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She limited her search to a one-square-block radius in East Frankford | How I Bought This House
When Celine Thompson began her search for a new home, she set her sights on a single square-block in East Frankford.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

She limited her search to a one-square-block radius in East Frankford | How I Bought This House

By Dugan Arnett

Published 

The buyers: Celine Thompson, 45, research and program evaluator

The house: A 1,360-square-foot rowhouse in East Frankford with three bedrooms and 1½ baths built in 1975.

The price: Listed for $224,900; purchased for $220,000.

The agent: Anthony Lee, Realty One Group Focus.

The dining room of Thompson's East Frankford home.
The dining room of Thompson's East Frankford home. Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

The ask: When Thompson began her search in the fall of 2022, she knew one thing: She wanted to stay in East Frankford.

Her family’s roots in the neighborhood ran deep; her parents and grandparents had lived in Frankford, and her relatives still lived within a one-block radius in the neighborhood. To Thompson, it was home.

So even though it would significantly shrink her pool of potential homes, she committed herself to finding a home within that one-block radius.

“For me, the non-negotiable was it couldn’t be outside of my neighborhood,” Thompson said. “I wanted to live in a familiar and familial community, where my church is, where I feel connected to my ancestry.”

Plants are abundant - inside and out - at Thompson's 1,360-square-foot home, including the living room.
Plants are abundant - inside and out - at Thompson's 1,360-square-foot home, including the living room. Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

Aside from location, she also had a few requests: She wanted a front porch and off-street parking, as well as a place to garden.

The search: At the time, Thompson was living in what had previously been her great-grandmother’s home in East Frankford, in the same area as her search.

And though living there had allowed her to save money, housing prices in the neighborhood were still higher than she’d anticipated.

Not long after starting, she found a home directly behind her aunt’s house, with abutting backyards. “I envisioned creating a gate between them to extend my garden into her much larger green space,” Thompson said.

The yard and garden behind Thompson's home. It abuts the backyard of her aunt, who lives nearby.
The yard and garden behind Thompson's home. It abuts the backyard of her aunt, who lives nearby. Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

She was distraught to learn that the home had been sold after less than a week on the market, before she could make an offer.

A few months later, another home in the neighborhood went on the market. She put in an offer she admits was a low ball. It wasn’t accepted.

The appeal: It was December 2024 that she came across the house she would make her own.

With three bedrooms, there was space for both a guest bedroom and a home office with craft space.

The house came with a finished basement that included a wood-paneled bar for entertaining.
The house came with a finished basement that included a wood-paneled bar for entertaining. Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

The home had ample closet space, plus a finished basement with a 1970s-era bar for entertaining. There was space to build garden boxes in the front and back of the house, as well as off-street parking — though no front porch.

Best of all? This backyard, too, partially abutted her aunt’s backyard — leaving her plan to link backyards in play.

The deal: Having learned how fast homes in the neighborhood were being snatched up, Thompson moved quickly.

After discovering the home on a Thursday, she toured it Friday and made an offer on Saturday. On Sunday, she learned it had been accepted.

The house had been updated with new features, including paint and flooring, but from the inspection she knew there were things that would need to be replaced soon, including the aging central air system.

An engraving above the door of Thompson's home.
An engraving above the door of Thompson's home. Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

The money: Thompson narrowly missed the income cut-off for a first-time homebuyer credit through the City of Philadelphia.

But she’d managed to save a considerable amount and was able to put 15% down — around $28,000 in cash, plus $10,000 she received from her lender after taking a course. She ended up with a monthly mortgage payment of $1,527, and an interest rate of 6.75%.

The move: She moved in Feb. 9, 2025 — the same day the Eagles topped the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.

Thompson used EverSafe Moving, and the short distance between her previous home and new one made things simple. As a bonus, she was also able to continue using her previous home for storage temporarily.

Using a moving company, Thompson's move was quick and painless.
Using a moving company, Thompson's move was quick and painless. Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

Life after close: Soon after move-in, Thompson discovered a leak in the basement. Though insurance and a home warranty would eventually cover the cost of the repairs, the work required contractors to take apart half her kitchen.

For a little over a month, the kitchen was unusable — and Thompson was relegated to a utility sink in the basement.

“The first few months were definitely a dark cloud,” she said.

Things have since settled, however.

She has plans to paint, and replace some windows. The basement bar is coming down, she’s decided, “but I have a vision for how I’d like to transform it into entertainment space.” Meanwhile, she remains eager to link her backyard with her aunt’s.

After a leak rendered her kitchen temporarily unusable shortly after the move, things are back to normal.
After a leak rendered her kitchen temporarily unusable shortly after the move, things are back to normal. Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

In the end, she spent more than she planned, but she’s ecstatic to be part of a community steeped in family and history.

“Being part of that story in the neighborhood is something I’m really glad and thankful to be a part of,” Thompson said.

Did you recently buy a home in the Philadelphia area or South Jersey? Share the story of how you did it. Email Inquirer real estate reporters at properties@inquirer.com.