Kensington, situated just North of Fishtown is a neighborhood that is sure to see a turnaround, just as Northern liberties has in the past 5 years. Investors have turned to this area because quite frankly the homes are cheap, due to urban blight, and crime. However there is not a shortage of families needing good quality homes, stable communities, and affordable rents. So, if one is looking to invest in a rental property, with positive cash flow, and steady equitable growth Kensington is a sure bet.

With that said Graduate Hospital, known to native Philadelphian’s as just South Philly was an area known for blight and criminal activity. Look at it today, homes have sold for over a half a million dollars and the people there new and old appreciate it’s growth and diversity. That’s a far cry from 6 years ago, when a close friend of mine who lived their referred to it as, well…….she didn’t use the most constructive words. I was anxious to drive her back to her old stumping grounds not long ago, and she was amazed that the home she had rented was transformed, into a gorgeous, freshly brick pointed brownstone. There were new side walks, potted flowers, and whole blocks aligned with new townhomes. Needless to say she was impressed.

Take Northern Liberties as another prime example, not long ago, just along 2^nd Street between Girard and Spring Garden was desolate, now this section of the city is buzzing, with new restaurants, a bowling alley, condos, a state of the art gym, and bar and grills to host a lively northern liberties crowd. Still, much more is expected to come.

10 yrs ago a home for under $90K was typical, in these neighborhoods. In 2008, finding a shell of a home for under $90K, is a steal…literally! If you find one please call m e!

Other areas that have boasted growth due to investor involvement , real estate investors, community groups and business owners(some with the encouragement of the city, who provided special tax breaks and perks to those business’s that opened shop in struggling communities) can be seen in Brewery Town, Parkside, and Fishtown

It’s important to note, that the city spreads from the inside out. Center City is that sweet and expensive core, so you can be sure that anything immediately surrounding Center City mimics close in price, although sq footage is usually always more than the core. The Center City District does not include Graduate Hospital, Bella Vista, Queen Village, or Northern Liberties as part of Center City. So as you can conclude, it pays to surround the core, and to surround the area that surrounds the core.