Thoughts About Phoenixville, PA

Is Phoenixville a nice place to live? Is the commute on 422 really bad? Will prices decline further? -- David

Phoenixville is really living up to its name. This once burnt out, dying town has, in a relatively short period of time, risen from its ashes transformed into a vibrant, diverse community. It offers everything from the big box stores in the strip centers to the boutique shops and restaurants along Bridge St.. Community and neighborhood parks dot the town and various events happen throughout the year. With the river and canal running along the town and Valley Forge Park nearby, there really is something for everyone. Phoenixville is definitely a great place to live.

As for the commute, it will depend upon which part of Phoenixville you live in whether you will use 422 to get to work. If you locate closer to Collegeville or Oaks the best bet will be to take the highway. If you are more east of town you may choose to follow Rt.23 through Valley Forge. No matter which way you go, if you're traveling during rush hour you should expect rush hour traffic. But that's anywhere.

Althoughwe don't have a crystal ball to tell us what will happen in this market we can look at the factors that will affect prices. Phoenixville did not experience an overly dramatic upswing in prices over the last few years. It sits in a prime location adjacent or close to major employment areas at a time when gas costs almost $3/ gallon. Couple that with the towns renaissance and you have a formula for greater price stability, even in todays market. As a matter of fact, the average sold price for houses between $100,000 and $350,000 actually rose $8,000 from Sept. to Oct.. It's taking about a month longer to sell them but this is definitely not one of the doom and gloom areas you hear about in the media.