want or need a yard?
Definitely need outside space for grilling, entertaining

Are you keeping a car?
Yes, and want a garage mostly for safety in parking vehicle at night. I don't want to walk through streets on my own after being out at night.

Do you prefer bustling activity or calm and quiet?
activity

What do you want to be closest to?
Grocery, coffee shops, Catholic Church,shopping, restaurants, bars, movie theater, train if outside of city

Do you want to live with people of a similar age, race, religion or sexual preference or do you prefer a diverse neighborhood?
I don't care what age, race, religion, or sexual preference my neighbors are, but I want to fit in and belong to a community. I want to see my neighbors and be neighborly.

Coke or Pepsi?
Neither. Water, coffee, tea, wine.

Hi. I have been lurking for awhile but decided to post on my own. Planning to move when my oversized Elkins Park home sells, and I am having a very difficult time deciding where to live. I have no extended family here, but want to stay for my kids' sake and I have many dear friends here, as well. My biggest concern is feeling safe. I have never lived alone before. Some of my kids will be coming and going, but I will be alone most of the time. Ideally, I would like to be in a walkable area in the city or a suburban area near regional rail. 3 of my kids live in Center City and visit me weekly. I would like to keep those visits happening. I have only lived in Elkins Park. It's a lovely area but I want a change. However, most of my social life is on this side of the city. I like Ambler, Chestnut Hill, a gated community in Blue Bell (can't walk to anything outside of the development). I love Doylestown but worry it's too far out. I have heard great things about West Chester and Media but concerned they are too far from my friends. Would a place like Narberth fit the bill? If I make the move to the city, am I priced out of a safe, convenient neighborhood where I could get a 3br with garage? Any help or comments are so welcome and appreciated. I am overwhelmed and paralyzed! Are there any areas that I should consider? I'm hoping to make new friends, but definitely want to keep the old!

[maf763]

Chestnut Hill sounds like your best bet. It's a good compromise between suburb and Center City, and close to your social life.

[j9j9]

Thank you. I do like the idea of Chestnut Hill. I've heard people refer to it as snobbish or clique-ish. I do like that it's accessible to center city and suburbs. Will I find updated house with garage in a safe spot? Haven't seen it yet but maybe something will come up. In fact, condos are going up on Germantown Ave in million dollar range.

[MKE8244]

I'm sorry to hear about your divorce. I also think Chestnut Hill sounds like a good option. We briefly looked in Chestnut Hill and were priced out but our budget was more in the 350K range. I think you could find something updated with a garage if you were OK with it not being large…thinking 3 bdr, 2 bath but that is just a guess. You could get more for you money and would have none of the snob factor (though having lived in NW philly I don't an overwhelming sense of that in CH) if you looked in Mt Airy. It is a lot smaller than Chestnut Hill but very close and has a much more down to earth, granola vibe. Chestnut Hill will give you a lot more to walk to and you can safety (very safety) walk in the evening home from bars, restaurants. Mt Airy is also safe but there is just less there but having lived here, I feel confident sayings its not at all snobbish if that is a concern. Both areas are very accessible to CC.

I'd also check out CC but I suspect $500K won't get you the type of house in the type of neighborhood you want.

I think you have a lot of good options near Elkins Park that it doesn't make a lot of sense to look at Media or West Chester unless there is another reason. I don't know much about West Chester but my gut is that there are more 50+ singles in Chestnut Hill than Media.

[j9j9]

Thank you for your post, MKE. Your words make a lot of sense, especially sticking to my current side of the city. Going through a divorce as I did, makes you second-guess every decision you need to make. Thanks!

[marmarmcp]

I am in similar situation. Divorced, 50 something - but I am moving to the Philly area from California. Both my children will be on the east coast so I thought I'd make a change. I have looked in all the suburbs and in Center City. My budget is exactly the same as yours and I am looking at 3br 2baths. Unfortunately, I haven't found anything that I feel is safe/ redone in Center City at that price. Chestnut Hill also seems higher than our price ranges as well - which is too bad because that would be my first choice.

Everyone tells me to look on the Main Line, but I just didn't like the vibe I got there. Also, in my opinion there were too many strip malls. I am not very familiar with the area, coming form California - but I like Glenside, Elkins Park (I wonder if I've looked at your home) and Jenkintown. Wyndmoor seems good too and so close to Chestnut Hill. Do you know anything about Flourtown or Oreland? These have shown up on a lot of my searches, but I don't know very much about them.

Best of luck with your search. I understand completely about second guessing your decisions. But this time the decision will be your own - just for you. There is something freeing about that.

[j9j9]

Hi marmarmcp,

I give you a lot of credit moving across country.

Philadelphia and its surrounding suburbs is a wonderful area. I do love it here and I was a transplant 28 years ago. All of the areas you mention are great. Flourtown is convenient to Chestnut Hill and 309. There are neighborhoods that are walkable to shopping, restaurants, movies. Oreland is a bit more tucked in, but close to 309 and turnpike. Both areas are very safe. Wyndmoor is lovely too, bordering Chestnut Hill but without the Philadelphia city wage tax. I think you could find something in your price range in Chestnut Hill but you might have to sacrifice a garage. I love Glenside and have a lot of friends there. However, I'm trying to avoid the yard work of a single home, and there aren't townhouse there. Great walkable area with commuter rail into Center City.

I hear you about Center City. I don't think that I have enough money to get what I want and feel safe unless I focus on a 2br or a wider radius. At this point, I am leaning to suburban life. Bonus points to a walkable area.

Keep in touch!

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by marmarmcp

I am in similar situation. Divorced, 50 something - but I am moving to the Philly area from California. Both my children will be on the east coast so I thought I'd make a change. I have looked in all the suburbs and in Center City. My budget is exactly the same as yours and I am looking at 3br 2baths. Unfortunately, I haven't found anything that I feel is safe/ redone in Center City at that price. Chestnut Hill also seems higher than our price ranges as well - which is too bad because that would be my first choice.

Everyone tells me to look on the Main Line, but I just didn't like the vibe I got there. Also, in my opinion there were too many strip malls. I am not very familiar with the area, coming form California - but I like Glenside, Elkins Park (I wonder if I've looked at your home) and Jenkintown. Wyndmoor seems good too and so close to Chestnut Hill. Do you know anything about Flourtown or Oreland? These have shown up on a lot of my searches, but I don't know very much about them.

Best of luck with your search. I understand completely about second guessing your decisions. But this time the decision will be your own - just for you. There is something freeing about that.

Look at Haddonfield & Haddon Heights.

[marmarmcp]

Thank you, J9J9. Have you looked at The Reserve at Wyngate in Wyncote? I'm not sure how walkable they are but they are new townhomes in Wyncote. I haven't seen them in person, only on their website - but they look pretty nice. Mount Airy seems very nice and parts of it walkable to Germantown Ave. But many of the places I've found don't have garages. I have been reading very mixed reviews about the safety there as well. I like their property taxes compared to Elkins Park!

I looked into the Bluebell area and that seems nice and maintenance free (snow removal for a Californian a big plus) I may visit in person. Have you looked at Swarthmore? Some friends in CC recommended it as a very walkable suburb. You might like that.

Anyway, best of luck! Let me know if you find something you like!

PS: What about Manayunk? Have you looked there?

[j9j9]

I would avoid the Reserve at Wyncote, although other parts of Wyncote are lovely, just very high taxes. Mt. Airy gets rave reviews from so many, but I think the feel of it varies block by block. I was there last night at a party. Some beautiful homes, great access to Center City and Chestnut Hill but not a lot to walk to within Mt. Airy.

I am looking in Blue Bell. There are a lot of townhomes there, but the area is a bit more remote and not walkable. Very safe, very suburban. You would have to drive everywhere but the communities are beautiful and they seem social.

I hear wonderful things about Swarthmore and especially Media. If I were brand new to the area, like yourself, I would definitely consider. I hear Media is very walkable.

I have not looked in Manayunk. Very young demographic as in recent college graduates, also very hilly. Check it out though. There is a lot of value in its new construction and lots of restaurants and shopping.

Good luck!