Where in Doylestown or Newtown (Philadelphia, Washington: real estate, new home, landscaping)

[irismom]

We are relocating to this area (still not certain which town yet) and though we are working with a realtor I don't know where the good areas are??? For me it about location and a very nice neighborhood. We can spend 600-800K which doesn't seem to get us much (why is that??). I don't want fancy but we aren't handy and the house will have to be in move in condition.

It seems neighborhoods change street to street... I am not crazy about the new subdivisions because the homes seem all the same and they have no landscaping.

Can anyone help with street names or areas we should be focusing in on???

THANK YOU!!!

[L.K.]

We moved to Doylestown almost 2 years ago and really like it.We looked at many neighborhoods all over the area before deciding on our home.Prices are still coming down abit around here,but you're right,you don't get much for that kind of money.Most of the neighborhoods are at least 10 years old so if people have not updated,you will need to.Although,our price range was not $8oo,ooo,so I'm not sure of the quality that will get you,or the neighborhood.Homes in our neighborhood are going for $525-625My kids walk to the elementary school and we have great neighbors and it's a short drive into town.I don't think you'll have any trouble.

[PA2UK]

600-800K should be enough to get you a decent sized, 4 bedroom home. I don't know where you're looking or where your realtor is showing you but just a quick search on realtor.com turns up plenty of great options for under $800,000.

Yep, a lot of the newer houses look the same, that's because it's cheaper for the developers. If by no landscaping you mean there are only those small, young trees - that's just because the development is so new, they clear all the land to build houses and then plant a few young trees when the houses are done. Sure, in 20 years the trees will be tall and beautiful but then the house won't be so new. That's just the nature of buying new homes, at least in Bucks it is.

But a 20 year old home that was well kept should be in move-in condition - I don't understand why you're struggling to find something like this within your budget, there's plenty of suitable options on realtor.com and I think you'd struggle to find a "bad" neighborhood in Doylestown or Newtown.

[irismom]

My problem may not be the "home" as much as not knowing the neighborhood... I don't know which streets are the really nice ones...
If someone asked me what neighborhood (streets) are nice in my current town, I could tell them right away...
In Doylestown... I can't tell. I have been there twice and the realtor has us near parks and newer developments...

I just want to know if you could pick a neighborhood (streets) where are the pretty, quaint ones...

[biblegal]

We used to live in Newtown. I liked it there, but it is very expensive! Taxes are high too. We lived off of Lindenhurst Road. We were about 10 min. from a grocery store. About 15 min. from the mall. Our kids went to Pennsbury School District. They only made it to William Penn middleschool before we moved again, but I probably would have preferred being in Council Rock School District.

It's a nice area. Downtown Newtown is very quaint. You are also near Washington Crossing. Lots of historical places to go to. Great Italian food to be found on every corner!

I have only driven through Doylestown, but here it's very nice as well.

Are schools and issue?

Biblegal

[irismom]

Thanks biblegirl!

Schools are an issue and I do want Council Rock...I actually thought all of newtown went to Council rock HS...

Do you remember any streets you liked when living there??? I am trying to get a feel for the neighborhood. For us taxes and housing is the same as where we are living now...bergen county, nj *LOL*

[ooodsie]

Most of Newtown goes to Council Rock, a *very* small portion goes to Pennsbury (off of Lindenhurst road by the I95 Newtown Yardley exit). On the trend sheet you can check the school/township in the listing - as long as it's Upper Makefield you're definitly fine, if it's Newtown township it will 97% likely be Council Rock but you have that slight chance that it's Pennsbury. When I say SMALL portion, I'm taking a few streets and maybe 30-50 houses total that fall into Pennsbury.

[TracySam]

Tell your realtor you want to stick to the boroughs, not the townships.
Newtown and Doylestown boroughs are lovely and historic.
Newtown Twp and Doylestown Twp are more likely to yield "developments."
Bucks County has many beautiful boroughs, surrounded by miles of sprawl and McMansions.

[biblegal]

Yes, most of Newtown attends Council Rock Schools... we just happened to be one of those who didn't!

As far as streets that I liked when I lived there... I would really just tell you to have a realtor drive you around the neighborhoods. Also, be aware of how close you are to conveniences and access roads like 532 and the interstate. A lot of those two lane roads get pretty backed up with work traffic. You'll want to chose a knowledgeable real estate agent.

If you need the name of one, I can refer you to mine. Let me know.

Here are some roads that had nice developments off of them. (Stoopville Road, Buck Road, Richboro Road, Durham Road)

Again, I would pay attention to location of schools, conviencences, and access roads.

Best of luck to you!

Biblegal

[momma said no]

First off - there are no bad parts of either area.
Tons of developments if thats the kind of house your looking for.

The suggestion to look in the boroughs is a good one. Both boroughs are simply wonderful places to raise kids.

Both Central bucks schools are good as are both CR schools. Preference to the old CR high school over the new one.

The defining factor in choosing between them is whether or not you need to use I95.
Doyelstown is not a fun commute to center city via car.
Its more isolated and you'll find that people that live there don't really use Philadelphia that often (unless they work there).
Same is true of Newtown but NYC, Phila, Princeton, NJ are all much easier to get to from Newtown.