Philadelphia Accomodation

[Kiwi]

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Hello Everyone,

Congrats to everyone who matched. I matched in Philadelphia and I was wondering if I could get some suggestions with regards to accomodation. I am moving in with my wife and I prefer a safe neighbourhood. I am quite happy to pay a rent upto to 1000$/month. I also prefer to be close to public transportation. Please can you drop in your suggestions and advice.

Thanks. Cheers.

 

[mjzoey]

Hi. I've been living in Philadelphia for long time, so I would be happy to help. Couple things you need to decide. Are you guys going to have cars? I wasn't sure since you asked re😛ublic transportations. And what specialties are yo going into? I am doing Ob/gyn, and my interns told me for their residency, they had to have cars because subways didn't start ealry enough (I think they start aroun 6 am).
Given that, lots of my residents live in East Falls, Rouxborough areas. There are a lot of apts, and the price is still reasonable, and safe. Need cars. Center city will be difficult with ~1000, for 2 bedrooms, especially if you have cars. May be you might get a 1 bedroom for ~1000 in University City, but you might have to look for parking spots on the street. And I don't exactly what hospital you are going to work at. So if you want, tell me where you will be working at, and I will be glad to tell you which section of the Philadelphia will work better for you. Philadelphis a bigger city than one thinks. But it's lots fun, and I sure will miss the city when I move to Buffalo for my residency.

 

[Mephisto]

Again, knowing the hospital at which you matched would be helpful but I think the previous reply is incorrect regarding cars. I lived in Philly for many years and did not have a car and did fine. Philadelphia is a very walkable city and the buses are very doable. If you are at any of the hospitals downtown (center city) then your best bet would be to find an apartment in that area and walk to the hospital. It's also a great area in which to live.

I lived in University City and while working briefly at Jefferson. I owned a bike and would bike to work every day and it was actually faster than driving or taking the subway. Food for thought...

 

[MossPoh]

I have some friends that live in Manayunk and them seem to enjoy it there. They are a slightly younger crowd though. Parking can be a pain since the streets are so old...it is doable, but you find yourself parking on sidewalks sometime. (They can't two because the roads are too narrow). It is reasonably priced from what I've heard and near a train station. Although from my experience the philly trains are kind of a pain compared to many cities, in that they run much more infrequently. Peak hours I believe it is every half hour, and then off of that it is every hour...which with rationed time isn't horrible. (someone can correct me...I'm not a philly expert...although after the Erin Express last week and me staggering around 3/4ths of philly I feel like it.)

 

[Kiwi]

Hi Again,

I appreciate your notes. I have matched in Internal Medicine at Albert Einstein Medical Center. The first few months we do not intend to buy a car. My wife will be applying for her 2008 residency and she prefers to be close to public transportation i.e., to get to city and back. I am looking for a 1 bedroom accomodation. Thanks again. Cheers.

 

[surgeon6]

Unfortunately, Albert Einstein is nowhere near any of the places that have been mentioned in this thread. It is located about 8 miles north of Center City. Forget Manyunk and university city.

If you really want to live in the city then Center City maybe a good bet as there is a subway line that goes strait up broad street. Actually I believe Einstein is the last stop. The Subway does stop running about midnight but I'm pretty sure there is a bus that takes over for it until 5am when it starts running again.

Within the Center City area you may want to check out chinatown because, there is the Ridge Spur that will take you upto einstein. It starts at 8th and market so that may also be a good location to look in also. Check septa.org for further details. The Philly subway system is pretty easy to figure out since there are only two lines.

As far as price $1000 is definitely on the low end for a 1 BR in philly. You may get lucky and find something but you're gonna have to really look hard and parking is tough too. You can try street parking but that would be a major hassle or you can fork up about $200/mo and pay for garage parking. Cost of living goes down dramtically as you go north of Vine Street as does safety and I would caution you on living north of Spring Garden St.

If you are open to living in a more suburban setting then definitely check the area just north of Einstein, in Bucks County, like Cheltenham, or Elkins Park. There are trains that run to center city and you can always take the broad street line from the hospital to center city and get anywhere you need by public transportation.

 

[mjzoey]

I am glad that you told us where you matched. Before med school, I actually worked at Moss Rehab Hospital for 2 years which is the reab that is attahed to Einstein, so I do know the area very well. Also I go to med school about 2-3 miles down from Einstien. As surgoen06 states, Einstein is actually couple miles away from Center City, Manyunk, or University City. Not walkable unless you live right next to the hospital.

Couple suggestions, I think you will need a car when you get to Philly. The subway stop at Einstein, there is one right in front of the hospital, is not the nicest place in the world. North Philly is very 'rough' place, especially if you are not from the area and not used to places like this. If you have no car, only place you can live is at Center City or University Area, which has better access to PT. If you can get a car, your option of living kind opens up.

One nice thing about Einstien is that it is closer to suburbs like Abington and chetlham, but you definetely need a car as a resident. They are not cheaper per se, but you will have a wider selction of place to choose from. Also if you have car, you can move to Roxbourogh or East Falls, since it is right off route 1. Pretty safe to live, and most place you can find easy parking.

I really don't know too much about Philadelphia PT system, I was too chicken to ride to Broadway line. So I can't advise too much on the PT, but if you need any help with finding a place in East Falls or Roxborough, that I can help.
Good luck🙂

 

[napoleondynamite]

I also matched in Philly. I will be at Drexel. I want to buy a house in a safe neighborhood. I have school-aged children, so will likely live in the burbs. Any suggestions for nice communities? Thank you.

 

[Tater]

Where are the terrible commutes? From the north? From the Jersey side? I plan on having a car, and knowing where the traffic is flowing to (and from) will help narrow down my search. (I'll be at HUP, Presby)

 

[jamielehigh]

Avoid having to take the Blue Route (476S) or the Schuykill Expressway (I-76) or I-95 around South Philly. They are a disaster almost 24 hours a day.

I'm rotating at Einstein right now, and most if not all of the residents drive. The Broad Street Subway is probably ok. You could probably find a decent apartment between Spring Garden and Vine Street ("Art Museum" or "Fairmont" neighborhoods).

Near HUP, there are tons of apartments. I heard that 2400 Chestnut St. is good. Check out phillyblog.com and craigslist.

I'm going to be at Drexel, and I will move into the Packard right across the street from the hospital. It took a few nights of internet searching and a couple apartment visits before I found what I wanted. If you want suburbs, check out Montgomery County. Conshohocken wouldn't be a bad choice because the schools aren't bad, and you can take the train into Center City.
Hahnemann is near Suburban Station.

 

[mjzoey]

I also matched in Philly. I will be at Drexel. I want to buy a house in a safe neighborhood. I have school-aged children, so will likely live in the burbs. Any suggestions for nice communities? Thank you.

One of my resident (I am from Temple) has kids in middle school, and she actually commutes from the west side of Philadelphia, like from Ardmore/Haverford area. That area is beautiful, safe and has one of the best public schools around Philly. But the drive is 30 mins and up. But I think she is doing the drive for her kids. One other bad thing, the real estate (to buy) out there is ridiculously expensive.

One place that's farther away but with one of the other best public school is in whole state of PA is Richboro/Newtown in Buck County PA. I am actually grew up here so I am bit prejudice about the school system, but everyone around the Philadelphia area knows this school system. This is far drive, about 50 mins from I-95. However, I had one ER resident who did this commute. The real estate here is not cheap.

One other closer suburb is Abington, PA. Decent schools, but don't know too much about the price of real estate.

I can't imagine how much harder this must be for you since children are involved.
Good luck, and if you have any ?'s, I will try my best to help.

 

[Tater]

Anyone looking and/or need a roommate in Philly for the upcoming year?

 

[Winged Scapula]

Moving to the Housing Forum... (for future reference....all questions about Housingg, MOving, etc. should be directed there)...

 

[PaxListings]

Searching an apartment is really a difficult task.Although there are lots of apartments and houses for lease in the state, only few of them really gives what you need.
I would like to recommend you to look at Paxlistings apartments and you will find a great deals in your budget.

Hope that helps, and best of luck with your apartment search!

Thanks

 

[Elewynne]

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