What renters really want | Real Estate Newsletter
Pet-friendly homes in the suburbs.
Greetings! Michaelle is on a well-deserved vacation, so I’m your cruise director this week and next. I’m looking forward to chatting with you about all things real estate. Email me if there’s anything home-related you’re thinking about right now.
In today’s edition, we’re talking about renters, both what they like (pets) and where they’re living (the burbs).
Keep scrolling for those stories and more:
Holy smoke: Take a visual tour at how to preserve churches’ stained glass windows.
Sixers return to Market East: See where the team just bought some Center City properties.
Pinelands preservation?: Learn what’s up with a controversial plan to build near Black Run Preserve.
Mansion tax hikes: Calculate whether you need to worry about N.J.’s new property sales legislation.
— Erica Palan
If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.
In my renting days, I was always on the hunt for listings that would allow my two beloved cats, Rosie and Oink, to cohabitate with me. That’s them lounging in my old apartment in the photo above. I couldn’t resist.
According to a recent survey by Zillow, rental listings that allow pets typically find tenants eight days faster than those that don’t.
In the Philly metro area, about three in five rental listings on Zillow last year were pet-friendly. (This story reminded me of a fun one from last year about how some homeowners are installing doggy spas or cat condos in their homes.)
Find out why catering to furry friends gives landlords an edge.
📮 What amenities do you have to make your pets comfy at home? Email me the deets, and I may feature some answers in next week’s newsletter (and obviously I want to see your pet photos).
I always think of suburbs as place where most people own their homes. But that’s an out-of-date stereotype.
A recent analysis found that renters outnumber homeowners in many of the nation’s large suburbs — including King of Prussia. In 2023, 52% of KOP’s residents were renters.
Why are people choosing leases over mortgages these days?
📈 increasing home prices
💰 the high up-front costs of buying
👩👩👧 households have gotten smaller
🕰️ people are marrying and having kids later
🏡 homeowners are downsizing
Michaelle tells you more in her recent piece about KOP’s rising renter population.
The latest news to pay attention to
Some eye candy for preservationists: See how stained glass is salvaged from old Philadelphian churches.
Months after nixing plans for a Center City Sixers arena, the team and Comcast bought property on East Market Street.
Two historic South Philly churches designed by Frank Furness are facing different fates.
N.J. just raised the “mansion tax,” which impacts high-value property sales.
A developer with controversial plan to build houses on a Pinelands tract hopes to have it preserved instead.
Philly’s last Rite Aid stores will close in late August.
A fire tore through the Art Alliance building on July 4th. Read how some Philadelphians are grieving the historic space.
House of the week: A multilevel condo with a roof deck in Spring Garden for $595,000.
Home tour: A glass garden in Lansdale
Some people are so clever. These homeowners keep their vibrant outdoor space looking colorful all year round by interspersing colorful glass art between their blooming plants.
My colleague Terri Akman writes:
Blue glass spindles rise above green-and-white-leafed Lamium. Orange glass flowers bloom among orange day lilies. Blue bottles fill a wrought iron wine rack hung over a fence. Flat circles of colored glass are scattered around paving stones.
Cool: The homeowners were inspired by artist Dale Chihuly. (You know his work from the 21-foot glass sculpture at the National Liberty Museum in Old City.)
Even cooler: The property is a Certified Wildlife Habitat.
Take a peek at the whole garden.
📷 Photo quiz
Do you know the location this photo shows?
📮 If you think you do, email me back. You and your memories of visiting this spot might be featured in the newsletter.
Shout out to our faithful reader Lars W., who correctly guessed last week’s image of Bartram’s Garden.
++
Hallelujah, the trash strike is over! Things were getting so dire at my house that I was considering composting, after reading The Inquirer’s guide.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.