True that Chicago is where my family is, but my mother just passed away so even though I am in my 20's it changes things dramatically. At a young age and realizing the worth of family makes things different. My father is 70 in good health but ya never know, my mother was only 60.
As for children, I really dont want them for many many reasons as you can imagine, I cant imagine raising children without my mom. I spent time in Italy so that task has been accomplished. Spent a year on the west coast... way to far away from the type of lifestyle I like.
I have a possibility to buy my moms house at a really cheap price (outside of chicago), somehting I know i wont find in Philly or directly in Chicago. Its a great way to start out, gain equity, etc. I guess certain opportunities and life events make a big impact on where you live. But in the case we move to Philly I would like to get an idea what I am in for and if it offers the possibilities that Chicago offers.

I am so very sorry about the loss of your Mom. That is hard. Owning a home now at your young age is a wise move. If that can happen for you then I would choose that route. Again, I am sorry and all the best to you.

Real estate in the Phila. area is more affordable than in many comparable cities. However, other costs make the area expensive. Car insurance, wage taxes, school taxes in many suburban communities, and the cost of public transportation (which is not the greatest, either) are very high. Radnor is very pricey, but you could probably afford something in Ardmore or Narberth, which are a short drive or train ride from Radnor, and also a shorter commute into the city. Nightlife--restaurants, concerts, theater--cost less than in many other big cities. The area is also great for "changes of scenery". In just a few hours, you can be in NYC, D.C., Baltimore, the beach, mountains (skiing), whitewater rafting outside Pittsburgh, Lancaster County farmland, the Skyline Drive (Va.), NY state wine country, and some gorgeous state parks. On the other hand, due to the great number of colleges nearby and the area's decent teachers' salaries, teaching jobs--at least in the public schools--are very hard to find, except in struggling urban districts like Phila. and Camden. By the way, there are loads of Italians here, and there must be some Hungarians (that's half of my background, too). Of course, there is something to be said for being near to one's family. And, even though it may be hard now to think of having children without your mother's support and nurturance, that IS the way to carry your mother's love, values, heritage, and genes into the future.

Thank you for your information and support. It sounds like Philly would not be a bad move if it came down to it. About the children thing, my I felt that I didnt want to have children even before. Before my first husband passed away and long before my mom passed away we talked about having children, but we loved traveling and having our freedom. My husband now is from a big Italian family and we have talked about having children as well, but who knows what the future holds!
My biggest concern is being in a city or place where i am comfortable, able to do what i love to do, teach and coach. And be close enough to my family for holidays and birthdays!

Would anyone suggest or not suggest living in the Mt Airy or Germantown area? Prices seem pretty low in those areas, but how are those areas? What neighborhood is good to look into in Souther Philly?

NO to Germantown. My step-MIL lives there in a big old beautiful Victorian home, but it is the ghetto, no way to put a spin on it. She's a block from a housing project. There's no decent supermarkets and shopping and it's not safe. A lot of the housing is in deep disrepair.

Mt. Airy is extremely iffy b/c you need to know exactly where the house is that they are calling Mt. Airy. If it borders Germantown, you are going to have the issues of Germantown. One part borders the more suburban (and pricey) Chestnut Hill and that part is nice. Just make sure it's a Chestnut Hill Mt. Airy and not a Germantown Mt. Airy!

Prices can certainly be a great guide. The old saying if it sounds to good to be true it usually is. Years ago i saw a huge home in the suburbs for an unbelievale price but it bordered in the worst neighborhood possible. Price can at times be a great guide. The higher the better neighborhoods.

You asked earlier about hiking in the area. If you leave Philly and drive north towards the Delaware Water Gap, there are some beautiful hiking spots to explore. One of my favorites is on the Jersey side of the Delaware Water Gap.

You can hike off of the Appalachian Trail and walk to a beautiful glacier-fed pond, go to the top of the gap itself and see eagles flying under you, or explore some of New Jersey's state parks and meander a stretch of the Appalachian Trail.

Although I no longer live in the Philadelphia area, I've often told people that the only way you can get bored there is if you don't look for something to do. There's tons of music, comedy clubs and all sorts of entertainment.

Let us know how your trip turns out.

I agree with karen re: Mt. Airy and Germantown. One other thing to note since for some people this would be a big positive for a place: Mt. Airy really prides itself on being an accepting and diverse neighborhood. There is a forum you might enjoy as you are thinking of this move:

http://www.phillyblog.com/philly/index.php

It's divided by neighborhood.

if i were to visit these places before i decided to rent or purchase, would it be easy to recognize what is bad? the price is a good indicator but by going through the neighborhood would i be able to recognize these ify places that i do not want to consider?

Not to sound like a smarta$$, but if you saw Germantown, you could tell by sight that it is not a great neighborhood.

I really think you should get some insight re: neighborhoods - come here and we'll give you our two cents. We detoured off of I-95 this summer and I could not believe how close Swarthmore was to Chester. Swarthmore is a Main Line town, very expensive with beautiful houses. Chester is just the opposite - and they are only a few miles apart.

Personally that would not be OK with me, but Swarthmore is a very desirable address.

i am curious to see south philly and eat grub. how far is villanova from southern philly? are there more job opportunities in philly or in the suburbs?

Hi:

I lived in Philly in my mid twenties about 6 years ago. I lived in East Falls, just up the hill from Wissahickon Park which is a great park, you can mountain bike and hike and run and you don't even feel like you are in the city. East Falls fit my budget at the time (medical student) I paid about $700/month rental for a 1 BD + den in a gated community with plenty of parking and a pool. I enjoyed visiting my friends in Center city, but my car was broken into twice over 4 years and it was really hard to find parking, so if you decide to live in the city that will be an issue. After one of these instances down near South Street and 25th I was walking through a square on the way to Walnut Street the next morning and saw a homeless guy sleeping under the blanket that was among the things stolen out of my trunk. I asked him if he had seen my tennis racquets and he, of course, said, "NO. Some dude just threw me the blanket overnight." Oh sure, the Philadelphia version of Robin Hood busted the lock on my trunk. He apparantly couldn't drive a stick though, since he didn't steal the car. Anyways, the medical school I went to was near Germantown and in fact I worked out at the YMCA there. If my father had ever seen the Y he would have been rolling over in his grave. Definetely in the hood and I would never live in Germantown. We used Wissahickon as the dividing line anything on the East Falls side was Ok, but you didn't want to live on the other side of it. Manayunk is fun but can't park and the hill stinks in the winter. Chestnut Hill is a great neighborhood, lots of polar fleece and bugaboo strollers. The best part about Philly, in my opinion, is being close to the beach! Well, pretzels and water ice are memorable as well, but now Pittsburgh has Rita's so I don't miss it so much. The other great thing is the tons of spectactular restaurants, we just don't have that variety here in Pittsburgh. Now, in my early thirties if I was moving back I would like to live out the Main Line. I would like the suburbia with charm with the benefit of being close to the train so you can take it into the city to enjoy all the benefits without actually living there. Other highlights are Fairmont Park and all the museums. My friends who are still in the area live in suburbia, but i always thought if I had had more money when I lived there i would have loved to live in rittenhouse Square or in one of the lofts in the Art museum district. Philly has lots of great neighborhoods, but you really have to be careful. I think of the city proper as a checkerboard. There isn't just one "bad area," rather small enclaves to be avoided are scattered throughout and you can be in a great neighborhood, but go 5 streets over and you may start to feel uncomfortable. The other posters gave you good advice - god luck on your decision. I enjoyed my time in Philadelphia, but I was ready to leave after a few years. I sure do miss living close to the beach, though.

Villanova is also along the Main Line. Very nice area. You can hpe right on the Blue Rt. there and make your way into center city. Housing prices are not low in Villanova though.