While there's certainly a lot going on in the City of Brotherly Love year round, Delaware County, where Woodlyn is located, is home to plenty of fun events of its own, including the Delaware County Summer Festival, which occurs every May.
Almost everyone dreams of living in a place where they can be friends with all their neighbors, live in a gorgeous, charming home and take advantage of numerous local amenities without wasting gas or money getting there
While there's certainly a lot going on in the City of Brotherly Love year round, Delaware County, where Woodlyn is located, is home to plenty of fun events of its own, including the Delaware County Summer Festival, which occurs every May.
Almost everyone dreams of living in a place where they can be friends with all their neighbors, live in a gorgeous, charming home and take advantage of numerous local amenities without wasting gas or money getting there. It turns out almost everyone wants to live in a place just like Woodlyn, Pennsylvania. There's even more delightful goodness to be found here, including lush parks, stimulating historical sites and -- always important after a long workweek -- wine trails. There's also the bonus of being super close to downtown Philly, making any commute pretty easy. If it's starting to sound like there are only benefits to living here, you're mostly right. Sure, there's the ever-present issue of traffic but for the most part, this place will feel like home almost immediately.
While every location has differences that are unique to its situation, you can pretty much count on a few things to be the same, at least when it comes to landlords. Prepare yourself for the move to Woodlyn's little slice of heaven by prepping with the right information, and you'll never have to worry about stress or other hiccups marring your way to the Promised Land.
Put it on Paper
Gather together the essential docs so they're handy when you need them. If you've ever moved to a new city or state, you probably know the drill. But for the newbies, you'll want to grab your ID (feel free to make a copy), some recent pay stubs (usually three will do the trick) and a copy of your credit report. While on the subject, when was the last time you pored over that last document? Anyone can be a victim of fraud. You don't want to discover someone's been wreaking havoc with your credit score at a crucial moment. Ensure everything's on the up and up, and continue merrily on your way. Another handy piece of birch bark would be a cashier's check. Most places are gonna need one of those (and not a personal check, ahem) when it comes time to offer up a security deposit.
By the way, not everyone can claim that they've made every correct financial step, so if you find your credit score leaves landlords wanting, just acquire a few suitable references that can boost your prospects with a little positive recommendation. No worries.
Learning the Landscape
Woodlyn is made up of a variety of home styles, but most of them are single-family homes from around the 1960s through the 1980s. That's great news for anyone who loves a home with more character and charm, but it's not so great news for anyone who cherishes a super modern aesthetic. Fortunately, that's probably not most of you. In addition to the adorable homes, there are also plentiful townhouses for rent as well as a few apartment buildings. If you love vertical living, this is a dream come true. Philly has oodles of row houses, and you can live just like the city kids but with more trees and fresh air. What a deal. Another sweet bonus for rentals in Woodlyn is the likelihood of finding an all bills paid apartment. They're not common, but they do exist, so feel free to take your sweet time finding those options.
While the housing landscape is enticing, it's not exactly wide open. The vacancy rate is below average for the nation, so it will take you a few months before you find the perfect accommodations where you need them. Also, there are far more home owners than renters, but there's plenty of real estate types for everyone.
Finding the perfect spot in Woodlyn is about more than choosing between a studio apartment for rent and four-bedroom townhouse; it's about picking which side of town you want to be from. While there aren't any traditional neighborhoods here, there are differences between one side of the main boulevard and another. Find your ideal location and pop a squat.
North of MacDade Boulevard: There are lots of ticky-tacky houses on this side of town, with charming neighborhoods that appear very well planned. You can't walk to amenities on this side, those are all on the other end, but there is Delaware County Park and Springhaven Country Club nearby. Also, Swarthmore is a neighboring town that's growing. It's got a good reputation so lean towards the north when searching.
South of MacDade Boulevard: You'll have a better chance of walking to pick up a cup of coffee on this end, with the Woodlyn Shopping Center so close, as well as local shops, which are mostly located on the actual boulevard. East Lake Park is close, and so is apartment complex Stoneybrook Apartments, but it's not technically in the town boundaries.
Some people like highfalutin cultural stimulation and some people like rugged outdoor adventures. If you're the type to like both, or either, you're pretty much covered in Woodlyn and the surrounding areas. Obviously you can tickle your brain in Philly, where there are abundant museums, historical sites and educational opportunities of all sorts. Philly also has an incredible bar scene if you enjoy a tipple or two on the weekends. But you don't have to drive into the city to enjoy some fun, especially if you like the fresh air and wilderness. Check out Rose Tree Park, where there are walking and biking paths as well as picnic areas. Or try Ridley Creek State Park if you prefer to take the trails on horseback. The Linvilla Orchards offer a unique look at a working farm, while Chadds Ford Winery has fresh air and intoxicating beverages, win-win.
Shuffling around Town
Another benefit of living so close to a major city is the option of public transportation. Clearly, getting around the city is a lot easier using public transit than compared to the little town of Woodlyn. The 113-bus route goes right through south Woodlyn, stopping at the Woodlyn Shopping Center, and continues to the Market Frankford Line. This can certainly make commuting to work easier and more efficient than ever. That said, you're still going to need a car to get around. You may or may not choose to take the bus to certain places, but some options are simply out of reach without a vehicle.
Woodlyn has a lot going for it, anyone can see. If you love the benefit of having a lush surrounding so close to one of the best cities in America, you can't even fathom living somewhere else. Explore the place on your own time and discover what nearly 9,500 others already have: You can have your cake and eat it too in Woodlyn.
