Category: For Sale/Rent

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Old World Modern: Rittenhouse Square Townhouse for Sale

12:19pm May 6, 2013

Rittenhouse Square Townhouse for sale with historical architectural features complemented by modern amenities.

SPOTLIGHT LISTING: Rittenhouse Square townhouse for sale The age-old debate between buying an old home versus buying a new one can be a tricky one to navigate. Older homes exude character with their unique architectural details, but can require a great deal of maintenance. Newer homes lack historical charm, but more than make up for [...]

Barn With Passing Resemblance to Vanna Venturi House, Plus Spotless Farm With Suburban Tract House

5:08pm May 3, 2013

Though the barn can’t be put in the same category as the Venturi house, it’s without question the most interesting building on this property. The other two residences could be in any Philly or New Jersey suburb–and they’re entirely different than any farmhouses we’ve featured so far. There’s an in-ground pool and hot tub here, a heated garage and one has a truly pedestrian ranch design.

Yet this is indeed a farm, and a serious one at that: It’s 107 acres of workable land. The Vanna Venturi-lite barn is one of two luxurious equestrian residences–with seven matted 14×14 stalls, hot/cold wash stall, a full kitchen and bath, and a hay loft with a deck; the other with four stalls, electric and water.
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Weekend Open Houses

Presented by Prudential Fox & Roach

4:18pm May 3, 2013

Don't miss the open house this weekend at 21 Green Gable Ln. in Newtown.

If you’re shopping for houses this weekend in the city, suburbs or at the shore, you’ll want to add these open houses to your must-see list. 904 Brushtown Road, Gwynedd Valley Open House: May 5, 1-3 p.m. Grand estate home with high ceiling, tumbled limestone foyer and sweeping staircase. Price: $2,650,000 Bed: 5 Bath: 5.2 [...]

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Legendary Main Line Estate: For $25M, You Too Can Live “The Philadelphia Story”

Presented by Prudential Fox & Roach

12:04pm May 3, 2013

Exquisite Albemarle was once part of the legendary Main Line Estate Ardrossan Farm.

SPOTLIGHT LISTING: Legendary Main Line Estate If you have $25 million burning a hole in your pocket, may we suggest spending it on Albemarle, an exquisite 17-acre estate in Villanova with a pedigree more impressive than most people. The property was originally part of 750-acre Ardrossan Farm—a legendary Main Line estate owned by Col. Robert [...]

South Philly Home Scores Estately’s “Greatest Real Estate Listing Photos Absolutely Ever”

10:06am May 3, 2013

The cat challenging that pedestal to a staring contest is our favorite of the photos.

The national real estate website Estately, based in Seattle but with a virtual outpost in Philly, is highly attuned to the best and worst of listings photos. Philadelphia has not disappointed. In fact, Estately blogger Ryan Nickum has a Tumblr account devoted to Philadelphia basement bar photos. Yesterday, though, he explicated in almost hermeneutical detail [...]

NJ Home Still on the Market After a Staggering $1.75 Million Price Cut

12:06pm May 2, 2013

In the picture above, the landscaping makes part of this estate look like a mini-golf course. But there’s nothing mini about 108 Raven Court in Berlin, NJ. The listing says it’s “like nothing you’ve ever seen,” and that’s no exaggeration–especially when it comes to the 2.5 acres of land outside. The grounds include a vineyard; that octagonal structure which is a 2,500-square-foot barroom; an in-ground pool with jacuzzi; a cabana; a potting shed; 160 outdoor lights; a little bridge over a rock stream; topiary; and all that greenery–including rose gardens.

Inside the six-bedroom, 15,000-square-foot home, the vast kitchen has a clutch of Bertazzoni and Viking ranges; a media room; colored, leaded glass topping a turret; wine storage and wine refrigerators; four laundry rooms; and 13 separate entrances. There are a total of 8 fireplaces, both inside and outside, and a five-care garage.

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Society Hill Townhouse for Sale on a Great Block

Presented by Prudential Fox & Roach

12:03pm May 2, 2013

SPOTLIGHT LISTING: Society Hill townhouse for sale on a great block Located on one of the most charming blocks in Center City, this five-bedroom Society Hill townhouse is in a prime location. Across from Three Bears Park on a cobblestone street, it’s within walking distance of Headhouse Square and Old City attractions. The house itself [...]

Property’s Morning Obsession: Another Real Estate Rap Video, Because God Help Us, There Is Another One

8:54am May 2, 2013

Screenshot from R.A.P.'s video

This is not only a real estate rap video, but a R.A.P. video because it comes courtesy of Rafael A. Perez from San Diego. Clearly deriving inspiration from Virginia, Perez writes: “I’ve been told my business videos are ‘so serious’ so I changed it up.” Somewhere around 2:00 he also changes up the rhyme scheme, as in, he is rhyming, and then he stops.

But until then, it’s pretty good, providing information about San Diego as a tourist market (“even killer whales are nice and playful”) and the housing recovery. He seems a little uncomfortable with the whole project but also like a good guy. We imagine there was a young cousin in the background coaching him and making him want to cry.

To Die For: Luxury Rental With Marble and More Marble on Clinton Street

4:50pm May 1, 2013

Clinton Street is the East-of-Broad Delancey–pretty and historic, narrow and shaded by trees. It runs for two blocks between Ninth and 11th, and Spruce and Pine. Rentals are very hard to come by on Clinton. Why would anyone on one of the city’s best streets in one of the city’s best neighborhoods ever want to move? And why would anyone in this exquisite townhouse with its luscious marble bathroom want to get out of the tub?

Well, who knows, but let’s not look a gift horse in the mouth. This mid-19th-century home in Washington Square West retains all kinds of delicious period details, including stained glass, marble fireplaces, marble mantels, antique light fixtures and original wood floors. But all the modern conveniences are there, including a Viking six-burner range, a seamless shower stall and a gated parking spot.

The Vanna Venturi House Is Going Up for Sale

2:54pm May 1, 2013

Via Wikimedia

Just a couple weeks ago we wrote with local pride about the Vanna Venturi House in Chestnut Hill, designed by architect Robert Venturi for his mother. It is featured in a PBS docuseries called The 10 Buildings That Changed America along with enormous architectural knockouts like Mies van der Rohe’s Seagram Building in New York, Frank Gehry’s Disney Concert Hall in LA and Eero Saarinen’s Dulles International Airport.

Venturi’s more modest contribution, often called Mother House, was built between 1962 and 1964. The Hughes family–a Penn professor, an artist and their daughter–has owned the house since 1973. But according to Architectural Record, they have to sell the home as soon as they find an organization that will accept a preservation easement that was developed in concert with Venturi’s firm. The reasons are financial.