South Philly Nabe Dubbed 2nd “Hottest” In America

A neighborhood in South Philly has been dubbed the second-hottest in America by real estate website Redfin. The site rounded up a list of U.S. nabes where buyer activity has been especially dense. While the first-place finish went to El Cerrito, part of San Diego, California, the runner-up was Dickinson Narrows of South Philadelphia. This area, located between Pennsport and East Passyunk, is predicted to draw an immense pool of buyers this year.

The sky’s the limit in Dickinson Narrows, the 2nd-hottest neighborhood in America.

First-time homeowners love Dickinson Narrows, as do families relocating from the suburbs. The nearness of downtown Philly is a definite draw, but also the fact that it is stocked with plenty of dining and drinking options, pretty public parks, and playgrounds for the kiddos. The parking here isn’t a bloodsport in the same way it is downtown, and there are both new-construction and older homes available. All these things attract buyers.

Affordability is, however, one of the biggest factors in attracting buyers to an area, Redfin concluded. In Dickinson Narrows, for instance, the median home price is only $192,000 – quite a bit below that of nearby Northern Liberties ($350,000). In the official report, Redfin Chief Economist Nela Richardson stated that homebuyers are “recoil[ing]” from high price spikes in urban centers during the last three years, and are seeking out neighborhoods that offer proximity to downtown hubs at more affordable price points.

In addition, the report named the five hottest neighborhoods in major metro areas. For Philadelphia, NoLibs, Girard Estate, Fairmount Park, and Kensington rounded out the list. The year has been a banner one for Philly so far, with the city being named one of the best travel destinations by Conde Nast and one of the best cities to shop in by Travel + Leisure.