Moving to the Main Line? Family-Friendly Neighborhood Guides to Devon, Ardmore, Berwyn, & Radnor
Whether you are moving from the city, or from another suburb, you’ll want to do your due diligence. This Sponsored Story supports the Main Line Parent Community and is presented by Compass.
When you’re considering a move with your family, choosing the right neighborhood is a critical part of your decision-making process. There are many things to consider to make sure it is the perfect fit for your family. Is it safe? Is it an easy commute to work? What are the school districts like? Where can we go for Friday night pizza?
Whether you are moving from the city, or from another suburb, you’ll want to do your due diligence. Not only are you investing in a home, you are investing in the neighborhood.
To help you in your decision, Compass tapped into the neighborhood knowledge of their top real estate experts. No one knows our local neighborhoods better than the people who work and live there. Keep reading to learn what these experts love about specific Main Line neighborhoods, and what makes them perfect for your family.
#1 Devon, Pennsylvania
Overview: Devon has a small-town feel with leafy, well-established neighborhoods and award-winning schools.
Commuting: Septa Devon Station (commuter rail). Amtrak station is nearby in Paoli, and convenient access to Route 76 to Philadelphia (30-45 mins to Center City).
Favorite Family Activities: Devon Horse Show & Country Fair. Devon’s best kept secret is Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens – don’t miss the education center and summer picnic series!
Shops and restaurants your family will love: Whole Foods for almost everything! Devon Yard for everything else: Anthropologie, Terrain & Terrain Cafe, Amis and Pizzeria Vetri! JT Wilder pop-up BBQ Thurs-Sat!
School District: Tredyffrin-Easttown plus a wealth of private and parochial schools to fit every need!
Moving here? Real estate tip from the expert: Working with an experienced agent who knows the local community gives our buyers an edge over the competition – and our Compass App is better than Zillow!
Meet Devon Real Estate Agent, Susan Fitzgerald, and the Fitzgerald Loose Fine Homes Team
Sue is a thirty-five year resident of the suburban Philadelphia Main Line, and has been a licensed realtor since 2007.
Sue is the Team Leader for Fitzgerald Loose Fine Homes, which offers a small team, “concierge-level” approach to customer service in buying or selling a home.
“My husband and I would highly recommend Sue Fitzgerald as a realtor and relocation specialist. We had the challenge of trying to find a home in the area while we were living out of town, and country. We did not understand initially just how large the Chester County area was and how each community had something different to offer, but Sue eased the process for us with her outstanding knowledge of the communities in the county and her ability to understand our priorities and preferences quickly. A fierce negotiator she truly works hard for her clients and her job doesn’t end after the buyers contract is signed. Sue assisted us in other aspects of home buying such as finding inspectors, insurance and mortgage brokers and truly made our transition into a new home and community very painless and efficient.
It was a pleasure working with her.“ – Tiffany
#2 Ardmore, Pennsylvania
Overview: Ardmore is at the heart of the Main Line. It’s a delightful mix of living, dining, shopping and recreation in Lower Merion Township.
Commuting: An easy 30 minute commute to Center City by car or regional rail on the Paoli/Thorndale Line which is known as “The Main Line.”
Favorite Family Activities: There are so many options! Parks and playgrounds, pools, trails and Suburban Square for shopping and dining.
Shops and restaurants your family will love: Tired Hands and El Limon for casual dining. CAVA, HipCityVeg and Sweetgreen for healthy takeout.
School District: Ardmore straddles both Lower Merion and Haverford Twp School District.
Moving here? Real estate tip from the expert: In the first half of 2021, most Ardmore homes sold for over asking price and with an average of 20 days on market. Make sure you are working with an experienced agent who can move fast. Be as competitive as possible with offers and be creative with terms like pay for both sides of transfer tax or include an appraisal or inspection deductible, however use good judgement and be patient. You should expect to miss out on several offers, but don’t give up! Your perfect home is out there.
Meet Ardmore Real Estate Agent, Garrett Elwood
Garrett uses his extensive real estate knowledge to help everyone from first-time homebuyers to experience investors meet their goals.
As an expert in real estate development and investment properties, he understands everything surrounding financing and passive income, ensuring you get the best deal within your budget.
“My husband and I had an excellent experience with Garrett purchasing our first home in Ardmore, PA. Garrett is extremely friendly, personable and responsive. We had a difficult schedule while house-shopping, and Garrett was always accommodating of weekend showings and week night phone calls. He was quick and thorough when answering any and all of our new homebuyer questions. His personal familiarity of the Main Line area combined with his contractor background was the perfect combination of knowledge we needed to feel comfortable in choosing our first home. Our first offer was accepted, and he walked us through inspections, negotiations and settlement with ease. I highly recommend Garrett!“ – Kristy
#3 Berwyn, Pennsylvania
Overview: Berwyn is a wonderful neighborhood because it offers a downtown with restaurants, bakeries, and shops in addition to friendly neighborhoods with spacious, tree-filled properties. and award-winning schools.
Commuting: The R5 train line stops in the heart of Berwyn and the commute time to Center City is about 25-30 minutes depending on the stops.
Favorite Family Activities: Enjoy walking or riding bikes on the Chester Valley Trail accessed at D’Ambrosia Park. Teegarden Park offers basketball and pickleball. Both parks have playgrounds.
Shops and restaurants your family will love: La Cabra Brewing has a fun family friendly atmosphere and features an onsite brewery. Handles Ice Cream is a local favorite for a sweet treat.
School District: Berwyn is part of the Tredyffrin\Easttown School District, which is consistently ranked as one of the top in the nation.
Moving here? Real estate tip from the expert: Sellers often receive multiple offers when their homes are marketed right. To successfully buy a home in Berwyn, it’s best to receive private exclusive and coming soon listings from a realtor. Getting in for a showing as soon as listings are available is so important. Having a buying strategy with a realtor also makes a big difference in navigating the current competitive market.
Meet Berwyn Real Estate Agent, Melanie Fritz
Melanie has always been passionate about real estate. She truly loves helping her clients achieve their goals and enjoy every step of the process.
She is an expert in the local market and dedicates time to studying and previewing the inventory of available properties.
“Melanie is one of the hardest working individuals currently working within the housing market. Many times she had gone extraordinarily out of her way to help us during one of the most stressful times we have experienced – buying a home. She was responsive at all logical hours of the day, extremely knowledgably in her trade and handled everything with sincere professionalism rarely seen in this line of work. Melanie curated showings, appointments and provided easily comprehensible explanations along the way.
Not only was she adamantly available during our time of search, but was also there to lend a hand even weeks after closing. When issues came up with one of the dated home appliances, she was immediately on the phone with the warranty company tracking down the funds for our replacements.
In a world that is cut and dry, it is difficult to find an individual that cares as much as Melanie does.“ – Cullen
#4 Radnor, Pennsylvania
Overview: What’s not to love? Radnor is a wonderfully located area with some of the best schools in the country. Close proximity to major highways and quintessential town centers make this gem an easy choice for families and downsizers alike!
Commuting: Radnor has access to many public transportation routes, including Septa’s regional rail, the high speed line, many bus routes, as well as several major highways, making the commute to Center City a breeze at under 30 minutes!
Favorite Family Activities: Out of the 29 parks and recreational facilities in Radnor Township, my family enjoys the newly renovated Clem Macrone Park. Also amongst our favorite activities Chanticleer Garden, riding bikes and walking on the Radnor Trail and the many sporting leagues.
Shops and restaurants your family will love: Wayne’s Town Center will delight you with plenty of options for dining, both with kiddos or for a date night. My children always love to head to Christopher’s in Wayne with friends and then always request an ice-cream treat from The Sugaree!
School District: Radnor School District, encompassing Radnor Elementary School, Wayne Elementary School, Ithan Elementary School, Radnor Middle School and Radnor High School. There are also several private and parochial schools at your fingertips!
Moving here? Real estate tip from the expert: Employing a Buyer Agent from the beginning of your search will not only educate you about the area and the market, but also help you learn of listings before they are publicized to the masses.
Meet Radnor Real Estate Agent, Katie Kincade
Katie loves this area. Pennsylvania, the Delaware Valley, Philadelphia, the western suburbs of the city, and the Main Line all have a place in her heart.
She was born and raised in Haverford Township, attended Archbishop Carroll High School, and received a degree from Penn State. Katie now lives in Radnor Township with her family. The amenities, community, and lifestyle the area has to offer are truly one-of-a-kind.
“Having Katie as a realtor was one of the best decisions we could have made throughout this process. We started our search for our forever home 2 years ago, and Katie never lost her patience or enthusiasm with us to find our home. Her knowledge of real estate is impressive, and she was always available for a phone call if we needed her, most times after 9 at night! She delivered A+ service from start to finish, and my husband and I now consider her a friend. We will never hesitate to recommend her to anyone looking for a real estate expert!“
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