Center City Philadelphia Condo Reality Snapshot
After four decades of living in Center City, I can tell you what to expect when buying Philadelphia condos in different price ranges, from studios to trophy penthouses and everything in between.
What to Know Before You Buy a Pied-à-terre
After four decades of living in Center City, I can tell you the neighborhoods here each have their own personality — and for a pied-à-terre buyer, matching that personality to how you actually use the city matters more than almost anything else. Think concretely about why you're coming to Philadelphia: concerts at the Kimmel, dinners on 13th Street? Walkability isn't a checkbox here — it's the whole point.
The National Condos Philadelphia: Buyer’s Guide and Sales Trends
Located at 112 & 120 N. 2nd St. (and spanning several addresses like 113 & 133 N. Bread St. in 19106). If you’re looking for a mix of "industrial cool" and gated security, this is your spot. The National Condominiums sit on the historic site of the former National [...]
Choosing between Hopkinson House and Society Hill Towers
Choosing between Hopkinson House and Society Hill Towers is the classic Philadelphia real estate dilemma. In my 37 years as a real estate agent in Center City, I haven’t just sold units in these buildings—I’ve personally owned condos in both. I’ve gazed out the windows, navigated the board rules, and watched the market cycles [...]
Over-Designed Luxury May Be Killing Your Philly Condo’s Resale Value
In my 37 years of navigating the Center City Philadelphia real estate market, I’ve developed a sharp eye for the difference between a high-end investment and a design-heavy disaster. Here is the hard truth most agents are afraid to tell you: you can absolutely "over-design" your way out of a sale.
Waterfront Square vs. The Murano
Which Philadelphia Luxury Condo Building Fits Your Lifestyle? Philadelphia’s luxury condo market has matured into a collection of highly specialized buildings, each offering a very different ownership experience. Two buildings that consistently attract buyers looking for full-service high-rise living are Waterfront Square and The Murano. They both offer luxury amenities, concierge service, parking, skyline views, [...]
The Ayer Condominiums: A Buyer’s Guide
210 West Washington Square Neighborhood: Society Hill/Washington Square West The Ayer, located at 210 W. Washington Square just along the border of Society Hill and Washington Square West in Center City Philadelphia, is a boutique luxury condominium building originally constructed in 1929 and converted in 2008. The building contains roughly 50 residences and sits directly [...]
Is THAT new-ish condo building an appreciator or a flat-liner?
If you bought a condo in a newish building about ten+/- years ago, your equity today can tell a tale of two markets. While we expect real estate to always go up, a number of buildings show a 50/50 split: half have appreciated, while the other half are trading at—or even below—their, say, 2016 prices. [...]
The Prestige List: Philly’s Top 11 Most Expensive Buildings (By the SqFt)
If you want to see the full data breakdown or see which units are currently for sale in these 11 buildings, head over to CenterCityCondos.com. With 37 years of selling condos in Center City, I’ve got a collection of floor plans, ‘My Two Cents’, and active listings waiting for you there.
Never Piss Off A Doorman…
Aka: Don’t Be the Most Hated Person in Your Philly Condo Look, if your goal is to become a social pariah before you’ve even unpacked your Vitamix, by all means, treat your building staff like servants. But if you’d prefer your guests weren't interrogated like criminals, and your Amazon packages didn’t mysteriously "vanish" for three [...]