Yet Anothere "Where To Live" Thread

[Rhadamanthus]

OK, I know there are a zillion of these out there, and I've even scanned through several of them. But none of the others quite fit our situation (news flash: everybody's circumstances are different!), so I thought I'd post my own version of the question.

My fiance and I are planning to move to the Philly area next summer/fall ('07), primarily because we're planning to attend UPenn (her as an undergrad, myself as a part-time grad student). We managed to spend an evening visiting the city at Christmastime, and we're going back this weekend (Memorial Day) for a five day visit to check out the campuses and the city.

One of the big purposes of our visit is to try and figure out where we might find a good place to live. But our circumstances are a bit different from everybody else's, so I thought I'd post my own question.

I haven't gotten a job in the Philly area yet, so that's obviously a big factor that's still unknown. Even so, we know we're going to need to be within a reasonable distance of UPenn. Personally, I really don't want more than a half hour commute to work (I have 20 minutes right now and that's pushing it if you ask me), and we shouldn't have to have more than 30 minutes to school, either (this is also a factor in my job search). So we're looking at areas within a 30 minute commute (driving, walking, or public transportation really doesn't matter) of the University, and that's probably the number one consideration.

We also have a rather large dog, which is probably our number two consideration. Right now we're pretty spoiled as far as land goes, and the dog has a decent amount of room outside to run in the yard. I'm guessing this is going to be a good bit more difficult in the city itself, although there do seem to be plenty of parks. For convenience, however, I'm thinking it would be really nice to have at least enough of a yard to let the dog out to go to the bathroom, without having to walk her down to the park if she happens to have to go in the middle of the night or something.

Safety is also a huge concern. For myself, it's not that big a deal (I'm a big, scary looking guy, which is enough to deter most violence). My girlfriend, however, is small and cute, and while she can take good care of herself, I'd be far happier if she never had to. So somewhere safe, where we can minimize the number of "bad" areas between us and the University would be very good.

We're also planning to be there long enough that I think it makes more sense to buy than to rent (although we'll probably start out renting while we look for a good deal). I'm thinking that a townhouse would probably be our best bet, since it would probably be much more affordable than a single family residence but still have at least a minimal yard for the dog. Still, I'm quite open to either a more traditional house or a condo, depending.

We're also still pretty young, and currently childless. Schools (other than the University) are more or less a non-issue, and it would be nice to live somewhere with other twenty-somethings and/or students, where stuff is going on.

I'm already prepared for the shock, but my current house cost $100k for 1700 square feet and a .3 acre yard. I realize I'm not going to get anything close to that in the Philly area, but I'd really like to have something decent for under $200-$250k if possible.

Thanks in advance, and I'm sorry - you probably see a thousand threads like this a day.

PS: If anybody has any advice on job hunting in Philly, I wouldn't turn it down. I've recently rediscovered just how much Monster.com and the like suck. I'm a computer programmer, for what it matters.

[Zigster]

30 minute commute (driving, walking, or public transportation really doesn't matter) of the University

ok you've narrowed it down to 250 square miles

I can't say enough about these SmartMap sites that have been popping up.
http://www.google.com/search?q=+phil...martmap+search

[gap27]

Your price range is going to be your biggest limiting factor here. I would be inclined to recommend University City, simply because of its proximity and amount of green space, but I've found few liveable properties below $300, and decent sized yards only add to the cost.

Within Philadelphia, your price range will limit you to areas of South Philly, Roxborough/Manayunk, and parts of the Northeast (perhaps a little too far from Penn though). These are all rowhouse neighborhoods though, so yards will be small, and likely paved over.

In the burbs, I'd take a look at Drexel Hill. Beautiful homes at affordable prices, and relatively convenient to University City. Its a part of Upper Darby, which generally isn't the most scenic place and has less than stellar schools, but thats what keeps the price down.

[eldondre]

without knowing where your working it's pretty much impossible. a lot of grad sstudents like center city but you won't be buying anything of the sort there. I'd consider overrbook farms (lacks a lot of 20 something's), drexel hill, northeast *not all paved over yards, there are duplexes but it may be too far) as well as wissahickon and roxborough. maybe even west germantown.

[zur]

I'd get a Septa map and see what you can get along the Regional Rail lines. With that dog it will be tough to get a yard under $250000 without going out a bit (yeah there's big homes closer in but you mentioned crime)

You can go pretty far out and still have a 30 minute commute by Regional Rail...which stops right at Penn (30th and University stops with the free Lucy Loop shuttle)

The NE may be a good bet. Look above Cottman along the Regional Rail lines.

As for 20's ...well they don't get yards (try Manayunk is about the only section that fits a number of your requirements...safety, proximity, nightlife, etc...but no yards...although there is the massive Fairmount Park close by.)

www.septa.com

www.4wallsinphilly.com for area descriptions

http://www.manayunk.com/

[Rhadamanthus]

Thanks for all the feedback so far. I recognize that I may be asking for more than I can actually hope for, unfortunately. Doesn't mean I'm not going to look, though.

I would have to say that of everything, giving up the yard would probably be easiest, as long as there's a decent sized park nearby to take the dog out to. There's no way she's giving up the dog, though, which unfortunately complicates things.

Myself, I think I'd prefer to live in the city. Here in Huntsville, you have no choice but to drive everywhere - it's just too spread out for any other option. It would be kind of nice to walk everywhere instead for a change. My girlfriend thinks she'd rather live in the suburbs, but I know her well enough to think she'd actually be happier inside the city, too - probably more than I would, actually. I'm pretty reclusive, but she'd LOVE being in an area with stuff going on all the time.

Again, the big problem is the dog, but we may just have to give in and live without a yard. I REALLY don't want more than a 30 minute commute, because I view that all as just plain wasted time.

[Zigster]

people in center city have the biggest dogs of all

it's crazy

[D-Man]

Originally Posted by zur

As for 20's ...well they don't get yards (try Manayunk is about the only section that fits a number of your requirements...safety, proximity, nightlife, etc...but no yards...although there is the massive Fairmount Park close by.)

Actually, most of the homes in Manayunk do have backyards (as do the homes in Roxborough). Much of them have grass, too! With the rowhomes in Manayunk, you give-up the luxury of having a rear driveway and parking space, in exchange for a backyard. As a result parking can be a problem.

I agree that Manayunk fits most of your requirements. Homes can still be found here, for less than $250k (you just have to look away from the Main St. area). In fact, the house next door to me is for sale at $230k. I live in a quieter section of Manayunk, where parking is less of a problem, there are 2 bus routes and 2 train stations within walking distance and Main Street is a 10 minute walk away (2 minutes by car, but who wants to find a parking space?)

[zur]

Originally Posted by D-Man

Actually, most of the homes in Manayunk do have backyards (as do the homes in Roxborough). Much of them have grass, too! With the rowhomes in Manayunk, you give-up the luxury of having a rear driveway and parking space, in exchange for a backyard. As a result parking can be a problem.

I agree that Manayunk fits most of your requirements. Homes can still be found here, for less than $250k (you just have to look away from the Main St. area). In fact, the house next door to me is for sale at $230k. I live in a quieter section of Manayunk, where parking is less of a problem, there are 2 bus routes and 2 train stations within walking distance and Main Street is a 10 minute walk away (2 minutes by car, but who wants to find a parking space?)

and more importantly...it;s about a 20 minute commute via the 9 ot RR. (without traffic...but that'll get you everywhere in Philly)

[Zigster]

does RR run past midnight? a lot of students pull insane hours