The buyers: <\/b>Cameron LaFreniere, 29, software engineer <\/p>\n
The house: <\/b>a 1,260-square-foot rowhouse in Point Breeze with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, built in 1925. <\/p>\n
The price: <\/b>originally listed for 350,000; sold for $340,000 <\/p>\n
The agent:<\/b> Rachel Shaw, Philly Home Girls <\/p>\n
The ask:<\/b> Cameron LaFreniere was looking for a new city to call home and wanted to escape the stress of renting. Originally from Rhode Island, he considered settling down in Providence, but decided on Philadelphia because \u201cthe prices are significantly lower,\u201d he said. It\u2019s also easier to get around without a car, which was important to him. <\/p>\n
He wanted a house that could be big enough for a family one day. \u201cBasically something that could be a forever home if I wanted it to be,\u201d he said. His budget was between $275,000 and $400,000, and he was only interested in historic rowhouses. <\/p>\n
\u201cI would much rather have an old build that\u2019s well taken care of,\u201d said LaFreniere, \u201cbecause they\u2019re often much more cost effective in terms of maintenance.\u201d He wanted something recently updated with multiple bathrooms, space for a home office, and within biking distance of Center City<\/a>. <\/p>\n The search: <\/b>LaFreniere began his search in December 2024 and spent months scouring South Philly for the perfect place. \u201cI probably walked at least a third of South Philly,\u201d he said, \u201cI just really wanted to get a feel for the area. It\u2019s one thing to look at something online; it\u2019s another to experience it for yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n Across multiple weekend trips, LaFreniere looked at 25 properties, including eight on the final day of his search. He looked at a few places in Wharton Square and one in Graduate Hospital. He also saw one that was one street over from the house he ultimately bought \u2014 it cost $20,000 more. \u201cIt had nicer floors and was staged,\u201d he said. As for the house he wanted, \u201cthere wasn\u2019t much competition,\u201d LaFreniere said. <\/p>\n Or it may have something to do with its location. \u201cPoint Breeze is a balanced market,\u201d said LaFreniere. \u201cThere is a good amount of supply and places being fixed up. It\u2019s a first-time buyer\u2019s ideal situation.\u201d <\/p>\n The appeal:<\/b> LaFreniere liked that the house had been updated in 2017. It has central air and heat and the \u201cquality of the kitchen is fantastic,\u201d he said. At the same time, it still has several of its original features, like the staircase. \u201cIt\u2019s the best of both worlds,\u201d said LaFreniere. <\/p>\n The deal: <\/b>On the afternoon LaFraniere visited, the seller had just dropped the price by $10,000. He decided he wanted it a few hours later and offered the new asking price of $340,000. There weren\u2019t any competing offers, and the seller accepted. <\/p>\n LaFreniere was concerned about the floors, which he described as \u201ca little beat up,\u201d and asked for money to replace them. The seller said no but agreed to cover $3,000 of whatever issues the inspection turned up. <\/p>\n The money:<\/b> LaFreniere had $30,000 to spend on the purchase of his home. \u201cI saved this from working in a tech career for the past six years,\u201d he said. It wasn\u2019t always easy. He had significant student loans to pay off as well. To help keep costs down, he lived with roommates. <\/p>\n Of that $30,000, LaFreniere used $10,200 for a 3% down payment. Because he lived in an eligible census tract, he qualified for community reinvestment financing through OceanFirst\u2019s HomeHelping loan<\/a>, which allowed him to skip private mortgage insurance and lowered his interest rate from 7% to 6%. It also covered $6,000 of his closing costs. <\/p>\n The move: <\/b>LaFraniere didn\u2019t want to lug a bunch of stuff to Philadelphia from Providence, so he donated most of his furniture and half his belongings to local charities and thrift stores. He didn\u2019t hire movers or rent a car. He took the train instead. Come moving day, all he had was a suitcase full of clothes and his bicycle, which he brought with him on the Amtrak. He moved in on June 25, 2025. <\/p>\n Any reservations? <\/b>LaFraniere says he doesn\u2019t have any regrets. \u201cI knew what I was getting into,\u201d he said. Certain parts of homeownership, like \u201chow to do the trash,\u201d were new to him but didn\u2019t take long to figure out. The only thing he has had to contend with since moving in is cockroaches. But that was just once. \u201cNo recurrent pest problems,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n Life after move: <\/b>LaFraniere spent the last of his savings, about $10,000, on furniture. “<\/b>I basically moved with nothing,\u201d he said, \u201cand then bought everything at Ikea.\u201d He thought about redoing the floors but decided against it. The rugs and furniture cover the imperfections. <\/p>\n