Moving to Pennsylvania from Spain — Learning Construction & Planning My First Philly

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Moving to Pennsylvania from Spain — Learning Construction & Planning My First Philly

Oscar Chen
New to Real Estate · Philadelphia · Member since 2026 · 13 posts · 1 vote

Hey everyone, I’m Oscar. I’m from Spain and I’m currently preparing to relocate to Pennsylvania.

I’m new to real estate investing, but I’m taking it seriously and trying to build the right foundation before rushing into my first deal.

My plan is to learn as much as I can through hands-on construction and rehab experience, study the Philadelphia market, and get better at underwriting real properties.

For my first purchase, I’m most interested in a house hack or small multifamily property — ideally a legal duplex or 2–4 unit — if the numbers and my financial situation make sense.

Long term, I'm interested in buy-and-hold and value-add/BRRRR investing, but right now my focus is learning the market, building a strong local network, and making my first property a good learning experience rather than forcing a deal.

I’d love to connect with investors, agents, lenders, contractors, and landlords who are active in the Philadelphia area.

If you invest around Philly, what’s one thing you wish you understood before buying your first property there?

Looking forward to learning from everyone!

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Stuart UdisPro Member
Attorney · Philadelphia · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
6d

@Oscar Chen Philadelphia has strong real estate fundamentals: a robust education and healthcare sector that has historically been more resilient during economic downturns, an international airport, a major port, easy access to New York and Washington, and relative affordability compared with other major Mid Atlantic cities.

Despite those advantages, the cost of owning and operating real estate in Philadelphia continues to rise. City Council prerogative also gives individual council members immense power, and too many do a poor job of advancing policies that actually help small businesses and the residents they represent.

I still buy, invest, and develop exclusively in Philadelphia because I believe strongly in those fundamentals. But I have deliberately shifted my housing focus toward products geared to more affluent households. That is where I believe the revenue and property values can support the costs of developing and operating in Philadelphia and allow these properties to remain sustainable over time.

I would recommend renting first and familiarizing yourself in the city before making any purchases. Philadelphia is definitively a city comprised of neighborhoods that have their own unique qualities, pros and cons and its worthwhile really getting yourself immersed in the city before making any real estate investment decisions.

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  • Divin KanyamaBusiness Member
    Accountant · Seattle, WA · Member since 2025 · 361 posts · 137 votes
    1w

    Welcome, @Oscar Chen . You already have the right mindset: learn the market, build local relationships, and avoid forcing the first deal. A house hack or small multifamily can be a great starting point, especially when the goal is to gain experience while keeping housing costs manageable.

    One thing worth understanding early in Philadelphia is how much the numbers and property conditions can change from one block to the next. Confirm that any duplex or multifamily use is legal rather than relying only on the current layout, and budget carefully for older systems, deferred maintenance, taxes, insurance, and local rental requirements. Your plan to gain hands-on rehab experience and build a dependable team should serve you well. Best of luck with the move and your first purchase.

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    • Oscar Chen
      OP
      New to Real Estate · Philadelphia · Member since 2026 · 13 posts · 1 vote
      1w

      Thanks Divin, I really appreciate this. The legal-use point is something I’m paying a lot of attention to because I don’t want to underwrite a “duplex” that only looks like one on paper or in the listing.

      The block-by-block difference in Philly is also something I keep hearing, so I’m planning to spend a lot of time learning the neighborhoods before making offers.

      0Reply
  • Stuart UdisPro Member
    Attorney · Philadelphia · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    6d

    @Oscar Chen Philadelphia has strong real estate fundamentals: a robust education and healthcare sector that has historically been more resilient during economic downturns, an international airport, a major port, easy access to New York and Washington, and relative affordability compared with other major Mid Atlantic cities.

    Despite those advantages, the cost of owning and operating real estate in Philadelphia continues to rise. City Council prerogative also gives individual council members immense power, and too many do a poor job of advancing policies that actually help small businesses and the residents they represent.

    I still buy, invest, and develop exclusively in Philadelphia because I believe strongly in those fundamentals. But I have deliberately shifted my housing focus toward products geared to more affluent households. That is where I believe the revenue and property values can support the costs of developing and operating in Philadelphia and allow these properties to remain sustainable over time.

    I would recommend renting first and familiarizing yourself in the city before making any purchases. Philadelphia is definitively a city comprised of neighborhoods that have their own unique qualities, pros and cons and its worthwhile really getting yourself immersed in the city before making any real estate investment decisions.

    [email protected]
    2Reply
    • Oscar Chen
      OP
      New to Real Estate · Philadelphia · Member since 2026 · 13 posts · 1 vote
      6d

      Thanks Stuart, I really appreciate you taking the time to share this. Your point about renting first and learning the city before buying makes a lot of sense, especially with how different Philly can be neighborhood to neighborhood. Looking beyond acquisition numbers and really understand long-term operating costs. Thanks again for the thoughtful advice.

      0Reply
  • Joseph ScoreseBusiness Member
    Banker · Philadelphia · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 633 votes
    6d

    Oscar, welcome to Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia real estate community. You’re approaching your first investment the right way—learn the market, understand the construction side, build your network, and underwrite the deal before worrying about simply getting one under contract.

    One thing I’d encourage you to understand early in Philadelphia is that the property, financing, zoning/use, taxes, rehab scope, and exit strategy all need to work together. Two properties a few blocks apart can look similar but underwrite very differently.

    Since you’re considering a house hack or 2–4 unit property, spend time understanding the difference between what a property is currently being used as and what it is legally recognized as. That can become very important when you get to financing, appraisal, insurance, and eventually resale.

    I work with real estate investors on the financing side and am also a licensed real estate agent in Pennsylvania, so I see deals from both perspectives. Happy to connect when you get to Philadelphia and be a resource as you start building your local network.

    Best of luck with the move from Spain and the beginning of your investing journey.

    0Reply
    • Oscar Chen
      OP
      New to Real Estate · Philadelphia · Member since 2026 · 13 posts · 1 vote
      6d

      Thanks Joseph, I really appreciate the advice and the welcome. Your point about making sure the property, financing, legal use, rehab and exit all work together is exactly the kind of thinking I’m trying to build before making my first move. I’ll definitely keep you in mind as I get closer to Philadelphia and start building my local network.

      0Reply
  • Sheryl Sitman
    Rental Property Investor · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2015 · 479 posts · 362 votes
    5d

    @Oscar Chen What an adventure you are about to begin! I actually had a similar experience 10 years ago when I moved to the Philly metro area from overseas in order to start investing in the city and elsewhere. So what I really wish I had known when I started buying in Philly was 1. How to avoid the bad/scammer contractors 2. The importance of rehabbing properties thoroughly and well 3. How policy would eventually impact the city rental market. My frustrations actually led me to starting some initiatives to helping small landlords navigate the many aspects of investing (compliance, taxes, maintenance, rehabs . . .) Take it step by step and take the time and make the investment when it makes sense - to learn from good people. I love curating those resources.

    0Reply
    • Oscar Chen
      OP
      New to Real Estate · Philadelphia · Member since 2026 · 13 posts · 1 vote
      4d

      Thank you so much, Sheryl! I really appreciate you sharing this, especially since you went through a similar move and started investing in the Philly area yourself. Your advice about being careful with contractors, rehabbing properties properly, and paying attention to local policy is exactly the kind of perspective I was hoping to hear from people with real experience in the market. I’m definitely going to take it step by step, learn as much as I can, and only move when it makes sense. Thanks again for taking the time to reply! 🙏

      0Reply
  • Ashish AcharyaBusiness Member
    CPA, CFP®, PFS · FL · Member since 2017 · 5k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    4d

    Oscar, I think you’re taking the right approach by focusing on learning the market and understanding the numbers before forcing yourself into a deal. For a first Philadelphia property, I’d spend a lot of time learning how the numbers actually work at the neighborhood level. Taxes, insurance, realistic rents, maintenance, older housing stock, rehab costs, and tenant demand can vary quite a bit even between nearby areas.

    Since you’re considering a duplex or 2 to 4 unit property, I’d also learn how the property works both as a house hack and as a full rental once you eventually move out. That can give you a much better picture of whether the deal still makes sense beyond your first year. I’d also learn the tax side early. Understanding how repairs differ from improvements, how depreciation works once a property becomes a rental, and how a future refinance or sale affects the overall tax picture can save you from making expensive decisions later.

    Your goal of making the first property a good learning experience rather than simply getting a deal done is probably one of the best things you can do at this stage. Happy to connect!

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    • Oscar Chen
      OP
      New to Real Estate · Philadelphia · Member since 2026 · 13 posts · 1 vote
      4d

      Thank you so much, Ashish! I really appreciate you taking the time to break this down. Your point about understanding the numbers at the neighborhood level really stood out to me, especially since even nearby areas in Philly can have very different taxes, insurance, rents, rehab costs, and tenant demand.

      My goal is exactly what you said — to make the first property a great learning experience and a sound decision, not just rush to say I bought one. Thanks again, and I’d be happy to connect!

      0Reply
  • Diana KhanPro Member
    Attorney · 10451 Mill Run Cir #755 Owings Mills, MD 21117 · Member since 2024 · 483 posts · 177 votes
    4d
    Quote from @Oscar Chen:

    Hey everyone, I’m Oscar. I’m from Spain and I’m currently preparing to relocate to Pennsylvania.

    I’m new to real estate investing, but I’m taking it seriously and trying to build the right foundation before rushing into my first deal.

    My plan is to learn as much as I can through hands-on construction and rehab experience, study the Philadelphia market, and get better at underwriting real properties.

    For my first purchase, I’m most interested in a house hack or small multifamily property — ideally a legal duplex or 2–4 unit — if the numbers and my financial situation make sense.

    Long term, I'm interested in buy-and-hold and value-add/BRRRR investing, but right now my focus is learning the market, building a strong local network, and making my first property a good learning experience rather than forcing a deal.

    I’d love to connect with investors, agents, lenders, contractors, and landlords who are active in the Philadelphia area.

    If you invest around Philly, what’s one thing you wish you understood before buying your first property there?

    Looking forward to learning from everyone!

    @Oscar Chen, you’ve already gotten some great Philly specific advice here. One thing I’d add, especially since you’re considering a house hack, is to prepare for the landlord side just as much as the purchase itself. Finding a property that works on paper is one thing, but living there while renting the other units means you’ll be an owner and a landlord from day one.

    I’ve worked with newer investors who spent a lot of time preparing for the purchase and rehab, but didn’t think as much about leases, existing tenants, title, and their responsibilities once they owned the property. Those details can become important very quickly, so I like seeing them addressed before closing rather than afterward.

    I really like your approach of making the first property a learning experience instead of forcing a deal, @Oscar Chen. I’m a real estate attorney and investor in Maryland, and I work with landlords and investors regularly, so I see that transition quite a bit. Happy to stay connected as you make the move and work toward your first property.

    [email protected]240-266-0291
    0Reply
    • Oscar Chen
      OP
      New to Real Estate · Philadelphia · Member since 2026 · 13 posts · 1 vote
      4d

      Thank you, Diana! I really appreciate your perspective, especially the reminder that a house hack means becoming a landlord from day one, not just buying a property. The points about leases, existing tenants, title, and owner responsibilities are really helpful and definitely things I want to understand before closing, not after. Thanks again for taking the time to share this!

      0Reply
  • Brad SeidBusiness Member
    Lender · Licensed in 28 States · Member since 2026 · 161 posts · 46 votes
    4d

    @Oscar Chen Welcome, Oscar! It sounds like you’re taking the right approach by learning the market before jumping into your first deal. I work with investors on financing, including house hacks and small multifamily properties. Happy to connect and help you explore your options when you’re ready!

    [email protected]248-408-3855
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    • Oscar Chen
      OP
      New to Real Estate · Philadelphia · Member since 2026 · 13 posts · 1 vote
      4d

      Thank you, Brad! I appreciate it. I’m definitely trying to learn the market and understand the numbers before jumping into anything. House hacking and small multifamily are exactly the types of properties I’m interested in, so I’d be happy to connect and keep you in mind when I’m ready to start exploring financing options.

      0Reply
  • Ashley RigsbeePro Member
    Customer Success & Onboarding Specialist at BiggerPockets · Charlotte, NC · Member since 2023 · 85 posts · 33 votes
    2d

    Welcome, Oscar! Since you want a house hack, I'd also practice reading rent comps and rehab scopes at the same time. Best of luck with the move!

    BiggerPockets
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  • Matthew MorrowBusiness Member
    Investor · PA - NY - NJ · Member since 2019 · 463 posts · 169 votes
    16h

    @Oscar Chen Learning construction first is a smart move. It'll make you way better at estimating rehab and talking to contractors. The one thing I'd add is to verify that a duplex is actually a legal duplex before you underwrite it as one. A lot of older properties are converted, and that can bite you on financing and insurance. Are you open to markets outside Philly at all?

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