You probably know Abigail Covington, my colleague who regularly helms the How I Bought This House column. In the year since she joined the team, she’s become one of The Inquirer’s home-buying experts.
So I couldn’t believe it when she told me that she’d opted for an information-only inspection when she bought her first home a few weeks ago.
I wanted to shake her by the shoulders and say: Haven’t you learned anything from all the real estate stories you’ve written?!
But in a new essay, Abigail explains why. Keep scrolling for that story and more in this week’s edition:
- $100,000 upgrades: Ten Philly blocks will get makeovers under Mayor Parker’s housing plan.
- On campus: Philly’s most expensive real estate development is coming soon to Penn.
- Battle in the burbs: Tensions are rising in Jenkintown over Airbnbs.
- HAVENtown, right?: A bad pun for a beautiful home tour in, um, Havertown.
— Erica Palan
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Real estate reporter bought a house. Here’s what she got wrong.
Buying a home is a huge financial decision — and an emotional one. Balancing the two can be tricky when your head knows what to do but your heart is pulling you in the opposite direction.
After a year writing about real estate, my colleague Abigail Covington felt prepared to stand up to sellers and get a great deal. But when her dream house came along, she ditched her careful plans to make sure she got it.
See what she got wrong (and right!) as a first-time homebuyer.
Airbnb tension in Jenkintown
In Jenkintown, neighbors are disagreeing over Airbnbs. The town’s zoning board denied its first short-term rental request last week after residents complained about noise and unexpected visitors.
It made me wonder how I’d feel if my next-door neighbor was a rotating cast of visitors. On the one hand, I’ve stayed in dozens of Airbnbs and had memorable, comfortable travel experiences. On the other, I understand being worried about safety.
Read more about how Jenkintown is dealing with these issues.
📮 Would you be comfortable living next to an Airbnb? For a chance to be featured in next week’s newsletter, email me.
The latest news to pay attention to
- An office-to-apartment conversion is underway in Logan Square. Here’s why it works.
- These 10 Philly blocks will be the first to get $100,000 upgrades through Mayor Parker’s housing initiative.
- Penn’s $520 million renovation of David Rittenhouse Lab is one of Philly’s largest construction projects.
- Callowhill artist’s tower with lofts, elevator, and rooftop deck for sale for $2.5 million.
- A 122-unit duplex development is planned just west of Girard Estates.
- Pennsylvania Horticultural Society is moving its office to West Market Street.
- A gated community of 140 townhouses is proposed near Packer Park.
- House of the week: A three-bedroom stone Colonial in Wallingford for $545,000.
Home tour: A haven in Havertown
There is just something about a Tudor-style home that feels so cozy — the steeply pitched roofs, the storybook arches, the tall windows. Talk about curb appeal.
The interior of this Havertown home is just as warm and comfy with unexpected color combinations, a grandfather clock, and a lot of floral wall paper.
The Finnegan family moved in five years ago and have spent that time redesigning their home to be a haven. Take a peek inside.
📷 Photo quiz
Do you know the location this photo shows?
📮 If you do, email me back. You and your memories of visiting this spot might be featured next week.
Shout out to Don L. who correctly guessed that last week’s image depicted workers cleaning the glass pavilions over the subway stairs at Dilworth Park.
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Have a great week. Michaelle will be back next Thursday.
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