Editor’s note: This is the third story in a series looking at how far your money will go when buying a home in Philadelphia, its suburbs and at the Shore.
After previously looking at what a $500,000 budget and a $1 million budget afford a prospective homebuyer in Philadelphia, its suburbs and at the Jersey Shore, we are now taking a look at properties on the market for around $3 million.
In Philadelphia, current listings in the $3 million range vary from sky-high luxury condos to spacious new construction townhouses in Center City to estate-like properties on the outskirts of the city in neighborhoods like Chestnut Hill. In the suburbs, that budget can get you a historic Main Line home with an expansive yard or modern new construction houses. Down the Shore, the range is a bit wider — from small cottages pegged for demolition to a traditional beach duplex to a new build — largely dependent on the town.
Here’s what a roughly $3 million budget currently affords homebuyers in Philadelphia, its suburbs and at the Jersey Shore:
A living room off of the kitchen with windows stretching up to the second floor.
1640 Carlton St., Philadelphia
Price: $2.99 million
Square feet: 5,230
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 7
Price per square foot: $571
This new construction townhouse at 1640 Carlton St. sits between Vine and Callowhill streets near Logan Square. It has a six-stop elevator that takes residents from the basement to a 700-square-foot roof deck that features a plunge pool, an outdoor kitchen and a dining area. The home has ample natural light thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows as well as a wall with windows stretching across floors. Listing agent Guillermo Salas of EXP Realty called it an “oasis in the middle of the city” and said it has as much luxury space as you can find in Center City. The main floor has an open layout with a kitchen, living room and dining area with a 58-bottle temperature-controlled wine cellar, plus access to an outdoor deck. The primary bedroom has a wet bar, outdoor terrace and spa bathroom. The basement doubles as an entertainment space with three wet bars. There are heated floors throughout the home, along with solar heaters on the roof deck. It also has a three-car garage, a rarity in the city.
The front of the Huntingdon Valley home.
1868 Nicholas Drive, Huntingdon Valley
Price: $2.995 million
Square feet: 10,387
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 6
Price per square foot: $288
This sprawling estate in Huntingdon Valley has hit the market for the first time in 33 years. Built in 1990, construction on the home took six years. It’s situated on 3.4 acres and abuts the Melmar mansion, which was built for the famous Biddle family. It is said that Gen. Anthony Biddle and former President Dwight D. Eisenhower hunted on the land where the home now sits.
The home itself has Valley Forge stone on its exterior. Inside, a white marble foyer with an elegant chandelier leads to spaces like an expansive 47-foot by 28-foot living room, which is situated below an interior balcony off the primary suite. The primary suite has an adjacent 1,500-square-foot sitting room, plus its own curved outdoor balcony.
The listing also includes an adjacent gated parcel of land. The entire property sits on enough acreage that zoning allows for a horse to be kept in the yard, and hunting is also permissible. The home is being listed by Stephanie Gross of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach.
The front of the home at 244 103rd St. in Stone Harbor.
244 103rd St., Stone Harbor
Price: $2.895 million
Square feet: 1,440
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 2
Price per square foot: $2,010
On the Jersey Shore, small spaces can fetch big price tags, especially in towns like Stone Harbor. That’s certainly the case for this dual-unit home that’s two blocks from the beach. The property has two units that are being sold together. Each has a kitchen, two bedrooms and one bathroom. Although it only spans 1,400 square feet, this home at 244 103rd St. sits on a 60-foot by 110-foot lot. Listing agent Steve Frame of Diller Fisher Realtors called it “your classic, quaint Jersey Shore top-bottom duplex.” While a buyer may want to retain that charm, many such cottages are eyed for redevelopment by those looking to build their dream homes. According to the listing, a buyer could build a home that spans up to 3,200 square feet on the land, with room for a pool and a garage.
