Chester County for $250k? (Lancaster, Drexel Hill: real estate, townhouses, layoffs)

[maestro]

I've continued to search for a single-family, 1500+SqFt house in a nice neighborhod throughout Chester County (and parts of Delaware County) for $250k. There seems to be some in less-than-desirable areas (like Coatesville) or townhouses, which is not optimal.

Anyone have any suggestions on where to look? I'd love West Chester, Malvern, Downingtown or Phoenixville, but it seems that the choices in those areas would be run down or rowhomes. I'm open to further out "country" places too as long as the schools are good.

Thoughts?

[orrmobl]

It really depends on your priorities. I love living here in Thorndale and supposedly the schools are improving/will improve as money flows to the area for the cheap land and houses...may be a consideration. Friends of mine are building a new home in a development called Calnshire for that kind of money. They both went through Coatesville schools and they and their sibling are fine decent people.

Otherwise, try Downingtown, Collegeville, Phoenixville, Mont Claire, Royersford, East Coventry etc. Also Honey Brook is a northern corner of Chesco, Twin Valley schools which are supposed to be decent - rural area with a Lancaster feel as its right down the street but still 20 min or less from Downingtown...

I know Phoenixville, Spring Ford, Perkomen Valley and Owen J. Roberts schools are decent - you may want to look there. Otherwise maybe Springfield, Delco, Havertown, Norwood/Prospect Park, Ridley Park. But the home may be small or a twin.

Don't buy until this winter/early Spring to see what the economy fallout/stimulus package/mass layoffs bring. I'm betting sooner or later prices will realign in your favor.

[maestro]

thanks for all the great info (as usual).

are there other areas I should check out off of Rt.322 (north or south of Downingtown)?

what's going on with Downingtown schools? The district looks huge so it seems like there has to be some restructuring going on there.

[orrmobl]

I know there is or was some restructuring along the western border with the Coatesville SD, but that's all I'm aware of.

Downingtown is big because the area still has a good bit of forested green space, large lot homes, farmland, etc. So I don't think anything bad is going to happen. I did see some reference to Downingtown East being better but not sure if that's just realtor-speak or what. I think Glenmoore is a rural area that may have better pricing.

Not much else on 322 I would recommend, you could always head out to Parkesburg but then you are in Lancaster county and your commute will be even longer.

Other options would be places like Brookhaven, Parkside and Garden City in Wallingford - good schools, good location, bad area right next door. But you will definitely get more bang for your buck in the first two. Also Pilgrim Gardens may yield a small home in a very good district - Haverford district, Drexel Hill address.

You really should just start looking at a site like realtor.com, pick a central point like KOP and do an advanced search 15 miles out - see what you get and narrow things from there...and keep waiting, that's what we're doing!

http://www.realtor.com/search/listin...lsn=2&srcnt=24

[Pilot1]

I think Glenmoore is a rural area that may have better pricing.

Glenmoore is about the same in housing costs as Chester Springs and the better areas of the Downingtown Zip code which is more of a postal address than anything. Glenmoore has become trendy and while still somewhat rural, there's been a surge of building.

[sbhubbell]

Originally Posted by orrmobl

I know there is or was some restructuring along the western border with the Coatesville SD, but that's all I'm aware of.

Downingtown is big because the area still has a good bit of forested green space, large lot homes, farmland, etc. So I don't think anything bad is going to happen. I did see some reference to Downingtown East being better but not sure if that's just realtor-speak or what. I think Glenmoore is a rural area that may have better pricing.

Not much else on 322 I would recommend, you could always head out to Parkesburg but then you are in Lancaster county and your commute will be even longer.

Other options would be places like Brookhaven, Parkside and Garden City in Wallingford - good schools, good location, bad area right next door. But you will definitely get more bang for your buck in the first two. Also Pilgrim Gardens may yield a small home in a very good district - Haverford district, Drexel Hill address.

You really should just start looking at a site like realtor.com, pick a central point like KOP and do an advanced search 15 miles out - see what you get and narrow things from there...and keep waiting, that's what we're doing!

16 Stuart Ave, DOWNINGTOWN, PA, 19335 - Single Family Home Real Estate - REALTOR.com®

I really don't recommend Parkside or Brookhaven. Sure there are some nice enough neighborhoods for lower prices but if you can afford to be out further in Chester County, I would do that. Our house in Middletown, just a quarter mile from Brookhaven, was burglurized twice. I remember MANY years ago a KKK march in Parkside. And the retail and commercial establishments around there are not the best. Just my two cents.

[orrmobl]

You know Rainrock and I had this debate a while ago. He made the place sound like the second coming - which I know it is not. But you can get a single home, close to the city, in that price range, with good schools.

It ain't perfect but its pretty good...

[Caiteet]

Parkesburg is actually Chester county. We moved there 5 years ago (from West Chester) and absolutely love it!

[sbhubbell]

Uh, nobody said anything about Parkesburg that I can see. We were talking about ParkSIDE, Delaware County.

[twinmma]

Ryan homes has some singles in that price range in East Coventry... I think it is called Heather Glen.
good luck