Relocating to Philly- Help!
 

I am relocating from Boston to the Philly area with my company, located about 20 miles out of the city. I have enjoyed living in Boston- so like to be near the city and have easy access to it but not nec. right in the middle. I would appreciate any suggestions for neighborhoods with character and charm- I dont' need a 4000 sq foot home- a townhome with lots of character would be great- or, 3 bedroom historic home.

Welcome to Philadelphia! If you like Boston, you should love it here.<BR><BR>I'd be happy to help you find a neighborhood, but would need a little more information. When you say your company is 20 miles outside of the city--well, in which direction (you don't need to be too precise for security reasons, but if you just give me a general direction, I can help.)<BR><BR>(FWIW, my company is 35 miles outside of the city and I live downtown. Depending on the roads you have to take, it can be a fairly easy commute.)

We probably can give you some tips if you tell where your co. is and what your spending range is for real estate. (In general, though, I think you're going to find that Philly is considerably cheaper than the Boston area.)

I think you'll save money and experience (negative) culture shock. Let us know how you like it after you've been in Philly a while.

Thanks everyone. The company is near Bluebell. I guess a price range would be around $350-450.. I do not like the developments that have taken over corn fields, farm land- ie. flat with no trees. Really looking for character, an urban feel. Maybe a small yard with a great deck for entertaining, etc. I appreciate your help!

Chestnut Hill would fit your bill easily--I used to commute from Chestnut Hill to Springhouse and also to Plymouth Meeting, both near Blue Bell. <BR>However, CH is within Philly boundaries, so that means paying the Philly wage tax (I thought it was worth it). There are some townhomes on Evergreen and Highland Aves easily in your price range. Also the Anglecott (a 1920s Tudor style retirement complex that was converted into condos and carriage houses). A friend bought one of the carriage houses for about $220k. Technically, they are one bedroom, but some of the carriage home residents have turned their attics into beautiful second and third bedrooms (plus bath) or bedroom/study combinations (spending about $50k on the conversion, putting the total still in your range).<BR>

BT is right about Chestnut Hill. Also, consider Germantown and Manayunk.<BR><BR>One other consideration: If you want a sort-of urban feel but outside of Philly, you might consider some of the smaller boroughs in SE PA. Parts of Doylestown are interesting, and West Chester Borough is 'hot' (from a real estate perspective) right now -- has a university, lots of shops and restaurants, and interesting colonial architecture. Just a thought.

These suggestions are right on target.<BR><BR>The Chestnut Hill/Mount Airy and Manayunk neighborhoods are the ones with easiest access to the Bluebell area. Chestnut Hill is kind of the "anti-urban" neighborhood, though--it's very beautiful and pleasant, with lots of shops and restaurants you can walk to.<BR><BR>Manayunk is a little edgier, although recent years have seen the opening of mainstream stores like Banana Republic. The other downside of Manayunk is that you'll have to put up with hoards of suburbanites invading your neighborhood every weekend (so make sure you have off-street parking).<BR><BR>The only truly urban neighborhood that's close to the Expressway (and therefore a little closer to Blue Bell than the heart of Center City) is the Art Museum/Fairmount area, which is fun and fairly young in attitude. A tiny two-bedroom row will cost you $225K or so. But it would still be quite the schlep to Blue Bell and you'd still have city wage tax.<BR><BR>Conshohocken is an old mill town about midway between Philadelphia and Blue Bell that's being revitalized. Might be worth checking out.

I thought about CH, Mount Airy, etc., as I walked through the Hampstead neighborhood of London yesterday. And Hampstead suffered in comparison...IMO, it's gone downhill in the last five years, full of chain shops and restaurants, gotten dirty, crowded, and unbelievable traffic for a supposed "village" atmosphere. Reminded me of some parts of University City. The only part that hasn't gone downhill is the cost of real estate! I looked in the estate agency windows and saw homes advertised that would have cost $250k in University City and $350k in Chestnut Hill. But in Hampstead, they cost a mind boggling $2.5-3.0 MILLION.<BR>And that didn't even guarantee off street parking! London is great, but at that price, I could have a gorgeous house in Chestnut Hill and still have money left over to fly first class to London and stay at the Ritz several times a year...<BR>BTilke

Welcome to Philly, there is so much to see and do. I agree with suggestions (especially Anthony's)about Chestnut Hill (went to school there, although it is pretty preppy) and Manayunk but would disagree with Germantown area; while there are many beautiful homes the area can be iffy. The problem with any of those areas is the city wage tax which MAY be changed but may not. As a philly native and one of 7 family members, the last of us has just moved from the city because of many of their problems. There are still wonderful places like above as well as downtown, but it was hard decision for us to finally leave. Another factor to think about is if you have children, the Philly school system is in big trouble and being taken over by the state so the burbs unfortunately may offer better choices (altho again, there are many good schools/charter/magnet schools but you need to know the area and public transportation.<BR> If you belong to AAA, you should get the Phila and vicinity map and look at the suburbs around the blue route (476) and the turnpike. These would be close to work as well as easy to get into town.West Chester is quite far from Blue bell (about an hour drive with no good clear roads even though it is a great place to live). I have friends and relatives who live in Flourtown, Fort Washingtown, North Wales, and Conshohocken (urban feel)and really like it there (and good schools). Good luck.

Welcome to Philly, I just moved here in November from NYC and have adjusted well. I live in Center City so I dont have much to add to the areas mentioned except that be aware of the city wage tax (it is a huge debate right now) Basically if you live or work within city limits you have about a 4-5% tax on your salary. Since your office is not in the city, you wont be penalized from your place of work and you can avoid the tax all together if you live outside the Philadelhia County limits. I believe that Manayunk, Chestnut Hill and Germantown are still in Phila Co and therefore you would have the tax. My husband and I wanted to live in Center City even though he works in Bala Cynwyd. We could have avoided the tax but figured it was jsut the price to pay to feel like we were still living in the city. Just thought you should know.<BR>Good luck.

Sorry if I repeated what other people wrote, I guess I missed the other items about the wage tax....

Thanks everyone. I was just down there this past week and considered the blue bell country club estates- near work. Have not looked yet. but they have golf, a pool, tennis, and a health club. Any comments?

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I have several friends who live in the BlueBell Country Club estates and love it. You had, however, stated that you want neighborhoods with character and charm or something historic. Blue Bell Country Club is a relatively new community. LOTS of homes--typical suburban neighborhood. VERY nice, but it sounded as though you were looking for something different. There are some very nice older homes in the Blue Bell, Erdinheim,Whitemarsh, Plymouth area also.

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I agree with the above posters about Chestnut Hill and Manayunk. These are both walkable neighborhoods with their own little downtown area (Manayunk-Main Street and Chestnut Hill-Germantown Avenue) Each of the neighborhoods are on the Regional Rail Line so you have easy access to Center City(about 20 min) without the hassle of parking.

Thank you very much. I guess I am weighing charm with the fact that I need to be into work pretty early and most likely will benefit from having as few obstacles in the way between home and work. I still need to gather info and really go to look around. Your input is apprecited! Thanks

Try Narberth!! It is the best. Small town, but cool town, and literally 20 minutes from CC Philadelphia....

thanks!