Who Doesn't Love a House with a Porch?

Who doesn’t love a house with a porch? It just says: Welcome to our home! Here on the Main Line, many of our best neighborhoods boast porches of all shapes and sizes. This Main Line Realtor loves a porch so much that I had one added to my house where none existed before. Now almost every night, I can greet my neighbors as they walk their dogs or their children (or both, in many cases) down my street.

This Fall in many neighborhoods on the Main Line, pandemic-weary neighbors are finding ways to meet outside. Porches are getting used as never before and neighbors walking by now stop in the street to enjoy some much-needed conversation. Trick or treaters will be welcomed to these outside areas this year—for the individually wrapped treats, without sacrificing the joy of checking out their costumes from a safe distance.  Just one more reason why I always recommend Wayne and its wonderful neighborhoods.

All this talk of porches made me wonder if they are actually in and of themselves great assets for a home. I think they are. First, they add protected square footage, extending the home’s living space for many months of the year. Secondly, they are often joined to the streetscape and to the other houses by sidewalks, which are hallmarks of the kinds of neighborhoods that retain their value over time. Families seek out these neighborhoods for the safety of their children and the sense of community that they offer. And last but not least, porches create curb appeal that cannot be topped by many other features or design elements.  Buying a home with a porch is very likely a good investment.

Of course, a home is a lot more than an investment, but why not look for one that can offer you comfort and community as well as help you save for retirement—maybe that house in the block with sidewalks that has the wonderful porch!

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