how do you find apartments in/around philly? (Levittown, Lansdale: apartment complexes, rentals)

[notfriedkasei]

Aside from 4walls, apartments.com, the Inquirer, and craigslist, that is. My partner and I are looking to rent a house or part of a house. We really do not like apartment complexes, and those seem to be the vast majority of places advertised on those websites. However, we currently live about six hours away and don't have the luxury of driving around, looking for 'for rent' signs or knowing people who know people, etc.

We're also probably going to be looking in the smaller towns in Bucks or Montgomery counties, or if in the city, then the Northeast section. We're currently living in Vermont and have become accustomed to the quiet small town life, but we'd like just a wee bit more to do. Based on online descriptions, something along the lines of Ambler or New Hope, but affordable (hahaha). I just can't figure out how affordable anywhere is because I can't find apartment listings!

Help!

When are you moving? January or February
Where are you coming from? Vermont
Why are you moving? less isolated, closer to family
Where will you be working? am working on that!
Have you been here yet? definitely!

Will you buy or rent? rent
If renting, are you looking for an apartment, a townhouse or loft? How much can you spend? As low as possible, though we'd prefer rent to include heat, so that will up it a bit. We both have tons of student loan debt, so we'd like to keep rent under $1000/month.

Do you have pets? A dog.
Do you want or need a yard? Nice, but not necessary.
Are you keeping a car? yes.
Do you prefer bustling activity or calm and quiet? Calm and quiet.

What do you want to be closest to?
Shopping
Basic services (supermarket, drugstore, etc.)
Train or subway stations

Do you want to live with people of a similar age, race, religion or sexual preference or do you prefer a diverse neighborhood? Diversity!

[bryson662001]

You could try www.realtor.com Choose the "rent" option and plug in the zip code you want.

[kyle19125]

Not to poop on your parade, but I am unaware of any quiet, inexpensive, diverse places in Bucks County or Montgomery County. You mentioned New Hope and Ambler which would most closely match what you're looking for, though both are pretty lily-white (and expensive). You might consider Collingswood, NJ. It's close to the city and commuter train convenient, walkable, offers easy access to services, reasonably quiet, diverse/liberal and more affordable. I quick look on Craigslist turned up several rentals for under $1000
per month. Good luck!

Collingswood, New Jersey - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Collingswood, New Jersey | Collingswood, New Jersey

[notfriedkasei]

Hahaha, yeah, we know those towns are mostly white as a sheet of paper, which sucks. Diversity also includes GLBT folks, different religions, politics, etc., and a quick trip into the city can get us what we need racially (my partner is both puertorrican and jewish and we're living in Vermont, so we'd be happy just to have some communities close by, even if we didn't live in them!).

I also know that those towns are pricey, so that's why we're still open to living in a neighborhood in the Northeast part of the city. We just can't figure out how to find a place to live that isn't in an apartment complex, which seems to be most of the craigslist, etc., ads. bryson - thanks for the link to realtor.com, it seems to have more things we're interested in

[kyle19125]

Any particular reason you're stuck on the areas north of the city?

[notfriedkasei]

It's that much closer to my partner's grandmother ... she is elderly and currently can't manage much more than a two hour drive to visit us (she lives in Westchester county, NY). South of the city might be pushing it. She's dead set on being able to visit us because we've been making the trek to see her every other month for the past three years from Vermont and ... yeah. We also haven't really been anywhere south of the city and aren't as familiar with it. Is the vibe similar? And is it less expensive?

[Duderino]

Welcome to the area.

I would look in and around Doylestown (Bucks) or Lansdale (Montgomery). Obviously you're not going to find the same amount of diversity as the city. However, both are more traditional suburbs with nice main street and have convenient rail access to Center City. Both are surrounded by good amounts open space and are relatively quiet -- definitely give off a New England vibe that you might be more accustomed to coming from VT. Costs-of-living are also cheaper than than New Hope.

Good luck!

[bryson662001]

Originally Posted by notfriedkasei

It's that much closer to my partner's grandmother ... she is elderly and currently can't manage much more than a two hour drive to visit us (she lives in Westchester county, NY).

I can tell you from experience that it won't be too long before that isn't possible either. That is a particularly rough trip on the NJ Tpk for an elderly driver. However you are correct that being north of the city will knock an hour off the trip. Why not look in Middletown Township which is closer to N.J. The zip is 19047 and 19056 and includes the better neighborhoods in Levittown.