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March 2018
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March 29, 2018

The Drake Tower at 1512 Spruce St.

Filed under: General Real Estate,Real Estate: Condominiums,State of Marketplace — Center City Philadelphia Real Estate Agent @ 1:29 pm

Built in 1929, the Drake stands as a magnificent addition to the Philadelphia skyline.

Here’s what you don’t know:

  • It IS a condo building. Back in the 1970’s, they converted to condos with a less than enthusiastic welcome.
  • Per public records, only five (5) units are privately held – the other 300 units are owned by one entity and are used as RENTALS.
  • The penthouse units start on the 24th floor.
  • Through most of the 1990’s- all penthouse units were vacant shells.
  • Some penthouses housed gardens and the top penthouse had its own pool.
  • The building is faced with small details of ships, mermaids, and other sea paraphernalia.

My first apartment was in the Drake in the late 1980’s when Duran Duran was on MTV and telephones had cords.

Mark Wade 
www.CenterCityCondos.com
BHHS Fox & Roach Realtors
Mark@CenterCity.com

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March 16, 2018

Is AirBnB allowed in this Philly Condo?

Filed under: For Buyers,Of Interest to Buyers,Of Interest To Sellers,Real Estate: Condominiums,State of Marketplace — Center City Philadelphia Real Estate Agent @ 11:59 am

The one condo question that always gets a negative answer?  I get this ALL the time…

Is Airbnb allowed in this building? No. Never. Ever. Sorry…

Almost every Philly condo has a clause embedded into its declaration/rules and regulations that the minimum lease period is either SIX or TWELVE months.  Period.

Mark Wade 
BHHS Fox & Roach Realtors
www.CenterCityCondos.com
Mark@CenterCity.com

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March 2, 2018

The Deluxe 1-Bed Condo Market Here in Center City

Filed under: For Buyers,Of Interest to Buyers,Real Estate: Condominiums,State of Marketplace — Center City Philadelphia Real Estate Agent @ 12:37 pm

* Deluxe one bedroom?
* Jumbo one bedroom?
* One bedroom plus den?
* One bedroom plus niche?
* Extra large one bedroom?

Call them anything you want, but many buildings offer these super-sized one bedroom condos, which are growing in popularity as well as demand.

I think back to the “01” units at The Murano. Over 1000 sq ft with a very large living room, these units sell almost as quickly as they come on the market.

One Riverside at 25th and Locust has a one bedroom with den unit that I think is fantastic. The “den” is really a bedroom but the design is an open floor plan that offers a buyer options on how they want to lay out their space.

Waterfront Square offers two varieties. In one style, the living room is HUGE…the other has a separate den.

Independence Place has what they call a one bedroom and niche which plays out as a large living room that can easily be cordoned off if the owner desires.

These are just a few examples. I find many buyers will change their minds and opt for a large one bedroom plus den instead of a traditional two bedroom. Often, the square footage is the same but the pricing is usually better. They realize the need to host overnight guests is really NOT a practical decision.

The waters can get muddied when buyers ask what does or does NOT constitute a bedroom.  Does it need to have an operable window to be called a bedroom? If so, then NO units at Two Liberty have any bedrooms because none of the windows open.  Direct sunlight? Then very few units at the National are true two bedrooms as the 2nd bedroom gets no natural light. Does a bedroom need a closet to be a bedroom? I doubt it.

With so many options here in the Center City Condo Market, you might find your best option is a jumbo one bedroom/one bedroom plus den.  Worthy of consideration? I think so…

Mark Wade 
BHHS Fox & Roach Realtors
www.CenterCityCondos.com
Mark@CenterCity.com

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