Are you looking for an apartment with a balcony in Philadelphia? That makes sense, but keep in mind that it’s unlikely your apartment will have a balcony given just 3.1% of apartment buildings in the city have balconies. Moreover, not every apartment in a building with balconies is going to have one. Some will. Some won’t. This guide will help you find an apartment with a balcony in Philadelphia.
Identify Philadelphia Neighborhoods With The Most Balconies
In Philadelphia, having an apartment with a balcony is rare, but not impossible. In general, the neighborhoods that tend to have the most complexes with balconies are Northeast Philadelphia, Fairmount/Art Museum area, Roxborough/Manayunk, Spruce Hill/Walnut Hill, Wynnefield, and a few select pockets of Center City including Rittenhouse, Washington Square, and Old City. Coincidentally, many of these neighborhoods correspond to the greenest neighborhoods in Philadelphia, so you get not only a balcony, but views of greenery as well.
If you are looking to live in one of these neighborhoods, you have a much better chance of finding an apartment with a balcony than if you don’t. It might still may be possible, but there are certainly fewer options.
Understand Different Balcony Sizes
Your first step is to understand the different balcony sizes so you can choose what works best for your lifestyle. For example,
- If you don’t want a large space but still need an outdoor area, then a smaller (Juliet) balcony may be just the right choice for you. A Juliet balcony is generally defined as a small, narrow structure with usually floor-to-ceiling windows that brings in both natural light and air, but in reality, usually have very little physical space for you to enjoy outdoors (if any) other perhaps to just stand on the platform. There is usually no room to bring furniture out onto a Juliet balcony.
- A full balcony is a much larger space that allows you to do plenty of outdoor things. You could bring outdoor furniture onto your balcony, sit outside and relax creating an outdoor haven without having to live in a standalone house. Full balcony sizes can vary in size but generally you want one at least 4 feet in deep by 11 feet wide. That size will be able to fit some furniture so you can enjoy the outdoors.
Determine What You Want From Your Balcony
You also need to determine what you want from your balcony. For example,
- What views do you want? The apartment level and location of the unit will make a difference to the kind of views you get from the balcony. If good views and affordability are important to you, check out areas of Philly where there is more wide open space such as Northeast Philly. You can also find good views in Center City but views are often blocked by other buildings. Have a look for apartments near the major rivers in Philly – the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers – for some great views.
- What kind of entertainment do you want? If you intend to entertain on the balcony, then you may want something that enables you to do that and host multiple guests outside without any trouble. While apartments with private balconies in the city are extremely limited, there are lots of new construction townhomes that have rooftop decks so perhaps that housing style might be better for you.
- Keep in mind that even within an apartment complex, the location of your apartment could greatly impact your usage and enjoyment of the balcony. For example, your balcony could have beautiful views on one side of the building and overlook a garbage compactor on another. Alternatively, one unit location might get limited sunlight or sunlight only in the mornings, afternoons, or evenings.
Start By Searching Online
Now that you’re more familiar with the types of balconies available, you can do a search for apartments with balconies in Philadelphia. Many online apartment listing websites have filters that let you choose apartments with specific features so you have a better way to narrow down your choices. Simply look at the top for filters, select must include balcony. Then once you find it:
- Make sure you check all descriptions and images so you know exactly what the balcony looks like ahead of time.
- If there is no specific information about a balcony, perhaps you could request this from the apartment community so you could make a more informed decision.
Usually, apartments with balconies are mentioned in the description because they serve as a good hook for renters.
In addition to just listing websites, be sure to look for individual apartment community websites too which tend to have more information and often provide a much better feel for the community than simply a listing website.
Tour Your Short Listย
Once you narrow down your choices to a short list of apartments with balconies, it’s time to tour some apartments so you can decide what balcony works best for you. Inspect the area thoroughly.
- Does it have enough space to accommodate all your needs?
- What views are on offer?
- Is there an area where you could create something unique that fits into your lifestyle needs and still comply with the terms of your lease?
Hopefully, you now have a better idea of what kind of balconies are available in Philly so you can make the right choice for your lifestyle.
Source of data for balconies: Leading Real Estate Data Tool August 2020 Analysis
