Feasterville-Trevose, PA?

[Rutt Roh]

Originally Posted by frankgn87

single guy with a single home? Id say you would have to make at least 50-55k, more if you want some extra toys on the side

really, the feasterville-trevose areas (as well as surrounding locales)? i thought it'd be much higher... here in michigan $50-55K is general salary range to live rather comfortably while not surviving on ramen noodles, but then again the cost of living here isn't high at all. right now i'm thinking of renting initially and not buying a home (not sure if i'd be settling down in PA permanently) and yes, i'm a single guy.

i don't know if there are townhouses to rent or better/more modern complexes around the area and am not sure what the range per month that rent would be. i understand that places with garages and/or carports are virtually non-existent and i've read here that rent for a "decent" place was starting at $1000/mth or something.

other thoughts or considerations?

[JerzBoy]

It's true most decent places to rent start at $1000/mo for a 1br. If you are making 50-55k, you can live pretty comfortably paying that much for rent. However, if you were married or had kids and needed more spce, then 50-55k would be tight.

[Rutt Roh]

wow... maybe my perceptions and understanding of the area wasn't as good as i thought. i mean i currently live in a pretty decent apartment complex (modern, clean, safe, with garages) paying about $757/mth for a single bedroom that is close by a lot of different things like your coffee shops, hair cutting places, grocery stores, walmart, etc. someone with a $50-55K salary would be not only living comfortably but have a lot extra on the side.

i thought especially since trevose is close by philly, the cost of living would be very high. and not to mention, it's in the tri-state area. when you say that salary range would allow me to 'live comfortably' does that mean just paying rent or does it mean that i'd also have extra cash on the side to do whatever with (similar to here)? i've lived in central jersey the early part of my life where the area was very affluent and housing/rent prices were extremely high - and the cheapest car you saw driving around was a beamer.

on a side note, what are some decent areas and/or locations that would be a very nice place to live if renting? i'm looking for nice apartments or townhomes that might have a car port or a garage. if they don't offer garages or car ports, that's fine too i guess. what would be some good complexes that offer an affordable price range? also, what are some areas you would recommend that's very commutable to trevose should i decide to live in a different town (like langhorn for instance)?

thanks!

[Wisertime]

My personal opinion is $50-55k will let you live more than comfortably in that vicinity. Everyone has a different standard of living and different levels of debt/lifestyle. I have lived comfortably on way less in other places. Can't help you with apt hunting much. I think you can expect to pay more than where you are at for rent, but not enough to scare you away if you have a job, especially if you are not saddled with debts.

[phlydude]

Originally Posted by Rutt Roh

1. is it considered a nice area?

2. is it a high cost of living there?

3. i currently live in an apartment in michigan. what are the apartments like and prices there?

4. what's the general mix of people there, demographically speaking?

5. is there a lot to do around town?

6. is feasterville-trevose considered a growing town or is it just a po-dunk place in the middle of nowhere?

7. is that area hard to commute around?

8. if there's anything else you think i should know, please let me know!

1 - it is an OK area - Trevose (along Street Rd and US Rt 1) is a busy thoroughfare heading to the PA turnpike - Trevose isn't very large and actually sits right on the border of Philadelphia. Bensalem is to the east and Feasterville to the immediate west.

2 - the Philadelphia area has a moderately high cost of living - groceries seem to be expensive in this area and housing is not as expensive as New England but more expensive than the south - property taxes are fairly high in the area and the income tax is pretty low (aside from city wage for Philly)

3 - you might be able to get a place for what you specified but it might not be in the area you are looking for - there are some apartments in the immediate area and some seem to be in rough shape - look at the railings of the balconies and you will get an idea whether the place is OK or not - there are Korman properties in Bensalem that are nice and as you move towards Feasterville and west, there are nicer places as well but I couldn't give you an idea of what a nice place would cost rent-wise (it's been about 9 years since I was in the apartment hunt)

4 - in that immediate area, it is a majority white lower to middle income area - the further north you go, the nicer it gets (but along the river it seems to be in rougher shape) - north and west is the better suburban areas for that location

5 - in that area, there is the Neshaminy Mall and all the shopping associated with it and Philly Park Casino and Race Track - you can venture into Philly for more cultural things to see and there is some park land not far up in Bucks county (Core Creek and Tyler State) for recreation

6 - it is not in the middle of no where but it isn't what I would consider an "up and coming town" - it is a 60's-80's micro industrial plan out along the major roads with 70s-80s housing developments around the Trevose area (aside from some of the older neighborhoods around Philmont Ave and Old Lincoln Hwy)

7 - it is very convenient to commute around - the PA turnpike is a few miles from the area and I-95 is a few miles to the east - US Rt 1 is a major thoroughfare in the area and leads you into Trenton or into Philly - Philly is closer by border but Trenton is closer by city center (but Trenton isn't the best place to visit)

8 - yeah - along the US Rt1 and Old Lincoln Hwy intersection, there are a couple of motels (Suds and Lincoln Motor Lodge) - lots of drug activity and prostitution occurred in there in the past and the neighborhood behind it, while OK, has felt the result. I'd stay away from there and try to head into Bensalem or Street Rd and west in the initial search