PhillyBorn

The family-friendly neighborhood of Fox Chase may seem a bit too far away for the city for some, but the regional rail lines to get you into the city and the friendly feel of this area are major attractions for others. With easy access to Pennypack Park and a somewhat thriving real estate market, Fox Chase continues to be a great spot for families to buy homes.

Located in NE Philly, which sometimes gets a bad rep, Fox Chase is home to the Fox Chase Cancer Center and the Fox Chase Farm. Perhaps because the well-known medical facility is here, doctors and other medical center employees have moved into the area and improved the neighborhood's resale and rental values. Here you can find larger homes and well-appointed apartment buildings.

Though far from Center City, Fox Chase is still one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Northeast Philly and will most likely continue to be a popular place to live north of Cottman Ave. The relaxing and safe feel of this neighborhood makes the commute to the city more bearable for most.

I used to be a dog walker throughout Philadelphia and had two doggy clients in Rhawnhurst. The neighborhood basically consists of pockets of housing and access to Pennypack Park. The twin homes in this area all look pretty much the same with little variation. Most all have a small front and back yard, front porch area and one car garage. Because of this, however, I think that there is a fairly strong neighborhood bond, as most houses are very close together and you'll get to know your neighbors well!

Rhawnhurst is just north of Cottman Ave and provides fairly easy access to 76. While there are no shopping or dining options in Rhawnhurst itself, nearby Jenkintown has many options.

I think that the main draw of this area is Pennypack Park, which provides miles of walking and biking trails. When the weather is nice (and even sometimes when its not!) joggers, bikers and people walking their dogs along the parks trails is a nice sight. I would recommend Rhawnhurst for families with pets or kids.

It seems like a couple years ago, nobody even knew about Passyunk Square. Today, however, this small neighborhood garners a lot of attention for affordable housing options and a great neighborhood feel.

The most notable thing about Passyunk Square for most is Pats and Genos. The two cheesesteak kings can be found on the corner of 9th Street and Passyunk Ave. This corner will always have traffic, and always smell like cheesesteaks.

Aside from Pats and Genos, there are a number of other great places to eat and drink in Passyunk Square. POPE or the Pub on Passyunk is a popular spot as is Devil's Den. Around the actual square in the neighborhood, there are a few small shops and of course the fountain in the middle of the square which makes for a nice place to relax on warm days or meet friends.

This neighborhood is predominantly white, and has a low crime rate while still remaining affordable for renting and buying. For this reason, Passyunk Square is popular for post-grads or young professionals who are looking to rent or buy a row home that is a little bit outside of the city's center, but still close enough to enjoy all that Philadelphia has to offer.