Which suburb would you recommend! (Philadelphia, Lansdowne: taxes, live, yard)

[nespera]

Thank you for all your help. I will let you know of the outcome in the near future.....

[Synergy1]

I lived in Newtown Square for 20 years and the Media area for 18 years. I believe a home in you price range is available in Havertown or Broomall. The commute to Philly is kinda easy and each area has an excellent school system and considered very very safe.

Good luck.

[DailyJournalist]

Also consider Collingswood, Haddon Township, and Haddonfield in New Jersey. All have great access to Center City via the Patco line.

[nespera]

Ok
I've gone back to Drexel Hill and Lansdowne. In the past past 2 months since I've started looking all the decent priced houses have disappeared like hot cakes. I see people walking their dogs with a bag in their hand, young couples with children, and kids just playing....So it looks like I might be moving to Lansdowne. Just 2 more questions:

To orrmobl: Although you've sugested that area to me in your privious posts you are not particularly enthusiastic about it....just wondering....

To anyone who lives in Lansdowne: How do you like it?

[orrmobl]

How very astute of you! For a family looking for good schools, I wouldn't recommend Lansdowne. For people who don't want close access to the city, artsy feel, cheap housing, I wouldn't recommend Lansdowne.

But it seems you want most of what Lansdowne offers. I personally got sick of Delco in general and the city is spilling over the edges into Upper Darby, Drexel Hill, Lansdowne and Clifton Heights, etc.

However maybe Lansdowne will defy the odds and not turn into just another dumpy part of the city. Things can go either way; people there do care, but when housing is cheap, the lower class tends to flock there. You will get lucky in that Upper Darby has better schools so the people living in the city will more likely move there or send their kids there to cause trouble.

I lived in Drexel Hill on the Lansdowne border and was tired of the influx of bad seeds from the city - the place has gone ghetto in a big way, as has Clifton Heights.

Lansdowne has unique housing and a unique vibe, but I still remember what a ghetto it became from the mid-80's-2000 or so, so I would only recommend it to people such as yourself who have a very specific set of criteria.

Any other questions, feel free to ask!

[nespera]

I don't know about cheap. In the more desirable areas the houses are not that cheap and sell pretty fast. I've seen it in the past couple of months. In any case you are right, who knows what lies ahead!! One can't keep running away because eventually we'll run out of places to run to anyway..

[orrmobl]

For the kind of homes and proximity to the city, those homes are cheap - I would even say dirt cheap. I sold my 3 br 1200 sq ft row home in a neighboring section of Drexel Hill for $144,900 2 years ago to give you an idea. A large single in the low $200s is a bargain.

As for running away, that is true to a certain extent but if there is nothing keeping one in a particular area, the grass can often be greener on the other side of the proverbial fence. Come check out Chester County in places like Phoenixville, Downingtown, Collegeville and see how much home and land you get for your money and how nice everyone is...I never realized how rude the service sector in SE Delco was until I moved away...needless to say the wife and I will never move back to SE Delco!

[nespera]

Orrmobl maybe the lower classes are also looking for greener pastures!!!! I guess everyone is running from something..

[dimarc48]

I grew up in Springfield, and now live in Springfield with my wife and kids.

At the price range you are looking at I would say Drexel Hill is your best bet.

With that being said, SE Delco is not a place I would recommend for anyone not used to Philly people. We are moving in the near future because we have lived in Sarasota FL, Pittsburgh, and Ocean City Maryland and all three are much cleaner, nicer and more relaxed then Delco. My wife hates it here, she is from central PA, and I don't blame her.

This will always be my home, but the older you get the more you grow up!

[nespera]

We found a place in Lansdowne, close to Drexel Hill. The area seems nice, clean and quiet. We really don't want to spend too much money on a house (not the way things look today). I don't think people will be getting any nicer anywhere really. The fear of loosing jobs causes insecurity and changes people. I'm going in with a positive attitude and sure would like to meet some nice people. If not than all I can do is not let it change me....