family moving to philadelphia from new york (Lancaster, Springfield: real estate, rental)

[ha215]

Originally Posted by lpranger467

Why no Delaware County (out of curiousity), many nice cities there with direct rail access

We were told to stay away from Delaware county and to focus on the other two but I am open to hearing your insight about it!

[ha215]

Originally Posted by Wells5

Is there a particular reason why you want to drive to central city? Most who work in central Philly and live out in the suburbs prefer to commute by train.

Is it not possible to do so? Coming from NY I know driving into the city is near impossible but PA is much smaller and less traffic. The idea was to rent a space in a parking garage. Will traffic be terrible?

[ha215]

Originally Posted by Mayvenne

Exactly so. Definitely need parameters of rent- do you plan to be here longer term or just temporarily?
Family of 3 how old is child? School etc.
All those things would be helpful in order for others to provide some guidance.

For rent we are looking for a 2bedroom/2bathroom home not more than $1800. Willing to pay more if the town checks off everything on our list (distance, location, safety etc.). We prefer single/twin homes and even town homes. Apartment buildings only if no other options. Family friendly neighborhoods.

[ha215]

Thanks for your insight, super helpful!
Our max rent: $1800 but flexible. Willing to pay more if its worth it!

[FindingZen]

Originally Posted by ha215

Is it not possible to do so? Coming from NY I know driving into the city is near impossible but PA is much smaller and less traffic. The idea was to rent a space in a parking garage. Will traffic be terrible?

Philly traffic may be less stressful compared to NYC but it's no picnic. We have our share of choke points and areas prone to tie-ups. If you choose a home that is close to one of the Regional Rail lines then a monthly Trailpass will likely be less expensive than monthly parking.

[FindingZen]

Of the places within your preferred commuting range, Langhorne may the be the most affordable may be Langhorne, Jenkintown and possibly Plymouth Meeting. Conshy might be a stretch. I would be pleasantly surprised if there were any 2BRs in Narberth under $1800.

When thinking of Jenkintown, I also tend to include Abington, Glenside and Cheltenham, all of which are within a few miles of the town and offer what you are looking for. Apartments right in Jenkintown may be pricey because of the proximity to the Regional Rail station through which as many as four lines run.

[ha215]

Thanks so much! This is helpful. Do you recommend any other towns -- good for commuters -- that I may not have included in the list?

[ilovephilly79]

Originally Posted by FindingZen

Of the places within your preferred commuting range, Langhorne may the be the most affordable may be Langhorne, Jenkintown and possibly Plymouth Meeting. Conshy might be a stretch. I would be pleasantly surprised if there were any 2BRs in Narberth under $1800.

When thinking of Jenkintown, I also tend to include Abington, Glenside and Cheltenham, all of which are within a few miles of the town and offer what you are looking for. Apartments right in Jenkintown may be pricey because of the proximity to the Regional Rail station through which as many as four lines run.

I agree. Jenkintown is great, but if the OP wants to drive, it will be a pretty miserable commute. The only downside of living in Jenkintown is that there's not easy highway access that goes directly to Center City.

Personally, I would definitely take Regional Rail rather than drive downtown. It may not be New York, but our traffic here is pretty poor as well. It is still a big city and if you were going to drive from Conshohocken, Plymouth Meeting, or King of Prussia, you could be looking anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and a half depending on the traffic and circumstances. And that's not an easy relaxing drive. It is stressful, and busy. Also, your budget seems kind of limited and I'm not sure why you would want to spend so much money in a parking garage.

[ha215]

Noted! Thank you for your insight. But I am so confused. When I mapped Plymouth meeting to arch street (several different times including early mornings), it said it would take about 25 minutes to drive and about an hour on the train. That's why we wanted to invest in a parking garage, for what seemed to be the easier commute option.

What about Ardmore? Bryn Mawr? I believe those are pricer but maybe not as safe since they're closer to the city? Genuinely asking!

[Wells5]

I might suggest taking a 2nd look at New Jersey communities along the "PATCO High Speed Line." This is a very fast subway surface rail line into central Philly. You can't find a more inviting town than Haddonfield Borough originally settled by the Quakers. Haddon Township has single family homes for rent within your price range. See what your commute would be like eastbound out of Philly.





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