Looking for good area near Philadelphia (Ardmore, Penn: rental, mortgage, credit)

[presmariazoe]

My family will moving to Philadelphia in the next couple of months and we are trying to find an area that is affordable, but nice and safe. What can you tell me about: Bala Cynwyd, Ardmore and Havertown? The schools look good and that's important since we have 2 kids. We prefer small town living to city. We're also looking to rent for 1 year so we can get more familiar with the area then look to buy. We also have a house to sell in a Chicago suburb first. My husband wants a short comute to Philadelphia. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[maf763]

A price range would be helpful - affordable is pretty subjective.

[niceguy19125]

Originally Posted by presmariazoe

My family will moving to Philadelphia in the next couple of months and we are trying to find an area that is affordable, but nice and safe. What can you tell me about: Bala Cynwyd, Ardmore and Havertown? The schools look good and that's important since we have 2 kids. We prefer small town living to city. We're also looking to rent for 1 year so we can get more familiar with the area then look to buy. We also have a house to sell in a Chicago suburb first. My husband wants a short comute to Philadelphia. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Just as an FYI, since you were probably searching Pennsylvania areas since you're moving to Philadelphia, PA. However, just across the river from Philadelphia is New Jersey, and some great areas to live in like Cherry Hill, Haddonfield and Moorestown which also happen to have excellent schools. The commute to Center City Philadelphia is fairly quick as well. Rental properties are plentiful in Cherry Hill especially. The PATCO trains provide quick easy commuting to the city.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_...ll,_New_Jersey
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haddonfield,_New_Jersey
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moorest...ip,_New_Jersey
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PATCO_Speedline

The reason I mention that is because the PA suburbs you mentioned do have some areas you'd like to avoid with children, particularly Ardmore. They also happen to be areas where you tend to find most of the rental properties. Bala Cynwyd has similar areas.
I'm less familiar with Havertown so I cannot directly comment.

[presmariazoe]

Thanks for the input. Right now we're just looking to rent so I'm looking at around $1200 monthly since I still have to pay a mortgage in chicago. I like the idea of Cherry Hill, but do you have to file taxes in NJ and PA? I know they have a deal in northern Jersey and NY where you don't?

[Jfoldno7]

I'm renting right now for $1200/mo in Bala Cynwyd for a 2 bedroom-1 bath and I could not be happier with the location. The only reason my fiance and I are thinking about moving is to own our own place and unfortunately we don't have the type of income that would get us a nice home around here. But for renting this is a great area and Lower Merion school district is tremendous.

[Sassygirl18]

If you live in NJ and work in PA, you pay NJ state income tax. Any monies paid to PA or Philadelphia taxes (for example the Phila. Wage Tax) gets credited to your NJ state income tax bill at the end of the year.

[chessimprov]

If you don't mind PMing me your number, I can give you a good entity recommendation.

[toobusytoday]

Originally Posted by chessimprov

If you don't mind PMing me your number, I can give you a good entity recommendation.

Why not just use a DM if you have a suggestion?