Best Reasons to Buy a Home in Bethlehem, PA
With a population increase of nearly 16 percent over the past decade, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is no longer a little secret shared by savvy homeowners living in Lehigh Valley. Roughly 80,000 residents call Bethlehem home, with more than 5,000 college students returning each fall to a place that several notable publications have described as one of most livable cities in the United States.
As the former headquarters to Bethlehem Steel, Bethlehem, Pa has made a smooth transition from a manufacturing-based economy to an economy that thrives because of a wide variety of digital focused companies. The city has a larger concentration of museums, libraries, and restaurants that other American cities of a similar size.
Still not convinced that Bethlehem, PA is considered one of the most livable cities in the United States? Well, let’s take a closer look at the best reasons to buy a house in the “Christmas City.”
Robust, Yet Affordable Housing Market
Is it possible to enjoy a healthy increase in home value, and yet still pay home prices that rank below the national average for cities of the same size? The answer yes, and Bethlehem is exhibit A when it comes to a city that delivers housing appreciation, without moving the city up the list of average home prices.
The team at 24/7 Wall St. agrees with the favorable assessment of Bethlehem’s housing market. The company, which publishes surveys on prominent sites such as MSN Money and the Huffington Post, revealed a survey late in 2019 comparing city data points that include job growth, crime rate, and the value of the housing market. Bethlehem received a 99.2 rating for its housing market value, which the 24/7 Wall St. survey attributed to the appreciation of property values that still maintain the city’s rating as an affordable place to live.
Convenient Access to Major Cities
Maintaining a bucolic charm that attracts homebuyers that want to live more tranquil lives, Bethlehem sits less an hour away from Philadelphia and fewer than 90 minutes from the heart of Manhattan. This gives residents access to around 33 percent of the American consumer market. It also provides city dwellers with a way to get away from the hustle and bustle of urban life. The Bethlehem tax base benefits greatly from the revenue generated by visitors from The Big Apple and The City of Brotherly Love.
Across the Board Affordability
It is not just the affordable housing market that makes sense for homebuyers in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The cost of living in the city is lower than most of the regions in the Northeast. Bethlehem is also a place for home buyers to receive low interest financing, as well as affordable financing that pays for the cost of business development and the creation of sustainable projects.
Impressive Quality of Life
It is not just the soothing tranquility of calling a charming city like Bethlehem home. The small town is one of the centers for the arts in eastern Pennsylvania, from boutique art galleries to bustling venues that present life music and entertainment. With a low crime rate and nearby institutions of higher learning, Bethlehem, PA offers a high quality of life that is hard to find elsewhere in the northeastern region of the United States.
Historically Significant City
As one of the oldest cities in the United States, Bethlehem is home to several historic buildings and landmarks that attract visitors from as far away as Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. Some of the buildings have earned the distinction as a National Historic Landmark. Keystone Pub and Bethlehem Steel are two structures that receive international acclaim for historical preservation. The Colonial Era architecture had motivated many developers to build homes that mimic the classic designs of historic Bethlehem buildings.
If you have a question about buying or selling a home in or around Bethlehem, email us today!
