Large groups of butterflies freak me out. I learned that the hard way as a kid during a nectar feeding incident on a field trip to the Philadelphia Zoo.
So I personally wouldn’t want to attract the insects en masse to my home. But I know how important pollinators are and applaud homeowners who do their part to help them thrive.
Planting native species can go a long way. At the Jersey Shore, gardeners are ditching manicured lawns and joining the growing trend that benefits the environment and wildlife.
Read on to find out more.
Keep scrolling for that story and more in this week’s edition:
Millennial hot spot: Learn why homeownership among millennials has grown faster in the Philly area than in every other major Northeastern metro.
Luxe listings: Luxury homes are getting more expensive in the Philly area, but they’re still selling fast.
Building in the dunes: The man who wants to redevelop the former Wonderland Pier in Ocean City is planning to knock down a mansion in Avalon to build the borough’s biggest home.
‘Modern coastal living’: Peek inside this North Wildwood retreat built to replace a smaller cottage.
Market update: Scroll for stats on home selling and buying in July.
— Michaelle Bond
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Virginia Rettig has about 200 varieties of native plants on her Cape May property. And she runs a business that helps other Shore residents go native, too.
She said she’s found plenty of clients who are down for the cause.
Why plant native species? These types of plants provide habitats and food for birds and other wildlife.
Notable quote: “There has been a lot of focus for too many years on instant gratification — pretty things that are forced to be in bloom well before nature intends,” said Pat Sutton, a working naturalist. “The focus on native plants is a focus on making sure wildlife can persist.”
Sutton says her tiny yard feels like a wilderness. She’s recorded hundreds of species of birds, butterflies, and other pollinators.
In some places, areas that used to be covered in native vegetation have been cleared for development. In one Shore community, residents have come together to make native plantings a priority.
Keep reading to learn about the Jersey Shore’s native plant varieties and the gardeners who love them.
📮Do you have a native garden? I want to see it.
Making the leap from renting to owning a home hasn’t been easy for millennials.
In prime homebuying years, folks born between 1981 and 1996 have been challenged by low housing supply, skyrocketing home prices, high inflation, expensive financing, and student loans.
But millennials are buying properties. And the Philadelphia area has been a homebuying hot spot for the country’s largest generation.
Millennial homeownership in the Philly region almost doubled over five years. That growth outpaced increases in every other major Northeastern metro and the country as a whole.
Our area has a lot going for it, and a combination of features make us stand out.
Keep reading to learn why millennial homeownership has grown so much in the Philadelphia area and how we compare to other regions.
The latest news to pay attention to
Luxury homes are getting more expensive in the Philly area, but they’re still selling fast.
The man who wants to redevelop the former Wonderland Pier in Ocean City is planning to knock down a mansion in Avalon to build the borough’s biggest home.
A 224-unit facility is proposed in Radnor to help address “a woeful lack of senior housing.”
The Northwest Tool Library in Mount Airy aims to make home maintenance more accessible.
The Philadelphia Housing Authority is planning a mix of 85 homes for sale and rent in Strawberry Mansion.
As developers clash over the future of the Bourse, their lender wants to force a sale of the building.
Rowdy residents at a Plymouth Township meeting draw rebukes as they push back on a big data center plan.
House of the week: For $349,000 in Queen Village, a trinity with built-in custom cabinetry on a tree-lined street.
Luxe listing: For $5 million in Bucks County, a 30-acre estate with “magical” gardens that were once open to the public.
Dolly Kelly initially lost out on buying her favorite house in North Wildwood. But the owner’s deal with the buyer who outbid her fell through. A few months later, Kelly moved in to the cottage.
But it actually wasn’t her dream home. Kelly has a big, close-knit family, and she wanted her house to be a gathering place for everybody.
She wasn’t able to add on to the century-old, 675-square-foot house. So she knocked it down and spent a year and a half building her 2,400-square-foot home. Her nephew helped her design it.
The new house includes a covered carport, open-concept living area, and primary bathroom that feels like a spa. There’s a heated pool in the backyard.
Peek inside Kelly’s home and her family’s retreat.
📊 The market
Across the region, we’re seeing a trend play out that makes sense. As home prices and mortgage rates continue to rise, the folks who can most afford to buy homes are the ones driving sales.
In the Philadelphia metro area, the high end of the market is outperforming the market overall.
In July, the number of homes for sale was up from last year, but the number of showings was down, according to the multiple listing service Bright MLS. First-time and moderate-income buyers were less active.
Across the Philadelphia metro area in July, according to Bright MLS:
🔺The median sale price was $430,000 — $10,000 more than in July of last year.
🔻 The number of showings dropped by about 4%. But home tours in Chester County increased.
🔺The numbers of active and new home listings were up from last year, meaning buyers had more homes to choose from. Roughly 14,200 homes were on the market at the end of July.
🔻The number of new pending sales dropped by 4%.
📷 Photo quiz
Where is this Philly mural?
📮 If you think you know, email me back.
Last week’s quiz featured a photo of Lemon Hill in East Fairmount Park.
Shout-out to Susan T. and Bruce R. for knowing that. As Susan mentioned, the site is currently looking rough in the aftermath of this summer’s FIFA Fan Festival.
Enjoy the rest of your week.
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