Smiles in Rittenhouse for the Pad Thai Pleasure-Bounty

Restaurant Review by Aaron Stella

When scrounging for food in Rittenhouse, try exploring the area’s western periphery, particularly the 22nd Street stretch. Be careful now: the façade of Smile, a quiet yet elegant Thai food restaurant, is somewhat inconspicuous. But it’s worth ascertaining. Smile’s been part of the upmarket Rittenhouse Square area for a little over three years, providing 9-5ers and others of the voracious ilk with an affordable assortment of pad thai favorites. Into the quaint quarters, lightly adorned with artifacts of the east, the perfectly-portioned fare can be enjoyed leisurely from any seat in the house (All tables are very cozy). Smile’s lunch special—another one of it’s enticing qualities—runs for only $7.95, with which you get a choice of two appetizers and one entrée.  Appetizers for the lunch special include sping rolls, steamed dumplings, a mixed greed salad with cream dressing (delish!), and others; entrées include shrimp satay, curried beef (quality cut), roast duck, and others more (all entrées come with rice). And be sure to try the desserts. Of course, Smile is also the perfect date spot for dinner or late lunch: patrons laud the copious portions-to-price at dinner. So if you’re ever in the area, don’t hesitate to settle in at Smile. By your meal’s end, it’s sure to be in your Rolodex of favorites.

19th Between Chestnut and Market Harbors Something Special

Gems of the City: Review by Aaron Stella

Gems of the city: they’re scattered everywhere, high and low, here and there, and occasionally, out in plain view. To all our good fortune, you can easily find this one on 19th Street between Market and Chestnut streets in the Rittenhouse Square Area: a Chinese food street vendor, who looks like a cross between a young Howard Hughs and John Waters, conducts his daily operations out of a cart no larger than 2 square yards, feeding the hungry droves that flock mid-lunch rush. Instead of an extensive menu, choices are consolidated yet span the gamut of popular Chinese fare. And when an order is placed, the one-man-team goes to work–one adroit execution after another: he alternates between frying bulky spring rolls and gingerly ladling a sweet, umber sauce onto freshly steamed chicken and broccoli; remains ever so precise when he dabs concentrated globules of fiery spice; and maintains a courteous demeanor through all the aforesaid. But slight of hand isn’t enough to make a must-go-to; yet with rock-bottom prices for the fare—I believe I have your attention now. For a mountainous helping of chicken lo mein, only $2.75. One dollar gets you two spring rolls. You can always do a combo, which comes with your choice of a hefty egg roll, a bowl of soup, or a soda, for only $3.50. Basically, you end up paying about $1.50, sometimes $2 less than standard Chinese food prices: and comparatively, the portion sizes are indistinguishable. This is a perfect quick-fix lunch spot for unbeatable prices. Stop by and give it a go!

Below are the price changes reported to the Philadelphia area MLS over the past 2 days…To see more details and pictures for any of the Philadelphia Real Estate listed below, use the following address search.

KEY: Address then New Price then Previous Price

(source: TrendMLS)

Rittenhouse Square- 19103

276 S 23rd St $690,000 $625,000

University City – 19104

4215 Aspen St $64,900 $59,900
3320 Mount Vernon St $139,900 $129,900

Society Hill/Old City – 19106

50 N Front St 106 $195,000 $190,000
331 N Front St 3 $334,900 $317,900
7 N Columbus Blvd 115 $450,000 $435,000
201-59 N 8th St 615 $345,000 $334,000
62 N Front St $699,999 $674,999

Washington Square – 19107

1324 Locust St 319 $124,900 $117,000

Burholme – 19111

7427 Bingham St $159,900 $149,900
1328 Robbins St $152,000 $149,900
1328 Englewood St $159,900 $157,900
1117 Wellington St $207,000 $199,000
914 Loney St $209,900 $204,900
1628 Griffith St $265,000 $237,500

Torresdale – 19114

3943 Stevenson Ln $163,900 $159,900
45 Bonnie Gellman Ct B45 $230,000 $229,900
9331 Glenloch St $359,899 $359,900

Philadelphia – 19115

813 Red Lion Rd C2 $114,900 $114,500
1162 Bartlett St $265,900 $259,900

Somerton – 19116

10215 Dedaker St $259,900 $249,900
13103 Lewis St $399,900 $389,000

Mount Airy – 19118

23 W Abington Ave $309,000 $300,000
123 W Springfield Ave $595,000 $584,900

Mount Airy – 19119

157 E Meehan Ave $82,900 $78,900
115 E Meehan Ave $160,000 $155,000
621 W Sedgwick St $219,000 $204,900
6601 Mccallum St $275,000 $229,000
214 E Durham St $375,000 $337,500

Olney- 19120

4809 D St $64,900 $59,900
153 E Albanus St $75,600 $74,400
162 W Champlost St $79,000 $74,500
248 W Tabor Rd $148,500 $148,499

Brewerytown- 19121

2739 W Montgomery Ave $57,500 $37,500
1921 Morse St $142,500 $139,900
1630 N Gratz St $175,000 $145,000

Jinogi/West Kensington – 19122

201 W Stiles St $129,900 $129,500
203 W Stiles St $129,900 $129,500
182 W Master St $179,000 $175,000
1505 N Hancock St $264,900 $259,900
1305 N 4th St $275,000 $259,900

N. Liberties/Loft District – 19123

208 W Wildey St $249,900 $220,000
1234 Hamilton St 203 $325,900 $299,900
122 W Laurel St $340,000 $332,500
314-18 Brown St 200 $339,900 $334,900

Juniata – 19124

1167 Anchor St $74,850 $69,950
994 Carver St $87,000 $79,900
5033 Loretto Ave $105,000 $100,000
4238 O St $114,900 $112,000

Fishtown – 19125

2635 Edgemont St $175,000 $165,000
2331 E Sergeant St $194,900 $189,900
314-16 E Wildey St $299,000 $249,000
2719 Tilton St $399,900 $374,900
2734 Tilton St $400,000 $375,000

Oak Lane – 19126

1828 Plymouth St $65,000 $60,000
6723 N 18th St $82,800 $78,000

Manayunk – 19127

133 Davis St $289,900 $269,900

Roxborough – 19128

309E Shawmont Ave 309E $216,000 $212,000
228 Parker Ave $270,000 $260,000
612 Kingsley St $365,000 $349,000
493-G Harmon Rd $369,900 $368,900
458 Oriole St $363,000 $463,000
735 Caledonia St $499,999 $499,990

Art Museum/Fairmount – 19130

2725 Poplar St $284,900 $275,000
802 N 20th St $479,000 $459,000
1700 North St $529,900 $489,900
1904 Spring Garden St 1 $579,000 $575,000

Wynnefield – 19131

1442 N Peach St $50,000 $44,900
5528 Harmer St $69,895 $63,450
5777 Hunter St $89,900 $79,900

Strawberry Mansion – 19132

3022 N 21st St $29,900 $28,500

Port Richmond – 19134

2947 A St $23,900 $22,900
722 E Madison St $29,900 $28,900
3133 Jasper St $59,900 $47,900
233 E Elkhart St $55,000 $49,900
3041 Boudinot St $59,999 $59,995
3132 Agate St $65,900 $62,500
2352 E Clearfield St $114,899 $114,900
3168 Cedar St $126,900 $121,900
3121 Almond St $174,900 $164,900

Tacony – 19135

4540 E Howell St $69,999 $67,900
6544 Keystone St $115,000 $99,999
6623 Ditman St $119,000 $117,000
6147 Mulberry St $129,900 $125,000
7038 Erdrick St $134,900 $133,900

Holmesburg – 19136

4501 Oakmont St $134,900 $134,900
3510 Hartel Ave $139,500 $139,500

Bridesburg – 19137

2254 Larue St $128,000 $120,000

West Oak Lane – 19138

1215 E Stafford St $72,000 $62,000
864 E Chelten Ave $123,000 $118,000

University City – 19139

226 S Edgewood St $64,900 $59,900
5222 Spruce St $124,900 $119,000

Hunting Park – 19140

3341 Mutter St $22,500 $19,500
4412 N Gratz St $60,000 $55,000
3726 N 15th St $85,000 $79,000
318 W Raymond St $99,900 $94,000

Logan – 19141

5248 N 10th St $85,900 $85,500
5914 N Warnock St $99,900 $89,900
5157 N 9th St $130,000 $118,900

Southwest Philadelphia – 19142

2931 S 67th St $160,000 $150,000

University City – 19143

5555 Addison St $49,500 $39,900
5521 Wheeler St $69,900 $59,900
5834 Webster St $74,900 $69,900
5545 Belmar Ter $83,500 $74,900
5505 Whitby Ave $109,900 $99,900

Germantown – 19144

18 E Seymour St $46,900 $43,900
249 E Queen Ln $109,000 $103,000
141 E Walnut Ln $177,500 $149,900
6140 Baynton St $169,900 $167,400

South Philly Passyunk – 19145

1914 S Norwood St $58,000 $57,000
1628 S Mole St $97,900 $96,900
1624 S Carlisle St $119,900 $114,900
2017 S 19th St $159,500 $159,400

Grad. Hospital/Grays Ferry – 19146

1321 S 17th St $90,000 $79,000

Bella Vista/Queen Village – 19147

1441-43 S 2nd St 1 $200,000 $195,000
929 S 11th St 1ST $314,900 $275,000
315 Titan St $349,900 $334,900

South Philly Whitman – 19148

828 Winton St $78,900 $75,000
2609 S Beulah St $114,000 $108,000
2428 S Philip St $129,900 $109,900
1119 Snyder Ave $194,000 $189,000

Frankford – 19149

2914 Mckinley St $86,925 $81,925
1027 Van Kirk St $94,000 $84,000
6015 Alma St $120,000 $110,000
2718 Lardner St $119,900 $115,000
5902 Andale St $130,000 $129,500
6223 Cardiff St $149,900 $142,900
3220 Unruh Ave $169,900 $165,000

Cedarbrook – 19150

8206 Rugby St $139,900 $134,900
1544 E Upsal St $140,000 $134,999
1438 E Mount Pleasant Ave $169,900 $159,900

Overbrook – 19151

1620 N 62nd St $68,000 $64,000
1724 N Edgewood St $79,900 $74,900

Rhawnhurst – 19152

2116 Griffith St $190,000 $183,900
7726 Richard St $184,899 $184,900
1807 Danforth St $209,900 $204,900

Parkwood – 19154

11936 Covert Rd $189,800 $189,700
10952 E Keswick Rd $199,700 $199,600
3720 Vader Rd $208,990 $208,900

Below are the price changes reported to the Philadelphia area MLS over the past 4 days…To see more details and pictures for any of the Philadelphia Real Estate listed below, use the following address search.

KEY: Address then New Price then Previous Price

(source: TrendMLS)

Rittenhouse Square – 19103

2135 Walnut St 202 $266,900 $237,900

University City – 19104

4445 Sansom St $459,000 $455,000

Society Hill / Old City – 19106

142 N Bread St 4 $359,900 $329,900
130 Spruce St 17B $649,000 $639,000
317-319 Vine St #209 $585,000 $584,999
209 N 4th St G3 $262,900 $259,900

Washington Square – 19107

1100 Vine St 1015 $199,000 $185,000

Burholme – 19111

1835 Borbeck Ave $248,990 $247,900
1119 Hellerman St $134,900 $139,900

Torresdale – 19114

9200 Blue Grass Rd H184 $239,126 $235,126
60202 Delaire Landing Rd 202 $194,998 $194,997

Philadelphia – 19115

8922 Krewstown Rd 319 $139,900 $135,900

Somerton – 19116

414 Regina St $235,000 $225,000
13675 Philmont Ave 27 $269,999 $279,999

Olney – 19120

4909 Gransback St $55,000 $49,500
4910 Rorer St $55,000 $49,500
4819 D St $82,500 $79,900
157 Linton St $46,800 $44,000
248 W Tabor Rd $154,499 $148,500

Brewerytown – 19121

2226 W Jefferson St $14,000 $10,000

N. Liberties / Loft District – 19123

1017 N 3rd St $190,000 $165,000
524 Poplar St $284,900 $279,900

Juniata – 19124

1420 E Bristol St $113,900 $106,900
1830 Ruan St $56,900 $55,400
1365 Kennedy St $60,000 $54,900
4450 Elizabeth St $50,900 $48,900

Fishtown – 19125

1138 Crease St $429,900 $419,900

Art Museum / Fairmount – 19130

758 N 26th St $459,000 $449,000

Wynnefield – 19131

540 N Paxon St $48,900 $47,900

Port Richmond – 19134

3170 Tilton St $139,600 $139,500
2947 Aramingo Ave $99,900 $94,900 19134
3331 Livingston St $114,500 $109,900
3158 Cedar St $164,950 $164,900
3054 Aramingo Ave $95,000 $94,900 19134
3270 Salmon St $150,000 $145,000

Tacony – 19135

4242 Barnett St $118,900 $115,900
7027 Jackson St $159,900 $149,900

Holmesburg – 19136

4458 Tolbut St $122,000 $121,999
4717 Oakmont St $57,500 $56,000

Bridesburg – 19137

2620 Pratt St $91,900 $89,900

West Oak Lane – 19138

1958 Renovo St $125,000 $110,000

University City – 19139

5934 Vine St $36,500 $28,750
6021 Chestnut St $119,500 $105,000

Logan – 19141

5714 N Marvine St $115,000 $100,000

Southwest Philadelphia – 19142

2638 S Holbrook St $89,500 $85,500

University City – 19143

5416 Florence Ave $67,900 $61,900
5418 Regent St $39,000 $37,000
5317 Chester Ave $39,900 $29,900
5317 Hadfield St $31,000 $28,500

South Philly Passyunk – 19145

2321 Watkins St $79,993 $79,992
1909 Mifflin St $119,900 $104,900
2214 S Hicks St $159,900 $149,900
1945 S Hicks St $128,900 $128,500

Grad. Hospital / Grays Ferry – 19146

2114 Wharton St $48,900 $44,900
1100 S Broad St 719C $185,000 $180,000
2129 Saint Albans St $384,999 $359,999

South Philly Whitman – 19148

2536 S Reese St $74,900 $70,000 19148
129 Mountain St $199,000 $199,000
415 Mercy St $128,500 $127,500

Frankford – 19149

6346 Eastwood St $139,900 $125,000

Overbrook – 19151

519 N Gross St $74,900 $64,900

Rhawnhurst – 19152

8834 Calvert St $199,900 $198,900
2842 Chase Rd $181,000 $175,000

Eastwick – 19153

7813 Saturn Pl $88,000 $85,000

Parkwood – 19154

11891 Academy Rd 91A $124,900 $118,900
3729 Genesee Dr $234,896 $234,895
3565 Teton Rd $239,000 $238,000

I had a meeting the other day with a couple of my regular investor clients who specialize in providing quality renovated homes in the 100-200k price range, usually to first time buyers. They wanted to know if they thought I could find them buyers for their rehab projects prior to the initiation of renovation work. You see, one of the biggest dilemmas facing professional builders/developers is that they’re often guessing what features the eventual buyer will be looking for in a property. If they’re able to find a ready, willing, and able buyer to customize and purchase the project, the process goes a lot smoother.

This seemed like a pretty interesting idea. With all the new high-end new construction going on around Philadelphia, it seems there might be demand for some “new,” renovated properties in the affordable, (under 200k) price range? And in a city like Philadelphia, where there’s no shortage of properties in a state of disrepair, awaiting renovation, it seems like there’s quite an ample supply of potential “Propertunities!”

The Process: Owning Your Own “Affordable Philadelphia Custom Home”

If you’re just starting your home search and don’t need to make a move in the next 2 or 3 months, perhaps you’d like the chance to collaborate on the creation of your own Affordable Custom Home?

Here’s how it will work: Whether you’re a few months or a few years out from buying a property, you’ll join the “Affordable Custom Home” email list using the form below. Once on the list, you’ll receive a link to a “My Ideal Affordable Home” questionaire which will allow you to specify your requirements: Time Frame, Location/Neighborhood, Price Range, # of Beds/Baths, etc.” Once you’re filled out the questionaire, I’ll forward your info directly to my small database of seasoned developer clients. If one of them thinks they can meet your needs, they’ll ask me to arrange a consultation with you.

After this consultation, if everyone is confident they can work together, the next step will be shopping the existing inventory of Philadelphia area rehab properties for your perfect location. Once the developer has acquired the property and gotten construction underway, it’ll be time to start customizing! The best part about all this: You won’t have to provide any real committment until the property is nearly complete and it’s time to enter into a Standard Agreement For Sale To Purchase.

Sound Interesting?

Just use the following “Affordable Philadelphia Custom Home” signup form to get started.

Ryan Hartman
Expiromatic.Com