Lancaster or Allentown/Bethlehem

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speaking as someone whose inlaws are there, the Allentown area is awful. Lots of tract housing, lots of big box stores, nothing but chain restaurants and really bad quasi ethnic/attempted upscale dining as far as the eye can see. Not a whole lot in the way of parks or public recreation. Healthcare facilities are numerous and high-quality, but that draws a lot of retirees who aren't interested in funding schools. It is not a high-demand area. My husband's parents owned their house for 15 years and saw just $50,000 worth of appreciation.

The closer proximity to NYC is... not a plus. You're too far to go into the city easily (even Philly is an all-day affair). But the significantly lower prices attract all the NJ people who can't afford NJ. And they mix with the folks who take off from school and work on the first day of deer hunting. But if you think Disney hotel dining rooms are "elegant" and really love driving everywhere, you'll thrive.

Look into Lansdale instead.

Sorry, meant to suggest Lansdowne. Got my SEPTA stations mixed up.

Lansdowne? Wow. Delco AF. Lansdowne is the real deal!!

It's a really weird suggestion.

[Anonymous]

This might be to far, but what about the Harrisburg area? Hershey has some really nice areas, as does the West Shore.

[Anonymous]

Lititz is cute !

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lititz is cute !

OP said she wasn't looking for suburbs. That is the problem here. Central Lancaster (such as it is) is pretty mediocre, and the few nice parts are right next door to rough areas. Allentown and Bethlehem are even worse.

[Anonymous]

I grew up midway between Philly and Allentown. Don’t live in Allentown.

Bethlehem can be rough but they have a ton of family activities. My family all live in walking distance of Moravian- schools aren’t great but you can easily get a 3br/1b for less than $180.

You could also check out Doylestown, Lansdale, Quakertown, Germantown. They’re closer to Philly. Or Easton might be nice.

[Anonymous]

I’m the PP. Check out New Hope too.

[Anonymous]

What about Reading? There's been an active effort to revitalize the downtown for many years now, and it's much nicer than it was a couple decades ago.

Closer to Philly, look at Media. Very cute walkable downtown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about Reading? There's been an active effort to revitalize the downtown for many years now, and it's much nicer than it was a couple decades ago.

Closer to Philly, look at Media. Very cute walkable downtown.

Reading has one of the highest levels of concentrated poverty in the country, something like 36%. It used to be the worst in the country.

[Anonymous]

If you’re open to central Pa, Hershey and State College may also work for you.

[Anonymous]

When PPs are calling Bethlehem and Lancaster rough are you comparing it to similar neighborhoods in DC, Baltimore, and Philadelphia where you can get rowhomes for $200,000 that are in the condition that OP posted?

Calling Bethlehem rough is one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen on this board.

[Anonymous]

Can someone tell me more about the neighborhood where OP posted in the northwest part of Lancaster. I’ve seen it referred to as College Hill or Chestnut Hill. You don’t usually see rough neighborhoods with homes like this so I’m taking the Lancaster detractors’ advice with a grain of salt. The design choices on the second home are pretty high end for a $300,000 home.

https://www.redfin.com/PA/Lancaster/351-N-West-End-Ave-17603/home/130684428

https://www.redfin.com/PA/Lancaster/423-Nevin-St-17603/home/131612731

Redfin is saying Lancaster is a hot market and that Times article seems pretty high on it. What are people missing?

[Anonymous]

Much easier to get a barn raised in Lancaster than in Bethlehem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone tell me more about the neighborhood where OP posted in the northwest part of Lancaster. I’ve seen it referred to as College Hill or Chestnut Hill. You don’t usually see rough neighborhoods with homes like this so I’m taking the Lancaster detractors’ advice with a grain of salt. The design choices on the second home are pretty high end for a $300,000 home.

https://www.redfin.com/PA/Lancaster/351-N-West-End-Ave-17603/home/130684428

https://www.redfin.com/PA/Lancaster/423-Nevin-St-17603/home/131612731

Redfin is saying Lancaster is a hot market and that Times article seems pretty high on it. What are people missing?

No one's missing anything. Lancaster is Lancaster. It's a small town with no business community to speak of, but with a core long-term population, some retirees and a small College community.

It's not the next Jackson or Park City.

People live there just fine, but it's nothing special and has typical problems associated with old city decay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone tell me more about the neighborhood where OP posted in the northwest part of Lancaster. I’ve seen it referred to as College Hill or Chestnut Hill. You don’t usually see rough neighborhoods with homes like this so I’m taking the Lancaster detractors’ advice with a grain of salt. The design choices on the second home are pretty high end for a $300,000 home.

https://www.redfin.com/PA/Lancaster/351-N-West-End-Ave-17603/home/130684428

https://www.redfin.com/PA/Lancaster/423-Nevin-St-17603/home/131612731

Redfin is saying Lancaster is a hot market and that Times article seems pretty high on it. What are people missing?

No one's missing anything. Lancaster is Lancaster. It's a small town with no business community to speak of, but with a core long-term population, some retirees and a small College community.

It's not the next Jackson or Park City.

People live there just fine, but it's nothing special and has typical problems associated with old city decay.

Classic DCUM. Either some place is Jackson Hole or a s hole. Never change, you elitist snobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone tell me more about the neighborhood where OP posted in the northwest part of Lancaster. I’ve seen it referred to as College Hill or Chestnut Hill. You don’t usually see rough neighborhoods with homes like this so I’m taking the Lancaster detractors’ advice with a grain of salt. The design choices on the second home are pretty high end for a $300,000 home.

https://www.redfin.com/PA/Lancaster/351-N-West-End-Ave-17603/home/130684428

https://www.redfin.com/PA/Lancaster/423-Nevin-St-17603/home/131612731

Redfin is saying Lancaster is a hot market and that Times article seems pretty high on it. What are people missing?

No one's missing anything. Lancaster is Lancaster. It's a small town with no business community to speak of, but with a core long-term population, some retirees and a small College community.

It's not the next Jackson or Park City.

People live there just fine, but it's nothing special and has typical problems associated with old city decay.

Classic DCUM. Either some place is Jackson Hole or a s hole. Never change, you elitist snobs.

I mean, my family lives in the Lehigh Valley. I don't care where people live but OP is asking for opinions. Lancaster is run-of-the-mill small town America. Some old Times article about food and a Redfin rating that's significantly lower than Centreville doesn't change that. Lancaster being a pretty average area has nothing to do with elitism.

By the way, YOU can call a *hole of some sort. But I didn't.