Planning on moving from Seattle to Philadelphia in April

[Heddi]

Hi!

So my husband and I are RN's and we're going to be moving from Seattle, where we've lived for about 12 years, to Philadelphia come April. I really like the city, and it's a much more affordable place to live. Even with our salaries and being here for 12 yrs, I can't come to terms with paying upwards of $400k for a less-than-1000sqft "starter home" an hour outside the city

Originally we're from the east coast, and I miss history and architecture that you can't find in Seattle...I lived in a house in SC that was built 45 years before Seattle was even a city!

Anyways, I'm looking at working at Lakineau, unsure about where Mr. Heddi is going to work. We are thinking of living in Manayunk because it would avoid us having to pay the city wage tax, and it's also close to where I'm going to work, and I like what I've seen of the area. Reminds me of areas we've lived in Seattle, and I like that it has a vibrant night life.

Any other things I should know about moving to or living in the area? Weird things that you only figure out once you live there, like goofy parking rules or I don't know..things you wish you knew before moving or living in Philadelphia?

Thanks!

~hed~

[msongs]

1. perhaps move to a red district and help change it to .... blue :-) nt

[enough]

2. April will be a wonderful time to arrive in Philadelphia and

start your new life. It will be beautiful in town and all around. Not much advice, but welcome and good luck!

[southernyankeebelle]

3. I remember when I was a kid going to Philly on a field trip from Maryland.

We went to this Museum, I can't remember what the name of it was but it had this giant heart that you could walk through it. You could even hear a heart beat. It was really interesting. PA has a lot of history. You should go to Lancaster and see the Amish country. Valley Forge is another place that has history. You can go to many of the battle fields. The only thing I hated was the snow. I am not into snow. But you coming from Seattle your use to it. You are going at a good time. The weather is getting good about that time.

[MadrasT]

5. The heart is at The Franklin Institute

Experiencing that giant walk through heart was a childhood ritual when I was a kid.

The giant heart is still there.

[southernyankeebelle]

8. I thought it was named something like that but I couldn't remember. It was the neatest

place wasn't? I am glad it still is there. Yep a neat place.

[NRaleighLiberal]

4. wow - from a great area to a great area.

We lived in suburban Philly (the main line, out in Berwyn, then West Chester) for 8 years. The city is a city - big, crowded, great restaurants, museums, the wonderful Reading Terminal Market, neighborhoods, traffic and parking issues (at least that is what we experienced 20 years ago, which is when we migrated down to NC). There are so many great spots - the zoo, the New Hope area along the Delaware, arboretums, Valley Forge, out toward Lancaster, proximity (relatively speaking) to Baltimore, etc....

Since we've been away for so long, I am sure things have changed a bit. We loved our year living in Seattle (in 1983, when it was far less expensive and a post-doc with a wife and baby could survive on next to nothing), we loved our 8 living near Philadelphia. And you will certainly find it less expensive. Manayunk was just coming into its own as a developing art/foodie area when we left.

good luck!

[demokatgurrl]

6. I was born in Philly

Lived in the city most of my adult life but am in the suburbs now (moved for hubby). I recommend the "Center City" area. Not dirt cheap but there are affordable condos and small houses. Best to rent first and try out a few areas. If you prefer suburbs, the innermost part of the Main Line is a very easy commute and less expensive than the grander homes farther out. The Art Museum area is nice too.

As for parking in the city, the rules are truly arcane.. - you need a Ph. D to understand the signs. We have some great bars and local beers. And cra.ppy pro sports teams most years

[MadrasT]

7. Manayunk is great but it is *inside* the Philadelphia city limits

so no break on city wage tax if you choose to live there.

I love it here, I am at least a 5th generation Philadelphian (still tracing the family history so could be longer) though I live out in the surrounding country now, but close enough to pop in to the city whenever. I would never leave.

I don't know what is weird about moving here because I have never lived farther away than 80 miles from Philadelphia, but I can't think of a nicer place to live. There is so much about "here" that is great.

[Heddi]

9. Yeah, I thought that was odd

the thing about Manayunk not being part of city wage tax...the recruiter I'm working with said it wasn't but no big deal, I'm a city girl so I'm willing to pay my 4% or whatever....if I lived in the burbs I'd pay 4% on gas and public transport and time getting into and out of the city, so it all works out.

Now, if i work outside the city (probably in Wynnewood, not sure), do I still pay the city wage tax, is it less, the same? I've read some city data messageboards and people can be real turds about questions "Don't you have Google in Seattle????" type of answers. Well of course I have Google in Seattle....I was hoping that a local could give much more concise and up to date information than a posting from 2005 on teh internets could All in all, when we visited in October I was so surprised at just how...friendly everyone was that we encountered. On the train, strangers on the street...not just service industry people that are paid to be nice, yanno? We have out here the "seattle chill" referring to the often chilly attitude people have with each other. God forbid you make some goofy comment to a stranger in line at the grocery store...they look at you like you've got lobsters instead of ears :-/

It seems like a really nice place and I look forward to moving there. Not looking so much forward to the moving part....

[MadrasT]

11. As far as I know...

You pay the same amount of city wage tax in all the following cases:

1) You live in the city and work in the city
2) You live in the city and work outside the city
3) You live outside the city and work in the city

I live over 60 miles from the city, but I work in the city so I have to pay the tax. If you lived in the city and worked in Wynnewood (Montgomery County) you would pay the same tax.

People in and around Philly can be sometimes be crude and brusque and very direct, but underneath they are generally good peeps.

[Heddi]

10. Thanks, everybody, for your replies. Keep 'em coming

Mr Heddi and I were so surprised when we visited last year at how friendly everyone was that we encountered. I don't just mean the people at the hotel and at restaurants...but strangers we passed on the street and people waiting for the train and people on the train...just nice folks. City of Brotherly Love, I guess It's a nice change from the Seattle Chill. Don't get me wrong, people are very nice out here but there is this thick wall that people build up around themselves. Hard to know people or make "friends". Tons of acquaintances....not many friends. Or from SC, where I'm from where it's so fucking sugary syrupy sweet that the gushing hugs and how y'all doin' makes your teeth rot


Please feel free to add anything if it comes to your mind. I appreciate all ya'lls input !

[JPZenger]

12. Two of the rules before you buy a house

Welcome to PA. (We can't spell it either).

Here are two of the rules to follow before you buy a house in any urban neighborhood in the US:

- Spend a little time in the neighborhood late at night. Some neighborhoods that appear safe during the day because very questionable at night. For Philadelphia, you can easily look up maps of homicide locations online for each year. You will see some neighborhoods have few homicides, and others mainly have an occasional domestic dispute or a drug dealer killing a drug dealer, while others involve "citizens" getting killed.

- Test out your intended commute during the morning and afternoon rush hours. Some commutes that appear to be fine during a weekend end up being hell during rush hours.