Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

Not all fluctuations in value have a direct correlation to one particular quality of any given Philadelphia condominium. Rather, a Philadelphia condominium’s value, and the rate of change therein, is really a product of a host of factors.

Obvious factors are the showing ability and the condo’s emotion: cleanliness, natural light, wall color, furniture, even the smell of a condo can add or subtract from the emotional beauty, and leads to a huge impact on a condos value. In my twenty-one years of selling real estate, I have never had a buyer tell me to find him the dirtiest, or the worst decorated condo available. Interior condition can also have a major impact on value. Beige bathtubs and appliances can crimp value fairly quickly in a lot of cases.  And of course the physical characteristics of any given unit can help or hurt the units value (think- huge closets, a tax abatement, high ceilings,etc). Styles, like appliances and carpeting have a tendency to age, and that is usually accompanied by a slower rate of appreciation. Clearly, more recently rehabbed, say, Rittenhouse Square condos are going to retain their value better than a unit in a state of disrepair.

Location is a huge factor to the rate of either appreciation or depreciation too. Stronger locations in town have a tendency to be a bit more elastic- they are the first neighborhoods to see a drop in inventory with any influx of buyers to the market. That’s a good thing. Recall the principles of supply and demand. I would argue that a strong location is going to depreciate less -because IF in a weakened marketplace, the first condos to remain unsold are in the weaker locations. (The flip side is that you might be able to strike a significantly improved deal, should you be looking away from an “A” location.)

I am just brushing the surface here, but know that not all condos in town will appreciate or depreciate at the same rate. Or sell within the same given time frame. The best tools you have to insure your value remains intact is twofold:

1) Buy it at the right price in the first place and/or

2) Keep your unit looking like it just jumped off the pages of Town and Country Magazine.

Easier said than done, I am aware!

Mark Wade
www.CenterCityCondos.com
Prudential Fox and Roach REALTORS®
530 Walnut St., Suite 260 Philadelphia, PA 19106

Everyone thought Bob and Suzie were nuts to abandon their beautiful suburban oasis, replete with ducks flying to and from the pond, for a 17 foot wide row home in Philadelphia in 1992. A row house with no parking and no more than a small square slab of cement to call a back yard and four stories from basement to top floor.  Their move signaled a shift in the residential paradigm. Their parents left the city after World War II, and come hell or high water, they weren’t coming back. But Bob and Suzie think of themselves as far to cool and hip to spend their days in a five bedroom ranch house with a half acre of land, and a basement full of tools and half used accouterments. Remember, they are the generation that said words like “groovy”, and “right on”. The idea of never owning a lawnmower, or a garage full of half used brooms and shovels, appeals to many empty nesters. No more yard work, no more owning more than one car, and no more having to repair the roof. The thought of new surroundings, in a new luxury condominium, with much less responsibility (and therefore more freedom) is again very appealling.

Baby boomers, becoming empty nesters provided the fuel needed for many new projects that have recently been added to Center City’s skyline. Buyers of many luxury Philadelphia condominiums have made wonderful gains in the last twenty years, with respect to their real estate investments. Without the burden of private schools for the kids, the kids, and often during prime earning years it is the Empty Nesters’ turn to treat themselves, and the developers of many condominiums have positioned themselves to take advantage of that market.

The perception that downtown Philadelphia has really come a long way over the past twenty years.  Our City is cleaner, safer, and culturally more adept -are all reasons that contribute to the lure of the empty nesters. From friends who have also made the move, to museums, restaurants, shopping, and the bike trails up the Schuylkill river, Philadelphia is shaping up to be a fine residential attraction, and empty nesters have taken notice. And to think that Northern Liberties is now the place to see and be seen. Who would have thought?

Mark Wade
www.CenterCityCondos.com
Prudential Fox and Roach REALTORS®
530 Walnut St., Suite 260 Philadelphia, PA 19106

Get this….23 S. 23rd St- A two bed, two and a half bath condo asking $439,900  Listed by a good friend who sells a lot of Fannie Mae Foreclosures…I just have to tell all my blog readers about this unit….

High end cherry kitchen, with Sub Zero and Viking appliances, Hardwood flooring, high ceiling, close to Penn, and very very cheap rental parking in the building. Doorman building!

97% Financing Available for Owner Occupants!

Curious…Call me! 267.237.3404

Mark Wade
www.CenterCityCondos.com
Prudential Fox and Roach REALTORS®
530 Walnut St., Suite 260 Philadelphia, PA 19106