One of the best things about Philadelphia real estate is that this city has an abundance of housing options that have something to offer for everybody. No matter what styles catch your eye, there is a kind of condo or home in Philly that will provide you with what you want. Cities naturally evolve over time, and the housing stock shows it. Philly is a perfect example of the story that the city tells over time, including historic homes as well as the area that served as the birthplace of America. This also includes modern architectural feats around high-rise buildings through the use of modern materials.
In this article, we’ve compiled a short guide on some of the most popular types of homes in the city, not leaving out their key features as well as the most common neighborhoods where they can be found.
Historic Row houses
When you go through many sections of Philly, you will feel as if you have been moved to another era in time, thanks to the historic row houses you see along the streets. They show off the unique charm of the colonial era and stand out for the Georgian and Federalist styles that date as far back as the 18th and early 19th centuries. Georgian and Federal style row houses have a lot in common with each other with only a few differences in design. Both styles usually have two to four stories and are narrow structures complete with stone or brick facades. They are also known for their symmetry. The federal homes tend to look more delicate than the Georgian homes. The most common neighborhoods that these row houses are prevalent in include Old City, Society Hill and Queen Village.
20th Century Row houses
The 19th and 20th centuries experienced a change in the architectural styles of these row houses, moving away from the colonial styles and settling on more mass-market styles. The key features of this transition can be seen in looking at the difference between Workingman’s House and a Street Car-style row houses to the Straight-Through and Porch Front-style townhouses that were built in the Post-War era.
A Workingman’s House is usually two stories with simple steps and a vestibule entry. This type of row house is common in West, South, and North Philadelphia. On the other hand, Straight-Through and Porch Front-style townhouses feature front yards, bay windows and entry porches. This type of home is common in locations such as Northeast Philadelphia, East Falls, East Mount Airy, Roxborough, Francisville and Southwest Philadelphia.
High Rise and Condos
Though Philly has an abundance of row houses, there is also the option of high-rise living. There is a different type of living when it comes to luxury condos. Alongside the views of the city, many condo buyers want the various amenities that these buildings have to offer. In a low-rise housing city such as Philly, it is easy to see the high-rise condos on the skyline, especially clustered around Center City. The most common neighborhoods that have these high rises include Rittenhouse Square, Society Hill and Center City.
New Construction Condos and Townhouses
Over the last ten years or so, there has been a boom in real estate with waves of new construction dotting the numerous neighborhoods in the city. A few examples of this include Northern Liberties, Fishtown, Point Breeze and Kensington, which have seen an abundance of new developments of modern and early futuristic-style housing.
The combination of modern materials and advanced construction technology brings about this new generation of architectural design that imparts a brand new look to rapidly developing areas. There has been a rise in new construction townhouses both for low-rise condo buildings and single-family homes that include glass, metal and other contemporary materials. Both of these types of homes let in more light than a row house.
Freestanding Single Family Homes
The city is more than just condos and row houses. It also has freestanding single-family homes that are built using beautiful locally sourced stone. You can see historic and modern houses like this in a variety of price ranges in areas such as Chestnut Hill, Germantown, Roxborough, Mt. Airy, Northeast Philadelphia and others.
Regardless of what your budget may be, the city offers a number of diverse housing options for you to choose from. From the ultra-contemporary studio condos found in Center City to the large historic mansions in Chestnut Hill, there is surely something for every potential home buyer. This creates one of the many draws of this historical city.
Regardless of the property you purchase, using a tech-enabled real estate investor such as FastCashAnyHome, we will help bring more value to the transaction. No fees or commissions are required, making every transaction much more affordable for the buyer.