Suburban Philadelphia Real Estate News

Welcome to the Drexeline Station stop on the SEPTA Route 101 Trolley Line in Drexel Hill PA.

The Drexeline Station is another small on-demand stop on the SEPTA Route 101 Trolley line running from the 69th Street Terminal to Media PA.  It is a small station with a shelter on the south (eastbound) side of the trolley tracks.  It is directly adjacent to the Drexeline Shopping Center and just across from the Drexelbrook Apartments.  The stop is just east of the Springfield Scenic Rd stop and west of the Drexelbrook Station.

The Drexeline Shopping Center is located near the intersection of State Rd and Township Line Rd (Route 1) in Upper Darby Township PA.  It is the last stop as the Trolley travels west in Upper Darby Township and is the closest stop to Route 1.  The station is just to the south of the Pilgrim Gardens and Aronimink sections of Drexel Hill PA.  Drexelbrook is just to the east and Springfield Township is just over Darby creek to the south.  The video should provide a better feel for the area:

This stop is within walking distance of several residential areas as well as the entire Drexeline Shopping center retail and commercial businesses.  There is some parking located in the adjacent shopping center.  The real estate market activity in the area is covered under the Aronimink, Drexel Hill, Pilgrim Gardens, and Springfield market reports.

The Drexeline Station is a convenient commuter and general shopping SEPTA Route 101 Station.  It could also be useful if one needs to connect to buses or people traveling the Route 1/ State Rd/ Township Line Road/City Avenue Corridor.

As always, please feel free to contact me anytime, should you have any questions or need any additional information.

David Henke
Long & Foster Real Estate Inc - Newtown Square,PA/Bear, DE
Office: 610-353-1199/Direct: 610-359-3853/Cell: 610-618-0808
www.DelawareCountyPennsylvaniaHomes.com

Welcome to the Huey Avenue Station of the SEPTA 101 Trolley in Drexel Hill PA.

Huey Avenue is a small on demand station along the SEPTA 101 Trolley located in southwestern Upper Darby Township.  It is located on Huey Avenue between Edmonds and Mason Ave just 2 blocks north of Garrett Rd.  This location is just a few blocks west of Drexel Park and east of Aronimink.  The line continues directly west to Media and east to the 69th Street Terminal.

This station is the first station located west of Drexel Hill Junction where the 101 and 102 Trolleys split their lines.  It has a small station on the eastbound side and a bench westbound.  There is no dedicated parking for this station, but it is within easy walking of a large mostly residential district.  The station also would be convenient for dropping off or picking up passengers.  The video should provide a good overview of the location:

This station is nicely located to several residential areas and is within walking distance to the commercial area along Garret Rd.  Please check out the blogs on the listings and market updates for Drexel Hill for more detailed information on the area.

As always, should you have any questions or need any additional information, please do not hesitate to let me know.

David Henke
Long & Foster Real Estate Inc - Newtown Square,PA/Bear, DE
Office: 610-353-1199/Direct: 610-359-3853/Cell: 610-618-0808
www.DelawareCountyPennsylvaniaHomes.com

Welcome to the Anderson Avenue station of the SEPTA 101 Trolley in Drexel Hill PA Upper Darby Township.

The station itself is located at the dead end of Anderson Avenue just two blocks south of State Rd.  It is an on-demand stop located midway between the Aronimink and Drexelbrook stations just on the backside of the Drexelbrook apartments.  This location provides easy access to the entire Aronimink section of Drexel Hill.

Anderson Ave has no dedicated commuter parking at this location and limited access so it is primarily a local commuter stop.  There is a small shed on the eastbound side next to Drexelbrook for waiting commuters.  The video will provide a better feel for the area:

Like Aronimink, this station is in the center of the greater Drexel Hill residential area providing immediate access to a great mix of twins, row homes, and a wide variety of single family homes throughout the area in addition to the Drexelbrook apartments.  Please check out the Aronimink Market Update for the complete local sales statistics.

The Anderson Av Station is an ideal local station providing easy access to Media to the west and to the 69th Street Terminal and Philadelphia beyond to the east.

As always, should you have any questions, need any additional information, or be considering a move in the area, please do not hesitate to contact me anytime.

Be sure to stop by our Sunday December 6 Open House at 907 Morgan Avenue in the Aronimink section of Drexel Hill Upper Darby PA this Sunday from 12:00- 2:00 to get a better feel for the area!  Classic Spanish 4BR/1.5BA Spanish Colonial.  Only 4 Blocks to the Trolley!

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In the western portion of Upper Darby Township, the Aronimink section is one of the earliest local developments in Drexel Hill.

The Aronimink section originally was named after the Aronimink golf club.  The Aronimink Golf Club (for complete club history, be sure to check out their site's history page) was originally founded in 1896 in southwest Philadelphia and was named either from a alternative spelling of the Indian Chief who had lived in the original clubhouse or after another Indian word.  Quickly outgrowing its original site, the club moved in 1907 to a second location in Philadelphia and as it continued to grow it moved to Upper Darby Township in 1913 to 100 acres on a portion of the original Garrett Farm.

As the club grew into its new location, developers began to provide housing adjacent to the course.  The Aronimink Golf Estates grew on the area toward the north and the entire area to the north of the original site is now considered Aronimink.  By 1926, the club had again outgrown its facilities and moved to 300 acres obtained in Newtown Square.  The original site has since been redeveloped as the Drexelbrook Rental Apartment Community and the entire area has been developed into a mostly residential area with a commercial area centered on Burmont as the Aronimink Station Business District.

Today, Aronimink is generally considered the area north of Drexelbrook, south of Township Line Road, and west of Concord Av, although portions of several other developments are also included in this area.  The community contains a variety of homes from small apartments to twins to all sizes of single family homes.  It continues to be a popular area for both those working in Delaware County and those commuting to Philadelphia.  It is conveniently served by the SEPTA 101 Trolley with three area stops at the Aronimink Station (Burmont Rd), the Anderson Ave Station, and Drexelbrook Station (Wildell Rd).

Real estate pricing and activity has held up reasonably well in the immediate area.  Today, there are 31 properties on the market with an average list price of $268,000 and an additional 4 properties currently under contract averaging $369,000.  In 2009 year to date, 21 properties have sold for an average final price of $245,000.  Although down, this has held up better than we have seen in many areas.  Activity and pricing peaked with 53 sales averaging $270,000 in 2005.  Since then, there have been 43 sales at an average price of $255,000 in 2006, in 2007 - 36 sales at $270,000, and in 2008 - 38 sales averaging $261,000.

Overall, the Aronimink section of Drexel Hill continues to be one of the prime Philadelphia suburban Delaware County communities.  It offers immediate access to Route 1 and I-495 / I-95 to the west, quick access to I-76 north on Township Line Rd, close proximity to much of the Main Line, and easy rail access to the 69th Street Terminal and downtown Philadelphia beyond.

As always, if you need any additional information, have any questions, or may be looking for a home in the area, do not hesitate to contact me anytime.

Welcome to the SEPTA 101 Trolley Aronimink Station in Drexel Hill PA.

This station is located on the SEPTA 101 Trolley line running from downtown Media to the 69th Street Terminal.  It is just two blocks south of State Rd between Drexel and Morgan Avenue at the intersection of Burmont Rd with Morgan Ave.  It is in the center of the Aronimink Station Business District running along Burmont Rd which is currently undergoing some site planning for some redevelopment in the area.

The station itself does have a small shed on the south/ east bound side of the tracks but it does not have any dedicated commuter parking.  It is in an ideal location for people commuting to or from the Aronimink located businesses and is within walking distance to most of the  commercial area.  It is also a convenient station for local residents commuting into both Media and Philadelphia.

It is in the center of the greater Drexel Hill residential area providing a great mix of rental units, row homes, twins, and a wide variety of single family homes throughout the area, but the complete sales statistics will be covered in a separate Aronimink post.

If you need access to the businesses in the Aronimink Station Business District, need a centrally located Drexel Hill pick up or drop off spot, or are considering the commuting options from the Drexel Hill area, this is a prime station to keep in mind.  It is centrally located and although it does not have any parking, there is plenty of room on the adjacent streets for picking up or dropping off passengers.

As always if you have any questions or need any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me anytime.

Also be sure to check out the Sunday Open House at 907 Morgan Ave (just four blocks away!) this Sunday October 25 from 1-3.

This Sunday- December 6, we will be holding an Open House at 907 Morgan Avenue from 12:00-2:00 in the Aronimink Section of Drexel Hill.

Located just one block east of Drexel Avenue, two blocks north of State Rd, and three blocks south of Township Line Rd, 907 Morgan Av is centrally located in the prime Aronimink Estates Section of Drexel Hill PA.  On a quiet tree lined street with plenty of area parking, the home is situated within easy access of many commuting options.  It is just blocks from the SEPTA 101 Trolley heading toward Media or the 69th Street Terminal and Philadelphia beyond.  It is also just off Township Line Road/ Route 1 providing easy access to both I-476/ The Blue Route to the west or I-76/ the Schuykill Expressway to the northeast.

The home itself is a hard to find Spanish Colonial.  This design maintains the amenities of the traditional two story Colonial layout but adds a more spacious floor plan as often seen in Craftsmen Style properties.  This results in a much more open floor plan with the front door opening directly into the living room with wide generous arched doorways leading to the adjacent family room and formal dining room. Completing the first floor, there is an eat-in kitchen opening to the yard in the rear, a separate office or fourth bedroom, and powder room. 

On the second floor there is a large deck situated above the living room affording peaceful tree lined views of the neighborhood.  There are an additional three bedrooms and one full bath on the second floor.  The large master and a second bedroom both have direct access to the front deck.  The spacious master also has two closets with the one walk through closet allowing private entry to the second floor bath.  There is also a floored walk-up attic accessed through the second bedroom. 

Classic details are found throughout the home.  Both floors have high ceilings and hardwood floors.  There are also large French windows in the living room providing a sun filled environment and the option to open up the living room to the front patio area as seen in many Spanish style properties.  The style is also reinforced through tile and arch highlights found on both the exterior and interior of the home including the tile roof.  The living room contains a nice brick wood burning fireplace in its own alcove and there is a separate reading nook just off to the side.

The open floor plan provides tremendous flexibility in the use of the space and the details create a great platform to build your perfect home.  If you are considering a move and Drexel Hill is within your search area, please take the opportunity this Sunday from 1:00-3:00 to stop by and visit this very special property.

As always, if you have any questions, need any additional information. or would like a private tour, please do not hesitate to contact me anytime.

Be sure to visit the Drexel Hill/ Aronimink Open House at 407 Morgan Ave on Sunday October 4!

Welcome to Drexel Hill PA - Zip Code 19026 for a quick real estate update.

Generally Upper Darby Township PA can be split into two areas by zip codes: 19082/ Upper Darby to the east and 19026/ Drexel Hill toward the west.  The boundary between the two areas runs close to Lansdowne Avenue as it angles through the township.  The western portion of the township, Drexel Hill, is bordered by Havertown to the north, Springfield to the west, and Clifton Heights / Lansdowne to the south.  The zip code is primarily residential but has two mostly commercial areas concentrated along Township Line Rd/State Rd to the north and Burmont/ Garrett Rd to the south.  The area is well served by SEPTA with multiple bus lines running through the township and two trolley lines (Route 101 and Route 102) providing direct through service to Sharon Hill, Media, and the 69th Street Terminal.

Drexel Hill is one of the earliest settled regions around Philadelphia.  One of the oldest log cabins in the states, the Swedish Cabin built in 1654, can still be found along Darby Creek and the area has been inhabited ever since.  During the 1800s, the township grew quickly as mills were developed throughout the area to take advantage of the available water power.  During the Civil War, this was also an active area in the underground railroad and several homes of prominent abolitionists still exist including Hoodland, Thornfield, and Collenbrook Farm.  In the 20th Century growth accelerated until Upper Darby became one of the most populous municipalities in the state.

Today, Drexel Hill continues to be one of the most popular residential options.  The area contains a wide variety of housing choices from the row homes and twins found in the southern areas to the large gracious character single family homes found from Drexel Park in the east to Aronimink and Pilgrim Gardens to the west.  There are also a selection of rental communities including Drexelbrook in the area.

As we have seen throughout most of Delaware county, the real estate market has seen reduced prices and activity as the area adjusts to the recession but the market is currently rising on a monthly basis.  For single family homes, average pricing hit a high in 2006 at $274,000 with 198 sales.  These prices have since drifted down to $270,000 in 2007, to $258,000 in 2008, and to $238,000 so far in 2009 with 103 sales.  The balance of the housing has also taken a hit.  After peaking in 2007 with an average price of $166,00, prices fell to $162,000 in 2008, and to $148,000 in 2009.

There are also an additional 103 single family homes currently on the market with an average listing price of $265,000 and 18 under contract with an average asking price of $250,000.  As far as townhomes, twins, and row homes, 70 homes are on the market with an average $172,000 list price and 28 homes are pending with an average $152,000 list price.  On closer inspection, it should be noted that prices have strengthened on a monthly basis and it appears that we could see continuing strength through the year as buyers take advantage of the $8000 First Time Home Buyers Credit and the historically low interest rates.

If you are looking for solid classic character homes in a central Delaware County location with easy commuter options by both rail and highway, you must check out Drexel Hill.  With its prime location, history, and amenities, it should remain a great choice for years to come.

As always, if you have any questions or need any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me anytime.

Just a couple of quick SEPTA Update points for residents and those visiting the region:

If you need access to public transportation on only a day-to-day basis, SEPTA has now added 3 new passes: the One Day Independence Pass, the Family One Day Independence Pass, and the One Day Convenience Pass.  The primary differences between the Convenience Pass and the Independence Passes are that the Convenience Pass can not be used on the regional Rail Lines and is limited to only 8 trips.  The Independence Pass only places limits on the regional Rail Lines prior to 9:30 AM.

All three passes are designed to make using the system as easy as possible.  If you only need access to the SEPTA system while visiting for a short time, these options allow more flexibility then the traditional Weekend Passes or weekly TransPass and TrailPass.  For all the options and costs, be sure to check the SEPTA site.

Also be aware that SEPTA is now beginning the projects approved under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  Funding has been approved and awarded for various projects across the region so be prepared for some possible disruptions in your daily routines.  The complete project list covers everything from Station Renovations to basic Yard and Right of Way work.  Many of the projects have been discussed in a recent article from the Delaware County Sunday Times.  A key change to note is the upcoming closure of the Route 101 and Route 102 trolley lines for up to a year as the entire line is upgraded.

SEPTA continues to provide many transportation options throughout the area to serve the needs of the local residents.  With these changes both to fares and the physical system, this service should be in better shape for years to come with better equipment and service.

As always, if you have any questions or need any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me anytime.

Today we're in Drexel Hill at the Drexel Park Station for the SEPTA 101 and 102 trolleys in Upper Darby PA.

From the 69th Street Terminal out to the Drexel Junction, the 101 and 102 trolleys use the same tracks before splitting. The 101 continues west to Media, while the 102 turns generally south to end in Sharon Hill. The 102 Trolley line intersects with the SEPTA R3 Regional Rail Line at the Clifton Aldan Station while the 101 generally parallels the R3 as it continues into Media.

The Drexel Park station itself is a very well tended station designed to serve the local commuters as a walk up or drop off station. There is no designated commuter parking for this stop or the next stop west at Irvington (also in Drexel Park). It does have very frequent service to the 69th Street Terminal with continuing service on the high speed line toward Center City Philadelphia. It remains a popular commuting option for the local residents. The video will provide a better feel for the area:

Locally, the real estate market has experienced what we have been seeing throughout the county. Drexel Park sales activity peaked in 2005 with 29 sales with an average price of $285,000. Prices peaked in 2006 with an average price of $339,000 with 23 sales. Since 2006, we have seen 21 sales at an average price of $331,000 in 2007, 13 sales at an average price of $297,000 in 2008, and 5 sales year to date 2009 with an average settled price of $285,000. In addition, there are currently 12 homes actively on the market with an average list price of $347,000 and an additional 6 homes that are pending - averaging $286,000. Based on these figures, I would expect the sales volume to rise a bit this year even while pricing may remain fairly weak.

Overall, this is a great area and one of the nicest original neighborhoods found that still affords easy commuting into Philadelphia. As originally intended, this station continues to be an ideal stopping point for the local commuters but is not designed with additional parking for people from outside the area.

As always, should you have any questions or need any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me anytime.

Note: Property Now Has Accepted Agreement

Welcome back to Upper Darby.  Now we are looking at a property that is about the same size as Union Av but needs more work throughout.  This foreclosure is located just north of Lansdowne Borough in Drexel Hill Upper Darby.  Fairfax Rd runs through Drexel Park past the adjacent trolley tracks across Garrett Rd and south toward Lansdowne.  This property is just two blocks south of Garrett Rd.

Fairfax is a 3 bedroom 1.5 bath twin with a full unfinished basement and a separate one car garage.  This is another of Danielle Mateu's properties and as with most foreclosures, this is an as-is property and the buyer must be preapproved or have proof of funds.  The seller is also offering up to 3% toward closing costs.  It does appear to need work throughout so any buyer must be prepared to put significant work into the property from the outset.  The details can best be seen in the video:

Compared to the recent activity in the area, this appears to be a great value. Considering just twins over the last six months in the immediate area, those that sold have averaged $152,000 while the average price of those currently on the market is $148,000 (there are 7 now pending with an average price of $145,000).  For all of 2008, twins had an average sale price of $156,000.  To date no properties have sold for less than $100,000, but two of the pending properties were listed for less than $100,000 and there are two additional homes currently listed (including this one) for less than $100,000.  We would expect these properties to set new lows for the area as we have seen in other parts of Delaware County. 

This property is a good example of a foreclosure that needs work but is not a ground up rebuild.  As I have mentioned before, bank owned properties do come in all price ranges, conditions, and areas so you do have some flexibilty whether you are looking for an investment or a new home.  I will keep you updated periodically as new examples come on the market.

As always, do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or comments.

(All statistics from TrendMLS System and believed correct but not guaranteed)