Professional couple searching for home within 20 mins of Temple Univ. (Philadelphia: how much, houses)

[jhoomkolata]

We are a professional couple in our 50's looking to relocate to Philadelphia and live within 20 mins commute to Temple University. No kids, school district is not a consideration, but need room to work from home. Looking for a standalone home with some yard space, 3 bedrooms, 2 car garage, quality housing with modern amenities within 600K. Need a finished basement for home theater. Like to be near everyday amenities and shopping, but in quiet, green neighborhood. Is this budget realistic? What are some good neighborhoods to look at?

[Angus215]

I don't know that a 20 minute door-to-door is possible, without living in the city itself (ie. Center City), which even then would be tough and it doesn't sound like that's what you're looking for anyway. Commuting by car in Philly is terrible, and I would think Temple would be a particularly difficult area to drive to, so you will probably want to take the train.

Chestnut Hill or Mt Airy might be options, though these are nice, historic areas with old homes, which may not be what you are looking for. But you might find something updated that you would like particularly in Mt Airy on that budget.

There are many suburban areas that are served by SEPTA trains that stop at Temple. I would figure out which train lines stop at Temple BEFORE going into Center City, and start from there. I believe it is going to be the Norristown, Warminster and Doylestown lines, with the Doylestown and Warminster lines giving you better access to suburban areas. Perhaps Jenkintown, Abington, Ambler, or other places in that general area. These are "older" suburban areas. Obviously, the further you are willing to go out, the newer (and cheaper) the housing will tend to be.

[FrankInPhilly]

Originally Posted by Angus215

I don't know that a 20 minute door-to-door is possible, without living in the city itself (ie. Center City), which even then would be tough and it doesn't sound like that's what you're looking for anyway. Commuting by car in Philly is terrible, and I would think Temple would be a particularly difficult area to drive to, so you will probably want to take the train.

Chestnut Hill or Mt Airy might be options, though these are nice, historic areas with old homes, which may not be what you are looking for. But you might find something updated that you would like particularly in Mt Airy on that budget.

There are many suburban areas that are served by SEPTA trains that stop at Temple. I would figure out which train lines stop at Temple BEFORE going into Center City, and start from there. I believe it is going to be the Norristown, Warminster and Doylestown lines, with the Doylestown and Warminster lines giving you better access to suburban areas. Perhaps Jenkintown, Abington, Ambler, or other places in that general area. These are "older" suburban areas. Obviously, the further you are willing to go out, the newer (and cheaper) the housing will tend to be.

^^^ yes, staying train-focused will keep you happy and sane. Mt Airy and parts of Germantown (Chestnut Hill East line) are good options, as is East Falls (Norristown line). There are certainly locations along either route that would meet your needs and be within budget.

[PHL10]

I could be wrong but the OP's list of desires makes it seem like they want what is pictured below, which does exist in the City but as an exception to the rule......maybe look in Andorra and the Far Northeast?

[FrankInPhilly]

Originally Posted by PHL10

I could be wrong but the OP's list of desires makes it seem like they want what is pictured below, which does exist in the City but as an exception to the rule......maybe look in Andorra and the Far Northeast?

Housing-wise, those would work, but would also be way more than 20 minutes to Temple. Even if OP went from the semi-realistic 20 minutes to 30 or a bit more, Andorra/Far N'east would still be a stretch (and would almost require driving in the case of the N'east; if Andorra, you could probably drive to a station on the Norristown Line.

[KansastoSouthphilly]

Pretty limited options. I would recommend looking in East Mt Airy and Chesnut Hill along the CHE Line. I would also maybe look in Jenkintown or Elkins Park near their respective train stations.

[JacksonPanther]

3 bedroom, a yard, and a finished basement doesn't sound like an unreasonable request. Nothing in Philly meets that goal? Overbrook Farms? Chestnut Hill?
People aren't rehabbing their houses in Mt Airy?

OP, would you be willing to buy a home that requires upgrading?

[PHL10]

Originally Posted by FrankInPhilly

Housing-wise, those would work, but would also be way more than 20 minutes to Temple. Even if OP went from the semi-realistic 20 minutes to 30 or a bit more, Andorra/Far N'east would still be a stretch (and would almost require driving in the case of the N'east; if Andorra, you could probably drive to a station on the Norristown Line.

You're right that total time would be more than 20 minutes from the NE but you could take the regional rail from Fox Chase, Somerton, Holmesburg, Torresdale, etc. depending on where you decide to locate.

[selhars]

within 20 mins commute to Temple University. No kids, school district is not a consideration, but need room to work from home. Looking for a standalone home with some yard space, 3 bedrooms, 2 car garage, quality housing with modern amenities within 600K. Need a finished basement for home theater. Like to be near everyday amenities and shopping, but in quiet, green neighborhood. Is this budget realistic?

OP that depends on how much weight you give to each of those "wants."
-- Can you put them in order of priority....
-- also will you be driving or taking public transit, or sometimes one sometimes the other? AND what time of day are you commuting?
---------------------------------

-- commute time or home amenities?
-- within 20 mins commute to Temple University.
-- room to work from home.
-- standalone home with some yard space
-- 3 bedrooms, 2 car garage
-- quality housing with modern amenities
-- within 600K
-- a finished basement for home theater.
-- near everyday amenities and shopping, but in quiet, green neighborhood.
-- Is this budget realistic? (600K)

So the OP wants a single family (not attached) home with a TWO-car garage, 20-minutes from Temple?
Plus all those other "wants"
IMO the 2-car garage in a SFH that's 20 minutes to Temple will be the hardest to find.....

Mt Airy, parts of Germantown (Chestnut Hill East line), East Falls (Norristown line), Overbrook Farms? Chestnut Hill?
Sure all of those might be options or have some inventory that meet the OP's desires.

A fair number of house might have ONE-car garages, but 2-car? Yes they are out there. But many fewer, I'd say.

Try: The Far Northeast, East Mt. Airy, Chestnut Hill, East Oak Lane, Roxborough, Andorra, Overbrook Farms, Wynnefield.
Are any of them truly 20 minutes door-to-to to Temple? Not really.
If driving certainly not.
If taking public transit -- as Angus215 said, "figure out which train lines stop at Temple BEFORE going into Center City, and start from there."

[KansastoSouthphilly]

Originally Posted by JacksonPanther

3 bedroom, a yard, and a finished basement doesn't sound like an unreasonable request. Nothing in Philly meets that goal? Overbrook Farms? Chestnut Hill?
People aren't rehabbing their houses in Mt Airy?

OP, would you be willing to buy a home that requires upgrading?

The housing isn't the problem its finding this house with a 20 min commute of Temple U is going to be very challenging. Mt. Airy would have to be limited to E Mt. Ary since the CHW will take quite a bit longer than 20 minutes to get to Temple. Chestnut Hill will be pushing the 20 minute limit at as well. There is not a lot of housing inventory in either neighborhood at the moment and there is an extremely limited inventory of standalone houses in both neighborhoods. Most will be twins/rows (mostly twins).