Where to live NC to Philadelphia (Chester, New Castle: sales, real estate, how much)

[mom2jw09]

My husband might be being transferred to the Philadelphia airport in June. We have never even been to PA and are currently in central NC. We're looking for suggestions on where to live. We are considering PA, DE and MD. Where can I find out which state is cheaper? My husband is willing to commute, but not more than 1 hr to 1 hr 15min. Thanks!

[MoorestownResident]

Delaware and PA will be your cheapeast options around the airport.

[FindingZen]

You definitely wouldn't want to commute from Maryland. Your husband would be traveling primarily on I-95 which can be a crapshoot at any time of day.

If I'm correct, there is no sales tax in DE but you'll get hit pretty hard at income tax time. Property tax will be lower in general than PA.

PA has a flat income tax rate that is relatively low (3.07%). Sales tax is 6% excluding food, clothing and drugs. Philly tacks on an extra 1%.

More information about what kind of neighborhood you're looking for - there's a "sticky" guide at the top of this forum to help you - would help us narrow down some ideas for you.

[DailyJournalist]

I would recommend Wallingford, Media, Swathsmore, or Springfield. All would be an easy commute to the airport and are great towns.

[rainrock]

As Tone said Md really is not an option due to what would be an absolute ridiculous commute up I-95. I dont think you've ever seen traffic like you will see at the 95/295/495 merge in Newark De. Incredible.

This info might help you gauge housing costs and give you an idea where you want to look.

Here are the median home sale prices for 3rd qrt 2008. By county.


Chester (PA)- $304,250
Bucks(PA)- $282,500
Montgomery(PA)- $263,000
New Castle(DE)-$228,000
Burlington(NJ)-$228,000
Gloucester(NJ)-$210,200
Delaware(PA)- $207,500
Camden(NJ)-$189,900

As you can see South Jersey is least expensive and imo the quality of life reflects that.

Not knowing your budget its tough recommending towns but Id start with Mullica HIll, Swedesboro,Beckett New Jersey.

Good luck.

[MoorestownResident]

LMAO. Go buy a house in NJ for $189K-$228K, good luck with that. Far better chance you can find something affordable in PA or DE around the airport, with about 50% of the taxes of NJ. Plus you'll get much more house for the money in those areas as you will in every area of PA versus NJ. We've been through that exercise before Rocker. Not only that but spouting county data in this market is a particularly useless exercise.

[rainrock]

Originally Posted by MoorestownResident

LMAO. Go buy a house in NJ for $189K-$228K, good luck with that. Far better chance you can find something affordable in PA or DE around the airport, with about 50% of the taxes of NJ. Plus you'll get much more house for the money in those areas as you will in every area of PA versus NJ. We've been through that exercise before Rocker. Not only that but spouting county data in this market is a particularly useless exercise.

You're confused.

Top of the market houses in Moorestown go for the same prices as the tear downs in Gladwyne,Villanova, Bryn Mawr,Radnor. Its a different world over here MoorestownRodent, come out of your Burlington bubble. I'd suggest you take your dog and pony act back to the NJ board.

And you still havent figured out that your high state taxes are a result of an overstuffed failed state government as opposed to this supposed nirvana.

[FindingZen]

Good Morning.

And now let's pause for a moment of meditation.

Ommmmmmmmm......

[MoorestownResident]

Originally Posted by rainrock

You're confused.

Top of the market houses in Moorestown go for the same prices as the tear downs in Gladwyne,Villanova, Bryn Mawr,Radnor. Its a different world over here MoorestownRodent, come out of your Burlington bubble. I'd suggest you take your dog and pony act back to the NJ board.

And you still havent figured out that your high state taxes are a result of an overstuffed failed state government as opposed to this supposed nirvana.

I'm afraid that statement shows exactly how little you know about NJ. What $4-5 million gets you in Villanova versus Moorestown. And it just worse from there.

$5,000,000
5 Cobblestone Court
Moorestown, NJ 08057-4011
Listing No: 5406469

Square feet: 11,000
Bedroom: 5
Bath: 6 full, 3 partial

Acres: 3
Taxes: $60,000

Comparable homes in Villanova:

Villanova
$3,999,000
7 Bed, 7.5 Bath, 14,000 Sq Ft on 4 Acres

$3,990,000
7 Bed, 8 Bath, 10,522 Sq Ft on 4.23 Acres

$5,499,000* Inlcudes a 2nd house on property
5 Bed, 8 Bath, 12,000 Sq Ft on 3.2 Acres

Let's compare Haddonfield to Radnor in the $2-$3 range:

Radnor

$2,650,000
6 Bed, 8 Bath, 11,500 Sq Ft on 0.87 Acres (37,897 Sq Ft Lot)
Property Type: Single Family Home

Haddonfield

$3,500,000
7 Bed, 8 Bath, 8,705 Sq Ft on 0.95 Acres (41,382 Sq Ft Lot)

As you can plainly see, you are getting more house for less money per square foot in PA.

Heck, let's even compare Voorhees to Gladwyne in the $2 million range to see if it is more comparable:

Voorhees
22 Hidden Acres Dr Voorhees, NJ 08043

$1,695,000
4 Bed, 5.5 Bath | 0.97 Acres (42,253 Sq Ft Lot) |

Gadwyne

1499 Wesleys Run #Lot#26 Gladwyne, PA 19035 *new construction
$1,699,000
5 Bed, 5 Bath | 5,700 Sq Ft

I enjoy these discussions but it's really not much of an argument as you can see. Sure PA Main Line towns have character, high values, good schools; sure they're expensive with high incomes, but you sure get a ton for your money. How expensive real estate is, is always determined by square footage, not how much something costs. And throw property taxes in and well PA is a better deal. PA's averages are high in these towns because either: nobody lives there (Gladwyne, Villanova) and/or there is only single family property and/or estates, so of course the average is high. All NJ towns, including Moorestown, Cherry Hill, Voorhees, Haddonfield MUST have lower income housing, so the two regions are not directly comparable. Location, location, location. It is what it is. The Main Line's national glitz was 200 years ago and it has been on the relative decline ever since. And lastly, the largest private residence in NJ and one of the largest in the country was built a couple years ago in Moorestown at roughly 45,000 square feet. When was the last Main Line residence of this size built? Answer 150-200 years ago.

[rainrock]

Dont take its so personally its really out of your control. The fact is that land value is much higher in the Pa suburbs. Your comparing flat farmland of South Jersey to the beautiful hills,rivers and valleys of SE Pa. South Jersey is going to lose that battle everytime and the real estate values that I posted earlier in this thread verifies that.

I dont understand why you insist on starting trouble when you have a losing hand?

For your own good Id suggest that you move on and get over your inferiority complex of Pa.