Rent to Own and other homes in Pennsylvania

Lease Option in Pennsylvania

For anyone interested in rent to own properties, Pennsylvania is an ideal destination to call home. Offering something for everyone, Pennsylvania provides residents with quaint small towns, idyllic rolling countrysides, and bustling urban centers ensuring that people of all walks of life can find exactly what they’re looking for within its borders. Buyers looking to rent to own in Pennsylvania are met with job opportunities in a strong economy along with an approachable cost of living that is reasonable even within its major cities.

Welcome to the Keystone State
Pennsylvania is the 6th most populous state in the US, and home to the cities of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. With a mix of urban and rural environments, Pennsylvania is an incredibly diverse state, and has a deep and rich history as one of the original 13 founding states of the United States. Pennsylvania offers a wide range of natural environments and beautiful vistas from popular snow capped ski resorts to untamed forest valleys, and expansive lakes. Philadelphia, the original US capital, is a banking center, location of seven fortune 1000 companies, and is the 6th largest US city. Pennsylvania is also a major agricultural and industrial center, and home to two of the largest steel producers in the US. Pennsylvania’s gross state product is 6th in the nation, and its economy would rank 18th in the world.



Pittsburgh, PA via Movoto

Buying a Home in Pennsylvania
Due to Pennsylvania’s diversity, the median home value varies significantly from area to area. Zillow places the median at $104,900 in Philadelphia, $86,900 in Pittsburgh, and only $55,900 in Reading. However, in the affluent Philadelphia area suburb of West Chester, the median is at $348,600. Home value has decreased 0.3 percent by the middle of 2015, but is predicted to rise 0.8% by the end of the year.

Education 
Pennsylvania has a tradition deeply rooted in education, and is home to the nation’s first library, first medical school, first pharmacy school, first business school, and first fine arts school. The University of Pennsylvania is an Ivy League school and also the state’s second largest employer. Penn State is among the larger and most renowned schools in the state as well. Pennsylvania has the 5th best funded primary and secondary education system in the nation.

Safety
According to the US Census, crime rates in Pennsylvania have dropped steadily over the past decade and continue to fall. From 2000 to 2013 violent crime has decreased over 20%.  From 2012 to 2013 alone, overall crime decreased 5.2%, and property crime decreased 5%. A dramatic increase of safety within Philadelphia is a significant reason for the positive trend.



Carrie Blast Furnace, Rankin, PA via Don Giles, 2006

Culture and Entertainment
Pennsylvania is a history buff’s dream come true, and has one of the highest concentrations of landmarks, and preserved historical sites in the nation. Pennsylvania also prides itself on providing a huge and expansive state park system with sites that offer a wide range of outdoor recreational activities including camping, canoeing, rock climbing, and spelunking to name a few. In addition, all 121 state parks boast free admission. The major cities of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are currently in the midst of arts renaissance with an emerging and active theater scene, and the internationally revered Philadelphia Art Museum is home to some of the finest exhibits in the country, and also offers free admission.