What $500K Will Buy You in East Kensington

Get in on the ground floor in a neighborhood on the rise, then climb up to the roof deck of these all-new homes in "West Fishtown."

2103 E. Arizona St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19125 | TREND image via Zillow

2103 E. Arizona St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19125 | TREND image via Zillow

East Kensington has undergone some serious development over the past few years. So, it’s no surprise that when we chose it for this week’s $500K post, we found that every single listing was brand new. If you’re currently searching for a home and have always dreamed about starting from scratch, this could be your easy way out. In fact, the work is (almost) all done for you.

Right now, the median home value in East Kensington is $151,700, which is obviously well under a budget of $500,000. And now’s the time to plant your roots here, too – home values have gone up a whopping 18 percent over the past year, and are expected to rise another 5.2 percent within the next year alone. This place is transforming, and if you want to join in on the fun, read below. We’ve listed three current properties on the market.

2103 E. Arizona St. (above) | 3 beds, 2 full, 1 half baths, 2,850 square feet, $475,000

This newly constructed townhome boasts three stories with three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, and a powder room. Features throughout the home include luxury finishes, hardwood floors, and recessed lighting. Two bonus features of the home are a rooftop deck with awesome city views and a finished basement. While we all love a bit of character in a home, who wouldn’t love to live in a brand-new property in a neighborhood on the rise? We know we would.

2103 E. Arizona St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19125 [Christopher Somers | RE/MAX Access]

2024 Martha St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19125 | Image via Houwzer Real Estate

2024 Martha St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19125 | Image via Houwzer Real Estate

2024 Martha St. | 3 beds, 2 full, 1 half baths, 2,800 square feet, $519,000

This property is on the borderline of Fishtown and East Kensington, just a few blocks from Frankford Avenue. Regardless of its location, we thought it was worthy of inclusion. The townhome is one of six in its development, three of which have already sold. Nice features of the home include hardwood flooring, metal stair handrails, custom-built mahogany shelving, a backyard, a fully finished basement, and a rooftop deck. In total, the home has three bedrooms (two on the second floor and one on the third floor). The third-floor master suite boasts an en-suite bathroom and a spacious closet. Here’s an added bonus: a parking spot will be leased to homeowners for free during your first year (as long as you pay $125 a month after that).

2024 Martha St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19125 [Houwzer Team | Houwzer Real Estate]

2056 E. Sergeant St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19125 | TREND image via Zillow

2056 E. Sergeant St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19125 | TREND image via Zillow

2056 E. Sergeant St. | 3 beds, 3 full, 1 half baths, 3,000 square feet, $499,900

At 3,000 square feet, this is the largest listing this week – but the awesomeness doesn’t stop there. This townhome has three bedrooms, three full bathrooms, a powder room, a sizable backyard, a rooftop deck, a finished basement, a wet bar, and more. All finishes are customizable for the homebuyer. This thing isn’t just tall, either, it’s also 18-feet wide. The second floor includes two bedrooms, two full bathrooms, and a laundry closet. The master suite occupies the entire third floor and includes an en-suite bathroom and a large walk-in closet. This home broke ground in February, so make sure to claim (and customize) it before it’s too late.

2056 E. Sergeant St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19125 [Eric Fargnoli | RE/MAX Home Experts]