Happy New Year! Start it off by judging other people\u2019s homes.<\/p>\n
In the latest installment of my Price Point series, I compare three local homes on the market for about $390,000 \u2014 the median sale price in the Philly area in November.<\/p>\n
(To no one\u2019s surprise, that\u2019s higher than last year.)<\/a><\/p>\n Read on to look inside a Lower Merion condo, a Mayfair twin, and a Gloucester Colonial that are all for sale for roughly the same price.<\/a><\/p>\n Keep scrolling for that story and more in this week\u2019s edition:<\/p>\n \u2014 Michaelle Bond<\/p>\n If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.<\/a><\/p>\n Every couple of months, I set out to help homebuyers get a sense of their options by featuring three local properties for sale for about the same price.<\/p>\n This time, I\u2019m answering the question: What can a homebuyer get with a budget of $390,000 in the Philly area?<\/p>\n These homes offer a taste of what\u2019s out there.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfe0 A condo located on what a real estate agent calls Haverford\u2019s \u201cgolden mile.\u201d<\/p>\n This unit is one of the larger layouts at Haverford Hunt Club and is close to restaurants, stores, and public transportation.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n \ud83c\udfe0 A twin that has a private bathroom attached to the primary bedroom, an uncommon feature among older homes in Philly\u2019s Mayfair neighborhood. <\/p>\n The home also has a garage and a finished basement with a bathroom.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n \ud83c\udfe0 A Gloucester Township house that has a more open layout than the traditional Colonial.<\/p>\n This house has a deck in the spacious backyard and a bunch of recently updated features.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n Which would you choose? Keep reading for more details and pictures.<\/a><\/p>\n Have you noticed that a lot of the new rowhouses and apartments in Philly look alike? Architecture critic Inga Saffron has, too.<\/p>\n And she\u2019s not shy about sharing her thoughts: \u201cThe streets of Fishtown and Graduate Hospital and Spruce Hill are now awash in interchangeable blocky structures, all dressed in the same dreary gray clothing, their aluminum panels shrink-wrapped around the exterior like a sheet of graph paper.\u201d<\/p>\n Saffron says no one likes these buildings, which opponents snarkily refer to as fast-casual architecture, McUrbanism, and developer modern.<\/p>\n But they\u2019re cheap and easy. So they\u2019re everywhere.<\/p>\n Cue the rebellion: The arch is making a comeback. And it\u2019s shaking up the city\u2019s built environment.<\/p>\n Keep reading to see some examples of how it\u2019s being used and find out why Saffron says some Philly architects have rediscovered the arch.<\/a><\/p>\n The latest news to pay attention to<\/p>\n Are you looking for some interior design tips in the new year? Jaden Daubert in Old City is @homedecorhomie<\/a> on TikTok, where he shares his ideas and vintage finds.<\/p>\n But he doesn\u2019t think anyone should blindly follow advice from influencers, him included. He even breaks his own rules.<\/p>\n \u201cMy goal is to be authentically unique,\u201d he said. He plays with patterns and textures and describes his apartment\u2019s aesthetic as maximalist and eclectic.<\/p>\n Daubert likes to collect vintage pieces, and he\u2019s a regular at thrift stores. His walnut dining room table was built in the early 1900s. He has two vintage Tiffany lamps.<\/p>\n Art fills his home and even decorates his doors.<\/p>\n Daubert\u2019s two-bedroom corner apartment spans 1,400 square feet, has 14-foot ceilings, and features two walls of windows that let in sunlight and frame city views.<\/p>\n It\u2019s actually his second stint in the same apartment after he moved out in 2020. Daubert said being back feels \u201cmeant to be.\u201d<\/p>\n Peek inside the apartment to see how a social media influencer decorates his home.<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7 Photo quiz<\/p>\n Do you know the location this photo shows?<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcee If you think you do, email me back.<\/a> You and your memories of visiting this spot might be featured in the newsletter.<\/p>\n In the newsletter two weeks ago, the quiz featured a photo that was shot at Calder Gardens on the Parkway.<\/a><\/p>\n Shout-out to Rick E. and Tim G. for getting that right.<\/p>\n Enjoy the rest of your week. And I hope you have a fulfilling 2026. I\u2019ll be here to share the local real estate news you need to know.<\/p>\n By submitting your written, visual, and\/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer\u2019s Terms of Use<\/a>, including the grant of rights in Section 10.<\/p>\n\n
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