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Old 06-12-2013, 08:40 PM
 
28 posts, read 85,621 times
Reputation: 27

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I want to be open-minded. Really, I do. So maybe someone can help me see the light on this one. I've been married for 3 years. Husband got a new job and we are looking to relocate. I grew up in Havertown, he grew up in Folsom/Ridley Park. She has her heart set on moving back to Folsom. Now, this may sound elitist, and I apologize in advance, but I don't see any promise in the Ridley area. I've been there numerous times to visit her family and I just don't like the neighborhood - way too close to Chester for my liking, surrounded by seedy neighborhoods, mediocre school district & with the exception of the beautiful Victorian homes near St. Mads, I think the homes look small and boring. The downtown area is a nice tough, I'll admit, but the people seem ehhh, less than what I'm used to. Please help me see some positives in this area.
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Old 06-12-2013, 08:51 PM
 
Location: North by Northwest
9,328 posts, read 13,002,482 times
Reputation: 6174
Quote:
Originally Posted by gophils09 View Post
I want to be open-minded. Really, I do. So maybe someone can help me see the light on this one. I've been married for 3 years. Husband got a new job and we are looking to relocate. I grew up in Havertown, he grew up in Folsom/Ridley Park. She has her heart set on moving back to Folsom. Now, this may sound elitist, and I apologize in advance, but I don't see any promise in the Ridley area. I've been there numerous times to visit her family and I just don't like the neighborhood - way too close to Chester for my liking, surrounded by seedy neighborhoods, mediocre school district & with the exception of the beautiful Victorian homes near St. Mads, I think the homes look small and boring. The downtown area is a nice tough, I'll admit, but the people seem ehhh, less than what I'm used to. Please help me see some positives in this area.
I know next to nothing about Ridley, but I am fairly familiar with Havertown, so I figure it's worth reminding that it's all relative. Some people from the Main Line say the same things about Havertown. Point being that we all draw our dividing lines somewhere. Surely there's a compromise that can be made? What's your budget?
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Old 06-12-2013, 08:55 PM
 
28 posts, read 85,621 times
Reputation: 27
I didn't mean to say I thought Havertown was the golden standard, I just feel like Ridley is "below" Havertown and surrounding areas (Drexel Hill, Upper Springfield, etc). I'm at a point in my life where I want my real estate investment to be a move up rather than a move down. Our budget is $275,000. Thanks for your response!
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Old 06-12-2013, 08:57 PM
 
Location: North by Northwest
9,328 posts, read 13,002,482 times
Reputation: 6174
Quote:
Originally Posted by gophils09 View Post
I didn't mean to say I thought Havertown was the golden standard, I just feel like Ridley is "below" Havertown and surrounding areas (Drexel Hill, Upper Springfield, etc). I'm at a point in my life where I want my real estate investment to be a move up rather than a move down. Our budget is $275,000. Thanks for your response!
Do you not like what $275,000 can get you in those areas?
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Old 06-12-2013, 09:01 PM
 
28 posts, read 85,621 times
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We do, but my husband really has his heart set on moving back to Folsom. I was hoping some people could convince me on the town so that I can try to go into it with an open heart, for my husband's sake.
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Old 06-12-2013, 09:09 PM
 
Location: North by Northwest
9,328 posts, read 13,002,482 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gophils09 View Post
We do, but my husband really has his heart set on moving back to Folsom. I was hoping some people could convince me on the town so that I can try to go into it with an open heart, for my husband's sake.
Based on the post you made a half hour ago, it seems you've already made up your mind:
Quote:
Originally Posted by gophils09 View Post
I would not suggest Ridley Park or Folsom. They are OK towns in and of themselves but the surrounding areas are garbage. I know this is a dangerous blanket statement, but most of the people there seem like they grew up in those garbage surrounding areas, made a bit of money, moved the 5 miles to Ridley Park/Folsom and now consider themselves to be living the high life. Some of the houses are nice, some are not. Most of them are small. The school district is mediocre at best. I would consider it a poor investment being that, when a mediocre town is surrounded by ones that are even worse off, it's bound to decline. I'm not trying to trash the people of Ridley or the town itself, but a well-educated, sophisticated, more "white-collar/upper middle class" person would not enjoy living there. And this is coming from someone who did live there.
If that's how you feel about the place, I can't imagine you being anything but miserable there. Do yourself a favor and come to some kind of compromise.
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Old 06-13-2013, 06:31 AM
 
584 posts, read 1,425,072 times
Reputation: 240
Have you thought about Rutledge? It's not far from Ridley - but for some reason is zoned in the Wallingford/Swarthmore school district (which is great). Homes are more affordable in Rutledge (compared to Wallingford), and from what I've seen homes and properties are maintained nicely. Not many homes go on the market and they tend to go pretty quickly.
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Old 06-13-2013, 07:10 AM
LHM
 
204 posts, read 413,067 times
Reputation: 131
Quote:
Originally Posted by gophils09 View Post
I want to be open-minded. Really, I do. So maybe someone can help me see the light on this one. I've been married for 3 years. Husband got a new job and we are looking to relocate. I grew up in Havertown, he grew up in Folsom/Ridley Park. She has her heart set on moving back to Folsom. Now, this may sound elitist, and I apologize in advance, but I don't see any promise in the Ridley area. I've been there numerous times to visit her family and I just don't like the neighborhood - way too close to Chester for my liking, surrounded by seedy neighborhoods, mediocre school district & with the exception of the beautiful Victorian homes near St. Mads, I think the homes look small and boring. The downtown area is a nice tough, I'll admit, but the people seem ehhh, less than what I'm used to. Please help me see some positives in this area.
The mixing up of he/she/husband/her makes this difficult to comprehend. But for what it's worth, I don't think Ridley is a very desirable area.
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Old 06-13-2013, 07:12 AM
 
3 posts, read 11,351 times
Reputation: 10
I can't say enough good things about living in Ridley Park versus Ridley Township (Folsom) but the tax base is stronger in Ridley and they both have the same school district. I can say that the homes in Ridley Park are gorgeous, older, Victorian homes and the Borough is remarkable walkable, safe at night for pedestrians, and quiet. Sure there's a police department to take care of the rowdies, but there no major crimes (rape, murder, arson) that you find in surrounding communities. Maybe the reason is the small size of Ridley Park, the enormous athletic association that keeps young men and ladies occupied, and the cool lake in the center of it all. Ridley Park is surrounded on all sides by Ridley Township - and like they say: as you go through life, don't look at the donut, keep you eye on the hole.
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Old 06-13-2013, 08:06 AM
 
28 posts, read 85,621 times
Reputation: 27
Thank you for your insight pp! I think I had it a bit mixed up. So folsom and ridley park are not the same?
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