@Karl KauperManayunk, East Falls, Roxborough, Fishtown, Northern Liberties, and University City are safe neighborhoods with diverse populations and strong rental markets.

I’m approved for 500k but I’m looking for a place where housemates will cover most of the mortgage From what I’ve seen, a rehab in the edge of east Liberty is 475k .

The neighborhood is about 10 minutes form a lesser desirable area to the east (across a freeway), and the main road is busy/larger.

I know of a lender on the east coast who specializes in funding investment construction like this.

That sure beats months of snow and 0 degree weather you see out east.

East of downtown is better than West of downtown.

I also don't feel it much going farther east past hampton cove and Owens Crossroads, although those are 2 good areas.

I'm just going to suggest a few other areas of the city because you got a lot of great recommendations.You might want to consider East Boston because prices are still "affordable" in relation to other parts of the city, the main draw being the airport.

If I wanted to go that way I would really need to travel to where they are being used and spend a week watching how it all goes talk to all the other subs etc etc.. frankly I like some of the panel construction companies on the east coast we dont really have them on the West coast. 

Bennett Abel is a solid broker and does a lot of business in the East Coast.