It's no secret that student loans can make buying a home a challenge for millennials. With debt repayment plans extending as far out as 10-30 years, it’s an obligation that can follow you around for a long time and discourage you from thinking home ownership is possible. According to the non-profit organization, American Student Assistance, their 2015 survey revealed that more than half of student Continue Reading
What First Time Buyers Should Know About Deed Restrictions
One big reason people want to buy their own home instead of continually renting is because they can do whatever they want with the property! Paint the walls dark purple, turn the dining room into a tiki bar, keep a fish tank in your bathtub - the choice is yours, not your landlord’s. Not so fast. Many properties actually do have rules about what you can do with your home, and first time Continue Reading
Why retirees and empty nesters should consider a center city neighborhood
According to the most recent National Association of Realtors’ annual profile of buyers and sellers, 51% of baby boomers who buy a home are looking to downsize. For those looking for amenities and walkability in retirement, look no further than a center city, Philadelphia neighborhood! 17% of all first-time buyers are buying in urban areas. This is usually due to younger buyers wanting smaller Continue Reading
Is Philadelphia a Seller’s Market?
Most real estate sources seem to confirm one thing: the real estate market in Philadelphia is heating up. This means homes are increasing in value and selling for more than they would have a year or even a few months ago. Basically, it may be become what we call a seller's market. But what does that mean for someone trying to buy a home, really? Here are 5 things to keep in mind if you’re looking Continue Reading
Why Buying a House in Philly is Better Than Renting
With more than ¼ of all adult millennials in Philadelphia living with their parents due to the cost of rent, many ask the question: “Will I EVER be able to afford to buy a house?” Thankfully, the answer is YES. Although rent may seem unaffordable, buying a home in Philly can actually be a cheaper option. Nationwide, about 21% of millennials are living at home, while the number in Philly is at 27% Continue Reading
Philadelphia Row Houses: Classic Styles Anyone Can Love
One thing that distinguishes Philadelphia from any other city, and makes you realize you’re really in Philadelphia, is the residential architecture. Loft conversions, contemporary town homes, high rises: Philadelphia definitely has it all, but the one style that seems to maintain popularity throughout the ages is the classic Philly row house. From two stories to four stories, stone to stucco, Continue Reading
Buying Your First Home in Old City Philadelphia
Old City Philadelphia (sometimes spelled as Olde City) is known for two things: tourist attractions and nightlife. These items, though, are also what makes Old City a popular neighborhood for buying a home. Read on to see if Old City is right for your first time home purchase. Old City’s location is super convenient Old City is appropriately named. It’s literally the original part of Continue Reading
The Most Historic Houses on the Philadelphia Market
Philadelphia loves its history. What’s not to be proud of? Aside from the Declaration of Independence, the Constitutional Convention and the Liberty Bell, we were the first capital city of the US, and the second-largest English speaking city in the world, after London, in 1776. So it follows that we love historic houses. Elfreth’s Alley, the Summer White House, and the Betsy Ross House are Continue Reading
The Most Expensive Houses in Philadelphia
If you’ve seen Million Dollar Listing, you know places like New York and Los Angeles, which attract wealthy people from all over the world, have plenty of high-rolling inventory. The Bay Area is now the most expensive place to live in the US on average. Compared to some other cities, Philadelphia’s cost of living can seem quite manageable. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t homes worth a lot of Continue Reading
Why Buying a Home in the Off-Season May Be the Right Choice
The spring and summer housing season is busy in Philadelphia. Without the hassle of winter weather, and the end of the school year right around the corner, many people list their homes Between March and July. They are hoping to capture some of the large number of people who want to close on a home in the late spring and summer months, before school starts again in September. There is definitely Continue Reading
