Germantown - good investment? Advice on areas within needed

[Kathryn Krueger]

Hi folks! I'm a new investor looking at buying a duplex or single family in NW Philadelphia. Right now I've been concentrating most of my energy on Germantown. Does anyone have experience investing in this area?

I live in Mt Airy but am not hugely familiar with all the nuances of Germantown. It seems similar to Mt Airy in that it can vary so much block by block, etc, and I'm trying to get a handle on what areas / blocks of Germantown are stronger investments. I'm looking to buy and hold, so will be wanting a strong rental market with lots of potential for solid tenants. Does proximity to Germantown Ave matter? Proximity to the train? Parking? Number of bedrooms? Etc. Generally west Germantown is looking more attractive, but even within that there is huge variation. I'm keen on a duplex near Johnson and Germantown Ave but am not very familiar with that pocket. It's one of the best houses on the block, which concerns me a little.

I believe that Germantown presents a great investment opportunity, I love the community and I feel that it's making some great strides, I just want to make sure I'm focusing on the right areas.

Thanks so much for any advice!