Michigan to philly move-- neighborhood help

[Swalters]

:

When are you moving? Could be in a couple months
Where are you coming from? Ferndale, michigan
Why are you moving? Husband's job
Where will you be working? City center i believe
Have you been here yet? Not yet

Will you buy or rent? Rent

If renting, are you looking for an apartment, a townhouse or loft? How much can you spend? Either, $1300/month
Do you prefer hi-rise or walk up? Walk up

Are you married or single? Do you have children? Married with a baby
Do you prefer public or private schools? Public
Do you have pets? Two cats
Do you want or need a yard? Not really, but we need some outdoor storage
Are you keeping a car? Yes
Do you prefer bustling activity or calm and quiet? Bustle!

What do you want to be closest to? Basic services and transportation
Work
Shopping
Basic services (supermarket, drugstore, etc.)
Nightlife
Train or subway stations

Do you want to live with people of a similar age, race, religion or sexual preference or do you prefer a diverse neighborhood? Diversity





I have been looking at places on craigslist in bella vista. I don't really know what 1300/month gets you in philly, but i just want a charming place with three bedrooms. Any ideas?

[3rd&Brown]

You're not going to find anything with 3 bedrooms for $1300. At least, not in the core (between Washington Ave and Girard Ave). If you do, my guess is that it will be in really bad condition.

Unless you want to venture further out, you're likely going to have to settle for two bedrooms. Even then, finding something will be difficult.

As far as Bella Vista is concerned, it's wonderful neighborhood. Close to everything, including the subway. To get more bang for your buck, you might want to consider going further south, to the area of South Philadelphia east of Broad Street, along Passyunk Avenue. It's nice, safe, and bursting with new activity (restaurants, shops, etc). It too is close to the subway.

[Bob_Head]

Are you married or single? Do you have children? Married with a baby
Do you prefer public or private schools? Public

In case you haven't figured it out, the public schools here kind of suck. Still, there are some good ones, so you might want to look around those. Cook-Wissahickon in the Manayunk-Roxborough area is a diverse, pretty decent elementary school, in an area you might be able to find a decent place at the top end of your budget. I wouldn't call the area bustling, but a short trip down to Main Street in Manayunk offers lots of options for dining and drink. The regional rail is right there for your commuting pleasure, and one of the most remarkable urban park systems is right there, too. It's worth checking out.

I have been looking at places on craigslist in bella vista. I don't really know what 1300/month gets you in philly, but i just want a charming place with three bedrooms. Any ideas?

A quick craigslist search of the area right around Cook-Wissahickon turns up a few places that might be worth looking at: philadelphia apts/housing for rent classifieds "19128" - craigslist

[BarryG]

As mentioned, you won't get a good 3BR for that price near downtown. If you look hard, you should be able to find a decent 2BR rowhome to rent in Bella Vista, E Passyunk Area, or Graduate Hospital which are all neighborhoods near the core that would fit the rest of your criteria though you may want to move to a different elementary school catchment when the kid gets older. GradHo is not that close to subway or real supermarket, but is walkable to Center City and depending where you are has good bus transit to CC.

[3rd&Brown]

Graduate Hospital is quite large and in fact, much of it is accessible to the subway. Afterall, Graduate Hospital starts west of Broad Street, last I checked, and the subway is on Broad.

That being said, there really is no reason to take the subway from Graduate Hospital if you work west of Broad in Center City. Walking due north is almost always a better option.

[Swalters]

You guys are great, thanks for all the info. We could afford more in rent, i am just trying to figure out detroit vs. Philly rents. You can practically rent a mansion here for $1300, and I am afraid we are quite spoiled with our current amount of space. So, what's an average rent for a family making around 80k?

[philly704]

I really believe that you could find a 3 bedroom row home in south philly for 1300 a month. I live a little bit south of the east passyunk area and I am pretty sure you could rent something in that price range. Also maybe they could rent in the Penn catchment area? Not sure of the rents in that area but I would think it is a possibility.

[BeckyJ]

If you can go up to $2000 or so you will have better luck & more options. Houses (2-3 story rows) in my neighborhood (Fairmount/Art Museum, around 29th & Poplar) are going for $22-2400/month. And, as you probably know, you should try to visit before moving here.

[Bob_Head]

Also maybe they could rent in the Penn catchment area? Not sure of the rents in that area but I would think it is a possibility.

$1300 seems to be the low end of the market in the Penn-Alexander catchment. philadelphia apts/housing for rent classifieds "penn alexander" - craigslist

[BarryG]

I really believe that you could find a 3 bedroom row home in south philly for 1300 a month. I live a little bit south of the east passyunk area and I am pretty sure you could rent something in that price range. Also maybe they could rent in the Penn catchment area? Not sure of the rents in that area but I would think it is a possibility.

I think $1300 for a decent 3BR is pushing it in the good parts Lower Moyamensing, but something good might be out there. A nice 2BR is very feasible, maybe they can find something with a small office on the 3rd floor or a semi-finished basement that will fit their needs. Lower Moyamensing and the part of Newbold below Snyder Ave are nice neighborhoods for getting an affordable compromise of proximity to E Passyunk/Newbold restraurants/bars/cafes, access to transit, and living space. The downside to this neighborhood is lack of green space.

[Hospitalitygirl]

You guys are great, thanks for all the info. We could afford more in rent, i am just trying to figure out detroit vs. Philly rents. You can practically rent a mansion here for $1300, and I am afraid we are quite spoiled with our current amount of space. So, what's an average rent for a family making around 80k?

Rents are relative. You can rent a palace here compared to the average rent in New York.

Bella Vista is a nice, stable, and affordable option for you in that price range. And since you have a baby, don't worry that much about the schools just yet--you'll probably move a couple of times while you're here.

If you sacrifice some of the bustle for stable, family environments, look in neighborhoods like Roxborough in the Northwest, and Rhawnhurst, Fox Chase, etc, in the Northeast, for houses with 3 bedrooms that are in that price range

Good luck and welcome to Philadelphia.

[Brian616]

Welcome! FWIW, there is a large Michigan diaspora in Center City and SWCC. Many of us (I am UM '05, my wife is Kzoo '99) commute over the bridge to Penn or CHOP. A large 2BR place runs about $1500 now in SWCC.

Oh, and the Sidecar Bar has Bell's on tap pretty often now.

[Swalters]

Oh that is awesome! All the cheese steak in the world can't replace the feeling of drinking the first Oberon of the year!

[Swalters]

Thank you everybody, this has been a huge help. I think we are going to look for a two bedroom in the $1500 range around Bella Vista or Roxborough. I'll be visiting the city next week, can't wait to check out all the museums and fall in love with your city!


Thanks again-

S. Walters