Clueless in Philly

[storyofz]

Wow - Terrific info - so am I priced out of Abington/Glenside/Jenkintown at 350k as well?

Originally Posted by JasmineFlower

Also just wanted to jump on the Abington bandwagon. And I would say you can't beat the public schools in Abington, not many other school districts in the state can say they have their senior high, junior high, and 4 of their elementary schools get blue ribbon awards.

Fort Washington is nice, its part of the Upper Dublin school district.

Depending on where you live in Huntingdon Valley, you will be in either the Abington SD or the Lower Moreland SD.

Horsham has nice homes and is a nice place to live, but out of all the school districts mentioned, I would place this at the bottom even though its certainly still a good one.

Blue Bell would mostly be part of the Wissahickon school district (though in your price range, Ambler might be where you would look). Wissahickon is a great school as well.

I also wanted to point out that in addition to the cute shopping areas in Jenkintown and Glenside and the great mall in Willow Grove, Abington is very close to Chestnut Hill, so that's something else to consider.

I think with your price range, you may be priced out of most of the Wissahickon and Upper Dublin school district areas, as well as out of Huntingdon Valley and the nicer parts of Horsham. Also, don't rule out the Springfield area (in Montgomery County, that would be Oreland, Laverock, Erdenheim areas), good schools, some homes still in your price range with the qualities you are looking for.

[JasmineFlower]

No, you're not priced out of Abington/Glenside/Jenkintown. You also aren't totally priced out of the other areas, notice I said "most of". Because for the most part, those areas are more expensive in terms of what you are looking for overall, less range of prices. So, you listed "single family home with room on all sides". That will rule out some of the more affordable options in some areas, because there are townhome communities or even homes that are closer set to each other. I also read that comment as wanting a usable size yard, but maybe I was reading too much into it.

Abington has the higher priced options like the other areas, but it is also contains a few more reasonable priced areas, including homes including in the $350k range that you are looking in. Although, I guess I should ask what you mean by Abington as well. Are you talking Abington the city or Abington the township? In Abington Township, you can find a house for $350k and also find one for $1.2 mil. So, you are limited more by Abington the town than by the township, but I would say you're still fine in terms of having more selection since you mentioned Glenside (which is mostly part of Abington) as well. You will be able to find properties in your price range and not be limited to looking at just 3 homes in the area that fit your criteria.

In let's say the Blue Bell/Ambler area that is part of Wissahickon or in the Ft. Washington/Upper Dublin are that is part of the Upper Dublin school district, I would be surprised if you find more than a handful of homes in under $350k range that were not townhomes. But, that means there might be several single family homes that are available in those areas, it just wouldn't be that common. And it sounds like that's not what you are looking for. Having said all that, don't rule out an area, if you like it and your budget is close, in this market, I wouldn't rule anything out.

Hope I'm being clear. Basically for some of the other areas where I'm saying you are "almost" priced out, what I mean is that for single family, non-attached homes, I wouldn't think if you were to tour those homes, there would be that many out there. If you budget was instead something like $450k, then in those same areas, you would have more than 20 homes you could see, instead of less than 5.

[storyofz]

Yes - a yard that is usable was definitely what i meant, and not so close that i can look out my window and into my neighbors home and see everything.

I will definitely do some more research, but your insight has been very helpful. Thank you!

Originally Posted by JasmineFlower

No, you're not priced out of Abington/Glenside/Jenkintown. You also aren't totally priced out of the other areas, notice I said "most of". Because for the most part, those areas are more expensive in terms of what you are looking for overall, less range of prices. So, you listed "single family home with room on all sides". That will rule out some of the more affordable options in some areas, because there are townhome communities or even homes that are closer set to each other. I also read that comment as wanting a usable size yard, but maybe I was reading too much into it.

Abington has the higher priced options like the other areas, but it is also contains a few more reasonable priced areas, including homes including in the $350k range that you are looking in. Although, I guess I should ask what you mean by Abington as well. Are you talking Abington the city or Abington the township? In Abington Township, you can find a house for $350k and also find one for $1.2 mil. So, you are limited more by Abington the town than by the township, but I would say you're still fine in terms of having more selection since you mentioned Glenside (which is mostly part of Abington) as well. You will be able to find properties in your price range and not be limited to looking at just 3 homes in the area that fit your criteria.

In let's say the Blue Bell/Ambler area that is part of Wissahickon or in the Ft. Washington/Upper Dublin are that is part of the Upper Dublin school district, I would be surprised if you find more than a handful of homes in under $350k range that were not townhomes. But, that means there might be several single family homes that are available in those areas, it just wouldn't be that common. And it sounds like that's not what you are looking for. Having said all that, don't rule out an area, if you like it and your budget is close, in this market, I wouldn't rule anything out.

Hope I'm being clear. Basically for some of the other areas where I'm saying you are "almost" priced out, what I mean is that for single family, non-attached homes, I wouldn't think if you were to tour those homes, there would be that many out there. If you budget was instead something like $450k, then in those same areas, you would have more than 20 homes you could see, instead of less than 5.

[DailyJournalist]

Originally Posted by storyofz

Hi Daily Journalist - thanks for the info - I am a Jersey girl, born and raised, and worry that even in Haddonfield, the property taxes would be exorbitant compared to PA. Your thoughts.

I have not found Jersey to be much more in taxes than most of the similar towns in PA based on my research.

[andymedia]

GWYNEDD VALLEY

* easy access to public transport to get to NJ/NYC/Downtown Philly
40 minutes door to door to Philly by train (3 area stations within a mile or so) or drive (via Lincoln Drive)
* a single family home with some room on all sides
I have one for sale with 3 tree line and an acre
* an excellent school district, charming downtown, and SAFE SAFE SAFE neighborhood
Wissahickon is excellent; good classroom size, fiscally responsible, not TOO Large schools

We have GREAT Neighbors too!

MLS #: 5493259

[JasmineFlower]

Originally Posted by andymedia

GWYNEDD VALLEY

* easy access to public transport to get to NJ/NYC/Downtown Philly
40 minutes door to door to Philly by train (3 area stations within a mile or so) or drive (via Lincoln Drive)
* a single family home with some room on all sides
I have one for sale with 3 tree line and an acre
* an excellent school district, charming downtown, and SAFE SAFE SAFE neighborhood
Wissahickon is excellent; good classroom size, fiscally responsible, not TOO Large schools

We have GREAT Neighbors too!

MLS #: 5493259

Uh, is that the wrong MLS Number? The one you put up is a gorgeous home, but its essentially a $1.1 million dollar house.