The Apps Every Philly Homebuyer Should Download

If you aren’t a Philadelphia native, buying a condo or home in the City of Brotherly Love can be downright overwhelming. First of all, where do you want to live? Depending on whether you have a job and therefore a reasonable commute in mind, you will likely first have to figure out where you want to live. In a city like Philly, which is hugely neighborhood-divided, this is a task all in itself. Then you will need to find a house, and get all the dish that the realtor won’t tell you… how close it is to amenities, and how the schools really are. Luckily, we live in the 21st century, and there is an app for EVERYTHING – even the struggling house hunter. Check out these must-have real estate apps and banish your doubts about buying.

1. Realtor.com

This one is indispensable for the home-hunter. You can draw your own map of what areas you want to search within, and filter by parameters that are way more helpful than just bedrooms, bathrooms, and price range… think parking availability, pet-friendliness, and amenities like a pool or fireplace. Just like a dating app, you can swipe right on listings you like as you browse, neatly rounding up all the properties in which you are interested. Listings are regularly updated, so you’ll always be right on top of what’s available.

2. Walk Score

Especially in Philadelphia, buyers want to know how “walkable” their potential new home is. Is it possible to walk to stores, banks, eateries, jobs, and schools? How are the sidewalks? Is traffic very busy? Walk Score is an app that breaks it all down for you. Most of Philly qualifies as a “walker’s paradise” with a score of 90+, meaning that a car is not necessary. You can also get info on bike trails, public transit, and recommendations for local bus stops, train stations, and nearby parks where you can walk the dog or take the kids to play.

3. Greatschools Finder

Whether you have kids or not, knowing how good the schools are in your would-be neighborhood is critical. Why? Buying in a neighborhood with great schools will help bolster the value of your house, should you ever go to resell it! And, of course, if you have little ones, you want to know that they are getting the best education possible. The schools in the app are rated by both students and teachers, and you can access state test scores as well.

Nothing can beat the help of a great agent when it comes to buying the perfect home, but with some useful apps, you can make the search much easier!