Looking to buy a home in the Philadelphia area (Drexel Hill: rent, townhomes)

[billy5844]

My fiance and I are looking to buy a place in the next couple of months. We currently live in upper Bucks county and would like to get closer to the city. We have only lived in the area for about 6 months so we don't know a lot about the Philadelphia neighborhoods.

We're looking for townhomes with a maximum price of $250k. We want to live in a safe area and be close to the attractions of the city. We found a new construction townhome in Port Richmond that we really liked but we were told by people we work with that this isn't a safe area to live.

I would be more willing to live farther from the city if we can get a better deal and also live in a safer neighborhood. Please let me know if you have any suggestions.

I work in Cherry Hill and she works in the Bensalem area.

[eggtimer]

i will generalize here, but i would think most people in upper bucks might hear Port Richmond, Fishtown, and Kensington and immediately have the reaction to say that this is not a safe place to live.

if you have a car go check out the neighborhoods. while it most certainly is not like bucks co. (it is the city) there are a lot of decent pockets in those neighborhoods. Fishtown and E. Kensington are very much neighborhoods in transition right now and there is a lot of affordable new construction.

[orrmobl]

Port Richmond is not dangerous but it isn't terribly desirable in my opinion either. Your hubcaps may be stolen, your soft top slashed, your car stereo ripped off but no danger to speak of.

I would check out Northern Liberties, maybe Fishtown, Manayunk and then places like Lansdowne, Drexel Hill, Springfield, Media, Havertown, Bryn Mawr, Ardmore, Conshohocken...you should find something you like in your price range with good location and public transportation but less of the headaches city living gets you...

[billy5844]

Thanks guys. What are some of the surrounding suburbs where you can find new construction townhomes in this range? We would definitely be willing to look there also.

[eggtimer]

those western suburbs listed above might be a nasty communte to both bensalem and cherry hill. how long of a communte is tollerable for you?

i don't really know what the price range is for new townhomes in these areas, but you might check out some of the suburbs north of the city like glenside or elkins park. they might be more central to both of your work locations.

[eggtimer]

*tolerable

[billy5844]

Right now I have about a 40 minute commute and she has about a 10-15 minute commute. We are looking for something in the middle.

[ooodsie]

Have you looked in S Phila? It would be about a 30 min commute from Bensalem and about 15 from Cherry Hill. I've looked at some nice townhomes in the Pennsport, Italian Market area. If you stay east of Broad St, and preferably between Front and 5th st you'll make out pretty well, feel safe, and have yourself a nice investment in case you decide to move in the future (those houses rent very well). Let me know if you have anymore questions!

[kyle19125]

I'm actually getting a bit tired of hearing the neighborhood I live in is undesirable/unsafe. I moved to Port Richmond five years ago and can tell you it's neither. Many new residents are moving in, as it's pretty affordable given the proximity to Center City when compared to South Philly, Northern Liberties and Fishtown. It's one of the few areas where you can move in and appreciate in value versus no gain or loss. My home has nearly tripled in value in 5 years.
I'd advise you not to be swayed by what someone on a blog tells you from their secondhand source. Investigate any neighborhood you plan on moving to by visiting at night and walking around. Talk to a couple of residents who actually live there versus the speculators. Best of luck to you.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by orrmobl

Port Richmond is not dangerous but it isn't terribly desirable in my opinion either. Your hubcaps may be stolen, your soft top slashed, your car stereo ripped off but no danger to speak of.

I would check out Northern Liberties, maybe Fishtown, Manayunk and then places like Lansdowne, Drexel Hill, Springfield, Media, Havertown, Bryn Mawr, Ardmore, Conshohocken...you should find something you like in your price range with good location and public transportation but less of the headaches city living gets you...

Because this doesn't occur in NoLibs and Fishtown? Umm, ok.