How much cash do you actually need to buy a home in Philadelphia? Here’s a simple breakdown of down payment, closing costs, upfront expenses and reserves.

Trying to decide between Philadelphia and the Main Line? Here’s how space, schools, walkability, commuting, taxes, housing and daily life compare.

Philadelphia has a reputation for being one of the more affordable big cities on the East Coast. And compared with New York, Boston, or Washington, it absolutely can be. But there’s a pretty big difference between being able to afford to live in Philadelphia and being able to live comfortably in Philadelphia. So how much do you actually need to earn? Is $50,000 enough? What about $75,000? $100,000? And if your household makes $150,000 or $200,000 a year, are you suddenly livi

If you're buying a home in Philadelphia, there's a very good chance you're going to end up looking at a rowhome. Some are 150 years old, while others were renovated just six months ago. Occasionally, the 150-year-old one is the less concerning of the two. Welcome to Philadelphia real estate! Two houses can sit next to each other, look almost identical from the sidewalk, and have absolutely nothing in common once you walk through the front door. One might have original floors,

Philadelphia has reassessed properties citywide for 2027. Here’s what the new value means, how to tell if it looks right, how appeals work, and which tax-relief programs homeowners should know about.

One of the first questions Melanie and I hear when folks are considering a move to Philadelphia is: “What's the best neighborhood?” And, oh boy, the answer can be a bit frustrating: It depends. Not because we’re trying to dodge the question, but because there isn’t a single “best” neighborhood in Philadelphia. There are countless neighborhoods, each offering a unique slice of city life. For instance, someone who prefers to step out their door, grab a coffee, hit the gym, and

Rittenhouse Square. Photo: Ajay Suresh / Wikimedia Commons. CC BY 2.0. Resized for display. For years, retirement was presented as a fairly predictable plan. Sell the family home, move somewhere warmer, buy something smaller, and spend the next chapter of life slowing down. But that is not what everyone wants. Melanie and I are meeting more people who see retirement as an opportunity to build a fuller life, not simply a smaller one. They want to walk to dinner, take classes,

I’m breaking down the 7 things everyone gets wrong about Philadelphia, one of the most misunderstood cities in America. I'll be showing you what it is really like to visit Philadelphia, live in Philadelphia, and explore the city beyond the stereotypes. Most people hear Philadelphia and think of cheesesteaks, history, traffic, sports fans, and gritty streets. But the real Philly is much more interesting than that. This city has incredible neighborhoods, a serious food scene, b

Titan Park in Pennsport (photographed 2019). Photo: Nick-philly / Titan Park 110 Titan St Philadelphia PA (DSC 2581).jpg — Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0. Brightness, color and sharpness adjusted; resized/cropped for display. There are some neighborhoods in Philadelphia that make a big first impression. Pennsport is a little different. It does not need to shout. It is the kind of neighborhood you appreciate more the longer you spend there. The streets are quieter than some o

There are a lot of great neighborhoods in Philadelphia, but Rittenhouse Square has always had a way of standing out. Maybe it’s the park in the middle of it all. Maybe it’s the tree-lined streets, the historic architecture, the sidewalk cafés, or the feeling that you can walk out your front door and have some of the best of the city within a few blocks. Whatever it is, Rittenhouse has earned its reputation as one of Philadelphia’s most desirable places to live. For buyers, se

TL;DR Spring momentum held into May. Inventory gains gave buyers a bit more choice than last year, but demand remained solid, keeping prices firm in many areas. Center City Philadelphia Market May 2026 Activity stayed brisk in Center City. Median sale prices were roughly in the high-$400Ks (about $470K), down about 10% YoY. Listings rose modestly – Philadelphia’s active inventory jumped ~18% YoY in April – giving buyers more options than a year ago. Well-prepared homes still

In this video, we break down the facts and show you exactly how the Philly tax abatement works