The World Cup Winner?  Property Values. 

The World Cup Winner?  Property Values. 

Image Credit: Visit Philly

Right now, the eyes of the world are on Philadelphia. More than 273,000 fans attended the first four World Cup matches here in hopes to see their team celebrate victory, or at least see a good game.  As for Philadelphians, all we can do is win. This city is being permanently improved, and that directly benefits every homeowner in it.

Past host cities like Sao Paolo’s Brazil or South Africa’s Capetown saw positive effects on real estate values driven by an investment in infrastructure.  Whether those investments are made out of necessity or to put the city’s best foot forward to a global audience of wealthy attendees who are happy to pay $220 to park at The Linc (and maybe invest their money here, too), world events are catalysts that accelerate improvements & trends in urban living, and dividends continue long after the Cup is raised. 

Here’s What’s Built, and What’s Coming:

Ahead of this year’s marquee events, the city has been promising and delivering major, permanent civic investments that will outlast this summer by decades, including:

  • Schuylkill River Trail Connector: 
  • Market Street Old City:
    • The $16 million renovation delivering wider sidewalks, protected bike lanes, Belgian block streetscaping, and a new public plaza is complete.
  • Market Street East:
  • SEPTA:
    • Platform resurfacing, new lighting, upgraded ventilation, and enhanced wayfinding across key stations citywide plus a new bus route for South Philly – all accelerated and made permanent.
  • I-95 CAP / Park at Penn’s Landing:
    • A $329 million project that will cap I-95 will connect Center City to the Delaware River waterfront in an impressive greenspace project. The South Street pedestrian bridge opens in 2027; full park expected 2030.
  • FDR Park:
    • A $250 million master plan delivering multi-purpose athletic fields, courts, playgrounds, and green space to South Philadelphia.

The iconic Rotunda at FDR Park

How Infrastructure Moves Property Values

The link between civic investment and home values is one of the most well-documented relationships in real estate economics. For example, according to a study from the University of Washington about the correlation between home values & proximity to parks, inner city homes within a quarter mile of a park have an increased value of 10% on average. 

This article from Medium illustrates the economic effects of civic investments: cities invest in public amenities & spaces, property values increase, taxes increase, tax revenue gets reinvested for continuous improvements, which then also begin to elevate commercial attraction.  

The Bottom Line

A better-connected city with safer streets, improved transit, upgraded parks, and a newly elevated global profile is a more valuable city, and that value belongs to the people who invest in it. The game ends in July, but what was built for it stays forever, and it’s ours to keep.

On The To Do List

The Art of the Guest Room

With all that’s happening in our city right now, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear any Philadelphian tell me they’re hosting more guests than ever before.  As a real estate agent, I spend a lot of time thinking about first impressions: what does someone feel when they walk into a space for the first time? It’s the same question I ask about every listing, and honestly, it’s the same one I ask about my own home when guests are coming. There’s a real difference between a spare room and a guest experience, and it doesn’t take a renovation to get there; it takes intention. Here’s how I think about it:

2127 Delancey Place: Recently Under Contract in Under 1 Week

The Linen Closet Edit

Quality sheets & towels are something you feel the moment they become part of your stay. A few brands worth knowing for the bed & bath elevated essentials:

  • The Towels:

The Finishing Touches

Fantastic first impressions are in the finishing touches.  After decades staging listings, here are little moments that you can apply to create magic for your guests and simply say “I thought about you”: 

  • The Scent
    • A good scent makes someone subconsciously feel they’ve arrived somewhere special. A Diptyque Baies candle balances blackcurrant and rose (the scent equivalent of flowers on the nightstand).  I also love their odor masking scented candle, great for households with pets who think the guest room is their bedroom. 
  • The Feel-At-Home Touches
    • A full-length mirror is something guests genuinely need and most spare rooms don’t have. This leaner from Crate & Barrel goes with classic decor & comes in two tones. 
  • A small tray on the nightstand pulls the surfance toghether & signals intention.  I like this simple scalloped mable tray from Anthropologie. 

A charging solution — Eliminate cable clutter with this elevated charging pad from Courant

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